David Johnson, also known as the World Famous Bushman, is a busker who scares passers-by along Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, active since 1980.[1] Johnson hides motionless behind some eucalyptus branches and waits for unsuspecting people to wander by. When they approach, he shakes the bush towards the unsuspecting tourists and startles them, sometimes making gruff "oogah-boogah" noises, while in-the-know observers giggle. Crowds gather to watch him work,[2] often including those he has previously scared.[1] The Bushman typically operates toward the western end of the Wharf (at Jefferson and Hyde Streets or thereabouts), well to the west of the Grotto. Johnson used to work with or, at different points in time, as a rival to a second Bushman, Gregory Jacobs, until the death of Jacobs in 2014.[3]
World Famous Bushman
David Johnson aka The Bushman in August 2007
Born
David Johnson
Occupation
Busker
Years active
1980–2019
The Bushman
Born
Gregory Jacobs
Died
February 23, 2014
Occupation
Busker
Years active
1980–2014
Johnson involves a passing child in his act
Crowds usually watch Johnson across the street from where he usually sits,[4] to see him entertain people.
In a "good year", Johnson claims to earn $60,000.[5] However, he cited the same figure to one of his victims (after said victim chided him) in 1992. At one point, he employed a bodyguard to protect himself against attacks by the unamused, distract his targets, and to alert him to the approach of elderly people so he could avoid scaring them.[1]
The police have received a number of complaints about the Bushman, and Fisherman's Wharf merchants have tried to shut him down.[6] In 2004, he was charged with four misdemeanors, but a jury cleared him. The District Attorney subsequently dropped several remaining public nuisance complaints.[2]
Although engaging in his street performance utilizing the bush as a prop, as of the mid 1990s, Johnson did not formally refer to himself as "The Bushman" until he was befriended by then Alameda residents John and daughter Alison Nowakowski, who would refer to him as such. Eventually, the name stuck and Johnson adopted the name as his formal street performing moniker.
From the 1990s until the death of Gregory Jacobs in 2014, two World Famous Bushmen operated on Fisherman's Wharf both as a team and as separate acts, each claiming to be the first to come up with the act.[7] Initially, the two worked together, with Johnson as performer, and Jacobs working the crowd and collecting money.[7]
Many people are unaware that there are, in fact, two Bushmen. When Gregory Jacobs first came up with this gig, he recruited David Johnson, a man he met at Fisherman's Wharf. As they worked together they developed a close friendship. Johnson's deep voice scares those who unknowingly pass by the man-made bush. Back then, Johnson would hold the bush and Jacobs would tell the jokes, entertain those watching the action, and collect the tips. It has been about fifteen years, and now they are complete enemies. Jacobs accuses Johnson of running off with their money. Jacobs tries to avoid any conflicts with Johnson by not working where and when he is."[8]
However, San Francisco Chronicle ran an article in 1999 suggesting that Johnson was the original Bushman, joined by Jacobs in the 1990s. That article, which caused the act to become a nationwide sensation after picked up by newspapers across the United States,[7] reports that Jacobs joined Johnson in a bodyguard role as well as to help with the act: "'I look after him,' says Gregory Jacobs, who recently joined the act as a full partner. 'I watch his back.' [1]
Greg Jacobs was featured in the video "Act (Diogenes)" by the artist Whitney Lynn.[9] Jacobs is also the subject of a short film, The Bush Man.[10] Gregory Jacobs died February 23, 2014, due to heart failure at the age of 60 years old, whilst Johnson remained active[3] until 2019.[7]
^ abcdRubenstein, Steve (July 17, 1999). "Bush League". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. A16. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
^ abMatier, Phillip; Andrew Ross (April 7, 2004). "Bushman of Fisherman's Wharf Gets the last Ugga-Bugga". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. B1. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
^ abNevius, C.W. (March 4, 2014). "Original Bushman lives on at Fisherman's Wharf". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
^Zell C. "The Bush Man - North Beach/Telegraph Hill - San Francisco, CA". Yelp. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
^Edwards, Erica (April 2003). "Spookster more than a sidewalk spectacle". The Lowell. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
^Matier, Phillip; Andrew Ross (September 8, 2002). "'Bushman' wearing out wharf welcome". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. A21. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
^ abcdKatie Dowd (September 12, 2021). "Betrayal, arrests and the weird, weird tale of the San Francisco Bushman". Sfgate.
^Pacis, Jasmine (March 9, 2009). "Fisherman's Wharf Bushman Fights For His Art". Golden Gate [X]Press. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
^"Media Arts Student Hanh Nguyen Taps into Cutting-Edge Film Festivals". Retrieved 2016-02-01.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to World Famous Bushman.
Video of the Bushman at work
Documentary of the World Famous Bush Man
Another video of The World Famous Bush Man
August 24, 2023
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The lead section of this article may need to be rewritten Use the lead layout guide to ensure the section follows Wikipedia s norms and is inclusive of all essential details May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message David Johnson also known as the World Famous Bushman is a busker who scares passers by along Fisherman s Wharf in San Francisco active since 1980 1 Johnson hides motionless behind some eucalyptus branches and waits for unsuspecting people to wander by When they approach he shakes the bush towards the unsuspecting tourists and startles them sometimes making gruff oogah boogah noises while in the know observers giggle Crowds gather to watch him work 2 often including those he has previously scared 1 The Bushman typically operates toward the western end of the Wharf at Jefferson and Hyde Streets or thereabouts well to the west of the Grotto Johnson used to work with or at different points in time as a rival to a second Bushman Gregory Jacobs until the death of Jacobs in 2014 3 World Famous BushmanDavid Johnson aka The Bushman in August 2007BornDavid JohnsonOccupationBuskerYears active1980 2019The BushmanBornGregory JacobsDiedFebruary 23 2014OccupationBuskerYears active1980 2014Johnson involves a passing child in his actCrowds usually watch Johnson across the street from where he usually sits 4 to see him entertain people In a good year Johnson claims to earn 60 000 5 However he cited the same figure to one of his victims after said victim chided him in 1992 At one point he employed a bodyguard to protect himself against attacks by the unamused distract his targets and to alert him to the approach of elderly people so he could avoid scaring them 1 The police have received a number of complaints about the Bushman and Fisherman s Wharf merchants have tried to shut him down 6 In 2004 he was charged with four misdemeanors but a jury cleared him The District Attorney subsequently dropped several remaining public nuisance complaints 2 Although engaging in his street performance utilizing the bush as a prop as of the mid 1990s Johnson did not formally refer to himself as The Bushman until he was befriended by then Alameda residents John and daughter Alison Nowakowski who would refer to him as such Eventually the name stuck and Johnson adopted the name as his formal street performing moniker Contents 1 Two Bushmen 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksTwo Bushmen EditFrom the 1990s until the death of Gregory Jacobs in 2014 two World Famous Bushmen operated on Fisherman s Wharf both as a team and as separate acts each claiming to be the first to come up with the act 7 Initially the two worked together with Johnson as performer and Jacobs working the crowd and collecting money 7 A 2009 article in SFSU s Xpress Magazine says Many people are unaware that there are in fact two Bushmen When Gregory Jacobs first came up with this gig he recruited David Johnson a man he met at Fisherman s Wharf As they worked together they developed a close friendship Johnson s deep voice scares those who unknowingly pass by the man made bush Back then Johnson would hold the bush and Jacobs would tell the jokes entertain those watching the action and collect the tips It has been about fifteen years and now they are complete enemies Jacobs accuses Johnson of running off with their money Jacobs tries to avoid any conflicts with Johnson by not working where and when he is 8 However San Francisco Chronicle ran an article in 1999 suggesting that Johnson was the original Bushman joined by Jacobs in the 1990s That article which caused the act to become a nationwide sensation after picked up by newspapers across the United States 7 reports that Jacobs joined Johnson in a bodyguard role as well as to help with the act I look after him says Gregory Jacobs who recently joined the act as a full partner I watch his back 1 Greg Jacobs was featured in the video Act Diogenes by the artist Whitney Lynn 9 Jacobs is also the subject of a short film The Bush Man 10 Gregory Jacobs died February 23 2014 due to heart failure at the age of 60 years old whilst Johnson remained active 3 until 2019 7 See also Edit San Francisco Bay Area portalBusking U S case law Frank Chu Emperor NortonReferences Edit a b c d Rubenstein Steve July 17 1999 Bush League San Francisco Chronicle pp A16 Retrieved 2016 02 01 a b Matier Phillip Andrew Ross April 7 2004 Bushman of Fisherman s Wharf Gets the last Ugga Bugga San Francisco Chronicle pp B1 Retrieved 2007 02 15 a b Nevius C W March 4 2014 Original Bushman lives on at Fisherman s Wharf San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 2016 02 01 Zell C The Bush Man North Beach Telegraph Hill San Francisco CA Yelp Retrieved 2014 02 27 Edwards Erica April 2003 Spookster more than a sidewalk spectacle The Lowell Retrieved 2007 02 16 Matier Phillip Andrew Ross September 8 2002 Bushman wearing out wharf welcome San Francisco Chronicle pp A21 Retrieved 2007 02 15 a b c d Katie Dowd September 12 2021 Betrayal arrests and the weird weird tale of the San Francisco Bushman Sfgate Pacis Jasmine March 9 2009 Fisherman s Wharf Bushman Fights For His Art Golden Gate X Press Retrieved 2016 02 01 Act Diogenes Retrieved 2016 02 01 Media Arts Student Hanh Nguyen Taps into Cutting Edge Film Festivals Retrieved 2016 02 01 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to World Famous Bushman Video of the Bushman at work Documentary of the World Famous Bush Man Another video of The World Famous Bush Man Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title World Famous Bushman amp oldid 1141334640, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
