Video: Holy Land USA Video
Holy Land USA
Waterbury, Connecticut
In 1987, NYC comedy group Chucklehead was furiously performing at cabarets and off-off Broadway venues. The shows mixed live sketches with guerrilla VHS videos shot around town and played on ugly, old TVs the Chucks hauled around in a station wagon.
Science for Fundamentalists was a recurring live bit featuring Reverend Ridgelow, young follower Billy (with handy sweat sponge in his pocket) and neophyte Amanda (with tragic lipstick on her teeth).
The popular sketch trio made a mock TV commercial about a fabulous theme park named Holy Land USA.
The Roadside America connection: Doug filmed and edited scenes he shot at defunct religious attraction Holy Land USA, in Waterbury, Connecticut, together with scenes at Coney Island, and a convenient New Jersey backyard.
Actors: Michael Huston, Jay Martel, Steve Salter.
Music: Tim Hill, Mark Sarto. Song recording and guitar: Fred Malley. Voice: Mark Sarto.
Video script/shoot/edit: Doug Kirby. Props: Anne D. Bernstein, Margot Sheehan
Science for Fundamentalists original characters: Rob Dinsmoor