Another Alley shot, this time of the Clown Band, again featuring Herman Joseph and Paul Jerome.
This may or may not be the 1917 Ringling Clown Alley, in the Alley and out of makeup.
While it is certainly a group of circus performers of that era, without knowing what even one of these guys looked like out of makeup I have no way of being sure.
The two little people, the smiles, and the animated expression on the face of one of the men in the back, plus the fact that it is from the same collection as the other 1917, leads me to believe that it probably IS the 1917 Ringling Alley.
4 comments:
Pat,
The only guy that *might* be Hank Peare in the dressing room photo is the guy laughing with the vertical striped shirt on. I can't tell for sure because the shape of his head and his hairline is obscured by the guy behind him.
Interestingly, Hank's trunk (which I have) is labeled "MDR" which my dad told me stood for "Men's Dressing Room." I think perhaps the clowns shared dressing facilities with other performers, in which case not all of these guys might be clowns.
I do have a photo from MSG from before 1910 in which Hank is in a larger dressing room with other performers. But he also did a comedy 3-act with Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough, so maybe that was from those days.
Gary Peare
He did W H A T ?!?
Your great uncle was in a clown act with Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough????
PICTURES!!! I NEED TO SEE PICTURES!!!
I've oten read that Clark & McCullough had been circus clowns before they made it big but I have yet to see a single photo of them in makeup.
WOW! PLEASE tell me you've got pictures!
~P
I can be verry wrong,
but I think the guy with the round face sitting on his knees is the clown left on the picture in make up down bellow odf the 1917 alley.
at least his face is shaped the same.
also curiaus the is written on the picture: in the dressing tent.
and not at the clown alley so the larger drssing room story could be wright
Hi, Pat.
It’s true.
My Great-Uncle Hank grew up in Springfield, OH with Bobby and Paul. They were on Ringling together until Bobby and Paul left for vaudeville. Family story is that Hank stayed behind because he was in love with Elizabeth Hanneford (he and Poodles were good pals). I’ll have to send you more complete details about this when I have time. But check out this great site devoted to Clark & McCullough.
http://www.aaronneathery.com/film/CaM/cmcindex.htm
And here is a link to pix of the boys as clowns. I think Hank is mis-identified by the author in the photos and am working on clarifying this.
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4415916&a=32324118&f=
For example, in this photo, I’m pretty sure Hank is in the center. It’s often difficult to figure out who’s who, because they all shared costumes and shoes (based on the photos I have).
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View?u=4415916&a=32324118&p=74890620&Sequence=0&res=high
Cheers,
Gary
Post a Comment