2009 SHOWFOLKS CIRCUS: More Photos

Photos courtesy of Penny Wilson Rodriguez (Dime's daughter ; )

Toby Circus Ballantine witha Coco tribute of his own, on high stilts during come-in

Toby with Henrietta

Karen, Robin and Barry's expressions as I explain to them that we aren't getting paid for this.

(All the performers and crew at the Showfolks Circus volunteer their time and talents)

Elmo Gibb

Jackie LeClaire

Barry "Bonzo" DeChant
(This poor guy made the mistake of visiting the arena that morning and wound up stuffed in the clown car!)

Robin "Rusty the Handyman" Eurich

Karen Bell

Barry Phillips

Jackie had them eating out of the palm of his hand trom the very moment that he stepped into the ring. Never underestimate an audience's response (especially a Sarasota audience) to a honest-to-goodness three ring circus clown!

Karen Bell steps out

Toby yanking the long shirt off of Elmo

Like I said, I don't think that I've seen a long shirt longer or better made than the one Toby has

Smile, style and then profile as all clown exit running
(and not Shrine gag running either, running ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CURTAIN!)

Jackie and Robin
(Batman has a yonger partner named Robin, Jackie has a
younger partner named Robin, ergo: Jackie LeClaire is Batman)

Another shot of everyone with the Coco tribute board that Graham had left to be placed in the lobby.

(Left to right: Toby Circus Ballantine, Pat Cashin, Robin Eurich,
Barry Phillips, Elmo Gibb, Karen Bell & Barry DeChant)

MORE PHOTOS TO COME!

2009 SHOWFOLKS CIRCUS

Photos courtesy of Barry Phillips...

It's been a week since the show and, thanks to the storm, the pace here has settled enough to finally post some photos from it here...

Rehearsing the clown car, Saturday morning. We had limited time in the ring to get things up and running with a group that either had never done a clown car before or hadn't done one in at least 20 years. Elmo took the lead and was instrumental at bringing all the elements together quickly.

(Left to right: Robin Eurich, Karen Bell, Toby Circus Ballantine, Barry DeChant, Pat Cashin)

Karen, Elmo, me and Robin. Elmo and I spent the summer teaching together.
Karen and Robin both work together at Circus Sarsota. We were very fortunate to have several performers who had previous experience working together.

International Clown Hall of Famer Jackie LeClaire with Barry Phillips and Karen Bell.

A Coco hat sat on the end of the wardrobe rack for the first show. It was later moved
to Graham Coco's tribute board out in the lobby for the second show.

The wardrobe rack for the 2009 Showfolks Circus Clown Alley, the
largest gathering of professional clowns at the Showfolks show in decades.

Barry Phillips and Robin Eurich fell in love and were married backstage. It's hard to believe but their union is still not recognized in 47 of the 50 states. Barry's rainbow colored pants will be flown when they proudly march hand-in-hand at this year's Pride Parade.

Toby Circus Ballantine, Jackie LeClaire, Barry Phillips and Elmo Gibb.

You could pose just about question on just about any subject to this
group of four and one of them would know the exact answer.

Circus legends and friends of clownalley.net, Sue and Rudy Lenz with Barry Phillips

Elmo getting into Toby Ballantine's long shirt, the best I've ever seen!


Me talking with Carlos Swenson, a fellow survivor of the Ringling 129th.


Stepping out of the clown car with assistance from Jackie


Barry Phillips (who stands 11' 7") stepping out just before putting
on the top hat that makes him taller than most high stilt walkers.


Me, Mike Naughton, Elmo and Karen Bell at the Showfolks Club after the show.
I believe that is Elizabeth Naughton at the MacBook.

MORE TO COME!

BOZO'S CIRCUS: Home Movie Footage (1977)

Home movie footage shot during a taping of WGN's Bozo's Circus in 1977 with Frazier Thomas and the legendary lineup of Marshall "Wizzo" Brodien, Roy "Cookie" Brown and Bob "Bozo" Bell.

I remember before the taping of the show that I attended, Bozo was introduced and came running into the studio. The young child next to me was awe-struck. He was in shock. He just repeated the words "Bozo came out" throughout almost the entire taping.

I totally knew what he meant. Bozo had only been a thing that he'd seen on TV and here he was in the flesh and and bigger than life.

I felt the same way, but I was in my 20s.

COCO TRIBUTES: Andrew & Steve

My pals Andrew Scharff and Steve Copeland join in the Coco tributes with this
photo taken on the Bill Hall "Twas The Show Before Christmas" tour.

MERRY CHRISTMAS LADIES (and 11% of Men, According to Statistics)

A Cashin/Gern joint venture...

HOTTO

MICHAEL "COCO" POLAKOVS: Clown College Reunion '08

Video courtesy of Trick Kelly...

FLORIN & CATO: Comedy Dog Act

LICEDEI

MIKHAIL USOV

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The Greatest Show on Earth Is Clown-Free

By Mike Sauer

Published on December 16, 2009 at 12:00am

• 

One element of the circus continues to terrorize adults to this day, and that’s coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. Thanks to horror films like Killer Klowns From Outer Space and Stephen King’s It, the “Bozo Syndrome” doesn’t fade; it intensifies. So if smiling-face makeup makes you shiver, you’ll feel relieved to know that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ latest show, Illuscination, involves much more then multiple clown demons spawning from a small car. The new act features magic and illusions from David DaVinci, an “illuscinator” from Orlando.

Your eyes will be fixated on this modern-day Houdini as he attempts to escape a straitjacket while suspended over a den of lions. Astonishing acrobats and aerialists will fly over your head. Asian Elephants will parade under the big top in majestic glory for your enjoyment — unless, of course, you also suffer from pachydermophia (the fear of elephants); then there’s no help for you.

Find the South Florida Fairgrounds at 9067 Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $15. The circus runs until December 28. Call 561-798-3247, or visit ringling.com.
Wed., Dec. 23, 7 p.m., 2009

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT

MR. SAUER DIRECTLY VIA HIS EMAIL.

VAS & STAS: Yesor No/Give or Not

COCO TRIBUTE: Continues with Moore

Ed "Numbers" Renner, and Tommy Moore, before a show at First Health/Moore Regional Hospital in N.C (12/16)

From Tommy Moore...

I'm guessing it was circa 1959, before Coco was with Ringling... I had seen five years worth of Ringling shows and had the clown pages of the RBB&B programs thoroughly memorized. I thought I "knew" clowns. Then my dad took me to see the Mills Bros. Circus. Mike came out on tall stilts, so tall he was touching the tent top of the tent. WOW!!!

Then, on that verrry cooold September night, he did a water gag that doused him with gallons of water! I was sure he'd catch pneumonia but I thought, "Now THAT'S a CLOWN!"

TOM PICCARD: Circus World

Tom "Pepe" Piccard and Jamie Ryan.

RIK GERN CAUGHT IN PUBLIC WITH A JONAS BROTHER

Rik "Bonzo Crunch" Gern did a recent USO Christmas party at Ft. Hood. It was part of their effort to help everyone in the community pull together after the recent shootings. A Jonas Brother was there, something called Chamillioniare and MTV covered it, but it was still a very cool thing to be a part of anyway.

He even got to meet Lambchop!

(Lambchop not pictured. This is the only available clownalley.net file photo of Gern and a famous puppet.)


Click the title of this post to be taken to the MTV News coverage of the event.

IMPROV EVERYWHERE: Guerilla Handbell Strikeforce

For Improv Everywhere's latest public spectacle, its agents recruited a 13-member handbell choir to "provided some unexpected accompaniment for a Salvation Army bell ringer on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Watching the expression on the actual bell ringer's face during the slow build of the chorus of "Joy to the World" is truly heartwarming.

To read how much work went into this event, please click the title of this post.

2009 VIDEO CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO DEADLINE

Please submit any favorite 70s era photos by this Saturday (December 19th) for inclusion in this years clownalley.net video Christmas Card project. We've got some great ones.

If you have any video to include, we're going to need to speak to the good people at FedEx.

Please email all photos (in jpg format) to cashincomedy@yahoo.com.

DALE LONGMIRE: Obituary

DALE LONGMIRE

Dale Alan Longmire, 59, of Sarasota, Fla., died on Dec. 11, 2009, at Ridgelake Hospital, following an extended illness.

He was born Feb. 23, 1950, son of Rose and the late Ed Longmire.

Dale graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1968. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1972. He fell in love with the circus when he was five years old. The circus was his one ambition and after graduating from college, he sent an application to Ringling Bros. Clown College. Out of 3,000 applicants, he was one of 50 chosen to attend. He traveled throughout the United States, performing in many cities. He also performed in New York at Madison Square Garden. He designed the costumes he wore. Just recently, an anonymous circus fan sent an email stating Dale was a beautiful clown and had the most beautiful costumes he had ever seen. He also performed with Vargas, Bently Brothers and recently worked for Walker Brothers Circus in Sarasota, where he was the office manager. He was a lifetime member of First Methodist Church in Parkersburg.

He will be sadly missed, not only by his family and friends in Parkersburg, but his wonderful adopted "family" in the circus world.

Dale was preceded in death by his father, Ed Longmire.

Surviving are his mother, Rose; a brother and sister, Tom Longmire of Parkersburg and Linda Mason and husband, Mike, of Knoxville, Tenn.; one nephew, Tommy Mason and his daughters, Sidney and Shea of Knoxville, Tenn.; one niece, Rebecca Mason and her daughter, Shelby of Knoxville; uncles, Reese Blizzard of Parkersburg and Wayne and his wife, Jackie Longmire; and cousins, Christine and Bruce Wilson, Jenny and Mike Knotts, Joe and John Longmire.

There will be a visitation from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Leavitt Funeral Home. Services will be 3 p.m. Friday. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery with Dr. Tim Allen officiating.

After the first of the year, a memorial service will be held in Sarasota, Fla., at "Showfolks" where he was president for two years.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.leavittfuneralhome.com