DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif.—Paul Krassner—a former bi-monthly columnist for AVN and the founder of The Realist magazine—died at his home, his daughter confirmed to news outlets. He was 87.
Krassner was probably best known, however, as a member of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters and the founder of the Yippies (the Youth International Party) in the late 1960s along with Abbie and Anita Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Nancy Kurshan.
Krassner wrote his column, “One Hand Jerking,” every other month in the early 2000s for AVN Online magazine, which covered the internet segment of the adult entertainment industry. His book Porn Soup was a collection of several of his columns for the magazine.
Born April 9, 1932, in Brooklyn, Krassner was a child violin prodigy and in 1939 at the age of 6 became the youngest person to ever play Carnegie Hall. He chose not to pursue a musical career, however, instead majoring in journalism at Baruch College and performing as the comedian Paul Maul.
Krassner, who described himself as an investigative satirist, created The Realist—a combination of satire and alternative journalism—in 1958. He continued to be a frequent contributor to the magazine until it folded in 1978. He resurrected the publication as a newsletter in 1985, and it published its final edition in 2001.
Throughout his career, he tackled a number of subjects, including editing Lenny Bruce’s autobiography How to Talk Dirty and Influence People, the exploration of comedy and obscenity in politics and culture in his collection of essays published at Who’s to Say What’s Obscene?, a collection of drug stories in Pot Stories for the Soul and Psychedelic Trips for the Mind, an interview with Dr. Robert Spencer about illegal but safe abortions several years before the U.S. Supreme Court tackled the subject, and an exhibit with Wavy Gravy at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame titled I Want to Take You Higher: The Psychedelic Era 1965-1969.
Appearing for an interview on the (conservative) talk show The Joe Pyne Show in 1967, Krassner shocked the TV viewing world by asking the host, "Is it true you use your wooden leg to make love to your wife?"
News of his death was shared and commented on by various public figures, including comedian and prolific voice actor Harry Shearer, who tweeted, “RIP the satirical genius Paul Krassner. His insanely ballsy approach to political comedy stands ever taller today.”
Krassner continued to write until this death. His newest book, Zapped by the God of Absurdity, is scheduled for release later this year.
Krassner is survived by his wife Nancy Cain and his daughter Holly Krassner Dawson. For more, visit his website at PaulKrassner.com. A reproduction of the complete run of The Realist can be found here.
