Give the devil two black eyes!

February 18, 2007 8:58 AM

Marjoe Gortner, world's youngest preacher kicked off his religious career by performing a marriage at the age of four and a half. Although he eventually left the evangelism gig and became a hippie, lack of cash led him to take it up again part time as an adult. That is, until a crisis of conscience precipitated a documentary where he exposed the business of evangelical ministry. "Marjoe" won the 1972 Oscar for "Best Documentary" and has been recently re-released. An interview with Marjoe. You tubery inside.
posted by arcticwoman (19 comments total)

Marjoe as a child

Marjoe as an adult

James Randi and another famous fraud
posted by arcticwoman at 8:58 AM on February 18, 2007

You can't have a Marjoe Gortner post with no links to Starcrash.
posted by fleetmouse at 9:13 AM on February 18, 2007

Listen to him preach.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:14 AM on February 18, 2007

You can't post Starcrash links without mentioning David Hasselhoff.
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:21 AM on February 18, 2007

He also got to get it on with Lynda Carter in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw, the lucky bastard.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:26 AM on February 18, 2007

Wow. I forgot about this guy. I wonder if he ever grew into his ears.

Side note: My grandma preached alongside Sister Aimee at the Four Square Church when she was 19 or so. Apparently she was a local celebrity & even did the whole speaking in tongues thing. 30 plus years later, she was wearing miniskirts & gogo boots and making her way through all of the widowers in her neighborhood. She was very fond of conning people. In her 60s I remember watching her convince people that I was her daughter. I also remember thinking, "If grandma could be a preacher, ANYONE could." From watching my grandma I became a major cynic before even hitting kindergarten, and thanks to that I've never trusted an evangelist for a second in my life. On the flip side, 3 of my 4 older siblings ended up born-again or fundamentalist.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:35 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Perfect Sunday morning linkery!
posted by wfrgms at 9:37 AM on February 18, 2007

"I want you to get out the largest bill that you have right now..."

What a fantastic story; the cackling money-counting scene at the end of the adult clip is just brutal. Thanks, arcticwoman.

Hey, Star Crash sounds pretty good - in that, you know, not good at all kind of way.
posted by mediareport at 9:40 AM on February 18, 2007

"I want you to get out the largest bill that you have right now..."

Yeah, wow. I couldn't believe my ears when he said that. Then I couldn't believe my eyes when it worked.
posted by jikel_morten at 10:20 AM on February 18, 2007

terrific post, arcticwoman -- thank you!
posted by scody at 10:22 AM on February 18, 2007

You also can't have a Marjoe Gortner post without a link to Earthquake.
posted by Fat Guy at 10:27 AM on February 18, 2007

I have to say what I have been thinking ever since I first learned about this guy:

Great leaping holy fuck, what were his parents thinking when they named him Marjoe? Parents who name their kids like that should be required by law to also provide for the child's education in kung fu, because the kid is going to need it.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:49 AM on February 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Well, they named for Mary & Joseph. So they were thinking God would protect him from ass whuppings I suppose.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:18 AM on February 18, 2007

named HIM
posted by miss lynnster at 11:18 AM on February 18, 2007

You also can't have a Marjoe Gortner post without a link to Food Of The Gods.

Favorite line: "Lady, where in the hell didjou get those goddamn chickens?!
posted by davidmsc at 11:46 AM on February 18, 2007

Great post, thanks!... Some people really have an amazing talent for evangelical grifting. Makes you wonder what they could have done if they'd used their powers for good.
posted by amyms at 11:55 AM on February 18, 2007

Makes you wonder what they could have done if they'd used their powers for good.

Got told they'd be going to hell, that's what.
posted by Flunkie at 12:36 PM on February 18, 2007

Some of the lines evangelists use to manipulate people are pretty brilliant, really. During the depression, Aimee Semple MacPherson rode a horse onstage to declare herself a soldier for God. During sermons, when people would make offerings of change, she would exclaim "GOD DOESN'T LIKE NOISY MONEY!"... totally shaming people into pulling out dollar bills.

God apparently didn't mind her freaking people out by shacking up in love nests & stuff.
posted by miss lynnster at 12:45 PM on February 18, 2007

What, no links to Jungle Warriors or Hellhole?

Hmm. I wonder if there's been a Smithee Awards FPP yet.
posted by kyrademon at 1:11 PM on February 18, 2007