The Great Hall
Son of Spagg
The KinG of PubLic AcCesS by Jayden Moore
I
t was 1991 when Portland’s independent entertainment scene was taken by storm: That’s when Jim Spagg hit local public access television screens with “Jim Spagg’s Sex Show.” Almost completely improvised, the show would feature him singing and dancing while nude, taking call-ins from viewers, live performances by local bands, and interviewing guests who were also nude. Immediately the show sparked controversy with the public and the law, as it was seen as
obscene, pornographic content unfit for television. People began protesting outside of the studio where the show was filmed, as well as taking Spagg to court over his show’s content. The attention only pushed him to continue being provocative, however. And as he fought the law and the public over his show, his fans praised him as a champion of freedom of speech. Eventually Spagg would lose his battle in court over copyright infringement, and the show would come to an end in 2003 (only after he defecated on camera). Years later, many fans still regard him as a rebellious hero who stood for freedom of speech and expression. But who was this hero, really, behind the scenes? What kind of man... What kind of father was he? Let’s backtrack a bit. I am a video production major in my second year of the Integrated Media program at Mt. Hood Community College, in Gresham. Growing up in the 2000s, I had never heard of “Spagg’s “Sex Show” nor did I know anything about public access television. I was introduced to the show and Jim as a public figure after getting a job at the Wood Village Walmart store. Within a few months, I met and befriended a man named Jimmy. We became quite close, and before long Jimmy would open up to me about his father and his show. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so after work I dove deep into the internet, into all of the content focused on Jim that still exists. I was floored. The next day I went back to Jimmy, begging for more information. This is when he told me stories of the man behind the screen, of, growing up and appearing
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