Snake Oil Salesman?

**UnOrthodOx** · 05-25-2007,05:42 AM

What do you guys think?

For 4 years now, I've been running with my own very loose interpretation of a witchdoctor as my general theme, and I've pushed it just about as far as I think I can, and I really have room for. At the same time, I've been trying to come up with a second theme to place in the backyard or possibly even a neighbor's yard. (our next door neighbor is an older couple that really enjoy my stuff and have given me liscense to decorate their yard with any leftovers)

I've always enjoyed the idea of wierd things in bottles, and had been considering doing one of my off-beat takes on possibly a witch theme. But, this morning, I was watching "Night Gallery" on the Chiller network, and one episode caught my eye and gave me this idea. It even has some kind of strange correlation to the witchdoctor in my mind, and might cause me to make a third "alternative medicine" theme in the more distant future.

A Snake Oil Salesman.

What, you ask? You know, the traveling saleman of "elixir" that became a pun in old westerns.

I envision a wagon from hell. Black, red tattered curtains. Skulls up on the corners. Sign to the rear, front half "opens" up to reveal shelves of "Elixir". Odd bottles with wierd colored 'liquid' and odd things floating in it.

Gotta come up with a salespitch, a sign, and labels for the bottles.

example ripped off of some wild west show script I found:

No other elixir available is as strong as ours. None as Invigorating,
none as Strengthening, Healthful … nor as Refreshing.

This wonderful and remarkable discovery cures all the ills that afflict
man or beast. Heal it up and hair it over. If our elixir doesn’t help you
… you are most likely dead already.

If you are afflicted with swellings, sprains, sore chests, contracted
cords or muscles, stiff joints, wrenches, dislocations, cuts, bruises,
apply our specially prepared elixir for instantaneous relief.

If you are suffering from constipation, liver complains even dyspepsia
… simply take a single spoonful to begin the healing process
instantly. Plus …Professor Mack’s Miracle Elixir of Life is the only
proven cure for Stoutness! No family can afford to be without this …
safeguard against noxious things of all kinds … a true life renewer!

This unrivalled elixir … is warranted to not contain a single particle of
any injurious mineral substance. A compound of roots, herbs and
barks … this elixir comes from an ancient formula obtained at great
personal risk and expense by me Professor Mack … just for you.

I'm sure that can be doctored up some to be more appropriate.

Any ideas? additions?

**WonderfullyWicked** · 05-25-2007,06:13 AM

Interesting angle. The first character that comes to mind is the guy from "Pete's Dragon", Dr. Terminus. He's some of his spiel:
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/petes...amashloddy.htm

**noahbody** · 05-25-2007,11:01 AM

The SOS has his back to you while he runs his routine.
"this (fill in the blank) has worked for me for years and as you can see...."

The SOS slowly turns to face the audience
"It has not harmed me!!!"

The SOS reveals he is a skeleton and has been dead for years.

Oct31man · 05-25-2007,11:30 AM

Originally Posted by noahbody

The SOS has his back to you while he runs his routine.
"this (fill in the blank) has worked for me for years and as you can see...."

The SOS slowly turns to face the audience
"It has not harmed me!!!"

The SOS reveals he is a skeleton and has been dead for years.

LOL, Nice touch!

I like your idea Unorthodox! Very creative!

**UnOrthodOx** · 05-25-2007,06:29 PM

Originally Posted by noahbody

The SOS has his back to you while he runs his routine.
"this (fill in the blank) has worked for me for years and as you can see...."

The SOS slowly turns to face the audience
"It has not harmed me!!!"

The SOS reveals he is a skeleton and has been dead for years.

That's funny.

I've been fleshing this idea out with friends all day, and we were thinking along the same lines. The salesman is definately going to be disfigured/dead. Even toyed with the idea of eventually plugging a short routine into a skulltronix.

But, we've ditched the wagon idea, in favor or a booth so that this can easily become the candy dropoff point. Big signs at angles off the corners like fireworks stands do. Salesman inside, shelves behind with LEDs built in lighting the bottles.

We always run with an assortment of candy for people to choose from, so it will be splayed out along the counter, forcing the TOTs to come right on up. Even thinking of having "samples" out of sight that could be handed to kids and/or parents. Rootbeer, cider, etc.

Unfortunately, I'm too far into making 2007, and the whole thing's going to have to wait for 2008.

**noahbody** · 05-26-2007,11:07 AM

I like the idea of having the ToTs getting close.
Maybe you could make the booth look like it was made from a coach.
Broken wheels leaned up against the side andf the window could be the stage coach door, just a thought.

**Dusza Beben** · 05-26-2007,08:13 PM

Oooh, Snake oil has always held a fascination for me. Sounds like I've just found my next voice project if you don't have any objections UnOrthoDox. The Music Man/ Oh Brother Were Art Thou/ gift of gab sales pitch delivery just seems like a heck of a lot of fun. You and Noah have the right Idea, the original script with a Halloween twist would be awesome.

DB