Todd Robinson reminded me that "Slivers Rag" the Ragtime accompaniment to Slivers' Baseball Gag, composed by Harry Cook (and described as an "Eccentric Rag") is available online at...
http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2001-6/thismonth/featurea.asp
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Frank Oakley: Out of Makeup
Photo courtesy of Tom Dougherty
Another photo from the Tom Dougherty Collection of photos from the personal scrapbook of Frank "Slivers" Oakley.
This is the only photo of Frank Oakley, out of makeup, that I've ever seen.
Tomorrow, another photo from the Dougherty Archives and one that helps dispel the myth that Slivers was a "one trick pony" with only his famous Baseball Gag. Tomorrow: Slivers' Golf Gag!
Another photo from the Tom Dougherty Collection of photos from the personal scrapbook of Frank "Slivers" Oakley.
This is the only photo of Frank Oakley, out of makeup, that I've ever seen.
Tomorrow, another photo from the Dougherty Archives and one that helps dispel the myth that Slivers was a "one trick pony" with only his famous Baseball Gag. Tomorrow: Slivers' Golf Gag!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Slivers Oakley in His Prime
Here is the 2nd in a series of extremely rare photos from the Tom Dougherty Collection of Slivers Oakley from Slivers' own personal scrapbook. Today's photo looks to be taken during his prime. Why is is sideways? Because that's the way it was received and I don't know enough about my new macbook to change it yet.
FRANK “SLIVERS” OAKLEY
Frank Oakley, also known as “Slivers” (1871-1916) was the most popular circus clown of his generation. Born in Sweden, both of Oakley's parents were concert singers. At the age of 14 he began to practice as a contortionist and at 16 he joined his first circus. His parents convinced him to enroll at the University of Michigan but two years later Oakley was back under the big top.
His began his career with Andrew MacDonald's Circus but he soon joined the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1897. Before the turn of the century Oakley performed with the Barnum & Bailey Circus followed by three seasons with the Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Circus (1900-02). Oakley returned to the Barnum & Bailey Circus for four seasons (1903-07) where he reportedly earned up to $1,000. a week.
Slivers was famous for working solo in the ring. His featured gag was a one-man baseball game in which he played all the positions of both teams. Among his classic walkarounds was a gag in which he rode around the hippodrome track atop two giant lobsters.
He went on to perform in other circuses, in vaudeville and was featured (sometimes partnered with fellow clown Marceline Orbes) in the massive shows at the New York Hippodrome, where I believe he performed on opening night.
He married vaudeville singer Nellie Dunbar in 1902 and together they had one daughter, Ruth.
With the coming of motion pictures and the superstardom of Charlie Chaplin Slivers was supplanted as an American comedy icon. When other opportunities dried up he tried to return to Ringling where he was offered only $75.00 a week to perform walkarounds.
He committed suicide, dying by gas asphyxiation, on March 8, 1916 in his room at 308 West 71st Street in New York City. Oakley had fallen for Viola Stoll, a young vaudeville actress, and remained infatuated even after she was arrested and incarcerated for stealing his late wife's jewelry. When he tried to have her paroled from Bedford Reformatory by proposing marriage, she rejected him.
Tomorrow, the rarest of the RAREST of the rare...Slivers without makeup!
FRANK “SLIVERS” OAKLEY
Frank Oakley, also known as “Slivers” (1871-1916) was the most popular circus clown of his generation. Born in Sweden, both of Oakley's parents were concert singers. At the age of 14 he began to practice as a contortionist and at 16 he joined his first circus. His parents convinced him to enroll at the University of Michigan but two years later Oakley was back under the big top.
His began his career with Andrew MacDonald's Circus but he soon joined the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1897. Before the turn of the century Oakley performed with the Barnum & Bailey Circus followed by three seasons with the Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Circus (1900-02). Oakley returned to the Barnum & Bailey Circus for four seasons (1903-07) where he reportedly earned up to $1,000. a week.
Slivers was famous for working solo in the ring. His featured gag was a one-man baseball game in which he played all the positions of both teams. Among his classic walkarounds was a gag in which he rode around the hippodrome track atop two giant lobsters.
He went on to perform in other circuses, in vaudeville and was featured (sometimes partnered with fellow clown Marceline Orbes) in the massive shows at the New York Hippodrome, where I believe he performed on opening night.
He married vaudeville singer Nellie Dunbar in 1902 and together they had one daughter, Ruth.
With the coming of motion pictures and the superstardom of Charlie Chaplin Slivers was supplanted as an American comedy icon. When other opportunities dried up he tried to return to Ringling where he was offered only $75.00 a week to perform walkarounds.
He committed suicide, dying by gas asphyxiation, on March 8, 1916 in his room at 308 West 71st Street in New York City. Oakley had fallen for Viola Stoll, a young vaudeville actress, and remained infatuated even after she was arrested and incarcerated for stealing his late wife's jewelry. When he tried to have her paroled from Bedford Reformatory by proposing marriage, she rejected him.
Tomorrow, the rarest of the RAREST of the rare...Slivers without makeup!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Slivers Oakley
Photo courtesy of Tom Dougherty
This is probably the rarest photo we've ever had here in THE ALLEY.
It is a photo of Frank "Slivers" Oakley, a true master clown and a huge star in his day. If you look through books on circus and clown, surf the web or search old newspapers and magazines, you'll only ever find a small handful of photos of Slivers. Why? I don't know. But I think that I've only ever seen five or six. This looks to be from early in his career.
This find comes to us from Tom Dougherty, currently featured on the Gold Unit of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and one of the truly great contemporary American circus clowns...
here are a couple of photos you might call rare as
they come out of Slivers Oakley's personal scrapbook
which he kept in his trunk throughout the prime of his
career. Mitch and I met Sliver's grandson and he
showed us the scrapbook...wow! A treasure trove of
clown and circus history. I believe we were the first
people outside of the family to lay eyes upon it. It
was so overwhelming, I had to take a nap after looking
at for an hour. Fortunately I had my camera and got
some images of this remarkable find.
enjoy!
warm regards....Tom
Tomorrow, another photo of Slivers from the Tom Dougherty Collection!
This is probably the rarest photo we've ever had here in THE ALLEY.
It is a photo of Frank "Slivers" Oakley, a true master clown and a huge star in his day. If you look through books on circus and clown, surf the web or search old newspapers and magazines, you'll only ever find a small handful of photos of Slivers. Why? I don't know. But I think that I've only ever seen five or six. This looks to be from early in his career.
This find comes to us from Tom Dougherty, currently featured on the Gold Unit of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and one of the truly great contemporary American circus clowns...
here are a couple of photos you might call rare as
they come out of Slivers Oakley's personal scrapbook
which he kept in his trunk throughout the prime of his
career. Mitch and I met Sliver's grandson and he
showed us the scrapbook...wow! A treasure trove of
clown and circus history. I believe we were the first
people outside of the family to lay eyes upon it. It
was so overwhelming, I had to take a nap after looking
at for an hour. Fortunately I had my camera and got
some images of this remarkable find.
enjoy!
warm regards....Tom
Tomorrow, another photo of Slivers from the Tom Dougherty Collection!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Raymond Thomas
Photos courtesy of Rik Gern
Blogging today from the parking lot of the Wash & WiFi, Rutland Vermont's first (and probably only) laudromat with a free wireless internet connection. As I sit sipping Snapple Green Tea, checking my email on my macbook, in the front seat of my PT Cruiser, listening to my XM satellite radio and taking calls on my cell phone as I do my clown laundry I have to wonder again...JUST HOW DID ANYONE DO THIS BACK IN THE RAILROAD AND TENT SHOW DAYS?!?
My clown hat goes off to this fellow, Raymond Thomas, a turn of the century clown who probably wouldn't believe how easy the clowns of today have it! I don't know anything about Mr. Thomas other than the fact that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Gold Unit Advance Clown, Rik "Bonzo Crunch" Gern was thoughtful enough to pass along these photos of him to share.
We still need submissions in order to keep the blog going until I can get back home (September 17th) and start scanning my archive to the new computer, so anyone out there with photos to share please send them along to me at cashincomedy@yahoo.com.
Thank you and have a happy and safe Labor Day!
Blogging today from the parking lot of the Wash & WiFi, Rutland Vermont's first (and probably only) laudromat with a free wireless internet connection. As I sit sipping Snapple Green Tea, checking my email on my macbook, in the front seat of my PT Cruiser, listening to my XM satellite radio and taking calls on my cell phone as I do my clown laundry I have to wonder again...JUST HOW DID ANYONE DO THIS BACK IN THE RAILROAD AND TENT SHOW DAYS?!?
My clown hat goes off to this fellow, Raymond Thomas, a turn of the century clown who probably wouldn't believe how easy the clowns of today have it! I don't know anything about Mr. Thomas other than the fact that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Gold Unit Advance Clown, Rik "Bonzo Crunch" Gern was thoughtful enough to pass along these photos of him to share.
We still need submissions in order to keep the blog going until I can get back home (September 17th) and start scanning my archive to the new computer, so anyone out there with photos to share please send them along to me at cashincomedy@yahoo.com.
Thank you and have a happy and safe Labor Day!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Not Lou
Photo courtesy of Rik Gern
Rik Gern found this amazing photo of Lou Jacobs' handiwork at putting his makeup on others.
This guy may have been a reporter doing a story or some press agent friend... whatever. There are other examples of "guest clowns" getting made up by members of the Alley and getting a duplicate of the pro's makeup.
What I find interesting is that Lou's makeup and headpiece, applied by Lou himself looks SO radically different on this man's face. What looks so warm, fun and magical on Lou looks strange and freakish to me on this guy.
It only goes to prove that you can copy someone's makeup and costume but you can NEVER copy the performer underneath it.
Rik Gern found this amazing photo of Lou Jacobs' handiwork at putting his makeup on others.
This guy may have been a reporter doing a story or some press agent friend... whatever. There are other examples of "guest clowns" getting made up by members of the Alley and getting a duplicate of the pro's makeup.
What I find interesting is that Lou's makeup and headpiece, applied by Lou himself looks SO radically different on this man's face. What looks so warm, fun and magical on Lou looks strange and freakish to me on this guy.
It only goes to prove that you can copy someone's makeup and costume but you can NEVER copy the performer underneath it.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Ruthie and Peggy
Photo courtesy of Rik Gern
Two clowns very near and dear to my heart, Ruth Chaddock and Peggy Williams. From Peggy herself: "It was taken near the animal compound in Long Beach, CA in about 1977".
I met Ruth when she came to Clown College to take plaster casts of all the students' faces so that we could use them to craft our own custom latex noses. I wish that I'd had more of an opportunity to talk with her. A sweeter person you couldn't ask to meet.
I first met Peggy Williams on the floor of Madison Square Garden in 1974 when I was selected to help participate in spec. Peggy held my hand and lead me to another performer who walked me through but I'll never forget standing so close to Prince Paul and Peggy Williams on the floor of the Garden! It was one of the great thrills of my childhood!
Peggy was also among the folks there to meet us and greet us on our first day of Clown College. She was a friend (and great storyteller) during Winter Quarters and while I was on the road. Peggy even sent me a very thoughtful birthday greeting this year that, because of computer trouble, I never got to reply and thank her for. Another very, very sweet person.
As for the photo, given the era that it was taken in I'm wondering if there wasn't some reference to "Laverne and Shirley" in their similar wigs and Ruth's "R" on her sweater. I don't know. Peggy, Ruth, if you're out there please tell us! Inquiring minds want to know!
Two clowns very near and dear to my heart, Ruth Chaddock and Peggy Williams. From Peggy herself: "It was taken near the animal compound in Long Beach, CA in about 1977".
I met Ruth when she came to Clown College to take plaster casts of all the students' faces so that we could use them to craft our own custom latex noses. I wish that I'd had more of an opportunity to talk with her. A sweeter person you couldn't ask to meet.
I first met Peggy Williams on the floor of Madison Square Garden in 1974 when I was selected to help participate in spec. Peggy held my hand and lead me to another performer who walked me through but I'll never forget standing so close to Prince Paul and Peggy Williams on the floor of the Garden! It was one of the great thrills of my childhood!
Peggy was also among the folks there to meet us and greet us on our first day of Clown College. She was a friend (and great storyteller) during Winter Quarters and while I was on the road. Peggy even sent me a very thoughtful birthday greeting this year that, because of computer trouble, I never got to reply and thank her for. Another very, very sweet person.
As for the photo, given the era that it was taken in I'm wondering if there wasn't some reference to "Laverne and Shirley" in their similar wigs and Ruth's "R" on her sweater. I don't know. Peggy, Ruth, if you're out there please tell us! Inquiring minds want to know!
Friday, September 01, 2006
Call for Submissions
I'm currently away at the Vermont State Fair from the 1st to the 10th. Then I'll be touring with Circus Royale throughout Upstate New York until the end of September. Despite the fact that we just received hundreds of photos from the Pfening Archive, the unexpected switch from PC to Mac means that I didn't have time to scan those photos before leaving home.
So, if anyone out there has photos (pre-1986) that they would like to share, please send them along to cashincomedy@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Pat Cashin
Dime Wilson: Whiteface
Photo courtesy of Bill Strong
Dime Wilson in 1939 wearing the whiteface makeup that he used for several years.
Dime Wilson in 1939 wearing the whiteface makeup that he used for several years.
Dime Wilson: Baseball Gag
Photo courtesy of Bill Strong
Dime Wilson in his familiar tramp character makeup that he wore for the next 50 years. The bare feet date this photo to be taken in the early 1940's. The costume makes me wonder what his take on the Baseball Gag entailed.
Dime Wilson in his familiar tramp character makeup that he wore for the next 50 years. The bare feet date this photo to be taken in the early 1940's. The costume makes me wonder what his take on the Baseball Gag entailed.
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