The Original Crichton Leprechaun News Story

“Don’t be afraid, man.” - A concerned citizen (poorly) directing traffic whose great great great grandfather was Irish.

This news report is the origination of the famous “amateur sketch” which managed to capture the leprechaun in striking detail. In my opinion, perhaps the most important contribution to fine art in the 21st century. It also contains theories about the origins of the leprechaun such as “looks like a shadow…from…the other limb” which really make you think.

Historical Provenance

WPMI sent Brian Johnson to Crichton, in Mobile, Alabama, on March 14, 2006. The report aired that night and again the next morning. The morning version, with Scott Walker and Nikole Patrick, is the one that went viral. botmib uploaded it on St. Patrick’s Day. The main link here goes to NBC15’s 2017 copy.

WPMI later auctioned the original amateur sketch on eBay for charity and it sold for ~$1,100. Considered by the curators of the hall (me) to be the bargain of the century and a truly legendary purchase. It’s a beautiful piece. I hope to some day hang it in these halls for all to behold.

I’ve kept copies of the NBC15 upload, botmib’s earlier upload, and the rap remix in the vault, with a separate backup of each. If one of the links disappears, contact me for access.

Other versions and sources

• The early viral upload — botmib put this one on YouTube on March 17, 2006.
• “Gimme Da Gold” rap video — Mark Slide Squad put the interviews to music later that month.
• WPMI’s retrospective — the two broadcasts and the sketch’s charity auction.
• Photographer Kevin Sibley’s account — how they filmed it, plus the true identity of the flute.