Otto Griebling backstage with an unidentified person.
These may have been taken in or around Los Angeles and this guy might have been local politician or minor celebrity.
That's just my guess.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
CLOWN ALLEY: Otto Griebling and Toby Jorio
Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygirl
Otto Griebling backstage with an unidentified person.
These may have been taken in or around Los Angeles and this guy might have been local politician or minor celebrity.
That's just my guess.
Otto Griebling backstage with an unidentified person.
These may have been taken in or around Los Angeles and this guy might have been local politician or minor celebrity.
That's just my guess.
CEPILLIN: Excerpt
Video courtesy of gsalinascardona
An excerpt from a Latin-American film starring Cepillín.
Why Cepillín is up in the right hand corner waving at us and (more importantly) why he is dressed like Jimmy Page are never explained.
Maybe he's in Led Cepillin.
An excerpt from a Latin-American film starring Cepillín.
Why Cepillín is up in the right hand corner waving at us and (more importantly) why he is dressed like Jimmy Page are never explained.
Maybe he's in Led Cepillin.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
TONIGHT!!! NY AREA CLOWN GET-TOGETHER
Clown College Grads, Clown Care Doctors, "China Clowns", Downtown Clowns, Bindlestiffs and any and all other assorted Goofs!
Come out, hang out and beat the winter blahs!
NY Area Clown "Hang" TONIGHT from 6:00 PM until closing at The Harmony View Grille at 50th and Broadway in midtown.
All are welcome!
Spread the word!
Here's the website of the Harmony View...
http://www.harmonyview.com/
See you there!
~P
DAVID LARIBLE: From Raffaele De Ritis
From Raffaele,
During the Albacete festival competition (Spain), that will be held under a big top, an annex special event will be presented, in a special location.
Into the ring of the Albacete refurbished "Teatro-Circo" building (one of the few surviving in the world) , will be presented the David Larible one man show.
The show (created last year for Funambolika festival in Italy) is directed by Raffaele De Ritis. In the ring with David will be the white-face Gensi and Kuntz, the Roncalli pianist.
Welcome, March 1 to 3....
BATATOLAS: Circo Coliseu
Photos of Batatolas (Pedro Almedeida) from Circo Coliseu of Lisbon.
This is clownalley.net's 1.400 post since May 28, 2006. 1,400!?! If clownalley.net were a book you'd have put it down a long time ago ; )
MYSTERY CLOWN: Dukey Anderson?
Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygirl
My guess is Dukey Anderson.
Anyone out there know for sure?
EMMETT KELLY: Ringling, 1947
Emmett Kelly attempting to balance a feather on his nose while juggling three balls on the track of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, under canvas, in 1947.
Entertainment of this sort was all the rage back in nose-balance-and-juggling crazed, Truman-era post-war America ; )
CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling, Early 1950s
TOP: Ernie "Blinko" Burch, Otto Griebling
BOTTOM: Buzzy Potts, Emmett Kelly
OTTAVIO CANESTRELLI
With thanks to Paul Lopez
I haven't posted anything so far on the passing of Ottavio Canestrelli for several reasons, not least of which is that the story leaves me so profoundly saddened. I apologize for the delay.
I didn't know Ottavio. I'd never met him.
When I first heard news of his passing I'd assumed that he was an older performer who had left us after an illness. There were no details.
As the details came in, and fleshed out the story of his life for me, I was stunned.
We've lost an extremely gifted performer, a wonderful person and someone I wish that I'd been fortunate enough to know.
From Ottavio's final bio...
Ottavio Canestrelli was born and raised in the circus. He started performing at the tender age of 4 with his brothers; soon Ottavio became the star performer in his family's teeter-board act. He also had a hilarious comedy "knock-about" act with his twin brother.
After many years of traveling and performing throughout the US, Canada and Mexico the Pietro Canastrelli Family (as they were called) entered adulthood. As a result they went there separate ways.
Ottavio persued a career in acting and earned a degree in Theater but he found himself yearning for the physicality of the circus. Thus, returned with new skills as a solo artist, recreating himself as a Physical Comedian of yesteryear such a Buster Keaton
his skills are:
Ladder Act
German Wheel
Juggling
Comedy Chair Act
Teeter-board
Solo Trapeze
and countless others
I haven't posted anything so far on the passing of Ottavio Canestrelli for several reasons, not least of which is that the story leaves me so profoundly saddened. I apologize for the delay.
I didn't know Ottavio. I'd never met him.
When I first heard news of his passing I'd assumed that he was an older performer who had left us after an illness. There were no details.
As the details came in, and fleshed out the story of his life for me, I was stunned.
We've lost an extremely gifted performer, a wonderful person and someone I wish that I'd been fortunate enough to know.
From Ottavio's final bio...
Ottavio Canestrelli was born and raised in the circus. He started performing at the tender age of 4 with his brothers; soon Ottavio became the star performer in his family's teeter-board act. He also had a hilarious comedy "knock-about" act with his twin brother.
After many years of traveling and performing throughout the US, Canada and Mexico the Pietro Canastrelli Family (as they were called) entered adulthood. As a result they went there separate ways.
Ottavio persued a career in acting and earned a degree in Theater but he found himself yearning for the physicality of the circus. Thus, returned with new skills as a solo artist, recreating himself as a Physical Comedian of yesteryear such a Buster Keaton
his skills are:
Ladder Act
German Wheel
Juggling
Comedy Chair Act
Teeter-board
Solo Trapeze
and countless others
You may visit Ottavio's website by clicking here or visit his memorial MySpace page by clicking the title of this post.
Ottavio is, and will continue to be, greatly missed.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling, 2008
Video courtesy of Tezzey2006
Tom Dougherty and the clowns of the Blue Unit of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey on opening night of the current Over the Top tour.
Tom Dougherty and the clowns of the Blue Unit of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey on opening night of the current Over the Top tour.
EMMETT KELLY/FELIX ADLER
Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygirl
Emmett Kelly, less than halfway through his famous face and already wearing twice as much makeup as 98% of the current Ringling Alley, sharing a dressing room under Art Concello's seat wagons with Felix Adler in the late 40s/early 50s.
Exactly how they got Elinor "Princess" Donahue from TV's Father Knows Best to dress up in a showgirl outfit and hold their makeup mirror is anyone's guess ; )
DON CHRISTIAN/DUET BLUES
News courtesy of Circus Scandinavia
Don Christian who can be seen this coming season in the Finish Circus Finlandia, has been contracted for the 2009 season in the Swedish Circus Maximum.
For the 2008 season the clowning will be done by the Russian reprise clowns Duet Blues. Duet Blues appeared with the Danish Circus Arena in 2006.
Don Christian who can be seen this coming season in the Finish Circus Finlandia, has been contracted for the 2009 season in the Swedish Circus Maximum.
For the 2008 season the clowning will be done by the Russian reprise clowns Duet Blues. Duet Blues appeared with the Danish Circus Arena in 2006.
JOHN TOY
A fixture on the Shrine circuit, John Toy taught one (unhappy) session at Clown College under Bill Ballantine.
From Jackie LeClaire...
The clown in the photo is John Toy or Johnny Toy. He clowned with me on the Orin Davenport dates in the 50's. He was from Minneapolis, Minn. His mother I think owned a dramatic school or taught there. Pardon my spelling but I think it was The McPhail School of Dramatic Arts. I visited it once myself. John Toy had instant memory. We could go to a musical movie and he would come out knowing all the words to the tunes. He had worked, and here I go with the spelling again in the ( probably 40's) dramatic presentations called Chetalkwas (?) He was a very brilliant man and loved clowning. He later married and for all I know may still be alive today. He has a mind that was hard to keep up with. Excellent, hard working clown with a definite individual style of his own.—Jackie LeClaire
Greg DeSanto informs us that Mr. Toy passed away several years ago and his costumes and props were donated to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI.
COCO THE CLOWN: Mills Bros. Circus, 1950s
Nicolai Poliakoff's (Coco the Clown of the Bertram Mills Circus) two sons, Sasha and Michael, on the Mills Bros. Circus in America in the 1950s.
Both went back to the UK but Michael returned a few years later and was an essential part of the Ringling Alley in the 1960s.
HOSPITAL CLOWNING
I've begun hospital clowning again.
I'm not with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit (and I'm not currently at liberty to discuss my possibly joining the CCU somewhere down the road) but with my own program at a nearby hospital.
I'd forgotten how much I truly loved it until my first round yesterday.
I'm hooked again!
Monday, February 11, 2008
LOU JACOBS: Whiteface
I don't know how many times Lou wore this whiteface (it couldn't have been much) but there must be a billion and seven pictures of him in it.
THIS is the makeup that Larry Harmon should have adapted for the actors who would play Bozo the Clown on TV. Instead, most seem to have adapted Jimmy Stewart's makeup from The Greatest Show on Earth.
BILLY BURKE: Dobritch Photo
Speaking of adapting Lou's makeup, here's a 60s-era headshot of Billie Burke from the Dobritch show.
It wasn't Billie who was behind the 8-ball ; )
~P
PAT VALDO: Retirement
Didn't Pat Valdo retire around 1970?
This picture couldn't have been taken after April of 1965.
And just what kind of a world did we live in where a circus press photo of Pat Valdo also contains Paul Jung holding a gun to Prince Paul's head?
I believe that the other clown is one of Jung's pals, either Myron Orton or Harry Nelson
MYSTERY CLOWN: Georgetti Brothers
Photo and comments courtesy of Marcelo Melison
From Marcelo...
Pat:
Here you have yet another photo of the Mystery Clown... I don't know the Clown drawing the caricature (can HE be another Mystery Clown?) but the two other Clowns are the Georgetti Bros.
Looks like a Shriners' Circus, don't you think?. By the way, the previous photo was taken in 1949, so that can give you an idea about the age of the photo you posted in your blog...
Best always,
Marcelo PEPPO Melison
The clown at the easle drawing the caricature looks like Sa-So, which would most likely make this the Hamid-Morton Shrine Circus.
From Marcelo...
Pat:
Here you have yet another photo of the Mystery Clown... I don't know the Clown drawing the caricature (can HE be another Mystery Clown?) but the two other Clowns are the Georgetti Bros.
Looks like a Shriners' Circus, don't you think?. By the way, the previous photo was taken in 1949, so that can give you an idea about the age of the photo you posted in your blog...
Best always,
Marcelo PEPPO Melison
The clown at the easle drawing the caricature looks like Sa-So, which would most likely make this the Hamid-Morton Shrine Circus.
PIE FACE: TV Commercial
Pie Face, the game that permanently scarred the psyche of a young Gregory DeSanto ; )
Sunday, February 10, 2008
MR. & MRS. DITTMAR: Budapest
Roland Dittmar and Agnes Nemeth, winners of the bronze prize at the 7th International Circus Festival of Budapest, 2008.
JEFF DARNELL REMEMBERS: Bobby Kay, 1980
Photo and comments courtesy of Jeff Darnell
Hi Pat,
Here's a photo from 1980 of me and Bobby Kay!
Taken in the Alley in MSG.
He was a great clown!
JD
Hi Pat,
Here's a photo from 1980 of me and Bobby Kay!
Taken in the Alley in MSG.
He was a great clown!
JD
Saturday, February 09, 2008
SERGUEI CHACHELEV: Chair Gag, Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba
Video courtesy of Stevie Oddsocks, information courtesy of Michael McLeod of The Orlando Sentinel
Outside of David Shiner's appearance in Nouvelle Experience my favorite Cirque clowning is that of Russian-born Serguei Chachelev and his Canadian partner Michel Deschamps in La Nouba.
Chachelev is very unique in that he has been deaf and mute since childhood.
Most performers learn to listen for audience reaction to gauge how well a gag is going over. They adjust the act accordingly. Chachelev simply watches Deschamps for subtle cues. Because so much of clowning is about body language, he sees no reason to call his deafness a disability.
"I was born to be a clown," he signs.
Outside of David Shiner's appearance in Nouvelle Experience my favorite Cirque clowning is that of Russian-born Serguei Chachelev and his Canadian partner Michel Deschamps in La Nouba.
Chachelev is very unique in that he has been deaf and mute since childhood.
Most performers learn to listen for audience reaction to gauge how well a gag is going over. They adjust the act accordingly. Chachelev simply watches Deschamps for subtle cues. Because so much of clowning is about body language, he sees no reason to call his deafness a disability.
"I was born to be a clown," he signs.
ZIPPY THE PINHEAD: Bozo's Revenge
Submitted by Rik "Bonzo Crunch" Gern
It does feel as though we are coming up on the end of the whole "Angry Clowns/I Hate Clowns/Evil Clowns" era, doesn't it?
It does feel as though we are coming up on the end of the whole "Angry Clowns/I Hate Clowns/Evil Clowns" era, doesn't it?
JANGO EDWARDS: NY TV Appearance, Late 1970s
Video suggested by Tom Piccard
Jango Edwards in the late 70s on New York City cable access show "If I Can't Dance, You Can Keep Your Revolution".
From Ms. Coca Crystal, host of the show...
From 1977 through 1995 I was the producer and star of a public access television show that aired in NYC. With a lot of help from my friends, and volunteers we had 18 years of anti-authoritarian television. The show was called, "If I Can't Dance, You Can Keep Your Revolution."
It was my intent to have a television version of an underground newspaper, much like the East Village Other, where I had been employed previously.
The result was a wonderful mix of guests like Abbie Hoffman, Debbie Harry, Tuli Kupferberg, Michio Kaku, and hundreds of other fabulous people who fit the criteria of being anti-authoritarian.
Ms. Crystal is alive and well and living in the Catskills. She has many other clips from her show available on You Tube and she can be reached at cocacrystal@yahoo.com .
Jango Edwards in the late 70s on New York City cable access show "If I Can't Dance, You Can Keep Your Revolution".
From Ms. Coca Crystal, host of the show...
From 1977 through 1995 I was the producer and star of a public access television show that aired in NYC. With a lot of help from my friends, and volunteers we had 18 years of anti-authoritarian television. The show was called, "If I Can't Dance, You Can Keep Your Revolution."
It was my intent to have a television version of an underground newspaper, much like the East Village Other, where I had been employed previously.
The result was a wonderful mix of guests like Abbie Hoffman, Debbie Harry, Tuli Kupferberg, Michio Kaku, and hundreds of other fabulous people who fit the criteria of being anti-authoritarian.
Ms. Crystal is alive and well and living in the Catskills. She has many other clips from her show available on You Tube and she can be reached at cocacrystal@yahoo.com .
Friday, February 08, 2008
KIRK MARSH: International Circus Festival of Albacete, Spain
I've just been told that Kirk Marsh (fellow Clown College class of '97 alum) has been invited to compete in the 1st International Circus Festival of Albacete, Spain at the end of February. It'll be his European debut with his own material and he's very excited.
For more info on Kirk, please click the title of this post.
CLAIRE WEDEMEYER: Kelly-Miller Circus
Claire Wedemeyer, a very personable and talented young clown, formerly with the Kelly-Miller Circus and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
MYSTERY CLOWN
Photo courtesy of "circusbutterflygirl"
We haven't had a "mystery clown" in awhile. Anyone know who this is?
For some reason I want to guess that it's Rudy Dockey but I don't know why.
____________________________________
This just in from Marcelo...
Hello Pat:
well, the mystery Clown is none other than... one of the Georgetti Bros. (no idea abour his first name...) and I'm enclosing a photo of both of them. You will see that he is wearing identical wardrobe and make up in both photos...
Best always from
Marcelo PEPPO Melison...
Thanks Marcelo!
We haven't had a "mystery clown" in awhile. Anyone know who this is?
For some reason I want to guess that it's Rudy Dockey but I don't know why.
____________________________________
This just in from Marcelo...
Hello Pat:
well, the mystery Clown is none other than... one of the Georgetti Bros. (no idea abour his first name...) and I'm enclosing a photo of both of them. You will see that he is wearing identical wardrobe and make up in both photos...
Best always from
Marcelo PEPPO Melison...
Thanks Marcelo!
BOBBY KAY: Undated Photo
By all accounts, one of the very nicest men who ever lived.
The third of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Master Clowns, Robert "Bobby Kay" Smiley.
JANGO EDWARDS: By Tom Piccard
Photo, comments and video links courtesy of Tom Piccard
This is Jango Edwards__ALL OF HIM__Well most of him anyway
.No this is snapshot from one his performances and the way he ends most all of his shows..Butt naked ..I could write 50 pages of the many Mis-adventures we have had together__I first met him in Italy in 1987__Since that time it has been my honor to work with him on many shows...
He is a genius of comedy and has almost put me and several other performers in jail so many times I've lost count...I was surprised when I saw the clip below as they actually featured a little of me performing on that show...He now lives in Spain as he had to flee Amsterdam for reasons I will not go into...This clip doesn't do him justice so I put a second one on this posting to show him at his Best when he is just turned lose on people...He's The man with the million dollar nose Jango Edwards at The festival of fools...Amsterdam..1996.
THE NEXT CLIP THEY HAVE TURNED HIM LOSE AT AN SPANISH MOVIE AWARDS CEREMONY IN SPAIN ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN SPANISH TV AND MOVIES...HE IS ALWAYS THIS WAY..NO MATTER WHERE HE IS.
This is Jango Edwards__ALL OF HIM__Well most of him anyway
.No this is snapshot from one his performances and the way he ends most all of his shows..Butt naked ..I could write 50 pages of the many Mis-adventures we have had together__I first met him in Italy in 1987__Since that time it has been my honor to work with him on many shows...
He is a genius of comedy and has almost put me and several other performers in jail so many times I've lost count...I was surprised when I saw the clip below as they actually featured a little of me performing on that show...He now lives in Spain as he had to flee Amsterdam for reasons I will not go into...This clip doesn't do him justice so I put a second one on this posting to show him at his Best when he is just turned lose on people...He's The man with the million dollar nose Jango Edwards at The festival of fools...Amsterdam..1996.
THE NEXT CLIP THEY HAVE TURNED HIM LOSE AT AN SPANISH MOVIE AWARDS CEREMONY IN SPAIN ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN SPANISH TV AND MOVIES...HE IS ALWAYS THIS WAY..NO MATTER WHERE HE IS.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
CHUCK SILDOW: Feelin' Better!
Circus Sarasota's Chuck Sidlow, seen here with his lovely and very beautiful wife, Noriko...
Alright, you got me... Chuck is seen here not with his wife Noriko but with his lovely and very beautiful Laughter Unlimited partner, Mr. Jackie LeClaire.
Be that as it may, I spoke with Chuck yesterday and both he and Noriko are doing much better and deeply appreciate the outpouring of affection they have received from the international circus and clown communities.
If you'd like to drop him a line you can contact him at
Chuck Sidlow
c/o Circus Sarasota
8251 15th St. E Suite B
Sarasota, FL 34243
Circus Sarasota opened last Friday to wonderful box office and runs through the 24th before moving to Estero, FL March 11-30th. To find out more about the show please click the title of this post.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TUBA!
Very happy 29th birthday wishes go out today to my friend and fellow "chinaclown", Michael "Tuba" Heatherton!
Many happy returns!
ROB TORRES: In Budapest
Rob Torres, a fellow Ringling Clown College grad from New Jersey as well as a fellow Beatty-Cole Advance Clown, rocking the house at the 7th annual Circus Festival in Budapest where he took home the bronze.
Congratulations Rob!
FELIX ADLER: Big Momma's House
"Funny Felix" shows why his milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.
LITTLE TICH
Raffaele de Ritis has posted a very nice piece on Harry Relph, better known as Little Tich, on his blog. Read it by clicking the title of this post.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
SCOTT AND MURIEL: Post MC Press Release
Press release forwarded by David Engel
Heartfelt congratulations go out to the cast of Scott and Muriel's BIG SHOW with Joe (Scott Nelson, Muriel Brugman and Clown College alum and former Abbott of Unreason Joe Dieffenbacher) and we look forward to seeing you here in the States soon!
PRESS RELEASE
Date: 23 January, 2008
Scott & Muriel, the first ever comedy act to win the Grand Prix at the FISM 2000 World Championships of Magic, have now become double prize winners at the 32nd International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.
The festival is held every year and is considered the 'Oscars' of the circus world. It was sponsored and presided over by H.S.H. Prince Rainier until his death in 2005 and that role has now passed to H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie.
Scott & Muriel were invited to participate after having been seen by the festival director, Mr. Urs Pilz, in the World Christmas Circus in Carré, Amsterdam, in 2004/2005. They are only the 2nd illusionists ever to appear in the festival, the last one being Danish Illusionist Lee Pee Ville some 30 years ago.
Scott & Muriel received a standing ovation every time they performed their act, a shortened version of their FISM act done right in the middle of the ring. The standing ovations included H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, H.S.H. Prince Albert II, the entire jury, and most if not all of the 4500 people in attendance.
They were awarded a special prize from the Nice-Matin newspaper in which they had a photo and the quote "Comedy Illusionists Scott & Muriel reinvent the illusion 'Sawing a Woman in Two.'"
They were also awarded the special prize from the four-star Fairmont Hotel (formerly the Grand Hotel and before that the Loews Hotel.)
"Not being a traditional circus act" was the reason given by the jury for not awarding Scott & Muriel a 'clown,' (the prizes that are awarded by the jury.) They were the only act to receive a standing ovation for every performance that did not receive a clown.
They have since received offers for a two year contract with Ringling Bros. in America, the Big Apple Circus in New York, and from circuses from most of the countries in Europe and even South America.
Scott & Muriel continue to tour their own full evening theater show 'Scott & Muriel's B!G Show with Joe' throughout Europe. Negotiations are under way to bring the entire show to Monte Carlo next season.
Scott & Muriel first performed together in Monte Carlo in the famous Magic Stars Festival in 1999. Only their third contract, they did not win an award. However it was at this festival that they got engaged backstage in the beautiful Theater Princess Grace. Ten months later they would go on to win the World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.
"Monte Carlo has a very special place in our hearts and it was a thrill to be back and be asked to take part in such a prestigious event" said the couple. Participation is by invitation only with all acts being approved by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie.
For more info on Scott and Muriel's BIG SHOW with Joe, please click the title of this post.
Heartfelt congratulations go out to the cast of Scott and Muriel's BIG SHOW with Joe (Scott Nelson, Muriel Brugman and Clown College alum and former Abbott of Unreason Joe Dieffenbacher) and we look forward to seeing you here in the States soon!
PRESS RELEASE
Date: 23 January, 2008
Scott & Muriel, the first ever comedy act to win the Grand Prix at the FISM 2000 World Championships of Magic, have now become double prize winners at the 32nd International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.
The festival is held every year and is considered the 'Oscars' of the circus world. It was sponsored and presided over by H.S.H. Prince Rainier until his death in 2005 and that role has now passed to H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie.
Scott & Muriel were invited to participate after having been seen by the festival director, Mr. Urs Pilz, in the World Christmas Circus in Carré, Amsterdam, in 2004/2005. They are only the 2nd illusionists ever to appear in the festival, the last one being Danish Illusionist Lee Pee Ville some 30 years ago.
Scott & Muriel received a standing ovation every time they performed their act, a shortened version of their FISM act done right in the middle of the ring. The standing ovations included H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, H.S.H. Prince Albert II, the entire jury, and most if not all of the 4500 people in attendance.
They were awarded a special prize from the Nice-Matin newspaper in which they had a photo and the quote "Comedy Illusionists Scott & Muriel reinvent the illusion 'Sawing a Woman in Two.'"
They were also awarded the special prize from the four-star Fairmont Hotel (formerly the Grand Hotel and before that the Loews Hotel.)
"Not being a traditional circus act" was the reason given by the jury for not awarding Scott & Muriel a 'clown,' (the prizes that are awarded by the jury.) They were the only act to receive a standing ovation for every performance that did not receive a clown.
They have since received offers for a two year contract with Ringling Bros. in America, the Big Apple Circus in New York, and from circuses from most of the countries in Europe and even South America.
Scott & Muriel continue to tour their own full evening theater show 'Scott & Muriel's B!G Show with Joe' throughout Europe. Negotiations are under way to bring the entire show to Monte Carlo next season.
Scott & Muriel first performed together in Monte Carlo in the famous Magic Stars Festival in 1999. Only their third contract, they did not win an award. However it was at this festival that they got engaged backstage in the beautiful Theater Princess Grace. Ten months later they would go on to win the World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.
"Monte Carlo has a very special place in our hearts and it was a thrill to be back and be asked to take part in such a prestigious event" said the couple. Participation is by invitation only with all acts being approved by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie.
For more info on Scott and Muriel's BIG SHOW with Joe, please click the title of this post.
JEFF DARNELL REMEMBERS: Prince Paul Backstage at Madison Square Garden
Photo courtesy of Jeff Darnell
JOSEPH GRIMALDI: International Circus Clowns Club Annual Mass
Link suggested by Mike Naughton
A very nice segment from the program SHOWROOM, which shows members of the International Circus Clowns Club attending the annual mass in honor of Joseph Grimaldi at Holy Trinity Church in East London.
From Marcelo Melison...
Hello Pat:
Thank you very much for posting that clip on Grimaldi's service; I heard about it and I saw photos of it for years, but I never saw any film before. You are right, Sonny Fossett is the auguste with the white derby hat, he can be spotted at 1:43, 2:11 and 4:53. Then, at 4:32, helping the little girl to put her nose on, I saw Smokey (sometimes I saw it spelled Smoky) who was founder and president of The Children's Clowns Club (I understand he passed away a few years ago). The auguste with the bald wig and orange hair talking at 7:09 is Jack Collins, Weedy the Clown, author of the book "Clowning around for children" (don't bother to read it, it's terrible) and at 7:32, the camera takes the back of white face clown Davide, from the group Clowns Cavalcade (I recognize the costume with the very fluffy ruffles). So, there you have some names. Of course... take what I say with a grain of salt, after all, what do I know about Clowns?. I don't collect clown figurines...
Love and sincere gratitude always from this argentine-canadian clown, Marcelo PEPPO Melison.
A very nice segment from the program SHOWROOM, which shows members of the International Circus Clowns Club attending the annual mass in honor of Joseph Grimaldi at Holy Trinity Church in East London.
From Marcelo Melison...
Hello Pat:
Thank you very much for posting that clip on Grimaldi's service; I heard about it and I saw photos of it for years, but I never saw any film before. You are right, Sonny Fossett is the auguste with the white derby hat, he can be spotted at 1:43, 2:11 and 4:53. Then, at 4:32, helping the little girl to put her nose on, I saw Smokey (sometimes I saw it spelled Smoky) who was founder and president of The Children's Clowns Club (I understand he passed away a few years ago). The auguste with the bald wig and orange hair talking at 7:09 is Jack Collins, Weedy the Clown, author of the book "Clowning around for children" (don't bother to read it, it's terrible) and at 7:32, the camera takes the back of white face clown Davide, from the group Clowns Cavalcade (I recognize the costume with the very fluffy ruffles). So, there you have some names. Of course... take what I say with a grain of salt, after all, what do I know about Clowns?. I don't collect clown figurines...
Love and sincere gratitude always from this argentine-canadian clown, Marcelo PEPPO Melison.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
TONY ALEXIS FAMILY: Benneweis, 2002
Photo courtesy of Circus Scandanavia
At the urging of Mr. Mike Naughton of the Yankee Doodle Circus here is the Tony Alexis Family as seen of Circus Benneweis in 2002.
Does anyone know if there is any video of the act circulating?
At the urging of Mr. Mike Naughton of the Yankee Doodle Circus here is the Tony Alexis Family as seen of Circus Benneweis in 2002.
Does anyone know if there is any video of the act circulating?
BERNHARD PAUL: From Raffaele de Ritis
Photo and comments courtesy of Raffaele de Ritis
Bernhard Paul, as Zippo.
Bernhard Paul created his Zippo clown character in 1976.
It is interesting to remark how often in clown history a combination of shoes, shirt, neck, make-up, nose, even suspenders can meet incredible coincidences.
Bernhard Paul, as Zippo.
Bernhard Paul created his Zippo clown character in 1976.
It is interesting to remark how often in clown history a combination of shoes, shirt, neck, make-up, nose, even suspenders can meet incredible coincidences.
MORRIS BROTHERS: Kansas City Police Circus, 1943
Will and Bobby Morris at the Kansas City Police Circus May 4, 1943.
I'm wondering just where it is that Bobby lands as there is no seat on that bicycle.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
SUPERBOWL SUNDAY
Enjoy the game and remember, it's not important whether or not the Giants win.
Just as long as the Patriots lose ; )
~P
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