Writer, musician and film producer whose greatest claim to fame is in
being one of the country's greatest practical jokers. Four years out of
Ohio State University, Abel perpetrated his first major hoax in 1959 as
the mastermind of the "Society for Indecency to Naked Animals" in which
he persuaded actor Buck Henry to portray the president of the Society
and appear on Television recommending the diapering of farm animals for
decency's sake. Other classic hoaxes by Abel involved him and his wife
Jeanne lobbying for a nude postage stamp of Jane Fonda, promoting a
fictional Sex Olympics, and convincing the press that General Idi Amin
was getting married in a lavish wedding at New York's Plaza Hotel on
the sly. Abel and his wife were constantly able to fool the public and
the press alike.
Planted his own obitiuary in the January 2, 1980 issue of the New York
Times.
Once sold advertising space on bald heads.
Once was manager of a fictional "Topless String Quartet".
Lured reporters to a fake interview with Watergate's famed "Deep
Throat".
His wife, Jeanne, was launched as a presidential candidate under the
name "Yetta Bronstein." She promised to institute federally
subsidized Bingo tournaments.