THE SF BUSH MAN
 

Who can tell me where this dude is likely to be? I am going prepared!

Is there a full moon?

We saw him at Fisherman's Wharf. I know others just hate him, but we laughed so hard when my cousin was surprised by him (she laughed too when she caught her breath).

I haven't seen the bush man in awhile - it's nice to know he is still around though. Absolutely hilarious.

This is dumb, but you're not meant to see him until he reveals himself to you.

Specifically, the Bush Man is on the sidewalks along the water, or along the Tshirt / bumper sticker / coffee mug stores across the street from the water.

I heard that he's franchising, just like the Silverman statue.

Coming to a city near you.

I always thought that his business planning is rather poor. He scares the s**t out of unsuspecting passerbys and then he expects them to give him money???

What do I know?

And then there is the HUMAN JUTE BOX....is he still around? You threw a quarter in the box in front of the box. The flap came up and a guy inside played songs for you. Gotta love SF!!!

There was another post about the Human Juke Box....he and Bushman have been discussed at length. Actually the Human Juke Box walked around inside a wooden or cardboard box. There was a hole cut into the box where you put the money...actually his hand would come out through the hole to take the money and a pretty grimey hand it was. You paid and he pulled a cord and the flap would go up and he would play a few very sour notes on a trumpet and then the flap would close. This guy was around ...well, I left the Bay Area 30 years ago, and he was around before then so I'm guessing it's been 35 years or more, so I'm thinking at the best, he's retired and the worst..well, he's trumpeting at the Pearly Gates.

Last year on a trip to SF we were amused to watch the Bushman and surprised to see how many tourists weren't aware of his presence - hard to see how as he was drawing a big crowd.

HOWEVER - DH and his sense of humor felt it necessary to stealthily approach the Bushman from behind and say, "BOO!"

Bushman’s reply was "Get your own job this is mine", it got a big laugh and of course DH bowed to the audience.

alya, LOL, that is funny indeed! I have always wished that some could scare the BushMan! That I would love to see.

LoveItaly

Anytime you want to borrow him - he's yours but I'm warning you now, he has a very 'Monty Python' sense of humor

At San Pedro Square in the almost center of San Jose, there's a clown trumpeter with a rabbit on a "leash" who plays music - audible for all the sidewalk diners.
Not quite the Human Juke Box, but musically annoying just the same.

Hi alya, you are one generous lady, LOL. Actually your DH sounds like a jewell and a lot of fun! I bet the tourist remember him with a smile. Wish I had been there. Take care.

I am cracking up! I grew up there as a kid and had totally forgotten about him. We would go into the city to have lunch with my dad on Fridays in the summer and I remember being totally petrified he was going to get me! LOL!! I'm actually hoping he'll get my unsuspecting husband when we visit next week. LOL! Is that bad? You all are hilarious! I also plan on tracking down the Juke Box dude! If anyone has seen either of these two recently, please post exact location! :-)

BushMan is usually between piers 39 and 41. Just look for a crowd!

Who is Juke Box man?

That trumpeter guy with the rabit is a trip. We see him when we go to Sharks games - we park in the San Pedro Square garage and walk over to the arena and that guy is always playing under the Hwy 87 overpass before and after the games. One time we were walking by and I guess not enough people were throwing money into the hat. The trumpeter guy got up and started yelling at everyone.

Well, like I said in a previous post. Ive been out of the Bay Area for 30 years and the Human Juke Box was on the wharf many years before I left. So, I'm thinkin' he's not doing his thing down there anymore..maybe somewhere on a "higher" plain. He was funny. But, I'm heading down the first weekend in July and think I'll hit the Ferry Building if I can con my brother into going into the City...so, I'll be watchin' out for Bush Man.

Oh-that Bush.

Bush man, Juke Box man, is this where Rubber Band Man lives too ? lol

Hi Crefloors, the Bushman is not at the ferry building, he is down by fisherman's wharf, past Pier 39 usually. Have a fun time with your brother!

traveldawg: Here is a community board web site that discusses the Human Juke Box and what happened to him--has a couple of pictures. Amazing what you can find out with a quick Google!!!!

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-an...?msg_id=0057Fh

LoveItaly: I know the Ferry Building isn't the Wharf....don't know if we'll do any strolling or not..or maybe catch a glance of the Bush Man as we drive by. Actually that would probably be close enough!!!! Wow, loved the pictures of the Juke Box. I find many of those "street people" to be very interesting and I often wonder what their stories are. Where they come from and what brought them to what ever their present circumstances are. A lot of them are mentally ill in some way I think. Well, it sounds like Mr. Juke Box is still around but "retired" from his previous profession. One of lifes characters. Makes the world more interesting.

Another crazy character we saw there last October that really caught me by surprise was a guy hiding in a trash can that was labeled "White Trash."

I know, just the thought....

But anyway, the rectangular trash can looked just like the rest of trash cans near Pier 39. As we walked by, all of a sudden a head popped up and started talking. I broke into laughter and he heckled right back. That's when I noticed the "White Trash" sign on the can. He had modified a can with a hinged side door to get in and out. He was pretty funny, but the overall concept had me in stitches for a couple of days!

Well, if you gotta visit the wharf, may as well make it interesting. ;)

They now have several "robots" in the Wharf area.

People stand on plastic boxes and move, usually to a boom-box music. Or they wait for donation, if you give a coin, they move a little. If a paper bill - this really makes them move!

Some are male, covered with silver or gold paint, some females: pink and white.

Also 2 guys looking cross-dressed let you take a picture with them for a "donation". They are in the cable-turn-around area of the Wharfs.

I like the "robots" and they move and make sounds when you put coins in their cup. I may have a picture of the bushman from my trip last August, scared the crap out of my friend. The wharf turned and looked after that scream. LoL

I saw the title of this post and thought you're in search of a man in SF who supports President Bush. Without getting into the pros and cons or politics, i will say such a person In San Francisco would be unique! I'm not sure where you'd find him (-:

Cali,
Especially on KGO radio from 10:00am-5:00am ;)

ooops! 10:00PM.

10:00 pm! That's when Bernie Ward comes on. I think you might have to wait for a weekend guest host for a bushman on KGO these days.

By the way, I don't think the bushman down at the wharf is the 1st bushman. The 1st bushman I saw was on Broadway about 15 years ago. Scared the cr*p out of me.

This is hysterical - we saw him about 4 years ago and had no idea he was a local institution. He jumped out at a group of Japanese tourists and yelled "welcome to America".

We saw him on Fisherman's Wharf, the other side from Pier 39, more towards Ghiradelli Square.

The "BUSHMAN" is hysterical! His real name is David Johnson. He's been "the Bushman" in SF for at least 20 years. You can google him and find lots of info. He actually makes about 60K doing this, and pays taxes! He's always on the side of the street closest to the water (the north side) if you're looking for him. Between Pier 39 and Ghiradelli. He usually hides one side behind a trash bin, then the bushes on the other side to "scare" you with.

He's a great guy! My goddaughter can't stop talking about him! We gave him a tip and asked to pose for a photo with him. It's probably her favourite memory about SF!

He's there almost every day from 9-5ish...maybe later in the summer. If he doesn't find you first....definitely look for him! You will laugh like you've never laughed before!!!

"The SON of BUSHMAN!" …Coming soon to a theater near you!

"Son of Bushman" Is that a Michael Moore movie?

Sorry, andiamo, but the bushman is not always anywhere. That's his gig, you know? We recently saw him, again, on the other side of the street: near the t-shirt and trinket stores.

Has anyone seen "Escapeman" ?? He usually hangs out at the cable car station near the wharf. He appears to be a homeless person just sitting and leaning against a pole. Suddenly, to the surprise of all waiting in line, he jumps up and puts on a straightjacket. He asks a tourist to buckle him up, and asks another to chain him tightly to the pole and lock the chain. He then proceeds to escape (Houdini-style),and ask for tips.