Separated at birth?
The Paul Reubens story isn't complete without Allee Willis.
Hi, it’s me again, my beautiful babies… Willis Wonderland. (Yes, the house.)
This one is about a special friendship. And me, of course.
When I think back to the mid-1980s, I remember I was starting to hit my stride. I was already popping with kitsch, creativity, and colorful characters. And, prepare for the namedrop, one of those characters was Paul Reubens (yep, Pee-wee Herman).
With Pee-wee as Himself premiering, it feels like the right moment to talk about Paul and someone who played a big part in his life: my gal Allee Willis.
Back in the day, Paul and Allee were besties. They had been introduced to each other by Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira), who told Paul, “You’ve got to meet this woman. She has bowling balls sunk in her front lawn.”
Just for the record, I still have dozens of bowling balls all around me. I think they give me a certain je ne sais quoi.
Anyway, Paul didn’t need to hear anything else. They clicked instantly. Complete kindred spirits.
But don’t just take it from me. In this bonus clip from the doc about Allee, The World According to Allee Willis, Paul shares how they met, how they cracked each other up, and what it was like to be rising stars at the same time. It’s so good!
See? I told you they were close.
Now let’s get back to talking about me
Back in those days, Paul hung out a lot with me and Allee. One on day in 1985, he even got gussied up in full Pee-wee regalia to pose with Allee for a LIFE magazine shoot. They sat right here in my living room, sharing a Mr. Bali Hai tiki mug like the two maximalist besties they were. I’m not sure if LIFE ever ran the photos, but just look at how great I look in this one:
That same summer, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure hit the big screen. A year later, Pee-wee’s Playhouse hit the airwaves. People, even to this day, say I’m like the real-life Playhouse. I’m not saying I am, but let’s be real… you see it, right?
Brian Eno, the legendary musician and producer, has a word for the kind of creative magic that sparks here. He calls it “scenius.” It’s the idea that brilliance doesn’t come from one lone genius, but from a scene. A group of like-minded weirdos sharing ideas, pushing boundaries, and bringing out the best in each other.
That was Allee and Paul, along with their entire quirky cast of characters. I was their clubhouse. The place where it all came together. The magic didn’t just happen here. It incubated. Chicken and egg.
If you liked all that, there will be more soon. The World According to Allee Willis filmmakers are turning footage that didn’t make the film’s final cut into a whole bunch of video shorts, and I’ve got the exclusive on all of it. I know!
—Willis Wonderland
P.S. The World According to Allee Willis is streaming now on Hulu. Pee-wee as Himself is on HBO (Max? HBO Max? What is it called now?).
Big thanks to the Willis Wonderland Foundation for giving me a voice.
They honor the legacy of Hall of Fame songwriter and creative powerhouse Allee Willis by empowering the next generation of creatives. Be sure to take a look at their Musical Wonders music education program. If you’d like to support what they’re doing, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today.
Wow, thanks, you made it all the way to the end. Here’s your bonus: the LIFE shoot outtakes!
Ok, gotta go. Until next time!