Chicagoland based entertainment company celebrates 45th anniversary

What began in the disco days of 1979 as a Halloween costume, has grown to become an internationally known entertainment company!

Who knew a Halloween costume could become a 45 year business? Certainly not Dave Gregoire, who partnered with Sarah Polarek in 1979 to make a second walking puppet costume, crashing discos together and winning dance contests! Building on their disco era origins, Sarah and Dave began taking gigs for a variety of occasions in the 1980’s, customizing new costumes and characters as the requests came along. Eventually, they quit their day jobs and made it their career.

Dave and Sarah retired in 2021 and started new chapters while Those Funny Little People lived on! 45 years later, their company still sees success with new owner (and longtime employee), Valerie Shike, who's love of Those Funny Little People helps carry it into the future! 

The costumes are short, cartoon-like human characters with animated faces, big hats and matching personalities who can be dressed to fit any event or occasion! They dance, mingle, perform and occasionally even talk!
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Over time, their different character couples became fixtures at many Chicago institutions. Their Christmas Elves entertained holiday shoppers for 28 years at Marshall Fields on State Street, and appeared for all 24 dates at Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic this past December!

An Irish leprechaun couple has walked the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade for 34 years. The “Sox Kids”, a baseball player couple, appeared at Old Comiskey park in the early 80s. ​

Having also built a solid Chicagoland business with shows for celebrations such as wedding receptions, backyard birthday parties, retirements, festivals and graduations, a recent appearance on national TV has thrust Those Funny Little People to national and international status.

In 2011 They were semi finalists, and appeared on 4 episodes of “America’s Got Talent". As a result they were chosen to guest star on the finale of China’s Got Talent in Shanghai, China in 2012.  Later they performed at a shopping center in Singapore for 10 days in 2013.

Interviewed by ABC7 Localish in 2024, Valerie Shike shares her love for Those Funny Little People and her adoration for the two people who started it all!