Ellsworth Wisecarver
Encyclopedia
Ellsworth Clewer "Sonny" Wisecarver Jr. (15 June 1929 – 22 November 2005), called the Woo Woo Kid, became infamous in 1944 for having affairs with older women. His behavior sparked public scandal, primarily because of his age; at age 14 he ran off with a mother of two ... only to do it again a year later. It was the latter incident that sparked his notoriety; Eleanor Deveny, the woman he fled with the second time, was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
As for Sonny, his parents had him declared an incorrigible delinquent. He spent time in the California Youth Authority, a state penal facility for juveniles.
In his book The Rape of the A*P*E*, Allan Sherman
credits the Wisecarver scandal and resulting publicity as the official start of the American sexual revolution.
Wisecarver's scandalous affairs were the basis for the 1987 film, In the Mood
, in which Wisecarver makes a cameo appearance as a mailman
. Patrick Dempsey
played the role of Wisecarver. An interview with Wisecarver also appears on the original VHS of the movie.
Wisecarver spent his final days in a mobile home in Yucaipa, California
, in the United States
. He died of lung cancer at the age of 76, at a Veterans hospital in Loma Linda, Calif. An Air Force veteran of the Korean War, Wisecarver is buried in Riverside National Cemetery
in California.
As for Sonny, his parents had him declared an incorrigible delinquent. He spent time in the California Youth Authority, a state penal facility for juveniles.
In his book The Rape of the A*P*E*, Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman was an American comedy writer and television producer who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer , became the fastest-selling record album up to that time...
credits the Wisecarver scandal and resulting publicity as the official start of the American sexual revolution.
Wisecarver's scandalous affairs were the basis for the 1987 film, In the Mood
In the Mood (film)
In the Mood is a 1987 film directed by Phil Alden Robinson. It is set in the 1940s and stars Patrick Dempsey and Beverly D'Angelo.Based on the true story of Ellsworth Clewer "Sonny" Wisecarver Jr., called the Woo Woo Kid, who became infamous in 1944 for having affairs with older women...
, in which Wisecarver makes a cameo appearance as a mailman
Mail carrier
A mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman , postman/postwoman , letter carrier or postie is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses...
. Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
played the role of Wisecarver. An interview with Wisecarver also appears on the original VHS of the movie.
Wisecarver spent his final days in a mobile home in Yucaipa, California
Yucaipa, California
Yucaipa is a city located east of San Bernardino, in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 51,367 at the 2010 census, up from 41,207 at the 2000 census...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He died of lung cancer at the age of 76, at a Veterans hospital in Loma Linda, Calif. An Air Force veteran of the Korean War, Wisecarver is buried in Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration...
in California.
External links
- People v Wisecarver. Accessed 28 January 2006