‘Secret’ early morning Dave Chappelle show draws thousands in downtown Portland, Oregon

‘Secret’ Chappelle show draws thousands in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. — The rumor of a secret show by comedian Dave Chappelle turned out to be accurate. Well, the rumor, not the secret.

Thousands of people filled Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square late Tuesday and early Wednesday in hopes that what they learned through text message, Twitter, Facebook or word-of-mouth was true.

Chappelle arrived at about 1 a.m. to great applause and a surge of people with their camera phones aloft. There was only problem with the free event — a small amplifier left the comic inaudible to most.

It’s not clear why Chappelle was in Portland, and what led him to the downtown 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 message or other communication. Chappelle, who had no security or entourage, said he expected to 200 people to show — not the thousands that stood shoulder-to-shoulder.

Chappelle at one point announced that someone was going to get 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., but not before thanking the crowd and sharing something he learned on his visit: “Don’t tell a secret in Portland.”

Information from: The Oregonian, www.oregonlive.com