'Tiny Tim: King For A Day' Recounts Odd Musician's Brief But Robust Fame And Influence

Chicago IL

23 May, 2021

4:50 PM

Description

By Lisa Trifone, Third Coast Review: If the name Herbert Butros Khaury doesn't ring a bell, fear not: the Manhattan-born musician popular in the 1960s and '70s was better known by his stage name, Tiny Tim. In Johan von Sydow's Tiny Tim: King for a Day, Khaury's life, work and notoriety is chronicled through archival footage, interviews with surviving friends and relations (Khaury died in 1996) and stark black and white animations that bring to light the trauma and tragedy the musician used his art and fame to escape from. At just about an hour and 20 minutes, there isn't much to this biographical documentary, but there is more than enough to honor this quirky performer's legacy and lasting impact on American pop culture. "Weird Al" Yankovic narrates King for a Day, reading from Khaury's personal journals which he kept as a young man processing his rollercoaster family life as the child of immigrant parents, a Jewish mother and Catholic father. The family struggled to get by, and his parents didn't always appreciate Khaury's eccentricities or talents; more than once, Yankovic reads out Khaury's own account of being thrown out of the house or being confronted by an angry, abusive father. It's certainly understandable that young Khaury, like so many before and after him, turned to his music for refuge from a rocky family life and an uncertain future. A largely self-taught musician, he began learning to play the guitar at as early as six years old. For someone who wasn't around during Tiny Tim's heyday, the most surprising part of von Sydow's documentary is just what a large part of the zeitgeist the performer was for quite a few years running. An appearance on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in" in 1968 catapulted the falsetto-voiced ukulele player to national fame, the public fascinated by his odd persona and unique musical style. He became a regular on "The Tonight Show," even going so far as to get married on the show, a spectacle in every sense of the word. Apparently always the consummate performer, Tiny Tim was always "on" when he needed to be, relishing fame and attention so much that, even if he was the butt of the joke, all that mattered was that he was in the room. Far from the sort of mainstream heartthrob on movie screens at the time, he was nevertheless a talented musician who chose to embrace his oddities and peculiarities in order to create a memorable, entertaining persona. Von Sydow mostly glosses over some of what might be the more questionable aspects of Tiny Tim's fame and resulting encounters and relationships. "Miss Vicki," the woman he married on "The Tonight Show" was actually only a teenager, just 17 years old to Tiny Tim's 37 years. He was estranged from his only daughter, born with Vicki, and his later relationships were also apparently with very young women, too; his wife at the time of his death (from a heart attack) was "Miss Sue," a woman he met when she was a teenager and she sent him adoring fan mail. Which is perhaps the most perplexing part of Tiny Tim's life story, that even in (or perhaps because of) all his oddness, he still attracted such a loyal and dedicated following, their testament to his influence now preserved on film. Tiny Tim: King for a Day is now streaming in virtual cinemas, including with Music Box Theatre. Third Coast Review is one of 43 local independent media that are members of the Chicago Independent Media Alliance. You can help #savechicagomedia by donating to our 2021 campaign. Support every outlet or select your favorites to receive your support. Thank you! Share this: Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Related Review: Without a Why, The Song of Names Lacks a Reason to Be a Film At AllJanuary 24, 2020In "Film" The Hideout 20-Year Reunion in ReviewSeptember 13, 2016In "Festivals" Laughing All The Way: Second City's Twist Your Dickens Is a Hilarious Breath of Fresh Air for the HolidaysDecember 12, 2016In "Stages" Categories: Film, Review, Screens Tagged as: Johan von Sydow, Tiny Tim Post navigation Review: From Survivors to Activists, Us Kids Follows Teens Determined to Change Country's Gun Laws Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Third Coast Review is Chicago's locally curated website, specializing in Chicago-area arts and culture coverage. Read more at thirdcoastreview.com