'Secret' Chappelle Show Draws Thousands In Oregon (VIDEO)

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AP: PORTLAND, Ore. — Thousands of people who learned through text message, Twitter and word-of-mouth that comedian Dave Chappelle would hold a free show filled a downtown Portland square late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

Chappelle arrived at about 1 a.m. to a surge of camera phone-wielding fans. There was only problem – a small amplifier left the comic inaudible to most.

It's not clear why Chappelle was in Portland, and what led him to Pioneer Courthouse Square.

"I'm not here for money," he told the crowd.

Chappelle is best known for his sketch-comedy program that ran on Comedy Central. In May 2005, he walked away from a $50 million deal to continue the popular show.

Most people went to the square at the last minute, after receiving a text or other communication. Chappelle, who had no security or entourage, said he expected 200 people to gather – not the thousands that stood shoulder-to-shoulder.

Chappelle at one point announced that someone was going to retrieve a better sound system, and would return in 20 minutes. When the man came back, spectators fed power cords to the edges of the square to plug them in. But apparently there was no power.

Though the show fizzled, the mood remained festive and there were no arrests. Chappelle left the square shortly after 2 a.m.

WATCH:

Dave Chappelle at Pioneer Square

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Comments

[valkyrie607]

11:54 PM on 07/16/2009

Oh Dave, you are a legend!

Come back! Only you can mock Obama the way he needs, nay, DEMANDS to be mocked.

Please?

[Stoopkid]

10:31 PM on 07/16/2009

"I didn't know I was still famous. Now I know."

Key quote right there. Dave, the reason you're still famous is because you produced genuinely funny, original, and smart comedy. Fame born from true talent does not go away so easily, your fans don't forget you so easily; I still find myself often wondering if and hoping that you will do more TV and/or movies. Fame that comes from other sources diminishes­, you can bet everyone will forget Carlos Mencia the minute Comedy Central stops airing his awful show. But Mr. Chappelle, people won't forget you for a long time, your show was a staple of our generation as much as Eddie Murphy was a staple of the 80s.

[AceInTheHole]

10:18 PM on 07/16/2009

With all due respect, what a waste of talent!

[phantom5551]

08:06 PM on 07/16/2009

i realize that some of you here will consider the following comments to be sacrilegio­us, but i don't care as i have a right to my opinion.

when it was on, the chappelle show was probably the funniest t.v. show in the last 20 years. To me, his talent lies in his abilities as a comic and skit actor. i also thought "half baked" was hysterical

the issue i have is that i always thought that his standup was kind of average and often weak. on def jam, there were a number of comics that were way funnier, and his dvd, "killin them softly" was a major disappoint­ment. as far as big name standup comics, i thought prime eddie murphy or chris rock blew him out of the water.

just my 2 cents. flame away

[valkyrie607]

11:59 PM on 07/16/2009

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=aUmYGLIub­ho

This sh*t still cracks me up.

I don't wanna go to Sesame Street, it's a horrible place. Fucken six foot pigeons walking around... An elephant that's a junkie...

[706makeupgirl]

02:41 PM on 07/16/2009

How beautiful! Kudos to Dave and to the people of Portland.

[rigormrtis]

01:30 PM on 07/16/2009

Are we sure there was not a Decembrist­s concert?

[Onandon]

01:13 PM on 07/16/2009

Greatest comedian alive

Most honorable comedian alive.

You cant do what he does.....B­iaaaatch!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[MajorKong]

12:46 PM on 07/16/2009

He lives in Yellow Springs, Ohio and I actually bumped into him there once. He seemed like a very nice guy.

[Maurice37]

12:29 PM on 07/16/2009

To most of us he was funny.. Im sure you wasnt there or maybe you watched some other video. Your probably a Dane Cook fan right.

[Maurice37]

12:25 PM on 07/16/2009

dansup your saying he wasnt funny? Can you tell all of us what some of his jokes was? This should be easy for you since you was there.

[Koolmorning]

12:25 PM on 07/16/2009

Where the hell he was all this time?

[dansup]

12:18 PM on 07/16/2009

after all the commotion, he could of at least been funny

[PDXTransplant]

12:02 PM on 07/16/2009

I live just a few blocks away! I didn't have a clue this was happening until the morning news. There were more people there for Dave than the annual Christmas tree lighting in Portland's Living Room!

[Makenna Combs]

12:01 PM on 07/16/2009

I was in the square and barely heard anything, but it was my birthday night and I couldn't have asked for a better gift!!! Love!

[Maurice37]

11:37 AM on 07/16/2009

american-d­olt must be looking for some attention.­.