Wavy Gravy

Wavy Gravy – Life, Activism, and the Clown with a Cause

Explore the life of Wavy Gravy (born May 15, 1936), the American entertainer, clown, and peace activist. Learn his story—from Woodstock to Seva Foundation—and discover his philosophy, contributions, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Wavy Gravy (born Hugh Nanton Romney Jr., May 15, 1936) is an American entertainer, peace activist, clown, and countercultural icon.

He is known for blending humor, performance, and activism—using his clown persona and communal projects to advance causes such as peace, community, and health. Over the decades, he has co-founded organizations, managed large cultural gatherings, and lived by the principle that joy and service go hand in hand.

Here’s a deeper look at his journey, beliefs, and legacy.

Early Life & Background

• Birth & Name
  Hugh Nanton Romney Jr. was born in East Greenbush, New York, on May 15, 1936.

• Upbringing & Education
  He was raised in Princeton, New Jersey, then later in West Hartford, Connecticut, where he attended William Hall High School and graduated in 1954.

  After high school, he joined the U.S. Army, serving as a sign painter, making use of the G.I. Bill. He later studied theater under the G.I. Bill, enrolling in Boston University’s Theater Department and also at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

• Early Creative Life
  In the late 1950s, Romney became involved in poetry readings at the Gaslight Café in Greenwich Village, New York. He was also associated with folk/beat circles and befriended artists such as Bob Dylan.

Through these formative years, Romney built both a creative foundation and a network among the countercultural and artistic communities.

Transformation into Wavy Gravy & Clown Activism

• The Name “Wavy Gravy”
  The moniker Wavy Gravy is said to have emerged around the time of the 1969 Texas International Pop Festival. According to his account, he joked about “wavy gravy” while onstage and shortly thereafter was asked by B.B. King “Are you Wavy Gravy?” which he accepted.

• The Phurst Church of Phun & Political Theater
  In the early 1960s, Romney co-founded the Phurst Church of Phun, a network of comics and clowns aiming to oppose the Vietnam War and other causes via satire, performance, and protest. He adopted a clown persona as part of his activism: outré dress, comedic performance, and the idea that a clown is less threatening and more open to dialogue—even in protests.

• The Hog Farm Commune
  Romney was instrumental in forming the Hog Farm, a communal collective of artists and activists. The Hog Farm began as a loose gathering of creatives and activists, later organizing traveling concert support, light shows, and community services.

  Their mode of travel (in converted school buses) and their communal ethic reflected the era’s experiments in alternative living.

• Woodstock & “Please Force”
  At Woodstock (1969), the festival’s organizers asked the Hog Farm group to assist with crowd management. Romney adopted the name “Please Force” for his team, suggesting they use polite, non-coercive tactics (e.g. “please do this,” “please don’t do that”). He made stage announcements during the festival (famously promising “breakfast in bed for 400,000”) and had the collective distribute food and support to festivalgoers.

  That role at Woodstock cemented his status as a countercultural mediator—someone combining performance, social care, and a nonviolent ethos.

Major Projects & Contributions

• Seva Foundation
  In 1978, Romney co-founded the Seva Foundation (with Ram Dass and Larry Brilliant), an international non-profit aimed at restoring sight and promoting health in underserved regions. Seva organizes benefit concerts (often featuring prominent musicians) and has helped fund programs for eye care, blindness prevention, and related health initiatives.

• Camp Winnarainbow
  Romney and his wife (Bonnie Beecher, later known as Jahanara Romney) co-founded Camp Winnarainbow, a performing arts, circus, and creative arts camp. The camp aims to foster artistic expression, cooperation, and self-confidence—especially among young people.

• Artistic & Radio Work
  In addition to performance, Wavy Gravy has worked as a collage artist, and his visual art has been shown in galleries. He has hosted radio shows (e.g. Gravy in Your Ear, The Wavy Files) on Sirius XM’s Jam On radio. A documentary film, Saint Misbehavin': The Wavy Gravy Movie (2010) maps his life, ethos, and influence.

• Cultural & Public Stunts
  Romney implemented creative activism ideas such as “Nobody for President,” promoting “None of the Above” ballot choices in protest politics. He also set up a shop called Nobody’s Business near the Hog Farm as part of his symbolic activism.

• Recognition & Popular Culture
  The ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s named a flavor “Wavy Gravy” (caramel, cashew, Brazil nut, hazelnut fudge swirl) in the 1990s, with proceeds benefiting causes associated with Romney. Though discontinued in 2001, the flavor remains a cultural reference to his legacy.

In sum, Wavy Gravy’s work spans performance, social service, activism, and cultural symbolism.

Philosophy & Personality

Wavy Gravy embraces a blend of whimsy, sincerity, and radical compassion. Some threads in his worldview include:

• “Temple of Accumulated Error”
  On his website, he humorously calls himself a “temple of accumulated error,” suggesting humility, self-awareness, and acceptance of imperfection.

• Joy as Resistance
  He treats laughter, play, and clowning as tools for resistance and solidarity—offering alternative modes to confront serious issues.

• Nonviolence & Service
  Romney’s approach to protest, community building, and health activism centers on service and nonviolent presence more than confrontation.

• Art & Activism as Integrated
  For him, art and activism are inseparable: performance amplifies message, and activism grounds performance in purpose.

In interviews, he often reflects on the absurdity of life, the necessity of joy, and the power of small acts of kindness.

Memorable Quotes

• “What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000.” (Woodstock announcement)

• “Everything Wavy says is true, although it’s all unbelievable.” (Ram Dass on Romney)

• Addressing his clown persona: when initial surgeries and pain led to a red nose and clown gear, he discovered that police were less likely to harm clowns, enabling political performance.

• On longevity and marriage: he has quipped that the secret to a long life is simply “don’t get divorced.”

These lines reflect his balancing of humor and earnestness, and his belief in disarming archetypes.

Legacy & Influence

• Wavy Gravy remains a touchstone for how art, activism, and community can merge into a lifetime’s practice.

• His methods anticipate many later forms of creative protest, theatrical activism, and festival culture.

• The institutions he founded (Seva Foundation, Camp Winnarainbow) continue to operate, impacting real lives in health and arts.

• Within the countercultural canon, he stands among those who seek not just to critique society but to offer alternative modes of living.

At his advanced age, he continues to engage, host events, support causes, and serve as a living emblem of 1960s ideals adapted into enduring service.