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Mandy Moore

Amanda Leigh Moore is somewhat of an under investigated Atlantis type treasure trove of a person. You might think of her as the pigeon-toed pop star that graced the world at age 15 with her hit single "Candy" but she has far more to offer than that. Maybe it's her gorgeous singing voice, impeccable taste in men, or her fondness for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but anyway you choose to picture her, Mandy Moore is a unique character. Her singing career began in her teenage years after she was overheard singing by a Fed Ex delivery man who happened to be close friends with the head of the arts department of Epic Records. She was in the spotlight at a very young age with her first album "So Real" which Moore has described as not so real, stating that she would love to be able to offer a refund to anyone who bought this certified platinum album. She began to reveal her true self in her album "Coverage" where she re-interpreted some of her most treasured songs such as Elton John's "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" or Joan Armatrading's "Drop the Pilot." In May 2009, she released her most recent album titled "Amanda Leigh" using her given first and middle name. Expect a folk-inspired album to be released in 2010 written by Moore and her husband singer-songwriter Ryan Adams with accompaniment by their dog Joni.

 

 

Pete Pidgeon

Meet Pete Pidgeon: musician, poet, artist, and general all around uncatagorizably extraordinary person. Not only has Pete been graced with a pigeon-toed stance, he also shares his name with our British comrades commonly referred to as "pidgeons." Next time you're phoned by a telemarketer, take the time to ask if it's Pete before you hang up. If you're not fortunate enough to be graced with a phone call, you can learn more about Pete's various life projects on his web site, and sign up for his mailing list to catch him in person, or even just download some of his phenomenal music. Pete has just returned from Nashville where he recorded his most recent album due out in the near future. He is currently touring and playing with his band under the name Pete Pidgeon and Arcoda. Hope you enjoy the musical talents of this pigeon-toed Pidgeon as much as we do.

 

Louise Bourgeois

Today, on this first day of June, the Pigeon Club honors the life and accomplishments of the lovely Louise Bourgeois, a French-born American sculptor whose dedication and perseverance is inspiring to us all. Born on Christmas Day in the Left Bank of Paris, she moved to New York City in 1938 where she has called home ever since. Bourgeois spent her early years in New York with a group of abstract expressionists she felt a strong connection to and continued to create both paintings and sculpture. It was not until the 1970s that Louise gained the attention she deserved in the art world, and became rightfully known as a pioneer for female artists worldwide. She was a lifelong insomniac, and produced some of her most brilliant drawing and writing at night. Her public sculpture adorns cities worldwide. Louise passed away yesterday at age 98, but this beautiful, petite, pigeon-toed genius will live forever in our hearts and minds.

Rollie Fingers

In this fine month of May, we recognize Mr. Roland Glen Fingers, the pigeon-toed father of modern day relief pitching. Roland, often known as "Rollie" made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics in September of 1968. While the sport of baseball was seeing an increase in team offense, Rollie's debut solely as a relief pitcher came at the perfect time. Fingers certainly was not the first pitcher to relieve, but he was the first to retain the role of a successful closer without being placed back into the rotation as a starter. When the American League instituted the the designated hitter in 1973, his pioneering of the position of relief pitcher became even more integral to the game of baseball. Although his unique pigeon-toed stance and this radical role of the relief pitcher are very memorable aspects of Rollie's career, he may be the most well known for his eccentric mustache. In the realistic plastic figurine pictured above, you might notice his large waxed handlebar mustache. During the 1972 season, Fingers grew his mustache to be as ridiculous as humanly possible and was awarded the $300 prize in a contest started by the Athletics manager. Following the outbreak of the Oakland player's mustaches, "Mustache Day" was initiated at the ballpark, where any fan sporting their own mustache could get into the game for free. Similar to the act of relief pitching, Roland's mustache became such a part of his being that he still wears the traditional waxed handlebar mustache today.

 

Meinhardt Raabe

This April we celebrate the life of pigeon-toed extraordinarine Meinhardt Raabe, the American actor and famed smallest chef in the world. You might recognize Meinhardt from his most popular role as the munchkin coroner in The Wizard of Oz who announces the death of the wicked witch of the west. Until his recent passing on April 9, 2010, Raabe held the title of the last surviving cast member with a speaking role from the Wizard of Oz. Meinhardt Raabe had a prolific career in the public eye. He continued his career by becoming the spokesman for Oscar Mayer and was known as "Little Oscar, World's Smallest Chef." In 1936, Raabe commandeered the first Wienermobile He is seen in a photo above receiving the key to the city of Wisconsin Dells. May this very accomplished man live on in our hearts forever. Thank you Meinhardt!

 

Jimmy from Arturo's

Walk into Arturo's Restaurant in Greenwich Village on any given night and you will not be disappointed. Aside from the best pizza in New York, they also have quite the wait staff. If you're lucky to get a table in the front of the restaurant next to the jazz band, you're almost sure to be graced with Jimmy as a waiter. You'll recognize him from his signature baseball cap and his amazing singing voice as he joins in with the band on a break from serving pizzas. Show up for your birthday and you'll get to hear your very own "happy birthday dear customer" rendition sung by Jimmy himself with accompaniment by the Arturo's disco ball.

 

All Porcupines

In a new study released this week, porcupines (yes you are seeing and reading correctly) are naturally pigeon-toed. A group of world renowned scientists working on Australia's Christmas Island made a recent breakthrough. The findings came about when a porcupine in captivity escaped while being fingerprinted early last week. The spined rodent did in fact leave pigeon-toed tracks, and it led scientists to study other other porcupines on the island. They corresponded with colleagues around the globe, and it was confirmed: all porcupines are in fact pigeon-toed. Here at the Pigeon Club, we would like to bring your attention to another example of how we really are all connected through the pigeon.

 

Curtis Allina

This month we honor the life and accomplishments of our first pigeon-toed inventor, Mr. Curtis Allina, the man who truly made the packaging more important than the candy. In 1955, Mr. Allina debuted the first Pez head dispenser and it changed the business of candy and the world of collecting as we know it. Curtis was Austrian born, and moved to New York at the end of World War II as his family's sole European survivor of the Holocaust. He passed away last month at age 87 in his home in Olympia, Washington.

 

Colin Huggins

Mr. Colin Huggins. Self- described as the world's happiest man, also known as the crazy piano guy, and now... our secretly pigeon toed celebrity of the month. In the rare photo located above, we have the first documented proof of the man behind the piano standing on his feet... pigeon toed. You may recognize him as the guy playing the real piano on the streets and in the parks of Greenwich Village. A brilliant and talented musician, Colin is eccentric and dedicated enough to drag his piano out to the streets every day. The Pigeon Club would like to take this opportunity to thank you Colin its the irreplaceable people like you that make this city so dynamic.

 

Betsy Ross and her purse

We all know that every great woman needs an even better purse. This perfectly teamed pair was spotted late night in Greenwich Village, and were more than anxious to have a photograph taken. While Betsy may be widely known for her superior seamstress abilities and as a member of the Fighting Quakers who helped nurse both British and American soldiers back to health, she is rarely recognized for her keen sense of fashion and her pigeon toed stance. This month we tip our powder white wigs to an American legend, Miss Betsy Ross. May you live forever.

 

Agent J