Hail to Thee, Fat Person!

Fifty years ago, song parody specialist Allan Sherman released "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh," maybe the most popular comedy/novelty record ever produced. Sherman was a native of Chicago and in honor of that anniversary — and maybe because of the new book on Sherman by Mark Cohen — the mayor of Chicago is proclaiming August 31st as Allan Sherman Day in Chicago! Not bad for a guy who failed upwards, downwards and sideways throughout his life.