Pat Cashin's CLOWNALLEY.NET

ICHOF: Clown Intensive Cancelled

2012-01-27T18:25:00.002-05:00

"It is now official, due to lack of commitments, we are unable to hold the Feb. 14th-thru 18th CLOWN INTENSIVE. We are very grateful for the few that did commit to join us for our unique weeklong workshop, and hope all understand that in order to successfully produce an event of this type, we need to meet our financial obligations to the artists teaching as well as the venues. We hope to re-schedule this event for September 2012. Watch this space for more details."

ICHOF: Clown Intensive (Feb. 14-18, 2012)

2012-01-25T14:55:00.001-05:00

Received this afternoon from Baraboo, WI...

"We are very sorry to announce that unless we get commitments from 8 individuals in the next 48 hours, the ICHOF sponsored CLOWN INTENSIVE scheduled for Feb. 14 thru the 18th will be cancelled. We were hoping this unique opportunity would attract more interest, and hopefully in the next 48 hours, it will. Details are online at www.theclownmuseum.com. Don't let this very special chance to work and develop your clown pass you by. Sign up TODAY!"

CHARLIE CAIROLI: Appreciation Society Launch (1994)

2012-01-23T00:30:00.000-05:00

DAVID LARIBLE: Kaleidoscape Opening (2000)

2012-01-22T08:28:00.000-05:00

GROCK: "Au Revoir Monsieur Grock (1950)

2012-01-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

IN MEMORIAM: Ceslee Conkling (December 6, 1965 - January 13, 1994)

2012-01-13T08:32:00.002-05:00

Ceslee and Ethel

ICHOF: Clown Intensive February 14-18 2012

2012-01-06T13:28:00.000-05:00

Visit the International Clown Hall of Fame website for more details. There are a limited number of spots available and they are filling up quickly!

CHARLIE CAIROLI & CO: Parkinson at the Pantomime (1978)

2012-01-02T15:01:00.001-05:00

GROCK: La Vie d'un Grand Artiste (1931)

2012-01-01T21:55:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-31T14:52:00.001-05:00

CLOWNALLEY.NET VIDEO CHRISTMAS CARD 2011

2011-12-24T08:45:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Kenny "The Great Gumbini" Colombo and the 1976/'77 Blue Unit Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.Merry Christmas to one and all.

ICHOF: Clown Intensive - Feb. 14-18, 2012

2011-12-16T18:08:00.001-05:00

CHARLIE BELL: Hunting Gag (August 14, 1947)

2011-12-12T15:34:00.000-05:00

Photo by Sverre "Bex" Braathen, courtesy of the Illinois State University Digital Collection

Charlie Bell and Peanut preparing to perform their classic Hunting Gag on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Jimmy Armstrong can be seen in the background

PAOLO CASANOVA: Gala di Magia e Circo - Carillon e Francesca Bartolomucci

2011-11-30T09:16:00.001-05:00

GAYLE LAJOYE: Snowflake

2011-11-28T14:08:00.001-05:00

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Red Unit (1983)

2011-11-23T00:30:00.000-05:00

Video courtesy of Nic Beery

BERTRAM MILLS CIRCUS (Undated)

2011-11-22T07:59:00.001-05:00

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Can anyone identify the two clowns in this clip? Does anyone know the year?

IN MEMORIAM: Jim Robertson (1962-2011)

2011-11-17T09:32:00.001-05:00

PROTOTYPE HAND AND ARM

2011-11-16T22:49:00.001-05:00

A TOUR OF THE CIRCUS AND CLOWN MUSEUM, VIENNA

2011-11-12T15:57:00.001-05:00

FROM INTERNATIONAL CLOWN HALL OF FAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GREG DE SANTO

2011-11-07T11:59:00.001-05:00

And now an important message from me...I just want to clarify a few points about the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center. It is clear that some people do not know all the facts and backstory of how I came to be the chief cook, bottlewasher and keeper of the props, wardrobe, stories and memories of clowns past, present & future here at the ICHOF. The quick version is I was asked to help this organization at a time when it was about to, in no easy words, "go-away". Financial troubles, Board problems and this amazing collection of artifacts tucked away in storage units not being seen by anyone. With the help of dedicated friends, clowns, performers and the community of Baraboo, WI, the ICHOF became a reality, and once again a proud monument to the lives and careers of clowns, world-wide.

Since our opening on May 21, 2010, we have cleared up the back taxes, become current with all our bills, created a complete inventory of every artifact in our collection, re-structured our board to include a mix of local merchants and business members who share our mission and passion and believe in the good that a museum celebrating clowning can do. And the clowns themselves. Every time there has been a need, the professional clown community has stepped up. EVERY time. Whether it's trust in me, or belief in the mission to preserve our shared history or just something as simple as wanting to help and to be able to say to themselves that they did do something to help an art form that has given so much to our lives.

With an institution that dates back to 1986, there is going to be history attached. Most of it good, but some not so much. All we can do in the present is to learn from the past and not repeat those mistakes. Many great clowns helped start this idea of a depository of physical items relating to clowns, but really what makes these "items" important are the stories that bring them to life and honor the performers who dedicated their lives to this thing we call clowning. From a museum business stand point these items are what give our collection "value". We have to insure them. We have to care for them them. We have to be responsible caretakers for these items so that future generations can see and learn from these artifacts of those who came before us.

That being said, it needs to be stated very clearly that unless a written document on ICHOF stationary,dated & signed by both parties is present indicating that a item is on "loan" to the ICHOF, it is the current Board of Directors and Executive Director position that any and all items currently on display or in the collection of the ICHOF are the sole and complete property of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center, a 501 (c) 3 organization. Wisconsin law allows for a seven (7) year period in which an item in the care of the institution (ICHOF) has not been reviewed by said owner, it is implied that ownership of said item becomes the property of the institution caring for its physical being and financial worth. In laymans terms, for example, if an item was loaned/donated back in 1989, and no contact about that item has been made since the date, and no paperwork can be produced to verify any agreements between the two parties, the item is the sole property of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center.

We take the business of operating a not for profit museum very seriously. From the time I have taken over as Board President,(October 2009) I have waived all salary compensation and our board worked diligently to correct our business model and return the organization to financial solvency. They have also agreed to not receive any items on loan or consignment. Any exceptions are duly noted in our files and are done with Board approval. To date there is only one exception on file.

As we move forward and continue to grow and add to our collection, I would hope this policy will not deter anyone from making a contribution of historic clown related artifacts. More importantly, one should know that any item given to us will be treated with respect, displayed with the knowledge of where this artifacts falls in the vast history of clowning, and be seen by generations of people who might just walk away having learned something about clowns that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

So ends my story for today. I cannot begin to thank everyone who has helped us on our mission to see the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center become a living, ever changing place to honor clowning. I hope that if it your desire to help in any way, ideas, suggestions, volunteer, financial contributions, you will do so, and know your efforts are appreciated and welcomed by a very grateful Clown Hall of Fame.

In Laughter-

Greg DeSanto

THE RASTELLIS: Circus Scott (August 18, 2011)

2011-11-04T09:42:00.003-04:00

COPUCHA CUCHARITA Y CHIROLA

2011-11-02T21:02:00.000-04:00

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (Circa 1960)

2011-10-28T10:04:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Chipper Lowell (Chuck's son and a world-class comedy magician)

Arne "Red" Honkola at the piano and Chuck Burnes as the saloon girl in Paul Jung's Western Gag.

(Chuck Burnes himself writes to tell us that this photo was taken during either the New York or Boston dates)

SLIVERS OAKLEY: Ringling Bros. Circus Poster (Circa 1900)

2011-10-20T08:15:00.001-04:00

This lithograph - perhaps the only surviving example - was printed by the Courier Litho Company for the Ringling Bros. Circus about 1900. This particular poster sold at auction in September of 2010 for nearly $5000.00

SPADER JOHNSON: Circa 1910

2011-10-18T15:13:00.001-04:00

FROSTY AND SOAPY Mid 1980s

2011-10-15T10:39:00.001-04:00

Photo courtesy of Michael Johnson


Glenn "Frosty" Little and Duane "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe at the Chicago Ampitheater

BUSTER KEATON: Cops Analysis from Ben Model

2011-10-05T08:44:00.001-04:00

Click here to hear Ben Model explain key scenes, at actual speed, from Buster Keaton's COPS.

BUSTER KEATON: Happy 116th Birthday

2011-10-04T14:19:00.001-04:00

DUO FRENKIS

2011-09-30T16:18:00.002-04:00

THUNDER & BLAZES

2011-09-28T08:47:00.000-04:00

I don't think it was the creator of this clip's intention but this piece very clearly illustrates the difference between what clowning is supposed to be... and what it all too often is.It's not a fashion show or a fetish party... it's clowning. You have to DO something.

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CLOWN COLLEGE REUNION: Cape Cod, MA (Sept. 22-25, 2011)

2011-09-23T08:28:00.000-04:00

Do we all have to fill this out again?

THE RASTELLIS

2011-09-21T12:33:00.002-04:00

Photo courtesy of Johnny Xod

OTTO GRIEBLING: Bellevue Hospital, New York City (1960s)

2011-09-16T11:57:00.001-04:00

MICHAEL "COCO" POLAKOVS: Bellevue Hospital, New York City (1960s)

2011-09-13T18:31:00.001-04:00

Michael "Coco" Polakovs performing at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey benefit show at New York's Bellevue Hospital, an annual tradition throughout the "North Era", in the 1960s. Coco told me that this colorful harlequin checked outfit was custom made for him in England and was his very favorite costume.

MYSTERY CLOWN: Circus Krasnodor

2011-09-09T07:35:00.000-04:00

LA FAMIGLIA DIMITRI

2011-09-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

BILLY VAUGHN: Photos From His Induction Into the International Clown Hall of Fame

2011-09-02T10:17:00.000-04:00

Photos courtesy of Noah Van Denburgh

Billy Vaughn accepting the plaque inducting him into the International Clown Hall of Fame from ICHOF Executive Director Greg DeSanto in a ceremony which took place Friday August 26th during the 2011 Circus Fans of America convention in Newburgh, NY. A wonderful retrospective video of Billy's career (courtesy of ICHOF board member Sandy Weber) was screened and fellow circus clowns Scott O'Donnell, John Kennedy Kane and Michael Karp were in attendance.

Congratulations, Billy. Well deserved!

CONGRATULATIONS, BILLY VAUGHN!

2011-08-26T09:11:00.000-04:00

Congratulations go out to Billy Vaughn who will be inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame today in recognition of a circus career that has spanned decades and is distinguished for his exceptional qualities both inside and outside of the ring.

Truly a clown's clown, the honor is extremely well deserved and very happily bestowed.

Namaste!

IRA GLASS: On Getting Better

2011-08-22T00:01:00.002-04:00

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

MYSTERY CLOWN: Does Anyone Know Who This Is?

2011-08-19T14:17:00.002-04:00

KELLY-MILLER 2011: Don't Miss It!

2011-08-18T17:26:00.000-04:00

I saw a circus yesterday that made me wish I was seeing the current edition of Kelly-Miller again. I said it before and I'll say it again, dagnabit: The current edition of Kelly-Miller is just about as good a traditional circus as I've ever seen.

BILLY PEARCE: Children's Royal Variety Performance (1992)

2011-08-17T10:27:00.000-04:00

DANISE PAYNE: Gerry Cottle's Circus

2011-08-15T04:19:00.000-04:00

HOW TO MAKE CHILDREN LAUGH by Paul Terry

2011-08-13T00:01:00.002-04:00

Wouldn't it be great if we unlearned all of the deeply, profoundly "important" lessons that we've learned about clowning and just simply tried to make people laugh?

CIRCUS SMIRKUS

2011-08-11T07:51:00.001-04:00

Video courtesy of M Lane Talburt

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, LUCY!

2011-08-06T08:49:00.000-04:00

CAPTAIN KANGAROO LINKS

2011-08-05T12:11:00.000-04:00

For those of you wondering why the posting here have slowed, I am busy re-launching ICHOF inductee Bob Keeshan's classic television creation, Captain Kangaroo.

Click the title of this post to be taken to our Facebook page, click the link here to be taken to our website and blog.

ICHOF: Front Page News!

2011-08-05T11:34:00.000-04:00

Funny business: International Clown Week has Baraboo busy smiling

By Ed Zagorski, News Republic

Greg DeSanto, executive director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in downtown Baraboo, adjusts a display of Bobo the Clown's famous wardrobe. Bobo, who stood 6-foot, 3 inches tall and weighed 240 pounds would take six dogs, a skunk, suitcase and trumpet with him inside the small electric car, which still runs today. Ed Zagorski / News Republic

Clowning around is no joke to Greg DeSanto, executive director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in downtown Baraboo.

"This is not a job for me," he said. "I love coming here."

But this week is something special for DeSanto. International Clown Week began Monday and runs through Sunday.

The original National Clown Week proclamation, signed by President Richard Nixon on Aug. 2, 1971, is on display at the facility.

"It's great to have a week like this because clowns have been getting a bad rap, especially with some of the horror movies that are out there," DeSanto said.

"I want people to walk away from here with a respect for clowns. Clowns or comedic figures have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years in different cultures throughout the world."

DeSanto said the definition of a "clown" fits more than just those who wear big, red noses, floppy shoes and colorful wigs.

"You have Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Jerry Lewis," he said. "You also have the Clown Prince of Baseball, Max Patkin, and the Clown Prince of Basketball, Meadowlark Lemon," DeSanto said. "Those folks had other careers which led them into clowning. They just had different venues to showcase their acts."

DeSanto said a few television personalities earned their start by playing clowns.

He said that long before Ed McMahon began calling out "Here's Johnny!" on the "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," McMahon wore clown makeup and a wig before the opening of each episode of "Big Top Circus" on CBS in the 1950s.

DeSanto also said before Bob Keeshan played the beloved "Captain Kangaroo," he was the first to play Clarabell the Clown on "The Howdy Doody Show."

"Television needed people who could work on these types of programs devoted to children," DeSanto said. "Some of these guys already had television experience, like Willard Scott, the weatherman, who played Bozo the Clown for a time in the 1960s. Willard also played Ronald McDonald, too."

DeSanto, who plays Greg the Clown, said he has met a lot of the clowns whose photos hang from the walls inside the International Clown Hall of Fame.

"Their memories should be shown and shared with the younger generation," he said. "It's just one big family here, and their stories should be kept alive."

Pat Cashin, who serves on the board of directors of the International Clown Hall of Fame, is doing just that with his blog at clownalley.net, which he said brings people together from all over the world to talk about clowns and their different art forms.

"I started the blog about five years ago and we have between 400 and 500 hits a day on it," he said. "We have about 5,000 posts, where people from around the globe post their pictures, stories, old news articles and even videos of family members who were clowns in the past."

Cashin said the site helps to drive the art form of clowning forward virtually, like the clown colleges did physically for those who took part in them.

"The site puts older clowns in touch with young ones from all over the world," Cashin said. "It has become real handy for professional clowns to share their stories."

He also said the site has boosted the reputation of Baraboo's International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center.

"There is no permanent clown museum in the world that can touch what Baraboo has," he said. "Clowns from around the world are sending their things to our museum, and it's great because it helps to show what clowning really is."

Send email to ezagorski@capitalnewspapers.com.

THE MOST LIKELY ORIGIN OF THE TERM: "Walkaround"

2011-08-04T07:55:00.001-04:00

Number Two In a Series

Why are clown "walkarounds" referred to as "walkarounds". The term most likely has its origins in the pre-three ring circus minstrel show days...

THE MOST LIKELY ORIGIN OF THE TERM: "First of May"

2011-08-03T12:18:00.001-04:00

Number One in a Series

I know what you've heard. I know what you've read in books written decades after the fact by people who never worked in the circus. This seems to me to be the most likely origin of the term "First of May"...

CLICK HERE

SAM FERLO: New York Times Article

2011-08-02T13:41:00.002-04:00

Please click the link below for a wonderful article on Ted and Mary Beth Ferlo's son Sam following in his father's oversized footsteps and attending Circus Smirkus this summer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/us/29land.html

INTERNATIONAL CLOWN WEEK 2011: August 1st - 7th

2011-08-01T12:29:00.000-04:00

From the desk of Greg DeSanto, Executive Director of the International Clown Hall of Fame...

August 1st thru the 7th is designated "National Clown Week" by Joint Congressional Resolution, approved October 8, 1970 and signed into law by President Richard Nixon on August 2, 1971.

In part the proclamation reads,

"Whoever has heard the laughter of a child or seen the sudden delight on the face of a lonely old man has understood in those brief moments mysteries deeper than love.

All men are indebted to those who bring such moments of quiet splendor-who redeem sickness and pain with joy. All across America good men in putty noses and baggy trousers following a tradition as old as man's need to gently touch the lives of his fellowman. Today, as always, clowns and the spirit they represent are as vital to the maintenance of our humanity as the builders and the growers and governors... "

The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center is proud to help celebrate the laughter this week with special events to include a display of the original proclamation signed by President Richard Nixon, guided tours of the largest collection of clown artifacts in the world and on Saturday, August 6th, a celebration of Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday with a trivia contest at 1:00pm, daylong video highlights of some of Lucy's funniest moments, and face painting.

The Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center is a 501 (c) 3 organization, and is located at 102 4th Avenue, Baraboo, WI 53913, right on the historic downtown square. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm, admission is $5.00. For more info call 608-355-0321.

IMPROV EVERYWHERE: MP3 Experiment

2011-08-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

STEPHAN ZAVATTA

2011-07-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

JOANES

2011-07-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

LACI "MOOKY" ENDRESZ JR: Juggling Act; Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (1995)

2011-07-25T09:29:00.001-04:00

Video courtesy of Circopedia

GIOVANNI "NINO" ZOPPE: Zoppe Family Circus (2011)

2011-07-21T08:30:00.003-04:00

BASAN FAMILY MUSICAL CLOWNS

2011-07-18T16:49:00.002-04:00

JULIEN COTTEREAU: Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione (2011)

2011-07-15T07:55:00.000-04:00

LEE ANDREWS: Cole Bros. Advance Clown

2011-07-12T17:10:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of M Lane Talburt

INTERNATIONAL CLOWN HALL OF FAME: Kimmer & Victoria's Visit

2011-07-11T14:53:00.001-04:00

Kimmer and Victoria are exploring the United States by RV for 52 weeks. They recently visited the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Baraboo, WI and shared their experience.

CHUCK SIDLOW: Gulf Coast Journal (2011)

2011-07-07T06:53:00.000-04:00

Watch the full episode. See more A Gulf Coast Journal.

HISTORY DETECTIVES: Ronald McDonald (featuring Mike "Coco" Polakovs)

2011-07-06T18:19:00.000-04:00

Watch the full episode. See more History Detectives.

THE RASTELLIS: Cirque Jean Richard (1976)

2011-07-05T14:24:00.000-04:00

Video courtesy of circopedia.org

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

2011-07-04T08:18:00.000-04:00

RYAN & STEVE: Kelly-Miller Circus (2011)

2011-07-01T08:27:00.001-04:00

Video courtesy of M Lane Talburt

I saw the Kelly-Miller show a few weeks back in Secaucus, NJ and, from the moment it started til the finale, it was probably the very best circus (outside of Big Apple) that I have seen in 15-20 years!!!

Gone are the lackluster "thrill" acts of a few years back, replaced with an extremely well-paced, well presented performance that puts the rest of the industry to shame.

The near capacity audience was ecstatic... and so was I. This was the circus that I've wanted to take my son to for almost nine years. The one that has the smell of elephants and cotton candy, has funny clowns and great acts presented with a professional attention to detail. This is showmanship! This was a real honest-to-goodness CIRCUS under canvas!

It was wonderful to see.

Check the Kelly Miller website to see when the show is in your area and DO NOT MISS IT!

2011-06-24T10:40:00.003-04:00

Clownalley.net returns July 1st, 2011.

A one month vacation isn't too much to ask after 5 years, is it?

INTERNATIONAL CLOWN HALL OF FAME INDUCTION ANNOUNCEMENT!

2011-06-20T18:41:00.001-04:00

The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center and its Board of Directors are proud to announce the their selection for the 2011 Induction into the Clown Hall of fame- Mr. Billy Vaughn!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELMO!

2011-06-11T05:41:00.000-04:00

Clownalley.net will return soon but I had to come back from vacation to wish a very happy 60th birthday today to my good friend Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers. Today marks another milestone as he celebrates 35 years as a professional clown.

As a "baby clown" graduating the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College at the Venice Arena

At the center of the Blue Show Clown Alley of the Greatest Show on Earth in 1977.


On a Shrine Date in New York State in 1981


The longtime Advance Clown for the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus

On Hoxie's Great American Circus


As Producing Clown for Beatty-Cole

At the Clown College Reunion in 1987

At the Showfolks Circus with Sandy Kaye

With Shane and I at Michael Rosman's Circus Camp

In the Showfolks Alley

Happy Birthday, Elmo!

LOU JACOBS

2011-05-28T21:34:00.000-04:00

OTTO GRIEBLING

2011-05-28T21:33:00.000-04:00

CLOWNALLEY.NET: Five Years Old Today

2011-05-28T21:15:00.001-04:00

Clownalley.net is five years old today. This also marks our 5,000th post.

We'll be back after a brief intermission.

YANN ROSSI: Circus Krone (2011)

2011-05-27T11:35:00.001-04:00

SQUIRM BURPEE: Sizzle Reel

2011-05-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

INTERNATIONAL CLOWN HALL OF FAME: Water for Elephants

2011-05-26T09:45:00.001-04:00

Greg and Karen DeSanto at the historic Al Ringling Theater for the Baraboo premier of Water for Elephants...

SLAVA: Martial Arts Gag, Great Moscow Circus (May 2011)

2011-05-26T09:38:00.000-04:00

ELECTRIC CITY CLOWN ALLEY: Tonight

2011-05-25T12:13:00.001-04:00

I'm loading the car for the long drive to Schenectady, New York to visit the Electric City Clown Alley tonight and share a lot of rare clowning videos and some stories.

CLOWN ALLEY: Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus (circa 1970s)

2011-05-25T12:07:00.000-04:00

Shorty Hinkle

Lou Nagy

Jimmy James Plott

NO JOE'S CLOWN CIRCUS: 2011 Promo Video

2011-05-25T12:02:00.000-04:00

Folks, this is what a professional promo video looks like. Joey's marketing material is always top notch but I think that he's really outdone himself this year.

CLOWN ALLEY: Hubert Castle Circus (1972)

2011-05-24T07:44:00.000-04:00

Rex "Count DeBoxcar" Young, Jimmy Armstrong and Lee Marx

KING OF THE HILL: "Portrait of the Artist As a Young Clown" (2005)

2011-05-24T00:24:00.000-04:00

CLOWN ALLEY: Four Kings and Some Joker (Circa 1940s)

2011-05-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

Charlie Bell, Emmett Kelly, Felix Adler, Frankie Saluto (in Chaplin makeup) and what appears to be someone else in Paul Jung's makeup and costume. Does anyone have any background on this?

FREDDY "ALEX" ACERO: Shrine Circus (2011)

2011-05-23T11:18:00.000-04:00

JOHN MCCONNELL MEMORIAL SERVICE: May 20, 2011

2011-05-22T23:14:00.000-04:00


After a few deeply heartfelt words from John's son Eric McConnell, John's family and friends held a good thought or memory of John and released a multitude of balloons heavenward.

WHEN YOU HAVE A MOMENT...

2011-05-21T13:13:00.001-04:00

I have some news that I'd like to share with you...

Please click here.

MY FRIEND AND YOURS, MR. KENNY AHERN...

2011-05-21T11:39:00.000-04:00

THIS is how it's done...

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS...

2011-05-20T12:50:00.000-04:00

GENE LEWIS: By Weegee

2011-05-19T08:44:00.000-04:00

THE CHICKYS: Balloon

2011-05-19T08:42:00.000-04:00

JOHN MCCONNELL: Information on Services

2011-05-18T12:13:00.003-04:00

Services for John McConnell will be at Doyle Funeral Home, Friday May 20, 2011. Viewing will be from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM with a service at 7:00 PM. A reception will follow at the Mt. Kemble Firehouse, Springbrook Rd., Morristown (1 mile south of Morristown off of Rt 202.

ETIENNE DECROUX: The Principals of Corporeal Mime

2011-05-18T12:12:00.000-04:00

One subgroup of physical theater is corporeal mime. Its objective is to place drama inside the moving human body, rather than to substitute gesture for speech as in pantomime. In this medium, the mime must apply to physical movement those principles that are at the heart of drama: pause, hesitation, weight, resistance and surprise. Corporeal mime accentuates the vital importance of the body and physical action on stage.

It was developed primarily by Étienne Decroux, who was heavily influenced by his training with Jacques Copeau at the Ecole du Vieux-Colombier. He created this method and technique for creative performers wishing to transform their ideas into a physical reality, in order to devise a new style of theater "making visible the invisible," as Decroux put it.

The objectives of corporeal mime are to enable the actor to become more autonomous in creating metaphor-based physical theater pieces, which may include text, but are not based on text, i.e., to give the actor greater access to physical metaphors in work in traditional plays, and to increase the actor's strength, agility, flexibility and imaginative powers.

While Decroux’s movement style was quite different from the commedia dell'arte from which 19th century pantomime took as its model, Decroux was influenced by this classical art form. Decroux worked extensively with Teatro Piccolo in Milan, training actors and choreographing Arlecchino an adaptation of Galdoni's Servant of Two Masters directed by Giorgio Strehler. Concidentally, Jacques Lecoq, another famous mime teacher worked as a movement teacher at Piccolo Teatro until he was succeeded by Decroux.

Unlike classical pantomime, corporeal mime was also no longer an anecdotal art that used conventional gestures to create illusions of objects or persons.

Corporeal mimes seek to express abstract and universal ideas and emotions through codified movements of the entire body (but most especially the trunk--the face and hands are confined to a secondary role in this movement form) Some corporeal mimes write their own texts, as did the Greek mime-authors, integrating the mime-actor's art with the author's. They also include props, costumes, masks, lighting effects and music. Because it contains movement expression along with other elements, it is often loosely alluded to as physical or movement theater.

IN MEMORIAM: John McConnell

2011-05-17T18:52:00.000-04:00

It is with deep regret that I inform you that friend and colleague John H.
McConnell passed away last night.

He had recently been ill with an undiagnosed ailment.

John is survived by his wife, Dolores, and three sons, two of whom, Eric and
Brian, were with him in the circus business, as well as his
daughters-in-laws.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Doyle Funeral in Morristown, NJ will be
handling the arrangements.
http://www.doylefh.com/

He was active for many years as a circus proprietor, manager and consultant.
He wrote many books including several on circus topics, including the
Hanneford family and the Shrine circus that originated in Detroit.

John was a long time member of the Circus Historical Society and was serving
as a trustee of the organization.

Fred Dahlinger

IN MEMORIAM: Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990)

2011-05-17T08:48:00.001-04:00

Richard Hunt at Jim Henson's memorial...

Frank Oz...

Carroll Spinney as Big Bird...

CLOWN ALLEY: Various

2011-05-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

Mike Bourbon(?) on Beatty-Cole

Gene Lewis on RBB&B in the 1960s

Shorty Hinkle in the Beatty-Cole alley

Unidentified


Unidentified

Lou Nagy in the backyard of the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.

THE CHICKYS: Mirror Entree

2011-05-16T14:04:00.000-04:00

Circus clowning doesn't get more traditional that this...

MITCH & IAN FREDDES: Barrel Gag (1987)

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Mitch Freddes with his then six year old son Ian performing his barrel gag.

JAMIE'S FIRST CIRCUS: Vidbel's (May 14, 2011)

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We took Jamie to his first circus today and to say he was delighted watching Mitch in the ring is an understatement. He laughed and clapped throughout Mitch's act and couldn't take his eyes off of him at intermission.

Mitch gave us an autographed photo which Jamie wanted to look at the whole way home.

Jamie and Shane with Jonathan "Mitch" Freddes

Thank you, Mitch!

THE YES MEN

2011-05-13T13:49:00.004-04:00

The Yes Men are a culture jamming activist duo consisting of Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno.^[1] Through actions of tactical media, The Yes Men primarily aim to raise awareness about what they consider problematic social issues. To date, the duo has produced two films: The Yes Men (2003) and The Yes Men Fix the World (2009).^[1] In these films, they impersonate entities that they dislike, a practice that they call "identity correction". The Yes Men operate under the mission statement of telling the truth and exposing lies. They create and maintain fake websites similar to ones they intend to spoof, which have led to numerous interview, conference, and TV talk show invitations. They espouse the belief that corporations and governmental organizations often act in dehumanizing ways toward the public. Elaborate props are sometimes part of the ruse (e.g. Survivaball), as shown in their 2003 DVD release The Yes Men. The Yes Men have collaborated with other groups of similar interest, including Improv Everywhere and Steve Lambert.^[2]

Background

According to Bichlbaum, the Yes Men concept initially sprang from their creation of a fake website spoofing the World Trade Organization. To the surprise of Bichlbaum and Bonanno, many believed the site to be authentic, and the two were consequently contacted to speak at a conference in Austria. Since this time, the Yes Men have continued performing large-scale hoaxes, in what they describe as a collaborative effort with journalists to help the media tell stories which they believe are important.^[3]

The Yes Men often deploy a satirical approach: they pose as a powerful entity (typically a corporate or government representative or executive) and make ridiculous and shocking comments that caricature the ideological position of the organisation or person. Furthermore, they acknowledge the idea that many corporate or government entities manipulate their ideology using spin; in response, the Yes Men use this power of spin to their own advantage, and use media outlets to disseminate their personal interpretation of the situation. A sense of humor and shock value is usually employed to make these issues more palatable to the general public and to call greater media attention to stories of interest.^[1] Some of these outrageous ideas include the possibility to sell one's vote or that the poor should consume recycled human waste. On most occasions, little to no shock or outrage is publicly evoked in response to their prank.

On occasion, the Yes Men's phony spokesperson will make announcements that represent fictitious scenarios for the anti-globalization movement or opponents of corporate crime. The result often heed false news reports which cover the demise of the World Trade Organization, or Dow Chemical paying compensation to the victims of the Bhopal disaster, which the Yes Men intend to provide publicity for problems concerning these organizations. One of the effects of apologizing and promising support on behalf of an organization is that the organization is then later forced to re-acknowledge the event in question and retract all of the proposed good will. This served to further publicize the negative event of the organization and sets-up the organization to look bad for taking back any support The Yes Men offered under the name of their organization.

The Yes Men have posed as spokespeople for the WTO, McDonalds, Dow Chemical, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The two leading members of the Yes Men are known by a number of aliases, most recently, and in film, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno. Their real names are Jacques Servin^[4] and Igor Vamos, respectively. Servin is an author of experimental fiction, and was known for being the man who inserted images of men kissing in the computer game SimCopter. Vamos is an associate professor of media arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York. They are assisted by numerous people across the globe. There are other full time members, such as Whitney Black and Rocco Ferrer, that take a more behind the scenes approach.

Their experiences were documented in the film The Yes Men,^[5] distributed by United Artists, the film documentary info wars, and the book The Yes Men: The True Story of the End of the World Trade Organization (ISBN 0-9729529-9-3). Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno also directed a 2009 film entitled The Yes Men Fix the World, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.^[6] In 2009 they launched their online video channel on Babelgum.^[7]

Projects

George W. Bush

One of the Yes Men's first pranks was the satirical website www.gwbush.com, established for the 2000 US presidential election to draw attention to alleged hypocrisies on Bush's actual website. When asked about the site in a press conference on May 21, 1999, Bush responded that the website had gone too far in criticizing him.^[8]^[9]^[10]

In 2004, the Yes Men went on tour posing as the group "Yes, Bush Can!" and encouraged supporters to sign a "Patriot Pledge" agreeing to keep nuclear waste in their backyard and send their children off to war. They appeared at the 2004 Republican National Convention and drove across the country at first in an RV with a George W. Bush body wrap, and then in a painted van.

Ice Age Petition

The Yes Men posed as working as part of the Bush Cheney campaign. They carried around a petition asking for signatures to support Global Warming because America's competing countries will suffer while America only bears minor side-effects.^[11]

Dow Chemical

Andy Bichlbaum, a member of the Yes Men, appears on BBC World to take full responsibility for the Bhopal disaster.

On December 3, 2004, the twentieth anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, Andy Bichlbaum appeared on BBC World as "Jude Finisterra",^[12] a Dow Chemical spokesman.^[13] Dow is the owner of Union Carbide, the company responsible for the chemical disaster which killed thousands and left over 120,000 requiring lifelong care.

On their fake Dow Chemical website, the Yes Men said that Dow Chemical Company had no intention whatsoever of repairing the damage.^[14] The real company received considerable backlash, and both the real Dow and the phony Dow denied the statements, but Dow took no real action.

The Yes Men decided to pressure Dow further, so as "Finisterra," Bichlbaum went on the news to claim that Dow planned to liquidate Union Carbide and use the resulting $12 billion to pay for medical care, clean up the site, and fund research into the hazards of other Dow products. After two hours of wide coverage, Dow issued a press release denying the statement, ensuring even greater coverage of the phony news of a cleanup. By the time the original story was discredited, Dow's stock had declined in value by $2 billion.^[15]

After the original interview was revealed as a hoax, Bichlbaum appeared in a follow-up interview on the United Kingdom's Channel 4 news.^[16] During the interview he was asked if he had considered the emotions and reaction of the people of Bhopal when producing the hoax. According to the interviewer, "there were many people in tears" upon having learned of the hoax. Bichlbaum said that, in comparison, what distress he had caused the people was minimal to that for which Dow was responsible. The Yes Men claim on their website that they have been told by contacts in Bhopal that once they had got over their disappointment that it wasn't real, they were pleased about the stunt and thought it had helped to raise awareness of their plight.^[17]

At the International Payments Conference on April 28, 2005, 'Dow representative' "Erastus Hamm" unveiled Acceptable Risk, the Acceptable Risk Calculator, and the Acceptable Risk mascot — a life-sized golden skeleton named Gilda — to an audience of about 70 banking professionals.

WTO

One of the Yes Men's most famous pranks is placing a "corrected" WTO website at http://www.gatt.org/ (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). The fake site began to receive real emails from confused visitors, including invitations to address various elite groups on behalf of the WTO, to which they responded as if they were the actual WTO.

Appearing in newly purchased suits, the Yes Men gave speeches encouraging corporations to buy votes directly from citizens. They argued that the US Civil War was a waste of money because Third World countries now willingly supply equivalent slaves. They also urged people to listen to the WTO instead of the facts. They then unveiled a gold spandex body suit that they claimed would allow productivity to increase, as managers would not have to oversee workers in person but could keep track of them via images on an attached screen as well as implanted sensors.

New Orleans and HUD

Wikinews has related news: HUD hoaxer calls attention to lack of affordable housing

The Yes Men appeared on August 28, 2006 at a "Housing Summit" in New Orleans, taking the stage along with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. Before an audience composed mostly of real estate developers, one of the Yes Men gave a speech in which he claimed to be Rene Oswin, a fictitious "assistant under-secretary" at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In his speech he claimed that HUD would reopen public housing facilities that had been closed since Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. He said that HUD had changed its mind about tearing down the undamaged housing units, and would not tear down the housing projects, as they had planned to do in order to replace them with mixed-income development.^[18]

HUD has called this prank, which brought attention to the lack of affordable housing, a "cruel hoax." A former resident of the community was quoted by Bichlbaum as saying, "do whatever's most effective, do it, don't worry about how it affects us," however.^[19] HUD spokeswoman Donna White said no one named "Rene Oswin" works for the department. White commented, "I'm like, who the heck is that?"^[20]

The fictitious Oswin also announced that the big oil companies would contribute some of their record profits to rebuild the wetlands destroyed by the construction of oil tanker canals to prevent the city from being inundated by future hurricanes.

ExxonMobil

Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno pose as ExxonMobil executives.

On June 14, 2007, the Yes Men acted during Canada's largest oil conference in Calgary, Alberta, posing as ExxonMobil and National Petroleum Council (NPC) representatives. In front of more than 300 oilmen, the NPC was expected to deliver the long-awaited conclusions of a study commissioned by U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. The NPC is headed by former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, who is also the chair of the study.^[21] When the Yes Men arrived at the conference they said that Lee Raymond (the promised speaker) was unable to make it due to a pressing situation with the president. The Yes Men then went on to give a presentation in place of Lee Raymond.

In the actual speech, the "NPC rep" announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies (notably the massive, carbon-intensive processing of Alberta's oil sands, and the development of liquid coal) are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. But he reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could "keep fuel flowing" by transforming the billions of people who would die into oil.^[22]

The project, called Vivoleum, would work in perfect synergy with the continued expansion of fossil fuel production. The oilmen listened to the lecture with attention, and then lit "commemorative candles". At this point, event security recognized the Yes Men and forced them off stage, and the 'punchline' — that the candles were made of Vivoleum obtained from the flesh of an "Exxon janitor" who died as a result of cleaning up a toxic spill — was not delivered to the audience, but only to reporters.^[23]

Milton Friedman documentary

In July 2007, in order to obtain interviews with right wing think tanks, the Yes Men pretended to be filming a documentary about Milton Friedman. (In fact, their documentary, The Yes Men Fix the World, did end up speaking about Friedman at length.) After interviewing members of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the American Enterprise Institute, several of whom appear in the film, the Yes Men were foiled at the Cato Institute by libertarian activists Bureaucrash, one of whose members had been hanging around the Competitive Enterprise Institute two days before and recognized the duo. On their way out, Bureaucrash members threw colored powder at the Yes Men in a reference to the rainbow.^[24]

BP

On March 10, 2008, the Yes Men responded to a letter from BP (merged from British Petroleum and Amoco) accusing them of copyright violation, with a letter apologizing for having forgotten BP with the spoof site half-completed and that "BP does every bit as much damage to this planet as does Exxon, Halliburton, or any other more obviously nefarious company" and deserves its own properly completed spoof site.^[25]

Captain Euro

In 1999, the Yes Men visited the offices of Twelve Star Communications, creators of the Eurofederalist superhero Captain Euro, "a comic book character designed to promote European unification with young children." Inside, the impostors discover the hidden, dark truth about European Unification.^[26]

New York Times

The Yes Men (along with the Anti-Advertising Agency) also claimed partial responsibility for a prank on November 12, 2008, where approximately 80,000 copies of a fake edition of the July 4, 2009 edition of The New York Times were handed out on the streets of New York and Los Angeles.^[27]^[28]

The fake edition shows their ideas for a better future with headlines such as Iraq War Ends and Nation Sets Its Sights on Building Sane Economy. The front page contained a spoofed motto, "All the News We Hope to Print" from the famous phrase "All the news that's fit to print".^[29]

Articles in the paper announce dozens of new initiatives, including an establishment of national health care, a maximum wage for C.E.O.s and an article wherein George W. Bush accuses himself of treason for his actions during his years as president.^[30]^[31] There is also a Reuters photo of the fake cover page^[32]^[33]^[34] and a fake website, http://www.nytimes-se.com/.

Alex S. Jones, a former Times reporter and media scholar, said of the paper, "I would say if you’ve got one, hold on to it...it will probably be a collector’s item. I’m just glad someone thinks The New York Times print edition is worthy of an elaborate hoax. A Web spoof would have been infinitely easier. But creating a print newspaper and handing it out at subway stations? That takes a lot of effort."^[32]

New York Post and SurvivaBall

On September 21, 2009, one day before a UN summit lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009, over 2,000 volunteers distributed throughout New York City a 32-page "special edition" New York Post, blaring headlines (cover story "We're Screwed") that the city could face deadly heat waves, extreme flooding, and other lethal effects of global warming within the next few decades. The paper has been created by the Yes Men and a coalition of activists as a wake-up call to action on climate change. Other articles describe the Pentagon's alarmed response to global warming, the U.S. government's minuscule response, China's advanced alternative energy program, and how the Copenhagen climate talks could be a "Flopenhagen".^[35] There is also a fake website.^[36]

On September 22, 2009 the Yes Men demonstrated on the alleged behalf of Halliburton and dozens of other climate threatening corporations an inflatable ball-shaped costume known as the SurvivaBall, claiming it was a self contained living system for surviving disasters caused by global warming. Over two dozen people wore the SurvivaBall costumes as it was demonstrated in the East River.^[37] Police shut down the demonstration for lack of a permit. Co-founder of the Yes Men, Andy Bichlbaum, was arrested on an outstanding parking ticket charge and a handful of other Yes Men were served with summons and tickets for disorderly behavior and creating hazardous conditions.^[38]^[39]

The SurvivaBall was also used in a protest at the steps of the capitol. The protesting balls demanded action be taken on global warming to achieve the 350.org goal. Their strategy was to block the entrance until the government comes to a binding agreement on climate change. Further information on the SurvivaBall concept can be found on the mock website http://www.survivaball.com/index.php.

US Chamber of Commerce

On October 19, 2009, the Yes Men spoofed the United States Chamber of Commerce, declaring a U-turn on their climate change policy.^[40]^[41] The Yes Men were not able to complete the conference without being exposed as a hoax, although their message that the United States Chamber of Commerce needs to reevaluate their direction in terms of clean energy was their primary concern and was received. Major TV and news organisations carried this story briefly before the hoax was uncovered. The US Chamber of Commerce two weeks later did change their official policy though, according to Al Gore it was "not because of" the Yes Men's stunt. The Chamber has launched a lawsuit against The Yes Men who will be defended by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The Yes Men released a film documenting this prank bundled with their 2009 film The Yes Men Fix the World. This has been released as a "P2P Edition" version available for free download using a Creative Commons copyright by available from EZTV among other sources. In the film they say their choice to release this way is to counteract the US Chamber of Commerce lawsuit provision that film of the hoax be destroyed - an attempted example of the Streisand effect.

Canadian environment minister

During the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, the Yes Men put out a statement in which they purported to be the Canadian environment minister, Jim Prentice. The statement pledged to cut carbon emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. The statement was followed by a response from the Ugandan delegation, praising the statement, that was also faked. Another fake statement was then put out blasting the falsehoods of the original fake statement. A fake story in a European edition of the Wall Street Journal was also posted online. Jim Prentice described the hoax as "undesirable".^[42]^[43]

Niger Delta Hoax

On March 28, 2010, a video was released on YouTube with the title "Shell: We are sorry". A man called Bradford Houppe, from the Ethical Affairs Committee at Royal Dutch Shell gave a four minute long apology to the people of the Niger Delta for ruining their land, water, and communities. This video was created in response to the numerous environmental problems and human rights violations that have occurred in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria since Shell began oil exploration in the region decades ago. Shell has yet to make any official statement about this video.

GE Tax Refund Hoax reported by the AP

On April 13, 2011, a hoax website with an URL similar to that of the GE press domain (genewscenter.com) designed to look like the GE news center website. The hoax site posted the claim "GE Responds to Public Outcry – Will Donate Entire $3.2 Billion Tax Refund to Help Offset Cuts and Save American Jobs." and it seems that the AP reported the story as fact, as reported by Good.^[44]

Find out more about The Yes Men at www.theyesmen.org.

NOLA RAE: The Conductor (1984)

2011-05-11T13:52:00.000-04:00