(Pt 2) History of William Topaz McGonagall: The Worst Poet in Scottish History

We continue on with the history of William Topaz McGonagall (1825 –1902) - the worst poet in Scottish history, whose performances usually ended with being pelted with rotten eggs, peas, and herring.

Not only did McG once walk 60 miles through a thunderstorm - to read his poetry for the Queen (though not invited), but he also  went on to influence the likes of Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, The Muppets, and Harry Potter. 

Also, check out the video we produced on William Topaz McGonagall for The Atlantic

History of William Topaz McGonagall: The Worst Poet in Scottish History: Part One

William Topaz McGonagall (1825 –1902) has the notoriety of being the worst poet in Scottish history. What they said about McGonagall back in the day was:

“He was so giftedly bad he unwittingly backed in genius.”

When McGonagall would perform his poetry, it usually resulted in being pelted with rotten eggs, peas, and herring. The comedy legacy of McGonagall is he went on to influence the likes of Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, The Muppets, and of course, Harry Potter. 

CH101 Select: History of the Imrov Comedy Club

We dive into the history of the legendary Improv comedy club. Learn about Bud Friedman and his club that launched the careers of Andy Kaufman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Sarah Silverman, and just about everyone else who is famous in the world of comedy.

Find out about the humble beginnings in Hell's Kitchen. When did the iconic brick wall come about?  How did the Improv became a megalopolis comedy brand?