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From Greenwich Village Follies To The Toxic Avenger: A Long and Twisted Journey

Clark Campbell

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Published in Off Broadway Musicals Since 1919: From Greenwich Village Follies To The Toxic Avenger

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Lloyd Kaufman, the founder of Troma Entertainment, has had a career that is anything but ordinary. From his early days as a member of the Greenwich Village Follies to his success as a filmmaker, Kaufman has always been pushing the boundaries.

Off-Broadway Musicals since 1919: From Greenwich Village Follies to The Toxic Avenger

by Thomas S. Hischak

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1866 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	522 pages

The Early Years

Kaufman was born in New York City in 1945. He grew up in the city's Greenwich Village neighborhood, which was a hotbed of artistic activity in the 1950s and 1960s. Kaufman was drawn to the Village's vibrant counterculture scene, and he soon became involved in the local theater community.

In 1969, Kaufman co-founded the Greenwich Village Follies, a satirical revue that poked fun at everything from the Vietnam War to the Watergate scandal. The Follies were a huge hit, and they helped to launch Kaufman's career as a filmmaker.

Troma Entertainment

In 1974, Kaufman and his partner Michael Herz founded Troma Entertainment. Troma's early films were low-budget affairs, but they quickly gained a cult following. Troma's films are known for their over-the-top violence, gore, and nudity, but they also have a satirical edge that often exposes the hypocrisy and greed of society.

Troma's most successful film is The Toxic Avenger, which was released in 1984. The film tells the story of Melvin Junko, a shy and unassuming janitor who is accidentally mutated into a superhero after being exposed to toxic waste. The Toxic Avenger was a huge hit, and it helped to make Troma a household name.

Legacy

Lloyd Kaufman is a true pioneer of low-budget filmmaking. His films may not be to everyone's taste, but they have undoubtedly made a mark on the world of cinema. Kaufman's films are a celebration of the absurd, and they often challenge the status quo. He is a true original, and his work will continue to be enjoyed by cult film fans for years to come.

Lloyd Kaufman's career has been a long and twisted journey, but he has never lost his sense of humor or his commitment to making films that entertain and provoke.

Off-Broadway Musicals since 1919: From Greenwich Village Follies to The Toxic Avenger

by Thomas S. Hischak

5 out of 5