Interesting.

^Thanks for posting that link. I miss seeing Baton Bob and the reaction he would merit in the CWE. (Just think...that little CNN blurb could have taken place in St. Louis if he hadn't left!) One good thing--he hasn't said anything negative about St. Louis, at least publicly. Our loss is Atlanta's gain.

Anyone else notice that he left the CWE at about the same time Applebee's moved in? What a sad, sad coincidence.

^^Well, I guess you could call it extortion if you really wanted to. From what I understand he wanted some kind of title/position and monetary arrangement from the city, although I'm not sure of any specifics. Thing is, he gave a wonderful presence to the city, and now he's in Atlanta. Wouldn't surprise me if someone there in Atlanta was funding him in some way. (IMHO I think he should have got what he asked for here. He's an attention getter but more than that, he gives his city a reason to celebrate. Look at the free advertisement Atlanta is getting over this (as if it really needs it.)

The news was slow, so they went outside the office to do a story on the freak. Bob Jamerson wasn't terribly newsworthy in St. Louis, and he certainly isn't national news in Atlanta, except for the fact that CNN is based there. You're kidding yourself if you think his continued presence in St. Louis would have created some national buzz.



In my limited interactions with him, which included trying to walk around him to continue down a street, he was an unpleasant and vulgar man.

F-him.



Somehow, my life has gone on without the presence of Baton Bob.

dutchtowner wrote:The news was slow, so they went outside the office to do a story on the freak. Bob Jamerson wasn't terribly newsworthy in St. Louis, and he certainly isn't national news in Atlanta, except for the fact that CNN is based there. You're kidding yourself if you think his continued presence in St. Louis would have created some national buzz.



In my limited interactions with him, which included trying to walk around him to continue down a street, he was an unpleasant and vulgar man.

I remember (trying) to eat at Kopperman's one day when he freaked out and started cussing at people for no reason. Nobody was saying anything to him or paying much attention when he released a racist/sexist profanity laden tirade.



Obviously he's got some issues and I hope he gets some professional help.

dutchtowner wrote:The news was slow, so they went outside the office to do a story on the freak. Bob Jamerson wasn't terribly newsworthy in St. Louis, and he certainly isn't national news in Atlanta, except for the fact that CNN is based there. You're kidding yourself if you think his continued presence in St. Louis would have created some national buzz.



In my limited interactions with him, which included trying to walk around him to continue down a street, he was an unpleasant and vulgar man.

He actually made an appearance on Jay Leno a couple of years ago when he was still living in STL.



And honestly, even though he was an a**hole, I liked his presence in the neighborhood.

I am told he has toned it down in Atlanta. He doesn't dress up as lavishly or outrageously as he did here in the Central West End. He is never seen in his Wedding Gown or tiara anymore.



I met him in the CWE one night with friends when he was prancing the streets... he was a little off centered in talking to him. CNN made him look pretty tame and sane.



Miss seeing him walking the streets... but as for his departure from STL... that was a little strange.

Marmar wrote:...Just think...that little CNN blurb could have taken place in St. Louis if he hadn't left....

Actually, Marmar it's just the opposite: Baton Bob would never have been on CNN if he hadn't moved to their headquarters.



I wish him the best, but it irritates me to no end how our "national" news media are obcessed with their HQ markets (NYC, LA, and to a lesser extent Atlanta). Just once I'd like to see a soft piece like this about some place in the midwest that wasn't patronizing and condescending. ("Oh those midwesterners, they sure are folksy, but they are so genuine. Salt of the earth. Blah blah." >barf!<

I always thought it was strange that he didn't think St. Louis was tolerant enough for him, yet he moved to the DEEP SOUTH. Atlanta may be progressive and all, but it's still Dixie as all get out.

Since he left there's an opening for "Unofficial Ambassador" of the city. I think Beatle Bob is the only applicant. We will not be complete until that position is filled. You may think I'm being sarcastic, but that kind of colorful personality that butts heads with the local government and has the people on his side is a common story across the country. St. Louis seems to have laws against street performers and we are that much poorer culturally for it. Nobody is hoping to "Keep St. Louis Weird" because it never has been. I think we need a little more weird.

JivecitySTL wrote:I always thought it was strange that he didn't think St. Louis was tolerant enough for him, yet he moved to the DEEP SOUTH. Atlanta may be progressive and all, but it's still Dixie as all get out.

^I have wondered the same thing.



He obviously loves attention. That is OK by me. But, anyone that demands attention to the extent that he does will eventually receive positive and negative attention. It doesn't matter where he lives. So, I think it is BS that he claims to have left STL because he was poorly received by some.



It is unfortunate that some people blame STL for his departure. He decided to move to Atlanta for whatever reason. And then he left with the most fanfare possible, throwing pot shots at STL. He probably couldn't leave a city any other way. As far as I am concerned, Baton Bob moving to Atlanta is no reflection on STL or ATL. He just wanted to move there for some reason and then made a dramatic exit.



To be fair, I know little of this situation. Maybe I am completely wrong. But, a lot of interesting people leave St. Louis and move to St. Louis. There is no need to give Baton Bob's path in life any more attention than others.



Having said all that, Keep St. Louis Weird!!!

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:^Why would you want that annoying idiot to be our ambassador?

To me he was a symbol of tolerance.



I had a friend stay with me for a week while moving from Detroit to Denver. He still brings up seeing Baton Bob in the CWE. He doesn't remember Forest Park or the good meals he had. He remembers seeing a grown man in a tutu throwing a baton.

stellar wrote:

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:^Why would you want that annoying idiot to be our ambassador?

To me he was a symbol of tolerance.



I had a friend stay with me for a week while moving from Detroit to Denver. He still brings up seeing Baton Bob in the CWE. He doesn't remember Forest Park or the good meals he had. He remembers seeing a grown man in a tutu throwing a baton.

And we were supposed to tolerate him yelling at the top of his lungs calling a woman an effing c-word?

stellar wrote:To me he was a symbol of tolerance.

I'm not sure he was very tolerant, at least not of people who would ignore him or give him anything other than a beaming smile of appreciation. And there were plenty of people who weren't terribly tolerant of him, including police who arrested him once or twice and some drunk hoosiers at the Landing who, if I remember correctly, beat him up and sent him to the hospital.

stellar wrote:St. Louis seems to have laws against street performers and we are that much poorer culturally for it. Nobody is hoping to "Keep St. Louis Weird" because it never has been. I think we need a little more weird.

Not true. There is no law banning street performers in the city, although there are ordinances regulating them. I see street performers downtown, in Soulard, in the CWE and all over the Loop, and once in a while on South Grand. They are usually out in the summer months. Would I like to see more? Oh yeah.

dweebe wrote:And we were supposed to tolerate him yelling at the top of his lungs calling a woman an effing c-word?

I never personally witnessed any behavior that approached rudeness so I can't really speak to that.

dutchtowner wrote:

stellar wrote:To me he was a symbol of tolerance.

I'm not sure he was very tolerant, at least not of people who would ignore him or give him anything other than a beaming smile of appreciation. And there were plenty of people who weren't terribly tolerant of him, including police who arrested him once or twice and some drunk hoosiers at the Landing who, if I remember correctly, beat him up and sent him to the hospital.

The fact that he ever even existed in St. Louis to me was hopeful. I am from a northern state that I never realized was as moderate as it was until I moved to Missouri and learned about the bible belt. It's a shock. All those "Praise Jesus" radio stations and "Jesus is your friend" commercials on TV with the creepy goatee guy. The fundamentalist politicians that represent Missourah and by default me that I could not disagree with more. This is a red state with a little blue dot on the eastern border. That is why I appreciated Baton Bob. He stood up to the people that I consider Freaks and twirled in their faces with a smile on his.

I lived in the CWE from when he was "spreading cheer" through the time when his performances and outbursts became increasingly about being provocative and confrontational, and less about cheer.



I suspect that after a few years in Atlanta he will sub-consciously return to being confrontational and provocative, face the same reactions from the public, and then respond in the same way: blame the city for "not understanding him" (so shocking!) and move somewhere else.



Some people are never satisfied -- and they don't seem to realize that by running away, they simply take their problems with them.