Nov 18, 2009 5:29 pm US/Central
Someone You Should Know: Those Funny Little People
WILLOWBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Chicagoans Dave Gregoire and Sarah Polarek created 'Those Funny Little People', a company that puts on 'character' shows at parades and parties.
CBS
They look little, but they're big on entertainment. Meet some real holiday "characters" who are the creations of two Chicagoans. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield says they're some people you should know.
Who are they and where do they come from? You see these funny little people popping up at parties and parades, and just about everywhere. Dave Gregoire and Sarah Polarek know them better than anyone. They created the characters back in 1976.
"The two of us got together to do an act for a fundraiser at our high school, and created a costume to match his, and it was such a big hit that we started getting part-time work," Sarah said.
They continued the act because, as Dave said, "We got a great reaction to it. We had something. We didn't quite know what it could be, but there was something there."
Interest began to snowball. Sarah and Dave quit their jobs and started a business called "Those Funny Little People." They've assembled more than 100 sets of characters.
They may be funny little people but they have become big business, operating out of a 4,000 square foot space in Willowbrook.
The company puts on more than 1,000 shows a year, at parties and parades of all sorts. And it's a love fest between performer and audience.
"I think they love the fact that our mouths move. They don't expect that," said Anna Jakubowska. "When we're dancing, it's a lot of fun. And then they realize that our mouths move and we can kiss them."
All of this work is a lot of fun, even in rehearsals.
"I can't think of anything else I'd want to be doing more right now," said Kris Klabacha. "This is the only job that's ever made me really happy."
All these years later, when Sarah looks back, what does she think?
"I look at it now, and think, I can't believe I did that. But here we are. We did it and it worked," Sarah said.
The founders of Those Funny Little People are some people you should know.
The troupe has a rich history. Over the years, they have performed in 35 states and Puerto Rico. For 31 years they've been regulars in Chicago's Saint Patrick's Day Parade. And for 28 years, they were Christmas elves at Marshall Field's, now Macy's, on State Street.
For more information on Those Funny Little People, call (630) 325-3320 or
click here.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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