Thursday, December 07, 2006
Keith Nelson
The past work of one of the great clowns of the present, The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus' Keith "Mr. Pennygaff" Nelson.
Keith, Stephanie and the Bindlestiff crew never fail to amuse and amaze. And they rock a mean seder!
Click the title of this post to link to bindlestiff.org
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
John Philip Soapsa
The last of the series of Harold Ronk Estate photos that I received from Robin Estes.
Here's Duane "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe, a much-loved member of the Ringling Clown Alley for almost 40 years, in 1970 production number wardrobe being escorted by "Gargantua".
"Whoooooooooooooo hired HER?!?"
Soapy's Spec Drag
Photos courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
Don Foote's design for Soapy's spec wardrobe for the 1970 100th edition Ringling Blue Unit show.
Soap out workin' it on the floor with the help of Prince Paul.
A Don Foote design for Soapy's spec wardrobe for the 106th, proving that fashion's fickle fads may have and come and gone quickly in the 60s and 70s but Soapy's Victorian taste in drag remained the ever the same.
Don Foote's design for Soapy's spec wardrobe for the 1970 100th edition Ringling Blue Unit show.
Soap out workin' it on the floor with the help of Prince Paul.
A Don Foote design for Soapy's spec wardrobe for the 106th, proving that fashion's fickle fads may have and come and gone quickly in the 60s and 70s but Soapy's Victorian taste in drag remained the ever the same.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
That Was Then...
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
Coco the Clown with Coconut.
Coco the Clown with Coconut.
...This Is Now
Me with the funniest kid I know, my son Shane "Buddy Boy" Cashin who is celebrating his fourth birthday today.
When asked what our friends should name their baby, without hesitation Shane immediately replied, "Coupon!"
When asked for a name for another couple's baby he came up with "Fried Baby Head".
He's got a very "Zappa-esque" sense of humor for a four year old.
This morning he had breakfast with Daddy and Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers, who he remembered from this past summer as "That funny guy who bonked me in the head with a giant hammer". In makeup or not, I can't think of a better clown to have around for your birthday.
The Prince
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
Some people call him "The Space Cowboy".
Some call him "The Gangster of Love".
Some people call him "Maurice". (Wheeeeeeeeet-woooooooo!)
But we know him as Prince Paul, and he's crunkin' out the kinda old school moves that make ALL the fly ladies lose they minds in this photo from the 106th edition Ringling Blue Unit.
Mad skills. Mad, mad skills.
Some people call him "The Space Cowboy".
Some call him "The Gangster of Love".
Some people call him "Maurice". (Wheeeeeeeeet-woooooooo!)
But we know him as Prince Paul, and he's crunkin' out the kinda old school moves that make ALL the fly ladies lose they minds in this photo from the 106th edition Ringling Blue Unit.
Mad skills. Mad, mad skills.
More Prince
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes. from the Estate of Harold Ronk
An undated photo that looks to be from the late 60s with Prince Paul, an elephant (possibly the same Baby John from the other day) an unidentified fella and Ringmaster Harold Ronk.
The legs of that stiltwalker on the left may be those of Mike Coco, maybe Barry Sloan.
An undated photo that looks to be from the late 60s with Prince Paul, an elephant (possibly the same Baby John from the other day) an unidentified fella and Ringmaster Harold Ronk.
The legs of that stiltwalker on the left may be those of Mike Coco, maybe Barry Sloan.
Prince of Oz
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Harold Ronk
Half Wizard of Oz, half Mad Hatter - all Prince!
Half Wizard of Oz, half Mad Hatter - all Prince!
Monday, December 04, 2006
The Three Manlys
Photo courtesy of Bill Strong
From Bill Strong:
"My definition of wit is what comes off the top of the head (or off the wall), whichever you prefer. I love Greg's remark,"more bells than you can shake a clown at". That's funny!
The attached picture is from a 1943 International Artists Calendar, of The Three Manlys, my limited knowledge of written German tells me they were brothers, and came from Copenhagen."
Thanks again, Bill! Click the title of this post to link to Bill's circus blog, YESTERDAY'S TOWNS.
From Bill Strong:
"My definition of wit is what comes off the top of the head (or off the wall), whichever you prefer. I love Greg's remark,"more bells than you can shake a clown at". That's funny!
The attached picture is from a 1943 International Artists Calendar, of The Three Manlys, my limited knowledge of written German tells me they were brothers, and came from Copenhagen."
Thanks again, Bill! Click the title of this post to link to Bill's circus blog, YESTERDAY'S TOWNS.
Los Alarcons
Photo courtesy of Bill Strong
The name came up the other day so here's a photo of musical comedy act, Los Alarcons.
The name came up the other day so here's a photo of musical comedy act, Los Alarcons.
Mike Coco
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
Mike Coco in a publicity photo for the 1970 100th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The "blurb" has been left on the picture.
What's the consensus? Do we want to see the blurbs or do we prefer that I continue to crop them?
Mike Coco in a publicity photo for the 1970 100th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The "blurb" has been left on the picture.
What's the consensus? Do we want to see the blurbs or do we prefer that I continue to crop them?
More Mike
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
Mike Coco, Ringmaster Harold Ronk, Prince Paul Albert (back to the camera) and Albert White (seated with his back to Mike) in a gag that also included Gene Lewis.
What that gag was, I don't know. Possibly a picnic? It must have been done prior to 1966.
Click the title of this post to link to the earlier photo.
Mike Coco, Ringmaster Harold Ronk, Prince Paul Albert (back to the camera) and Albert White (seated with his back to Mike) in a gag that also included Gene Lewis.
What that gag was, I don't know. Possibly a picnic? It must have been done prior to 1966.
Click the title of this post to link to the earlier photo.
More and More of Mike
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
A photo from Coco' s 1960s classic soap gag COCO'S CRAZY COLORISTS. We've already seen a few pictures from this gag, click the title of this post to link to the earlier photos.
Notice Mike's rubber topped gag wig. What is that, a 'reservoir tip" on the top???
A photo from Coco' s 1960s classic soap gag COCO'S CRAZY COLORISTS. We've already seen a few pictures from this gag, click the title of this post to link to the earlier photos.
Notice Mike's rubber topped gag wig. What is that, a 'reservoir tip" on the top???
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Sunday Morning Art Gallery: Mike Keever
Ariah the Elephant by Cowboy Mike Keever
Click the title of this post to link to the Cel-ebration Art Gallery in Red Bank, NJ and learn more about Mike and his artwork.
Sunday Morning Art Gallery: Karen DeSanto
Some of the magnets currently available on eBay by the extremely talented Karen DeSanto...
Ruth Chaddock by Karen DeSanto
Duane "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe by Karen DeSanto
Click the title of this post to link to Karen's eBay store. Bid early and often!
Ruth Chaddock by Karen DeSanto
Duane "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe by Karen DeSanto
Click the title of this post to link to Karen's eBay store. Bid early and often!
Sunday Morning Art Gallery: Karen DeSanto
Bobby Kay by Karen DeSanto
Felix Adler by Karen DeSanto
Glen "Frosty" Little by Karen DeSanto
Lou Jacobs by Karen DeSanto
Otto Griebling by Karen DeSanto
Karen graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1993 and then was featured in Ringling's Blue Unit. A member of the Clown Care (SM) hospital clowning program of the Big Apple Circus, Karen is one of the country's leading clown instructors and has developed teaching programs for the Circus's Arts-In-Education program, the National Circus Project and Ocean Park Amusements. As a businesswoman, she created and ran a successful clown and character production company in California. Her performances have taken her to the stages of Carnegie Hall, the State Capital of California and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Karen is also a published author with articles in the Rosie magazine and the children's book, Star Saves the Circus.
Click the title of this post to link to Karen's eBay store.
Classic Comedy: The DeSantos at the BAC
The artist herself, along with her husband Greg, peforming with the Big Apple Circus' GRANDMA GOES TO HOLLYWOOD tour in 2005/06.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Unidentified #1
Bill sent this photo of a clown with some of the lovely ladies of Ringling-Barnum 1946. The young woman in the front row, right side is Evelyn Theron, mother of Ninette Theron Parker
The unidentified clown in the center of the picture looks to be Harry Dann.
Unidentified #2
Photo courtesy of Bill Strong
Bill had this picture of an unidentified clown from Ringling 1952. It looks to me like Eddie Dullam.
The little girl is Michelle Olsen, daughter of flying act catcher (and Superman's Pal ), Jimmy Olsen & his wife Flo Theron.
Bill had this picture of an unidentified clown from Ringling 1952. It looks to me like Eddie Dullam.
The little girl is Michelle Olsen, daughter of flying act catcher (and Superman's Pal ), Jimmy Olsen & his wife Flo Theron.
Clowns Elephants & Pretty Girls (Minus the Elephants)
Photo courtesy of Bill Strong
The pretty girl is Ninette Theron Parker of the Fabulous Theron Family Bicycle Act. The clown is Gene Randow, Polack Bros. 1953
Click on the title of this post to visit Bill's circus blog YESTERDAY'S TOWNS
The pretty girl is Ninette Theron Parker of the Fabulous Theron Family Bicycle Act. The clown is Gene Randow, Polack Bros. 1953
Click on the title of this post to visit Bill's circus blog YESTERDAY'S TOWNS
Friday, December 01, 2006
Clowns, Elephants and Pretty Girls
An unidentified clown (I can't imagine who this would be), two elephants, the smaller of which was named Baby John and a really strikingly beautiful showgirl take a dip in a Motel pool in this publicity photo from the Ringling 100th edition Blue show.
Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen, who to the best of my knowledge has never made disparaging remarks about clowns, outside the Alley in the Venice Arena surrounded by Master Clown Glen "Frosty" Little and several others including current Ringling Gold Unit ringmaster Jon Weiss smack dab in the center.
Slaton, Saluto and Ronk
Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk
Dick Slaton, Frankie Saluto and Harold Ronk.
I was sorry to hear from someone who was there at the time that Frankie was picked on mercilessly in the Ringling Alley in the late 60s/early 70s because people found his hot temper very funny and enjoyed getting him all wound up just to sit back and watch the fireworks.
I don't know if that's true or if the way that Frankie was treated throughout his Ringling career or not, but I wish he'd have been afforded at little more respect at the end of it.
Dick Slaton, Frankie Saluto and Harold Ronk.
I was sorry to hear from someone who was there at the time that Frankie was picked on mercilessly in the Ringling Alley in the late 60s/early 70s because people found his hot temper very funny and enjoyed getting him all wound up just to sit back and watch the fireworks.
I don't know if that's true or if the way that Frankie was treated throughout his Ringling career or not, but I wish he'd have been afforded at little more respect at the end of it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)