First in a series of photographs from the personal collection of Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers comes these shots of his alleymate Mark Anthony on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Blue Unit taken during the 1977 season.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
ELMO REMEMBERS '77-'78: Mark Anthony
Photos courtesy of Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers
First in a series of photographs from the personal collection of Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers comes these shots of his alleymate Mark Anthony on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Blue Unit taken during the 1977 season.
First in a series of photographs from the personal collection of Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers comes these shots of his alleymate Mark Anthony on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Blue Unit taken during the 1977 season.
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH: Movie Trailer
Hosted by Cecil B. DeMille himself and featuring a brief opening appearance by one of his favorite clowns, Ernie "Blinko" Burch, at the beginning, this trailer becomes of interest to this blog at about 3:40 in.
That's when you'll see Otto Griebling, Lou Jacobs, Ernie "Blinko" Burch, Felix Adler, Buzzie Potts, Paul Jerome, Prince Paul Alpert, Paul Jung, Paul "Chesty" Mortier, Jimmy Armstrong, Albert White, Irv "Ricky" Romig, Al Bruce, Charlie Bell, Frankie Saluto and Emmett Kelly.
Thanks to my friend Sandy (Polidor1) for pointing out that it had been posted on YouTube.
Monday, July 16, 2007
EMMETT KELLY AND FREDDIE FREEMAN
The unusual pairing of Emmett Kelly and Freddie Freeman. Emmett was Otto Griebling's partner on the Cole Bros. Circus in the 1930s, Freddie was Otto's partner on Cole in the 40s, joined him in his move to Ringling in the 1950s and stayed through the late 1960s.
At first I thought that this was taken during a Ringling indoor come-in, but that can't be right since there doesn't seem to be any children present.
Possibly a late 30s Cole or early 1950s Ringling PR event?
SLIVERS OAKLEY: Another Obit Transcribed
Another of Slivers' obituaries, transcribed by Bill Strong...
________________________________________________________
"SLIVERS"
The odor of trampled grass , of peanuts and popcorn; the blare of a tireless band; three rings with a bewildering array of acrobats, fat horses, ladies and gentlemen in fleshings; altogether too much for any one pair of eyes.
Then the clowns, to add to the multiplicity of dazzling diversions. They walk rapidly over the un- even ground and their pantomime antics give relief from the tension occasioned by feats of astounding skill within the ring.
And king of them all is Slivers. Every move he makes calls for a billow of laughter that rolls along the tiers of wooden seats. Hardly human is Slivers. He is, rather, a vitilized caracture; a Sunday comic supplement character, life-sized and animated; he endures blows, buffets, kicks, falls without a sound. The children, and at a circus everyone should be a child, watch him with rapture.
The entertainment he offers is the oldest form recorded; he is the rightful heir of the first mirth maker; the direct descendant of ancient jesters. Swiftly he goes through his act and passes through a canvas gateway into the unknown, leaving gasps of merriment and little sighs of regret.
Francis Oakley, who was Slivers, died in a room for which the rent was overdue, had tried to borrow a quarter, and failed. The gas was turned on and the door barricaded.
It is difficult to determine which was the real Slivers; the buffoon in the tents of glamor, utterly apart from everything solemn or sad, or the broken man, running away from life; the Slivers that lived in the laughter of children, or the wastrel who made his exit into the everlasting shadows.
________________________________________________________
"SLIVERS"
The odor of trampled grass , of peanuts and popcorn; the blare of a tireless band; three rings with a bewildering array of acrobats, fat horses, ladies and gentlemen in fleshings; altogether too much for any one pair of eyes.
Then the clowns, to add to the multiplicity of dazzling diversions. They walk rapidly over the un- even ground and their pantomime antics give relief from the tension occasioned by feats of astounding skill within the ring.
And king of them all is Slivers. Every move he makes calls for a billow of laughter that rolls along the tiers of wooden seats. Hardly human is Slivers. He is, rather, a vitilized caracture; a Sunday comic supplement character, life-sized and animated; he endures blows, buffets, kicks, falls without a sound. The children, and at a circus everyone should be a child, watch him with rapture.
The entertainment he offers is the oldest form recorded; he is the rightful heir of the first mirth maker; the direct descendant of ancient jesters. Swiftly he goes through his act and passes through a canvas gateway into the unknown, leaving gasps of merriment and little sighs of regret.
Francis Oakley, who was Slivers, died in a room for which the rent was overdue, had tried to borrow a quarter, and failed. The gas was turned on and the door barricaded.
It is difficult to determine which was the real Slivers; the buffoon in the tents of glamor, utterly apart from everything solemn or sad, or the broken man, running away from life; the Slivers that lived in the laughter of children, or the wastrel who made his exit into the everlasting shadows.
PIERIC: For John Cooper
Photos courtesy of Bill Strong
To visit Pieric's website and find out more, please click the title of this post.
To visit Pieric's website and find out more, please click the title of this post.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
SLIVERS OAKLEY: Obit Transcribed
Article transcribed courtesy of Robin Estes
Robin Estes took the time to transcribe the longest of the Slivers Oakley obits that Bill Strong from this morning...
__________________________________________________
Tragedy Closes Life of Master Pantomime
Tremendous Sense of Humor of “Slivers,” the Clown That Made Thousands Laugh, Not Great Enough to Meet His Own Bitter Needs.
Twenty-Two lines of nonparell type were used Wednesday to tell the world that it had lost its greatest pantomime clown. Twenty-two lines related how Frank Oakley, shattered by whisky, penniless, ended his life by turning on the gas after the landlady of the house where he was sheltered asked him for his room.
America’s greatest chalk-face comedian finished his act in tragedy, but left the stage without a tear-stained eye before the foot lights. In the last two years Oakley went deeper and deeper into the “Country of the Forgotten.”
Maybe some coroner’s assistant is now looking over a collection of scrapbooks. He must have found them in Oakley’s room, for Oakley’s hobby was scrapbooks. He had volume on volume, almost a trunk full, each book with the word “Slivers” pasted across the cover. The coroner’s records will call him Frank or Franch, Oakley but the theater and circus programs always referred to him as “Slivers.” His scrapbooks were the stories of triumphs, scored from the sawdust-covered floors of Madison Square Garden in the springtime, to the spacious lots of the far southwest late in the fall, and east and west through the wintertime. “Slivers” gained his greatest fame as a circus clown, and he was so good that vaudeville circuits booked him during the off-season.
“Slivers” is the only clown in the circus History for whom three rings were ever cleared. It was only a few years back that this was done twice each afternoon and evening, by “the greatest show on earth.” “Slivers” put on a base ball act, later a “duck shooting” number. He often plated before 20,000 persons a day and his act never fell flat.
Oakley was to circus comedy what Charlie Chaplin is to the comedy of the film kingdom. Oakley had pathos as well as fun at his command. He could draw the throbs as well as the laughs.
Probably no one in Detroit who has been his base ball act will ever forget it. He appeared in this several times there. It was the best thing he ever did.
Oakley, with chalked face, baggy trousers, faded and torn black and red striped jersey and the funny big feet, slowly came on the stage. He carried a mask and chest protector and catcher’s mitt. The stage setting consisted of a drop curtain, showing a bleacher crowd and the players bench. Oakley hauled out the base bags and laid out his diamond, taking care to place the bags at proper distance. Then he returned to the bench to lace on his spiked shoes. This operation was continually interrupted by an imaginary fan, with whom he held an imaginary conversation. He finally got the shoes, protector, mask and glove adjusted and took his station behind the plate.
At this point Oakley scored his big hit. In crouching to sign the pitcher, he scraped his fingers in the dust, wiped the hand in the mitt and next on his trousers, took the delivery, started to return the ball to the pitcher and suddenly turned around quickly, place both hands on his hips and start an imaginary argument with an imaginary umpire. He bounced the imaginary ball on the plate, followed the umpire around wildly gesticulating, or tossing up his glove in apparent despair, dusting off the home plate with his cap to remove any possible existing and remaining shred of doubt as to the cause of the argument. Finally he returned to his position. After retiring the side Oakley came to the plate, swinging a few imaginary bats. He took two strikes, neither without some argument with the umpire. With three and two on him he met the next pitched ball and hit into fair territory. He tried to stretch a three-bagger into a home run and as he slid into the home plate was tagged out. He bounced up with as much energy and sudden fury as some of our best known diamond heroes do at Navin field under similar circumstances. Here he engaged in another heated argument and was ordered off the grounds. “Slivers slowly returned o the players bench. He started to pick up his glove, then remembered he was thirsty. He strolled over to the water bucket. First he carefully removed a wad of favorite cut plug from his mouth, then he drank slowly, meanwhile conversing with a friend who had apparently called to him from the stands. He returned to the players’ bench slowly and regretfully and began gathering his armament. Having collected protector, shoes and mitt, his walk toward the clubhouse began. He was interrupted again by a friend in the stands and stopped to explain to him the great injustice he had just suffered. The umpire followed him, reiterating his orders to leave the grounds. “Slivers” turned to argue with the umpire, but was finally starting on his way again, only to remember that he had forgotten his mask. He returned for this, then made his exit.
The entire act was in pantomime. No one but Oakley was on the stage. But so realistic was every move and gesture, so convincing, that he never failed to carry the house. Everything he did had actually taken place before their eyes in the heat of pennant winning diamond battles, with high-priced base ball stars as the principals.
“Slivers” greatest triumph was scored in Madison Square Garden, and what he considered his most remarkable experience took place at the Armory in Detroit. A few years ago he told about both incidents:
“I can never forget Detroit for what happened to me here years ago. One of the local secret organizations was giving a mid-winter circus in the armory. You know there are a lot of circus acts that pick up money during the winter getting on with these indoor shoes. I signed up for the exhibition here. The night of the circus there were many boys in Detroit who wanted to see the show but did not have the price of admittance. However, they got in. How they did it I don’t know, but I distinctly remember that when we came on the rafters of the armory were studded with kids. There must have been a few hundred of them up there, all risking their lives for a free view of the show. One of my stunts was a slack wire burlesque. I got out on that wire, and it wasn’t hanging very low either, and I came nearer breaking my neck that night than ever before. The minute I got well out on the wire and started to fake losing my balance, a bombardment started. Every kid up there must have had a sack full of peanuts, popcorn or candy. And some of them were mighty good marksmen. I’ve seen some heavy rain storms, but I’ve never seen as many rain drops to the square foot as I saw peanuts and popcorn and candy that night. I lost my balance and fell. I don’t know how I escaped broken bones. I guess it was because a certain kind of providence watches over actors and circus performers. And when I finally got back on the wire the kids, who were having a scream of a time, but who had wasted all their peanuts and candy giving me my first fall, were in despair. Not for long though. Suddenly a ball shot by my face, then another and another. I took one in the back of my head and right after that another caught me across the ear. I hung on, but a moment later they connected with my eye, and down I went in a heap. I bruised both legs and my arm badly, but got neither sprain nor break.
“What the kids had done was to grab each other’s caps, roll them up into balls and then zip them down on me. It was the roughest gallery I have ever played to, and it broke up the show, if I remember correctly.”
His greatest triumph came when, after being absent for a year or more, he re-entered the sawdust ring with Barnum & Bailey’s circus at Madison Square Garden early in spring.
“My return was well advertised and they arranged a special children’s night for the event. All the front row boxes were filled with children, hundreds of them. I started my march around the Garden, walking rather close to the boxes and waving thanks to the kids for their applause. All at once things started coming my way. The kids had brought their toys to the garden and they began tossing those to me as gifts. I don’t know haw many dolls and animals of various kinds I collected that night. Nothing that I have ever received or ever will can equal this as a tribute.”
For years “Slivers’” salary was close to $1,000 a week. Night before last he tried to borrow a quarter and failed.
Things broke badly for him in the last two years. Not more than nine months ago he was living in Detroit, at a boarding house. During a spree he got in a row. The police were called and when he told them he was “Slivers,” the clown, they were not impressed in the least.
He never talked in public for he was a clown and his father was a clown before him and before that his grandfather. They clowned in England.
But “Slivers” could carry on an interesting conversation. He has entertained friends in Detroit three or four hours at a stretch, telling of some of his experiences and impressions. None ever refused an invitation from “Slivers” to “have a bite and talk.” They always wanted “Slivers” to monopolize the conversation. He was never interrupted. His monologues were as entertaining as his stage pantomime.
“Why don’t you try some lines on the stage?” he was once asked.
“Because I’m a clown and clowns depend on the face and body to express themselves. When a clown has to use his tongue to get his act over, or has to resort to acrobatics, he’d better quit. But that’s what most all of ‘em are doing. If people want to hear lines delivered they go to see actors on the legitimate stage and when they are after acrobatics, they can watch the fellows in spangles in the big ring and near the big top. Clowning, my boy, is a lost art.”
And so he who was the peer of clowns passed unknown and in poverty, and an art went out with him.
Robin Estes took the time to transcribe the longest of the Slivers Oakley obits that Bill Strong from this morning...
__________________________________________________
Tragedy Closes Life of Master Pantomime
Tremendous Sense of Humor of “Slivers,” the Clown That Made Thousands Laugh, Not Great Enough to Meet His Own Bitter Needs.
Twenty-Two lines of nonparell type were used Wednesday to tell the world that it had lost its greatest pantomime clown. Twenty-two lines related how Frank Oakley, shattered by whisky, penniless, ended his life by turning on the gas after the landlady of the house where he was sheltered asked him for his room.
America’s greatest chalk-face comedian finished his act in tragedy, but left the stage without a tear-stained eye before the foot lights. In the last two years Oakley went deeper and deeper into the “Country of the Forgotten.”
Maybe some coroner’s assistant is now looking over a collection of scrapbooks. He must have found them in Oakley’s room, for Oakley’s hobby was scrapbooks. He had volume on volume, almost a trunk full, each book with the word “Slivers” pasted across the cover. The coroner’s records will call him Frank or Franch, Oakley but the theater and circus programs always referred to him as “Slivers.” His scrapbooks were the stories of triumphs, scored from the sawdust-covered floors of Madison Square Garden in the springtime, to the spacious lots of the far southwest late in the fall, and east and west through the wintertime. “Slivers” gained his greatest fame as a circus clown, and he was so good that vaudeville circuits booked him during the off-season.
“Slivers” is the only clown in the circus History for whom three rings were ever cleared. It was only a few years back that this was done twice each afternoon and evening, by “the greatest show on earth.” “Slivers” put on a base ball act, later a “duck shooting” number. He often plated before 20,000 persons a day and his act never fell flat.
Oakley was to circus comedy what Charlie Chaplin is to the comedy of the film kingdom. Oakley had pathos as well as fun at his command. He could draw the throbs as well as the laughs.
Probably no one in Detroit who has been his base ball act will ever forget it. He appeared in this several times there. It was the best thing he ever did.
Oakley, with chalked face, baggy trousers, faded and torn black and red striped jersey and the funny big feet, slowly came on the stage. He carried a mask and chest protector and catcher’s mitt. The stage setting consisted of a drop curtain, showing a bleacher crowd and the players bench. Oakley hauled out the base bags and laid out his diamond, taking care to place the bags at proper distance. Then he returned to the bench to lace on his spiked shoes. This operation was continually interrupted by an imaginary fan, with whom he held an imaginary conversation. He finally got the shoes, protector, mask and glove adjusted and took his station behind the plate.
At this point Oakley scored his big hit. In crouching to sign the pitcher, he scraped his fingers in the dust, wiped the hand in the mitt and next on his trousers, took the delivery, started to return the ball to the pitcher and suddenly turned around quickly, place both hands on his hips and start an imaginary argument with an imaginary umpire. He bounced the imaginary ball on the plate, followed the umpire around wildly gesticulating, or tossing up his glove in apparent despair, dusting off the home plate with his cap to remove any possible existing and remaining shred of doubt as to the cause of the argument. Finally he returned to his position. After retiring the side Oakley came to the plate, swinging a few imaginary bats. He took two strikes, neither without some argument with the umpire. With three and two on him he met the next pitched ball and hit into fair territory. He tried to stretch a three-bagger into a home run and as he slid into the home plate was tagged out. He bounced up with as much energy and sudden fury as some of our best known diamond heroes do at Navin field under similar circumstances. Here he engaged in another heated argument and was ordered off the grounds. “Slivers slowly returned o the players bench. He started to pick up his glove, then remembered he was thirsty. He strolled over to the water bucket. First he carefully removed a wad of favorite cut plug from his mouth, then he drank slowly, meanwhile conversing with a friend who had apparently called to him from the stands. He returned to the players’ bench slowly and regretfully and began gathering his armament. Having collected protector, shoes and mitt, his walk toward the clubhouse began. He was interrupted again by a friend in the stands and stopped to explain to him the great injustice he had just suffered. The umpire followed him, reiterating his orders to leave the grounds. “Slivers” turned to argue with the umpire, but was finally starting on his way again, only to remember that he had forgotten his mask. He returned for this, then made his exit.
The entire act was in pantomime. No one but Oakley was on the stage. But so realistic was every move and gesture, so convincing, that he never failed to carry the house. Everything he did had actually taken place before their eyes in the heat of pennant winning diamond battles, with high-priced base ball stars as the principals.
“Slivers” greatest triumph was scored in Madison Square Garden, and what he considered his most remarkable experience took place at the Armory in Detroit. A few years ago he told about both incidents:
“I can never forget Detroit for what happened to me here years ago. One of the local secret organizations was giving a mid-winter circus in the armory. You know there are a lot of circus acts that pick up money during the winter getting on with these indoor shoes. I signed up for the exhibition here. The night of the circus there were many boys in Detroit who wanted to see the show but did not have the price of admittance. However, they got in. How they did it I don’t know, but I distinctly remember that when we came on the rafters of the armory were studded with kids. There must have been a few hundred of them up there, all risking their lives for a free view of the show. One of my stunts was a slack wire burlesque. I got out on that wire, and it wasn’t hanging very low either, and I came nearer breaking my neck that night than ever before. The minute I got well out on the wire and started to fake losing my balance, a bombardment started. Every kid up there must have had a sack full of peanuts, popcorn or candy. And some of them were mighty good marksmen. I’ve seen some heavy rain storms, but I’ve never seen as many rain drops to the square foot as I saw peanuts and popcorn and candy that night. I lost my balance and fell. I don’t know how I escaped broken bones. I guess it was because a certain kind of providence watches over actors and circus performers. And when I finally got back on the wire the kids, who were having a scream of a time, but who had wasted all their peanuts and candy giving me my first fall, were in despair. Not for long though. Suddenly a ball shot by my face, then another and another. I took one in the back of my head and right after that another caught me across the ear. I hung on, but a moment later they connected with my eye, and down I went in a heap. I bruised both legs and my arm badly, but got neither sprain nor break.
“What the kids had done was to grab each other’s caps, roll them up into balls and then zip them down on me. It was the roughest gallery I have ever played to, and it broke up the show, if I remember correctly.”
His greatest triumph came when, after being absent for a year or more, he re-entered the sawdust ring with Barnum & Bailey’s circus at Madison Square Garden early in spring.
“My return was well advertised and they arranged a special children’s night for the event. All the front row boxes were filled with children, hundreds of them. I started my march around the Garden, walking rather close to the boxes and waving thanks to the kids for their applause. All at once things started coming my way. The kids had brought their toys to the garden and they began tossing those to me as gifts. I don’t know haw many dolls and animals of various kinds I collected that night. Nothing that I have ever received or ever will can equal this as a tribute.”
For years “Slivers’” salary was close to $1,000 a week. Night before last he tried to borrow a quarter and failed.
Things broke badly for him in the last two years. Not more than nine months ago he was living in Detroit, at a boarding house. During a spree he got in a row. The police were called and when he told them he was “Slivers,” the clown, they were not impressed in the least.
He never talked in public for he was a clown and his father was a clown before him and before that his grandfather. They clowned in England.
But “Slivers” could carry on an interesting conversation. He has entertained friends in Detroit three or four hours at a stretch, telling of some of his experiences and impressions. None ever refused an invitation from “Slivers” to “have a bite and talk.” They always wanted “Slivers” to monopolize the conversation. He was never interrupted. His monologues were as entertaining as his stage pantomime.
“Why don’t you try some lines on the stage?” he was once asked.
“Because I’m a clown and clowns depend on the face and body to express themselves. When a clown has to use his tongue to get his act over, or has to resort to acrobatics, he’d better quit. But that’s what most all of ‘em are doing. If people want to hear lines delivered they go to see actors on the legitimate stage and when they are after acrobatics, they can watch the fellows in spangles in the big ring and near the big top. Clowning, my boy, is a lost art.”
And so he who was the peer of clowns passed unknown and in poverty, and an art went out with him.
ELMO GIBB: At The Felds' Home
Photo courtesy of Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers
A great old circus fan, the late Jim Harshmann of Hagerstown, took this picture of me standing in front of the boyhood home of Israel and Irvin Feld. He knew them way back then. The Ringling big top was set up in a cemetery on the south end of town. The performers used to drape their wash over the tombstones to dry. At night they'd all be cursing because they would skin their shins on the same tombstones in the darkness.
A great old circus fan, the late Jim Harshmann of Hagerstown, took this picture of me standing in front of the boyhood home of Israel and Irvin Feld. He knew them way back then. The Ringling big top was set up in a cemetery on the south end of town. The performers used to drape their wash over the tombstones to dry. At night they'd all be cursing because they would skin their shins on the same tombstones in the darkness.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
RINGLING: Rocco's Computer Gag
Courtesy of Steve Copeland
Rocco Parris "de-bugging" a computer (way ahead of the curve) back in 1989 as a part of the 119th Edition of Ringling Bros.
Rocco Parris "de-bugging" a computer (way ahead of the curve) back in 1989 as a part of the 119th Edition of Ringling Bros.
MAX PATKIN: Rik Gern Remembers
Photos and story courtesy of Rik "Bonzo Crunch" Gern
Hey Patric,
Here's some souvenirs of the time I almost got to see Max Patkin perform. 
In August of '94 Max Patkin's autobiography had just come out, and Chad Miller and I were having a blast learning about our latest hero.
The Red Unit was in Omaha and we learned that "The Clown Prince of Baseball" was going to make an appearance at a minor league game, so Chad, Mike Simpson and I stayed on after the show left town in order to catch Max in action. 
Unfortunately, the game was rained out, and Max never got to do his stuff on the field, but he still did plenty of mugging and goofing from the sidelines.
After the game was rained out, Max was very generous with the fans, signing copies of his book and posing for pictures.
Chad, Mike and I probably wore him out with questions, but he was really patient with us. We ended up signing Mike's Ringling hat and giving it to him.
I talked to him on the phone a few months later, and I guess he died not too long later. What a great life, though; he carved out a unique niche for himself, got to ply his trade just about until the end, and even got to ride one last wave of fame with the publication of his autobiography! We should all have it so good!
The 3 Musketeers
Photo courtesy of Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers
Clown, occasional Advance Clown and longtime Beatty-Cole Ringmaster Jimmy James with two masters of Advance Clowning, Jackie LeClaire and Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers.
It's a shame that circus clowning in America is in the state that it's in but the Advance Clown job is truly a lost art. I remember as a kid seeing Elmo do a show at the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick, NJ, in advance of the Beatty-Cole show, and it made the arrival of circus day seem truly magical.
Clown, occasional Advance Clown and longtime Beatty-Cole Ringmaster Jimmy James with two masters of Advance Clowning, Jackie LeClaire and Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers.
It's a shame that circus clowning in America is in the state that it's in but the Advance Clown job is truly a lost art. I remember as a kid seeing Elmo do a show at the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick, NJ, in advance of the Beatty-Cole show, and it made the arrival of circus day seem truly magical.
Friday, July 13, 2007
DENIS LACOMBE: The Mad Conductor
Blogger is acting up and STILL won't let me post photos, so here is a great video of Denis Lacombe performing his conductor gag.
Hopefully everything will be back up and working tomorrow.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
RINGLING: Steve's Greatest Hits
Video courtesy of Steve Copeland
Super Steve Copeland showing off some of his best slaps and falls over his last 5 years on the Ringling show.
Super Steve Copeland showing off some of his best slaps and falls over his last 5 years on the Ringling show.
BOZO THE CLOWN: WGN's Bozo Joey and the Art of the Pie
WGN-TV's Bozo (1984-2001) Joey D'Auria shows how to throw a pie.
For more comedy bits and tips from Mr. D'Auria please click the title of this post to be taken to his website.
And just for the record, outside of circus work, I prefer to use shaving cream in a graham cracker crust pie tin. Not only does it look more like an actual pie, but the explosion of graham cracker REALLY helps to "sell" the hit.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
LOU JACOBS: Close Up of the Car
Probably the single most iconic clown prop of the 20th century, Lou Jacobs' car.
The car is currently on loan from the Jacobs' family and can be seen at the Ringling Museum of the American Circus in Sarasota, FL.
STANLEY ALLEN SHERMAN: Leather Clown Nose Making Workshop
One-Day Sunday
Leather Clown Nose Making Workshop
Sunday July 22, 2007
www.maskarts.com
How to make your own leather clown noses
Making well over 100 custom clown noses for clowns in the New York area and around the world Stanley Allan Sherman will teach a one-day Sunday workshop –
One great thing about the leather clown nose is they do not sweat like rubber or latex and they have a much more natural look than rubber. From what clowns have reported to me, their leather clown noses have lasted on an average of 8 to—well…Drew Richardson's clown nose is going on 22 years.
In the class you will learn how to:
Choose leather for your nose
Prepare the leather
Mold leather into your clown nose
Sharpen the knife blade. (Very important, you cannot cut leather with a dull knife).
Fit the clown nose
Cut the clown nose
Punch the clown nose holes under your nostrils so you can breath
Paint and finish your clown nose...(You can custom color your nose, any color you wish)
Prepare and fit the elastic and string
On-your-own: take a piece of leather home, make a back-up Clown Nose
Date: Sunday July 22, 2007
Time:
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM choosing leather to molding your clown nose
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM lunch and quick nose drying
1:30 PM to 4:40 PM cutting to finishing
(The workshop times are approximations - it can go longer or shorter)
Class size is limited
Price: $100 for the class
Tool fee: $74.80 (you get to keep the 7 tools)
Material fee: $22.00 (Leather, paint, elastic, silk thread)
Total $196.80
To reserve your spot you must pay the full fee in advance, because I need to buy the tools and supplies in advance. (Will accept 50% deposit from those people with financial needs. Can now accept credit card payments with Google Checkout).
Past Clowns Nose Students who would like to take the class again may for a reduced fee of $68 including supplies.
To sign up or find out more info simply click the title of this post (which will take you to www.maskarts.com) or call 212-243-4039.
Leather Clown Nose Making Workshop
Sunday July 22, 2007
www.maskarts.com
How to make your own leather clown noses
Making well over 100 custom clown noses for clowns in the New York area and around the world Stanley Allan Sherman will teach a one-day Sunday workshop –
One great thing about the leather clown nose is they do not sweat like rubber or latex and they have a much more natural look than rubber. From what clowns have reported to me, their leather clown noses have lasted on an average of 8 to—well…Drew Richardson's clown nose is going on 22 years.
In the class you will learn how to:
Choose leather for your nose
Prepare the leather
Mold leather into your clown nose
Sharpen the knife blade. (Very important, you cannot cut leather with a dull knife).
Fit the clown nose
Cut the clown nose
Punch the clown nose holes under your nostrils so you can breath
Paint and finish your clown nose...(You can custom color your nose, any color you wish)
Prepare and fit the elastic and string
On-your-own: take a piece of leather home, make a back-up Clown Nose
Date: Sunday July 22, 2007
Time:
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM choosing leather to molding your clown nose
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM lunch and quick nose drying
1:30 PM to 4:40 PM cutting to finishing
(The workshop times are approximations - it can go longer or shorter)
Class size is limited
Price: $100 for the class
Tool fee: $74.80 (you get to keep the 7 tools)
Material fee: $22.00 (Leather, paint, elastic, silk thread)
Total $196.80
To reserve your spot you must pay the full fee in advance, because I need to buy the tools and supplies in advance. (Will accept 50% deposit from those people with financial needs. Can now accept credit card payments with Google Checkout).
Past Clowns Nose Students who would like to take the class again may for a reduced fee of $68 including supplies.
To sign up or find out more info simply click the title of this post (which will take you to www.maskarts.com) or call 212-243-4039.
BEATTY-COLE: The Firehouse Gag
Posted here at the personal request of my friend, Mr. Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers, here is the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Clown Alley (circa 1980) performing that all-time classic of the American three-ring circus: THE FIREHOUSE GAG.
"FIREMEN! SAVE MY BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
The gag was created by Jim Rutherford and is produced here by Jimmy Douglas.
Look for future Vidbel Alley staple, Mike Snider, fresh off of Ringling Lou Jacobs' former partner Mike Padilla and then Boss Clown Sandy Kaye.
I had a wonderful conversation with Dean last night and look forward to the next!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
SHRINE CIRCUS: Ernie Wiswell
Master of the "comedy car" act, Ernie Wiswell backstage at the Shrine date in West Springfield, MA on May 19 1956.
RINGLING: Engine Repair 101
Video courtesy of Steve Copeland
Greg DeSanto and Kevin Carr from the 1991 Ringling Blue show performing one of my very favorite track gags.
From the vast DeSanto Archives...
Greg DeSanto and Kevin Carr from the 1991 Ringling Blue show performing one of my very favorite track gags.
From the vast DeSanto Archives...
NY HIPPODROME: Billy Rose's Jumbo
The 1935 premier of Billy Rose's JUMBO, the final production staged at the massive NY Hippodrome with cameos by first-nighters Ed Wynn, Fannie Brice, George Burns and Gracie Allen. Imagine Slivers Oakley, Marceline, Toto, Joe Jackson or Poodles Hanneford working this enormous stage. The entire Cole Bros. Circus (with Otto Griebling, Emmett Kelly and Jojo Lewis in the Alley) appeared there in the 30s.
The production was directed by longtime Ringling director John Murray Anderson.
In addition to Jimmy Durante (who reprised his role in the 1962 film version) the show featured several circus acts including A. Robins, the Banana Man.
At about 3:15, if I'm not mistaken, the Kimris (Bill and Trudy Strong's family) are included.
Wow.
Monday, July 09, 2007
BIG APPLE CIRCUS: Matthew Pauli
Link courtesy of Don Covington
A very nice article that gets everything right except the man's name.
Please click the title of this post for the New Haven Independent's piece on my friend MATTHEW Pauli, currently appearing as Grandma in the Big Apple Circus' 29th production STEP RIGHT UP.
A very nice article that gets everything right except the man's name.
Please click the title of this post for the New Haven Independent's piece on my friend MATTHEW Pauli, currently appearing as Grandma in the Big Apple Circus' 29th production STEP RIGHT UP.
CLOWN COLLEGE: 20th Anniversary Special
The first few minutes of the 1987 CBS television special celebrating the 20th anniversary of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.
I was in the 30th class in 1997. We didn't get a television special.
Interesting to note the emphasis on the fact that Ringling "only" had 14 clowns in 1968. The Red and Blue units only have 14 clowns each now.
If you look to the left of the screen in the opening shot where Dick Van Dyke is at the podium you will see then CC makeup instructor Ruth Chaddock and CC director Steve Smith.
The purple 1931 Ford that belches smoke in the montage is currently sitting in my garage. It belonged to Kent "Speedo the Speedway Clown" Tyler for almost 40 years.
Mr. Van Dyke has since made disparaging remarks about circus clowns in Diane Keaton's book CLOWN PAINTINGS. As a circus clown, I would certainly welcome the chance to make disparaging remarks about Mr. Van Dyke's post-1960s career for Ms. Keaton's next book, PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLY FUNNY WHEN THEY WORK WITH CARL REINER.
Diagnosis: Jerk
Sunday, July 08, 2007
OLSEN & JOHNSON: Fireball Fun-For-All
Olsen and Johnson's TV show. I can only imagine how hard it was to try and pull THIS off every week!
There are so many gags in the first 12 minutes of the show that the director and cameramen are rarely (if ever) on the right performer at the right time to catch the action.
RINGLING: 1940 Alley Photo
Members of the 1940 Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus taken in the basement of Madison Square Garden in New York City in April at the start of the tour.
JOHN GILKEY: Cirque du Soleil's QUIDAM
John Gilkey's brilliant eccentric juggling (greatly enhanced by the sounds of Yma Sumac's song "Gopher") from Cirque du Soliel's Quidam.
His character is like a weird Jerry Seinfeld/Jerry Lewis hybrid.
Not that there's anything WRONG with that.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
THE COLLINS BROTHERS: Boxing Entree
The Collins Brithers on Circo Massimo with yet another take on the Boxing Gag.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
RON JARVIS: Ringling Red Unit
Photos courtesy of Ron Jarvis
Pat,
I just figured out how to scan this stuff...
The juggling shot is moi '74...
Pat,
I just figured out how to scan this stuff...
The juggling shot is moi '74...
The duo is Mark Buthman & Ron Jarvis 1973-74...
Bozo Row circa 1979 Hollywood, CA. Can you name the Row???
Clownron
----------------------------------------------
I see Billy Baker, Kevin Bickford, Robin Shaw, Dolly Baker, Jimmy Briscoe, Ed Smith, Daniel Rodgers and Mr. Ron Jarvis.
How did I do?
~P
DOUG ASHTON: Dancin' Ashton
Eccentric genius Doug Ashton dancing in a production number during his first season with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1967.
Mr. Ashton doesn't seem to be dancing along with the music from the show quite as much as he's dancing to the music in his own head, so I've replaced the soundtrack with the song "Fidgety Feet" by the Firehouse Five plus Four and added the applause that I think he deserves for such a performance.
He's doing everything a three ring circus clown SHOULD do during a production number! He's having fun, he's exciting to watch, he's playing with the showgirls on the track and keeping in the moment.
Which, unfortunately, is everything that management frowns on.
Look to the right of the screen for whiteface clown Dennis Stevens (performing the assigned dance steps while in drag) and to the left as Dougie is egged on by his longtime partner in crime Lazlo Donnert.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
DAN RICE: Happy 4th of July!
Happy Independence Day to everybody here in America.
As for everyone else? Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
PETER SHUB: Awakening from the Long Sleep of Life
Awakening from the Long Sleep of Life is a true story about clown Peter Shub who lost his five year old son in a tragic accident.
He leaves us with a philosophy about life and loss and the message to celebrate and thank life rather than to mourn for death.
Monday, July 02, 2007
MARK ANTHONY: Breakaway Bicycle Gag 1967
An extremely difficult piece of video for me to find, here is Mark "Mark Anthony" Galkowski's reinterpretation of the classic breakaway bicycle act performed in Venice, Fl in 1967 on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
I remember him performing this again a few years later on the Blue Unit in the early 70s when I was very young but I haven't seen the act at all since then, until this video arrived last week.
Small detail: notice that Mark is working here without a wig.
NEW YORK TIMES: Mike and Lara
Jay Stewart and Lara Heidtman Smith goofing around outside The Alley on the Rinling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Red Unit in 2000.
Mike Smith and Jay Stewart perform the classic Washer Woman Gag at the Happy Liuzhou International Clown Festival in Liuzhou, China in 2007.
The Sunday New York Times travel section ran a story about Idaho yesterday entitled "The Last Wilderness" about what a beautiful and fascinating state Idaho is to vacation in.
The article can be found at: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/travel/01Last.html
At the article's end the writer only mentions three resorts in the ENTIRE state, one of which is the THREE RIVERS RESORT IN KOOSKIA AT LOWELL, IDAHO, which is owned and operated by friends and former Ringling circus clowns Mike and Lara (Heidtman) Smith.
Contratulations on the endorsement and hope to see you both when we go back to China in the fall!
To find out more about the Three Rivers Resort, or to book a vacation, please click the title of this post.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
The Fratellinis: Autographed Photo
An autographed photo of The Fratellini Trio, (from left) Paul, Albert and Francois.
I wonder why they changed Paulo to "Paul", Alberto to "Albert" but Francois never became "Frank"?
Do you think it's a "whiteface" thing?
"Frank Fratellini" doesn't have the same ring anyway. Sounds like a very blunt plate of pasta.
"Frankie Fratellini" is even worse.
It's probably better just he way it is.
SLIVERS OAKLEY PROJECT: Update
So the t-shirts and mugs (still available at the CLOWNALLEY.NET store, see the link on the right hand side of this page) have brought in some money but we're still far from having enough for any kind of marker. Several people have told me that they'd prefer to just donate money. So that's the next faze.
This week I will set up a PayPal account that will be completely dedicated to CLOWNALLEY.NET projects.
Several people have asked if we have a deadline for donations? The answer is "kind of". I'd like to be able to install the marker by August 28, 2007. That will be my 40th birthday and will also mark (although not the exact date) 10 years since the closing of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.
I realize that August 28th may not be a realistic deadline, but it WOULD be a nice birthday present ; )
Saturday, June 30, 2007
SUPER CIRCUS: The Lopez Trio
It's always great to watch an episode of SUPER CIRCUS. In addition to ringmaster Claude Kirshner, the beautiful Mary Hartline and the clowns Cliffy Nicky and Scampy this episode features the Lopez Trio of trapeze artists, the comedian from which seems to have watched Charlie Rivel's Chaplin act once or twice.
Friday, June 29, 2007
BILLIE BURKE
An autographed photo of classic mid-century American grotesque auguste, Mr. Billie Burke.
THREE MAN HAWAIIAN SCARF JUGGLING
Two unidentified clowns perform a Hawaiian themed audience partcipation scarf juggling gag at the Fifth Wuhan International Acrobatic Art Festival.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
GEORGE CARL: Home Movie Footage
George Carl around the mid-1950's playing in the yard with his wife and brother, somewhere in Ohio.
If you thought George Carl was amazing before, sit down and make yourself REALLY comfortable before you watch this.
Wow.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
IN MEMORY OF MARAN BURCH
Photo and news courtesy of Bill Strong
Maran Burch passed away at 9:00 AM last Monday morning, June 25, 2007.
No services will be held at her request, She will be laid to rest next to her husband and performing partner, Ernie "Blinko" Burch.
Maran Burch passed away at 9:00 AM last Monday morning, June 25, 2007.
No services will be held at her request, She will be laid to rest next to her husband and performing partner, Ernie "Blinko" Burch.
BOZO THE CLOWN: Boxed Set
Just released yesterday is this 4 disc set of 30 live-action ½ hour full color Bozo's Big Top episodes starring Frank Avruch as Bozo from WHDH-TV in Boston. Each features a 5-minute Larry Harmon Bozo cartoon and are digitally re-mastered and transferred from Larry Harmon's original film masters.
These are NOT the WGN Chicago Bozo show featuring Bob Bell (and later Joey D'Auria) as Bozo, these are the syndication episodes shot at WHDH in 1966 during the run of their Bozo show (1959-1970).
Interesting for several reasons, not the least of which is that they feature a young puppeteer named Carroll Spinney as several characters. Mr. Spinney would soon leave the WHDH Bozo Show for the Children's Television Workshop and create the characters Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird for Sesame Street, two characters he continues to play today almost 40 years later.
These WHDH Bozo shows were the ones that I watched as a very small child and was what sparked my interest in clowns and clowning. I still find them very interesting for how Mr. Avruch deals with the small children in his live studio audience. Like Buffalo Bob Smith on the Howdy Doody Show, he is an absolute master at talking to children while in the difficult position of being both friend/fantasy figure as well as parent/authority figure.
Please click the title of this post to be taken to the Amazon page for the boxed set.
DON CHRISTIAN: Bell Ringing Gag
Don Christian, who we saw last week doing a variation on Cesar's Boxing Gag, doing a bell ringing routine.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
BEATTY-COLE: Mark Lavender
Clown College graduate (Class of '75) and veteran of the RBBB Blue Unit Alley in 1976 and the CBCB Alley in 1978, Mr. Mark Lavender.
Mark sent me a message trying to find contact info for former Beatty-Cole Boss Clown Jimmy James and then show electrician Bernie Kallman. I've already forwarded Bernie's email to him but if someone out there has a phone number or email address for Jimmy, Mark would sure appreciate it.
From Mark...
---------------------------------------------------------
When I was on Beatty in 1978, I met Nini and Ervin Hall, where Nini greenbroke her mixed breed female baboon act. She and brother Ervin, along their siblings Jimmy and Carmen were the Unicycling Whiz Kids of the 1950s and 1960s. Anyway, Nini and I grew to be good buds on the show and lost track of each other three years after that show. We found each other again about four years ago, and after two and half years of catch-up and courtship over the phone we then met, she moved to Nashville... and we got married this past April 28th... 29 years to the week from the very first time we'd met.... (short engagements, eh?)
---------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations go out to you and Nini! What a great story!
Having had the pleasure of working alongside Jimmy, Teppa (sp?), Elaine (and her fiance Adam Burke) and Ervin these last few years I can say that you've certainly married into a large and wonderful family, and one that's about as "real circus" as they come.
Monday, June 25, 2007
VIDBEL'S: Mike Snider and Billy Vaughn
Ringmaster Danny McCallum introduces Mike Snider (whiteface) and Billy Vaughn (auguste), one of the great clown duos of late 20th century American circus clowning, seen here performing their Restaurant Gag on Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus in 2000.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
HOUSCH-MA-HOUSCH: More
More from Housch-ma-Housch.
I recognize the first song as "Pince Nez" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers (currently back on tour in the US after a long hiatus). Does anyone know the name and/or artist of the second song?
ROWAN ATKINSON: A Final Bash
One of my favorite pieces from Rowan Atkinson's stage show and one that I imagine would very easily adapted to a one ring circus, were Mr. Atkinson so inclined.
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