Sunday, January 13, 2013

REMEMBERING CESLEE: Ceslee Conkling (December 6, 1965 - January 13, 1994)

Video courtesy of Mike Weakley



28 year old Ceslee Conkling, clown with the Blue Unit of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, perished 19 years ago today in the circus train wreck in Lakeland, FL that also claimed the life of 39-year-old Theodore Svertesky, the circus' lead elephant trainer.

Fellow clown Mike Weakley has very generously shared this footage of Ceslee in rehearsal in December of 1993,  just a few weeks before the crash.
This was taken in Tampa, Florida during Winter Quarters. The 2 male clowns are Cezary Skarzynski & Arturo Figueroa.