Eden Ahbez Nature Boy

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This guy, Eden Ahbez, was a bohemian type living in California in the 40s. Apparently he lived for a long while behind the "L" in the big Hollywood sign.
He wrote the song Nature Boy that was a hit for Nat King Cole. These clips show him meeting up with Nat King Cole for the first time.

He rides his bike on stage and seems to speak from a pre-arranged script about how he likes to live simply and close to nature. He says he's staying in the best hotel - Central Park. I initially thought he meant he was really staying in a grand hotel, but I think he means he was sleeping in the park.

One thing that sounds a bit weird these days is his saying that he'd like a jeep so he could "get to nature more quickly".

Eden Ahbez died in the mid-90s aged 85 when he was run over by a lorry while riding his bike.

Other Hollywood sign curiousities: In 1932, Welsh actress Peg Entwistle committed suicide by jumping from the letter "H" when she thought her career was on the slide.
Ironically, when she jumped there was already a letter in the post offering her a big part in a film. Even more ironically, the character they wanted her to play was a woman who commits suicide.



Nat King Cole's version of the song.