The greatest story ever told

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Last updated on August 9th, 2017 at 04:57 pm

Harry Hutton: “These are the highlights of my stay in the Chicago Airport Travelodge. It’s a beautiful story, and yet it’s true.”

Posted by Tim B. on 05/01/2006 at 01:00 PM

Never has sheer tedium been so funny!
Posted by paco on 2006 05 01 at 01:08 PM • permalink

Very briefly NSFW.
Posted by Joe Geoghegan on 2006 05 01 at 02:27 PM • permalink

He’s the next Jim Jarmusch!
Posted by tim maguire on 2006 05 01 at 02:29 PM • permalink

I was offended. Too much socks and violins.
Posted by Dave S. on 2006 05 01 at 02:39 PM • permalink

Seriously, how could he be bored when the TV was showing topless potato-sack races and freakin’ Runaway Train!
It’s mighty hard to chew the scenery when the scenery is a multi-ton steel locomotive, but damn if Jon Voight didn’t pull it off. And topless potato-sack races? Makes me proud to be American, it does.
Bonus points for CNN coverage of (non) drowning polar bears.
Posted by Dave S. on 2006 05 01 at 02:42 PM • permalink

He’s a very funny fellow. I ended up spending quite a bit of time reading all his gags.
Posted by Srekwah on 2006 05 01 at 03:03 PM • permalink

Even more bonus points for the airplane scene at the very end.
Posted by ErnieG on 2006 05 01 at 05:32 PM • permalink

When a man is tired of the Travelodge, he is truly tired of life.
Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 05 01 at 05:50 PM • permalink

…remembering to state clearly “I’m calling about the ham.”
Words to live by.
Posted by HisHineness on 2006 05 01 at 06:15 PM • permalink

Geez, next time rent a dang car!
Posted by Rob C. on 2006 05 01 at 06:37 PM • permalink

How did he manage this tour de force without the government grant?
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 05 01 at 08:08 PM • permalink

#11 He’s not an Aussie Artiste.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 05 01 at 09:35 PM • permalink

“Topless sack race” sounds even dirtier than it really is.
Posted by Aaron – Freewill on 2006 05 01 at 10:31 PM • permalink

This is definitely the funniest video about boredom that I’ve seen yet. But the guy was a $1.75 train ride from the Loop and Rush Street, yet he preferred to photograph his socks. Whatever.
Posted by Urbs in Horto on 2006 05 01 at 10:51 PM • permalink

I love when he rang his friend’s answering machine and said “I’m afraid you have won a ham in our ham compteition”.
Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 05 01 at 11:16 PM • permalink

But the guy was a $1.75 train ride from the Loop and Rush Street, yet he preferred to photograph his socks.
The same thought entered my mind: Coasties and foreigners *do not understand Chicago*. They cannot comprehend.
Posted by Aaron – Freewill on 2006 05 02 at 12:01 AM • permalink

With a rental car, he could have driven a mere 7 hours, and stalked Lileks.
How fun would that have been? He could have witnessed what James hauled out of Target on that particular day.
Also, Rush Street would have given as much entertainment as anyone might need.
The neighborhoods North of Chicago and along Lake Michigan, are some of the finest residential areas in the U.S. and make for a fine Sunday drive.
Posted by Thomas on 2006 05 02 at 12:38 AM • permalink

OTOH, there are those who think that travel is all fun and games. My ex-wife evidently thought I was living it up every night when I was spending 3-4 nights a week on the road, not in Chicago, and in motels much worse than TravelLodge. Trust me.
Many nights I would have given much to have had such interesting socks and traffic and tv fare. Lucky stiff.
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2006 05 02 at 12:45 AM • permalink

Magic words to establish at the new job : “I don’t travel.’‘
One too many airplanes is one too many airplanes. Stick to it.
Posted by rhhardin on 2006 05 02 at 08:04 AM • permalink

Arts Council Grant!
Now!
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2006 05 02 at 09:14 AM • permalink

#18: I used to travel on business in a previous job, and the potential for discomfort was always there. Why, I once stayed in a town so small and grubby, they only had a Motel 5.
Posted by paco on 2006 05 02 at 09:45 PM • permalink