Saturday, November 29, 2008

CLOWN ALLEY: New Cole Bros. Circus



As sad as this is to watch, it's even sadder when you remember that half the Ringling alley looks just as bad if not worse.


SHANE CASHIN: Christmas Time is Here!


Shane, as he has for the last few years, helped usher in the holiday season here on the Jersey Shore by assisting his grandfather, Santa Claus, at the big tree lighting ceremony in Red Bank.


Shane and Santa are greeted at the Red Bank train station by thousands of cheering fans and lead the parade down Monmouth Street on an antique fire engine escorted by bagpipers.



They arrive at Red Bank Catholic and prepare to take the stage with Holiday Express!


They are assisted by Mrs. Claus for the countdown to the big tree lighting.


And then comes time for Shane's favorite part of the job, handing out candy canes to the crowd.









Shane even made a new friend, Mrs. New Jersey America, Parker Sanchez!





Friday, November 28, 2008

PAUL JUNG: With Gregory Peck, July 1948



An Allan Grant photograph for Life magazine of Paul Jung making up Gregory Peck for a charity performance with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to benefit St. John's Hospital in Hollywood.

This is another great photo that is so alien to contemporary American society in it's concept, content and composition that it almost looks like it's from another planet and not just from another age.

CARLOS SVENSON: The Big Apple Circus, 2002

Video courtesy of circopedia.org



Carlos Svenson, who I had the pleasure of working with on Ringling in 1999, is seen here in the Big Apple Circus' 2002 production, Dreams of a City.

LES CLOWNS EN FOLIE




Wednesday, November 26, 2008

BENJAMIN JOEL HEIDTMAN






From Joel...

Benjamin Joel Heidtman

born November 24, 2008
5:47 PM
7 pounds, 19"

Mom and baby are perfectly fine! Sofia is crazy about her little brother.

Benjamin doesn't juggle... yet! (I am giving him the week off!)

:^)

Joel Heidtman

Psalm 19



No, he doesn't juggle yet but he will be taller than his father by the middle of next week. Happy Thanksgiving!

MYSTERY CLOWNS: Comedy Car Act, Zirkus Hein




JOHNNY PEERS: The Big Apple Circus, 1992

Video courtesy of circopedia.org



Johnny Peers and his Muttville Comics from The Big Apple Circus' 1992 production, Goin' Places.

I believe he is assisted here by fellow Clown College grad Peggy O'Neill.


ACHILLE ZAVATTA: Homage




From Wikipedia...

Achille Zavatta ( May 6, 1915 - November 16, 1993) was a French clown, artist and circus operator.

Achille Zavatta was born in La Goulette, Tunisia, the son of Federico Zavatta, a circus owner. He started performing in his family's circus show at the age of three, forming with his brothers Michel and Rolph, the Zavatta Trio.

He became famous as a result of his pantomime skills.

He died in 1993 in Ouzouer des Champs, Loiret and was interred in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Joel Heidtman Has a Son!


CLOWNALLEY.NET welcomes the newest member of the Alley, 
Mr. Benjamin Joel Heidtman!



He's named "Benjamin" for Benjamin Moore, the brand of paint Joel was huffing just before this photo was taken.



From Joel's brother, Mike...

For those of you not following the adventure as it unfolded yesterday on
Facebook, Joel and his wife just had a baby boy named Benjamin Joel
Heidtman. Mother and child are doing great and big sister Sophie is
happy to have a baby brother.

I'm sure Joel will update us with all the other details as soon as he
gets a chance to get on a computer.

From the proud Uncle,

Cap'n Mike
Myrtle Beach, SC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLOWN ALLEY: Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., circa 1980s


It seems like a lifetime ago when the Beatty show had an Alley like this. How great would it be if next season Johnny Pugh went "all in" and brought back the rings, the band and the clowns one last time?


THE CHARLIVELS

Video courtesy of Raffaele De Ritis





Charlie Rivel's sons Valentino, Juanito and Charlie Jr. tearing up the ring on a 1960s television appearance.

If you've only ever seen them in Two Tickets to Broadway, you haven't seen half of the act!

Wow!

CLOWN ALLEY: Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., circa 1990s

Video courtesy of Elmo Gibb



The Reducing Machine, produced by Jimmy Douglas in the early 1990s.

Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers makes a rare appearance as the nurse. He was usually ahead of the show doing advance at the time.


Monday, November 24, 2008

THE GUTIS: Publicity Photo



HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000



And Emmett's still eating.


PROF. MUSS: New Holiday Character



Saturday morning at the crack of dawn we began an annual tradition here at the Cashin household, listening to Daddy toss stuff around the garage as he tries to find the last minute things he's looking for to finally pack the car and leave to do a Santa breakfast.

This year I will be assisting Santa as Prof. Christopher Muss, stiltwalker, juggler and comedy-magician.

UBS HOLIDAY PARADE: Stamford, CT, November 23, 2008

Photos by Shane Cashin

Jerry "Scooter" Hunsberger, "the man inside", and I before the start of the parade.


You never realize just how cautious a clown you can be until you're behind the wheel a 1929 Ford with a rear-mounted fire cannon directly in front of 2 helium filled balloons just inches from thousands of children on a cold, windy day.



Why is it that women are so fond of saying that thing about the 
only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

OTTO GRIEBLING: By Cornell Capa, 1953



My new favorite photo of Otto Griebling, smoking a cigarette directly under the "No Smoking" sign, taken by Life magazine photographer Cornell Capa backstage at Madison Square Garden in 1953.

BUSTER KEATON: CBC Interview, 1964

Link suggested by Mark Evanier



1964 - Silent movie icon Buster Keaton looks back on his films and what happened to Hollywood's golden age of comedy. This CBC-TV clip from "Telescope" sees Keaton near the end of his life.