September 29, 2009
Velvet gentlemen’s club owner Samuel J.T. Moore III hung a banner on his establishment during the weekend depicting President Obama as The Joker, the latest attempt by the controversial business owner to get the nation’s 44th president cast in the sequel to 2008′s “The Dark Knight.”
Moore, a self-proclaimed “comics geek” who owns nearly every Batman comic book since the superhero’s introduction in 1939, praised the president’s “impressive jawline” and “those 
pull-you-right-in eyes,” traits the business owner says make Obama a natural choice for the role in the upcoming 2011 film.
“Don’t get me wrong, Heath Ledger was awesome as Joker, but in the movie Joker didn’t die, and now that Heath is dead, I think Obama is perfect going forward,” said Moore, who put the banner of Obama, smeared with red lipstick, a white face and dark eyes onto his S. 15th St. strip club on Saturday. “By hanging this poster, I’m hoping to catch the attention of the folks at [Batman series producers] Warner Bros., so they realize how awesome Obama would be as Joker.”
Added Moore: “I love Barack Obama.”
Still, Richmonders remained divided on the issue of whether the nation’s first African-American president should play The Joker, a DC Comics supervillain who has traditionally been portrayed as a white man.
“Obama as the Joker? That is ridiculous. I mean the guy doesn’t even have any acting experience,” said King Salim Khalfani, director of the Virginia NAACP, which led a 40-person rally outside of Velvet yesterday protesting the president’s involvement in the next Christopher Nolan film. “Now, Chris Nolan hasn’t put Mr. Freeze in his latest series, so I could potentially see Obama in that role, or maybe Penguin or Riddler. Either of those would be cool.”
“Or has anyone thought of casting him as Batman? A black Batman could be a cool thing. Just something to think about,” said Khalfani, noting he is “more of a Marvel [comics] guy than DC,” but can respect any superhero franchise no matter the company.
Others, however, sided with Moore.
“I never really thought about it until [Moore] hung that banner, but yeah, Obama really could pull of The Joker,” said Maria Salaguinito, standing in front of the roughly 8-foot by 10-foot promotional movie poster yesterday. ”Though most movie stars, like Arnold [Schwarzenegger] and Ronald Reagan, started in the movies and became politicians, not vice versa. Though Obama seems like a pretty hip guy and if he manages his time right, could find a way to fit filming into his busy schedule.”
This weekend’s poster controversy is not the first time Moore has shown his affinity for anything Batman-related.
In 2007, the 44-year-old installed a pair of batsignals onto the roof of the club, which now shine every night in what Moore calls his “nerdy, nerdy, nerdy, nerdy desire” to draw the Caped Crusader from Gotham City to Richmond. And last year, Moore was convicted of three misdemeanor charges related to having sex with a minor and filming it illegally, which, possibly, the filming thing had something to do with his love of Batman movies.
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Guy Who Lives Above 3 Monkeys Tired Of Asking Everyone To Keep It Down
Nick Cavalieri, who has lived in the apartment directly above 3 Monkeys Bar and Grill since November, is getting "more than fed up" with having to continuously tell his neighbors to be quiet, the 30-year-old said today.
"Monday through Sunday, I hear those guys partying pretty much every night," Cavalieri said. The University ...
Mmmhmm, nicely done.
your liberal photographer and editor failed to capture the HUGE “Socialism” caption at the bottom of the picture…or i guess you didnt see that as being of any importance.
I like.
Nah we actually just cropped it out of the photo because we couldn’t find a way to tie socialism into Batman. Though we are very pro socialism (that’s like socializing, right?)
Wow… Some people just can’t take a Joker…
[...] diligent reporters over at Tobacco Avenue have feretted out the truth about this whole Velvet Obama contretemps: Velvet gentlemen’s club owner Samuel J.T. Moore III hung a banner on his establishment during [...]
I just fell in blog-love, thanks.
Thanks, I needed this.
How come whenever you disagree or have an issue with Barack HUSSEIN Obama it is automatically tagged as racist? Has this country seriously come to that? It just seems that in response to anything anti-obama the people who are offended by it have nothing better to say and have no argument–so they result to the pitiful racist card.
B. HUSSEIN Obama is an evil, evil man. Every-time he opens his mouth he either lies or boasts about his pitiful accomplishments. The man has driven the deficit to record amounts, LOST thousands of jobs, created government programs that have already, yes ALREADY, failed miserably and lies about it all. The man can’t tell the truth because if he did, all he would be dictating would be excuses for his failing policies.
I commend Mr. Moore for his patriotism and his genius idea of freedom of speech. Mr. Moore knows what B. HUSSEIN Obama is doing to the small business owners. B. HUSSEIN Obama is providing no help to the small business owners, but in fact raising taxes and creating multiple barriers to inhibit success. Lets face it, B. HUSSEIN Obama hates success, mainly because he has never had real success. Everything he has gotten has been given to him and stolen (the presidency).
So once again, Mr. Moore i commend your great American attitude, and your braveness. I personally will find a way to promote your business, visit myself and recommend it to friends, family and acquaintances–because a patriot like you deserves to be in business and be successful. God Bless you sir. We need more people like Mr. Moore who aren’t afraid to come out, speak their mind and inform people that contrary to what the media would like you to think– B. HUSSEIN Obama is not liked by everyone (check his atrocious approval ratings).
Thanks again and God Bless
Cheese and Rice-you’re kinda crazy, John.
It’s a shame voters can’t openly criticize our half black POTUS without being called racist. Clearly the US needs to stick to WASP males.
I hope the 40+ protesters enjoyed the nice fall afternoon outside while others were working in buildings nearby.
They sure will be busy over the coming months and years.
John, did your CAPS key get stuck? You should have that looked at.
Speaking of atrocious, we most certainly do not need more people like Sam Moore around. Beyond this current tasteless display, he’s a criminal and a pig. One is more than enough.
I truly believe that he has the right to place that sign on his property. I, too, am tired of everyone using the race card everytime someone complains about Obama’s policies.I believe that we are forgetting the fact that he is half white, as well. Does it really matter what color our president is? If we do not like his policies, we have the right to express our opinions.
Funny i travel down here on buss a lot , and i find one thing certainly has not changed. When u cross the memorial bridge your officially in the south. Too bad this isn’t in NYC where i happily reside. We would have a socially mixed group out there asking quite nicely to TEAR IT DOWN. I remember we had a gentleman much like MR. Moore who thought Obama cupcakes was the answer, he is happily out of business. What kinda mileage you getting in those humvees? Go green man . I see it for what it is mr teabagger or is it birther?
“Liberal photographer”? That is AWESOME!!!! Holy crap, that line alone is better than McCarthyism in it’s enemy-of-the-state-exposing insight! How about “fascist photographer” or “Satanist photographer”? Hire “al” on! Better than Ed Anger’s stuff that used to be in the Weekly World News. Brilliant! Finger-pointin’, head-up-the-backside-view brilliant! I bet he used a “communist camera” to take the photo as well, there, “al”…
Hey, this John guy is a hoot! If Tobacco Avenue needs more writers, may I be so bold to suggest such genius? Hilarious!
I’m not sure about JOHN. I mean, his name is JOHN. Wasn’t there a serial-killer/pedophile who’s first name was JOHN? There could be a chance he likes to put on clown makeup as well before tracking victims…. you know, because his name is JOHN. JOHN….think about it. There has to be a connection, with a name like JOHN.
AND, we don’t even know JOHN’s middle name– could be Steven or even PAUL!
As long as his middle name is not HUSSEIN. We don’t need any MORE terrorists in Richmond. (Because, you know…everyone named Hussein is a terrorist)
I love it. he would look good play the part lol.where can i buy a poster.?
Sam did you ever think about being the Joker yourself, I mean put a big picture of yourself on the side of your business, get the attention of the people that way, why dont you try doing that, that would be awsome, SAMUEL JT MOORE the third as the “JOKER” himself, lol. think about it.
The author seems to miss the point. Moore hung this poster with the term “socialism” because he’s emulating the uninformed indignation he’s seen on Fox. Some forget that it was a republican Whitehouse that got us into this mess and began the huge bailouts. It’s also been a republican Whitehouse that has ignored the healthcare crisis for 8 years, with healthcare costs spiraling out of control. We spend more per capita on health care than any other country in the world, yet our infant mortality rate and other health indicators are worse than some developing nations.
We are now seeing improvements in the economy and Obama is offering us a chance to fix healthcare and to end the uncontrolled reign of insurance company profiteers.
It’s clear that the Republican Party has become a finger pointing party of do nothing, but help your corporate supporters. There base is becoming a minority of backwards reactionary hillbillies. Demographics are changing and we’re now seeing the Party relegated permanently to opposition status.
We are now seeing improvements in the economy and Obama is offering us a chance to fix healthcare and to end the uncontrolled reign of insurance company profiteers.
It’s clear that the Republican Party has become a finger pointing party of do nothing, but help your corporate supporters. There base is becoming a minority of backwards reactionary hillbillies. Demographics are changing and we’re now seeing the Party relegated permanently to opposition status.
Somehow Martin, I doubt the author meant any of what you mentioned, considering the overall content of this website.
Hey, this John guy is a hoot! If Tobacco Avenue needs more writers, may I be so bold to suggest such genius? Hilarious!
HA! I love the dialogue! It’s scary to see just how many crazies (JOHN, in particular)crawl out of the woodwork when some sleazebag criminal hangs a tasteless banner outside his STRIP CLUB! AWESOME! Martin, you have some good points, but this is satire. Maybe the Velvet should offer discounts this Halloween for any customer that walks in with joker face paint. Na, I don’t think the tight wad owner will turn down profit…. but still, it’s a great idea. JOHN is an IDIOT. There’s my freedom of speech! JOHN Q IDIOT, Go suck on Moore the III, and don’t be SO SERIOUS! Don’t forget: nothing says “AMERICAN PATRIOT” like a criminal strip club owner who sexes minors on tape!FREAK
1st and the 5th