JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

"He's a Woozle..."

THE BANANA MAN

I spent most of the day in an awful funk over the news of Bill Strong's passing.

I got a call from a friend at just the right time that picked me up and helped me get on with my day. I'm still not in the greatest spirits, but I'm much better than I was.

And when you feel low what's better than some Banana Man?

BILL STRONG

I've just learned that Bill Strong has passed away.

Please excuse me if I just say right now...

DO NOT SMOKE!

GRANT GOLDIE

JULIAN JOY-CHAGRIN: The Orchestra

TERRY JONES: At the People's Improv Theater, NYC (October 17, 2009)

This afternoon (just two days after the Monty Python 40-year reunion in New York) Terry Jones held a seminar at The People's Impov Theater where he discussed the creation of classic Monty Python sketches and the writing process in general. The proceedings were moderated by Python expert Kim "Howard" Johnson. He showed both classic and rare (pre-Python) clips spanning his career, and the students also had a chance to ask questions!

TERRY JONES is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator and TV documentary host. A founding member of Monty Python, Mr. Jones directed two other Monty Python films, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. Outside of the Python group, Mr. Jones also directed Erik the Viking (1989) and The Wind in the Willows (1996), released in the U.S. as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in addition to other projects. Mr. Jones has written books and presented television documentaries on medieval and ancient history and the history of numeral systems including Terry Jones’ Medieval Lives for which he received an Emmy nomination in 2004. In 2008, Jones also wrote and directed an original opera entitled Evil Machines which was premiered by Teatro São Luiz in Lisbon, Portugal.

Me with one of the funniest people in history, Mr. Terry Jones. The card I am holding up (and unfortunately washed out by the stage lights) reads "My Pee Smells Like Ham". If you have to ask, you've never been to a Motionfest or Minifest.

ROCK & CLOWN

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

Most illogical.

LES MIKOS

TRICICLE

Find out more about them by clicking the title of this post.

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

Who's the newborn dude
That finishes milky bah-bahs when he's in the mood?
JAMES!
Ya damn right!

Who is the man that would risk his neck
With a diapered can?
JAMES!
Can you dig it?

Who's the cat that won't cop out
When there's binkies all about?
JAMES!
Right On!

They say this cat James is a bad mother
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
I'm talkin' 'bout James.
THEN WE CAN DIG IT!

He's a complicated man
But no one understands him but his Mommy
JAMES CASHIN!

James is the man.

CLOWNALLEY.NET VOLUME 3 DVD OUT NOW!

THE CLOWNALLEY.NET VOLUME 3 DVD NOW AVAILABLE ON EBAY!

The 3rd edition of the CLOWNALLEY.NET video series, a salute to some of the great clowns of American vaudeville, is now available for order on eBay and features:

Chaz Chase
Red Skelton
A. Robins - The Banana Man
Herb Williams
The Foys
O'Donnell & Blair
Willie, West & McGinty
Jack Benny
Laurel & Hardy
Shaw & Lee
Johnny Puleo and the Harmonica Rascals
Milton Berle
The Gutis
Wally Boag
George Carl

To order, please click the title of this post to be taken to the eBay listsing. Thanks!

BARRY LUBIN: Upcoming Classes at the Learning Annex

Barry "Grandma" Lubin, star of the Big Apple Circus and member of the International Clown Hall of Fame, is teaching an upcoming class at The Learning Annex in New York.

Mr. Lubin is an extremely gifted performer and an excellent instructor. If you've never had the opportunity to take a class with him, don't miss out!

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

Who is this? Big Bird?!? AH-HA! This bird is not big at all! In reality you have been fooled yet again by the incomparable Mr. James Roane Cashin, newborn master of disguise and "Baby of 1,000 Faces".

Call the Sesame Workshop and let them know that when Carroll Spinney is ready to retire J-Ro is ready, willing and more than able to fill his fleece-covered, three toed shoes!

LACI "MOOKY" ENDRESZ: Blackpool Tower Circus (2009)

MY FAVORITE CIRCUS MEMORY: By Mark Lavender

My favorite circus memory, after meeting my wife, Nini, happened in Chicago in October, 1976 at the old iron and glass arena near the old stockyards.

We'd played there some weeks already - the weather usually cloudy, chilly, and damp.

It was a Saturday morning show - too early in the morning that day. I wasn't feeling well - tired, lonesome, a little sad... just feeling down.

I dry shaved that morning, and my skin reminded me of its objection to that as I applied my clown makeup. I had a bit of a headache from trying to rinse out the blues the night before. Even pie car coffee couldn't wash the bad taste out of my mouth. Brother, I was feeling sorry for myself!


I was doing meet and greet on the track floor as our guests came filing in along the rope fence by the track as they made their way to their seats.

I was doing my best to put my heart into it, but my heart just wasn't cooperating.

Then I heard a small, clear little voice calling out, "Clown! Clown!", with the rise and fall tone of one trying to get my attention.

I turned to my left, and saw running down the track toward me a little cherub of a girl no more than five years old - running with just a remnant of 'toddle' in her gait. She looked like a little doll - little chubby legs with white ankle socks and black patent shoes, frilly dress, navy coat that gathered at the waist, a beaming round face with the biggest of toothy smiles and such bright eyes and big ringlets of auburn curly hair.

Following at a trot several paces behind her was her mother, a well dressed, handsome, willowy woman with a flustered and embarrassed look on her face.

As the little girl got close, she raised up both her arms signaling she wanted me to catch her and pick her up in my arms - which I did without even thinking about it.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeeeeeezed with a big hug, and then leaned back with her hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes and said, "I love you, clown!".

I was stunned and I could just get out the words,
"I love you, too, sweetheart."

She kissed my cheek and then got down - and she skipped stepped over to her mother and took her hand, walking away to find their seats.

As she went with her mother, I saw her looking up at her with a thoroughly happy expression, and telling her, "I talked with the clown, mama! I talked with the clown!"

Up the bleacher stairs they went, and I just stood there, arms at my sides, just watching them until I couldn't see them any more.

I heard a collective and soft, "Awwwwwwwwww....." from my right, from the folks I'd just been greeting when the little angel jumped into my arms and into my heart. They all had eyes as moist as mine.

That little girl, that little angel would be in her late thirties by now.

Wherever she is, I just want her to know that on that morning, with her expression of pure affection, joy, and a child's simple love, she reminded me that I am loved and changed my outlook for good.

God indeed sent me an angel.

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

Burt Reynolds? No! Once again you've been fooled by America's own James "Jamie" Cashin, the world's most beloved character actor, adored for over a week by critics around the globe as "The Baby of 1,000 Faces".

COLUMBUS DAY PARADE: Bridgeport, CT (October 11, 2009)

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth contingent from the Bridgeport, CT Columbus Day Parade: (from left to right) Pat Cashin, Cherie Gregg, Jonathan Hunsberger, Lisa Glover, Priscilla, David Gregg, Jerry "Scooter" Hunsberger.

David Gregg

This is the 2nd year in a row that we've got the car (with the flame) in the same paper.

May All Your Days Be Columbus Days!

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!

ALENA GERBER & MARTIN SCHNEIDER

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

Once again the amazing James Roane (or J-Ro if you're nasty) Cashin, the world reknown "Baby of 1,000 Faces", is back to astound us all with his incredible versatility.

Pound for pound, he is undeniably America's greatest living character actor under the age of 9 days old.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

CHARLIE CHAPLIN: With Albert Einstein (1931)

Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin at the premiere of Chaplin's masterpiece, City Lights. Of the crowds that followed them, separately and when they attended events together, Chaplin told Einstein, "People cheer me because they all understand me, and they cheer you because nobody understands you."

DANIEL: Head Off Man

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES

Mr. James Cashin continues to show us why his is known and loved around the world as the "Baby of 1,000 Faces". Today he is portraying Edna Mode, the superhero costume designer from Disney/Pixar's 2004 film The Incredibles.

CHARLIE SCHMIDT

JAMES CASHIN, BABY OF 1,000 FACES!

The first in an ongoing series, here Mr. James Cashin, master of disguise and internationally reknown "Baby of 1,000 Faces" shows us his very first impersonation, Donald Trump!

Watch out, Darrell Hammond.

PIUS NOCK: Circus Alfredo (1978)

Bello, Pio, Pius, Michelangelo... aren't there any Nocks named "Steve" or "Dan"?

JAMES: Homeward Bound!

Background photo on the wall at CHoP by Debbie Gilbert

One week after being born, turning blue and having his heart catheterized and just six days after open heart surgery, Jamie is doing incredibly well and has been released by his doctors at CHoP. We are headed home.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

BACKSTAGE CIRCUS (1964)

Super 8 home movie footage of a small circus in the Silver Spring/Takoma Park, MD area in 1964.

BELLO NOCK: Skywalk at Lincoln Center

JAMES: Better, Stronger, Faster

Word is that Pootie McDiapermuffin here is doing
extremely well and may be headed home tomorrow.

LAUREL & HARDY: Oye Como Va

Link courtesy of Claudia Adams

MOZ'ART

Moz'ART

We exist despite the sober formality of great concert halls, despite the boredom of classical musicians' life, despite fanatic lovers of classical music, despite fans of rock, rap or pop who are afraid of classical music. We treat our Muse with a humorous irony and we're sure, she will have nothing against it!"

The names that make the moz'ART Group are: Filip Jaslar - first violin; Michał Sikorski - second violin; Paweł Kowaluk - viola; Bolek Błaszczyk - cello. They are all well educated instrumentalists who graduated from prestigious Academies of Music in Warsaw and Łódz, but they decided to play classical music in a humorous way. They created a worldwide unique musical cabaret, where the music, not the words are the source of joy and laugh.

Take a classical composition as canvas, analyze its structure and theme, surround it with musical associations, brilliant, unbelievable ideas and while listening to the final product the listener is constantly surprised, amazed, laughing and moved to tears.

The musicians of the Moz'ART GROUP have been playing together since 1995. At the beginning, they presented short musical jokes on Canal Plus Television. They gave their first debut in 1997 at the PAKA - competition of young Polish cabarets in Krakow. In the same year, they presented their first cabaret program entitled "Mozart's Still Alive" and since then, they have given concerts in Poland, Japan, China, the United States, Belgium, France and Switzerland.

The Moz'ART GROUP is a frequent guest on Polish television including international galas and concerts. The Quartet received prestigious prizes like the Grand Prix of the XVIII Festival of Satire and Comedy in Lidzbark; "Pingwin z brazu" (the Bronze Penguin) - the prize given by the cabaret community of Zielona Gora, an informal capitol of Polish cabaret. The Moz'AR Group performes together with the world-famous comic mime from Poland, Irek Krosny.

One of the most important performances was a concert with Bobby McFerrin at the Congress Concert Hall in Warsaw.

Another show of the Group, in which they took Vivaldi as their patron, was entitled "The Four Seasons à la Moz'ART GROUP". Similar subtitle has their latest CD "Creatures" where each of the "seasons" begins the same as Vivaldi's compositions. Later on, however, it runs freely in the direction of various world songs about spring, summer, autumn and winter. This show provides the listener with over 70 minutes of a sophisticated, perfectly arranged, sublime fun!

Please visit their website at mozartgroup.org.

PETE GEIST: Television Commercial

My friend Pete Geist in a Baltimore area television commercial from 1998/99.

LOS CHICHARRINES

TOMAS KUBINEK: Italian Television Interview

Maestro Kubinek is one of my very favorite contemporary clowns. If you the opportunity to see his show, don't miss it.

HOUSCH MA HOUSCH

JAMES: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

James will be spending today under a UV light to combat the jaundice that was giving him a George Hamiltonian-level orange tan. The news of his condition was greatly offset by the joy that his new headgear (and possible super-powered crimefighting career) has given us.

In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power... James Cashin's light!

'Nuff said.

JAMES: And Now, The Photo You've All Been Waiting For...

GINO FRANKINI

HENRY AYALA: Hungarian State Circus, Budapest

JAMES: The Scar

I'm trying to convince Terry to let me tattoo the words "THUG LIFE" around the scar, just to give James a little street cred should he ever decide on a career in gansta rapper.

"This? It's nothing! You should see what I did to the other 12 guys!"

JAMES: Getting Better

"There's not

a word yet,

for old friends

who've just met..."

IN MEMORIAM: Ben Williams

Our deepest condolences go out today to Buckles and Barbara Woodcock and family on the passing of Ben Williams. Like Evel, Gunther, Charley and Elvin, Ben was one of the real-life superheroes of my childhood.

He was loved and admired both as a person and as a performer.

He will be very sorely missed.

LORENZO PISONI: Humor Abuse (Philadelphia Theater Company)

True, poignant tale of a child circus performer

By Howard Shapiro
Inquirer Theater Critic

.

To understand the power of the stage, all you need do is get to the Suzanne Roberts Theatre to see the talented, endearing Lorenzo Pisoni in Humor Abuse, his one-man master stroke about growing up a clown.

It's about pratfalls and popping out of steam trunks, about tumbling repeatedly down a flight of 15 stairs, and juggling fiberglass bowling pins that rip your skin, about balancing hats on your nose or abruptly flipping yourself backward. And even with all that tomfoolery, Humor Abuse emerges as the most poignant piece I've seen in some time.

Pisoni - 32, tall and kinetic, with movie-set good looks and a smile that doesn't flash as much as radiate - has won every kind of Off-Broadway award for Humor Abuse, which he developed with director Erica Schmidt. It played last season at the Manhattan Theatre Club and opened the Philadelphia Theatre Company season Wednesday night.

The one-act is the true story of Pisoni's life as a circus child with circus parents, the founders in 1975 of San Francisco's Pickle Family Circus. An original clown of that troupe - credited with renewing an American circus tradition and influencing Cirque du Soliel - was Bill Irwin, now a treasured theater artist (twice on Philadelphia Theatre Company's stage), and also Pisoni's godfather.

For 25 years until he stopped performing, Pisoni's father, Larry, remained a silent clown whose self-imposed demands in the service of humor broke bones all over his body. As his son tells it, the elder Pisoni nearly killed himself for laughs.

That's one form of the humor abuse referred to in the show's title. The other is more ironic, and a little unsettling. From Pisoni's infancy, his father saw him as a circus performer. The boy made his debut when he was 2 years old. A heart-tugging moment comes early in the show when Pisoni strikes a performance pose; the exact same image of a preschool Pisoni appears on a tattered white sheet that serves as a stage-rear curtain, behind him.

And so it went for little Lorenzo. At age 6, he signed an actual contract to become his dad's partner. By age 11, he was touring the country and Japan with his own act, no parent in sight. Ever wonder what it's like to be "the other" - someone who grew into a world completely different from yours? This show answers the question by presenting the experiences of one of "the others."

Humor Abuse is bittersweet - but never bitter to the point of complaint or sweet to the point of cloying. You could call it Lorenzo Pisoni's tribute to his dad - one that looks deep to reveal an almost shocking intensity about laughter.

"I can't do it!" little Lorenzo cries after trying and failing to learn a stunt. "You can't do it . . . yet," his father replies.

Well, he can do it now - all of it. The routines that pepper the show are deft; is tripping over his feet merely an alternative way for Pisoni to walk? (It apparently was for his dad.)

Pisoni is funny, fluid, and fully in the moment when he's clowning. But the real impact of Humor Abuse comes when he returns, repeatedly, to play himself, the boy who increasingly wants the opposite of what other kids want - to run away from the circus.

He finally does that, landing in high school, then graduating from college, and embracing a broader kind of performance: He was memorable in last season's Broadway revival of Equus and is a current regular on TV's All My Children. The grass may seem greener outside the circus ring, but Pisoni is his father's son. His heart is open in Humor Abuse, and you can almost hear the ringmaster calling to its beat.

HUMOR ABUSE
starring Lorenzo Pisoni
created by Lorenzo Pisoni & Erica Schmidt
directed by Erica Schmidt
September 25 - October 25, 2009

Please click here for ticket information

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: First Clown Performance In Space

The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft carrying cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, NASA flight engineer Jeffrey Williams, and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté maneuvered to a smooth docking with the International Space Station early Friday to close out a two-day orbital chase.

With Suraev and Williams closely monitoring the final stages of the automated rendezvous, the small capsule's docking mechanism engaged its counterpart at the aft port of the Zvezda command module at 4:35 a.m. EDT as the two spacecraft sailed high above northeast Kazakhstan. Hooks and latches then engaged to pull the Soyuz firmly into place.

After leak checks, hatches between the two spacecraft were opened at 6:57 a.m., allowing Suraev, Williams and Laliberté, wearing a red clown nose, to float into the space station.

They were welcomed aboard by outgoing commander Gennady Padalka, NASA flight engineer Michael Barratt, cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk, and NASA astronaut Nicole Stott.

"It's good to see you all, looking very good," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden called from mission control near Moscow.

"Hello Charlie, yeah, we had a great trip up here and we're happy to be on board, with good company," Williams replied.

"Well Jeff, Max and Guy, just want to let you all know we enjoyed a superb launch" on Wednesday, Bolden said. "Your families behaved well, they laughed all the way back from Baikonur to Moscow. You all should rest well and know they're being taken care of."

Suraev's father then congratulated his son on his first spaceflight, saying "all of us here are very happy that so far the mission is very successful...All the best to you, son, please do a good job there."

Laliberté, once again putting on his clown nose, told his family he was enjoying the trip and feeling "pretty good, actually. I'm adapting pretty good." Then he joked, "But I am staying six months, though."

A Canadian worth an estimated $2.5 billion, Laliberté is believed to have paid the Russians around $35 million to visit the space station as a tourist.

Suraev and Williams are replacing Padalka and Barratt, who plan to return to Earth with Laliberté on October 11. De Winne will take over as European Space Agency first commander in Padalka's place.

"We've had a fabulous time up here, the station is in great shape and really well supplied," Barratt said. "We're just really impressed that everything has worked so far with a couple of shuttles, the (Japanese) HTV (cargo ship), and everything worked on that thing. It was a beautiful spaceship and we're really lucky to have such visitations up here and a lot of firsts. So we're ready to come home, but it's been a great time."

"You guys enjoy all your time together this week," Gerstenmaier said. "Take good care of (the) space station."

JAMES: Tubes Removed, Breathing On His Own

James just had his breathing tubes removed and is breathing on his own.

All of his vitals are excellent!

JAMES: Has Opened His Eyes!

James opened his eyes for the first time at 9:57 PM to look around at Shane and I and thank everyone, everywhere for the prayers, well wishes and extremely positive energy sent his way from all over the world today.

Thank you.

JAMES: Resting Comfortably

James, a mass of tubes and wires, actually looks far better than what they had prepared us for. He is back in his private room, with an excellent nurse, and resting comfortably.

Mother is doing fine. Brother is doing fine.

Daddy needs a stiff drink and a nap.

JAMES: Still Waiting

He's been out of surgery for about an hour now but we haven't had the chance to see him yet.

Here's a picture from just before he left. This is Shane holding James for the very first time.

JAMES: Out of Surgery

James is out of surgery. We just met with Dr. Spray who told us that everything went extremely well and that we can see him again in just a few minutes.

JAMES: In Surgery

James left for surgery about 24 hours after he was born. Dr. Spray, one of (if not THE) very best surgeons in the world for TGA surgery, is performing the operation now.

JAMES: Still Waiting

We're still waiting for James to leave for his surgery. In the meantime he's been sitting next to my macbook, listening to Duke Ellington, Bach, Mozart, Lou Reed and Raymond Scott as we watched Sesame Street with the TV's sound off.

The above photo is James watching his very first Looney Tune cartoon, Porky and Daffy in "Baby Bottleneck", directed by Bob Clampett.

JAMES: Still Awaiting Surgery

James is still awaiting surgery. We were told late last night that he'd go first today, and would leave between 6:30 and 7:00 AM, but he's been moved to the second surgery and should be leaving here shortly.

He's all set and ready to go. He's got his very stylish powder blue knit cap and matching "wubby" set and Shane has already read him his very first book, The Cat in the Hat, and explained to him, with helpful visual aids (drawings, Lego sculpture and coloring book pages) the importance of Spiderman.

JAMES: Good Night and May God Bless

James Roane Cashin was baptized this evening at 9:37 in his room in the ICU.

On behalf of Terry and Shane, I would like to very sincerely thank all of the friends and family around the country and around the world for sending their prayers and support today and in helping to welcome James into the world in such a special fashion.

James has been cleared for open heart surgery tomorrow morning at 7:00 to correct his transposition of the great arteries and to repair the catheterization he underwent this afternoon. If all goes right, the surgery should last no more than three hours.

It's been a long day.

I am now playing James the first song he's ever heard...

JAMES

James Ray Clark
(June 5, 1956 - December 9, 2008)

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day. ~ The Dalai Lama

James Roane Cashin
October 1, 2009

BABY NEWS: James is Back!

James is back in the ICU. He made it through the heart catheterization procedure with flying colors... most importantly, pink! He's sedated and resting comfortably.

His eyes were taped shut and, with his nose being smooshed up from his breathing tube, he reminds me of the people in the "Eye Of the Beholder" episode of The Twilight Zone...

JAMES ROANE CASHIN

A lot of drama.

Things are pretty scary. James is undergoing an emergency procedure and they are opening up his chest and catheterizing his heart.

They had a problem getting a tube down his throat that caused his vitals to drop, which sent an alarm throughout the entire ICU and brought about 50 various medical professionals into his room in the blink of an eye.

BABY NEWS: James is Here!

James Roane Cashin
Arrived: 10/01/09 12:27 PM

6 lbs, 8 ounces
19"

BABY NEWS: Sixth Update

James is almost here. Terry saw the hospital paperwork listing the baby's name as "James Roane "Bob" Dobbs Cashin" and killed it in the 11th hour.

It sounds naive but I really thought she was going to be cool with that.

Nothing is finalized yet. There is still time to get the baby some slack!

BABY NEWS: Fifth Update

Things are progressing. James is now expected before 12:00.

After a second epidural, Terry is displaying a Fonz-like cool.

BABY NEWS: Fourth Update

The only member of the family getting any sleep tonight. Shane stayed up until midnight watching the new Superman/Batman: Public Enemies DVD and waiting for his new baby brother...

BABY NEWS: Third Update

Epidural time.

BABY NEWS: Second Update

At CHoP, settled in and have met with our midwife and the on-call doctor.

Shane is playing Indiana Jones Legos with his grandfather. My sister-in-law, Patti is here with us and was watching the Phillies game. My mother-in-law is somewhere tracking down something.

Mother and child are comfortable and doing fine.

BABY NEWS: 7:00 PM

Getting ready to leave the Ronald McDonald House for Childrens' Hospital of Philadelphia...

ROWAN ATKINSON: Guide to Visual Comedy

Notes courtesy of Carlos Baena and Scott Wiser...

The following notes are in reference to the 1992 documentary Funny Business (also known as Laughing Matters and Rowan Atkinson's Guide to Visual Comedy), hosted by Rowan Atkinson, and were compiled by animation student Scott Wiser. The documentary can be found by clicking the title of this post.

1) Great comedians don't just talk, but use visual humor as well. Using their body as a tool:

a. There is comedy potential in every body part.
b. Clothes play a big part (too small or too big).
c. Character can look funny.
d. (My addition) The body can interact with other props to create humor (or alone).

2) Funny Things: Three Basic Principles:

a. Objects behave in an unexpected way
b. Objects go to or appear in an unexpected place.
c. Objects shown the wrong size.
- Combining these three principles may not make the business more funny.
- Jokes depend on sudden shocks and strange transformations that under-mind the laws of our existence.

3) Slapstick and Violence (the earliest and perhaps most crude form):

a. The more realistic, the funnier the gag.
b. The more dignified the victim, the funnier the gag.
c. Shock of violence must be separate from the reality of pain.
d. Use of overstatement or understatement create this comedy.

4) Magic & Surrealism (the comedian uses the Illusionist's tricks):

a. Appearing and Disappearing - gags are funnier if the character disappears.
b. Transformation - must absurd as well as astonishing
c. Speeding things up (or slowing down)
d. Comedy rooting in fear
e. Strange images

5) Imitiation & Parody (a step up, but not the highest form of comedy):

a. Exaggeration creates a parody
b. Representing authority creates satire.
c. Using other's story's or material can create comedy, but the effect lessens with the popularity of the others' material.

6) Mime & Body Language (Moving into character and situational comedy):

a. Create an interesting character.
b. Can be simply in the shading of a facial expression.
c. Not about doing funny things but doing normal things in a funny way: with personality.
d. new attitudes make the old joke new.

1. Dim (stupid) - knows less than the audience - has a bewildered innocence.
2. Aggressive - lack of consideration for others.
3. Crude - comedy of social embarrassment or vulgarity.
4. Etc.

e. Only if you identify with an attitude will you laugh.
f. Charlie Chaplin is one of the most skilled at this type of comedy, but doesn't always get the laugh (while he does draw smiles and emotions).
(We have to make our jokes and characters timeless, though some will argue that Chaplin was timeless)

7) Qualities that transcend time: The character of the physical comedian.

a. Like us but different - an alien on the other side of the mirror.
b. Innocence - born yesterday

Battles with normal objects
Constantly makes mistakes
Tenacity - keeps doing things when others would've given up.

c. Socially Inept - either doesn't understand conventions or doesn't know how to follow them.
d. Drunkenness is an alternative to childishness
e. Hard to form normal relationships
f. Constant hostility from all quarters
g. The comedian can't die or get seriously hurt.

8) The opposite of all rules are true: ALL rules can be broken.

MR. BUNK: Human Puppeteer

DAVID: Circus Krone-Bau

CLOWN ALLEY: Palhaço

A collection of vintage photographs of classic, mostly European circus clowns accompanied to the tune of "Palhaço" by Egberto Gismonti.

RED SKELTON: Character

Edited from an article entitled The Pope, The Clown and the Cross which appears in the current issue of American Catholic...

In 1957 comedian Red Skelton was on top of the world. His weekly comedy show on CBS was doing well. He had curtailed the drinking which had almost derailed his career. Not too shabby for a man who had started out as a circus and rodeo clown and who was now often called the clown prince of American comedy. He and his wife Georgia had two beautiful kids: Richard and Valentina Maria. Then the worst thing in the world for any parent entered into the lives of Red and Georgia Skelton: Richard was diagnosed with leukemia. Unlike today, a diagnosis of leukemia in a child in 1957 was tantamount to saying that Richard was going to die soon. Red immediately took a leave of absence from his show. CBS was very understanding and a series of guest hosts, including a very young Johnny Carson, filled in for Skelton during the 1957-1958 season.

Red and his wife made two decisions. First, they decided not to reveal to their son how ill he was; if worse came to worst they wanted him to enjoy the time he had left. The boy’s leukemia was temporarily in remission and outwardly he appeared healthy. When the boy saw “The Last Days of Pompeii” on TV and was fascinated by it, his mom and dad made their second decision. They were going to take him and his sister to Europe so the boy could see Pompeii and other parts of Europe and the world, and to allow the parents to consult with foreign physicians and also to conduct a pilgrimage for their son.

After they returned to the States, the leukemia came out of remission and took its dreadful course. Richard underwent treatment at the UCLA medical center. His parents were constant visitors to see him. Both father and son, as detailed here, did their best to keep up the spirits of the other children undergoing treatment by telling jokes. On one occasion Red Skelton sat up most of the night with a young girl who was undergoing surgery and kept reassuring her that everything was going to be all right, as it turned out to be in her case.

“The doctor was as gentle as he could be when he told me there was a good chance I had something that would mean amputating my leg. I remember crying for hours that night. The night before surgery I was very scared. My mother was at home with three small children and I had a difficult time falling asleep. When I finally gave in and allowed sleep to take over, it wasn’t for long. I awoke to find my friend Richard’s father asleep in the chair next to my bed. He woke up soon after I did, and in a very gentle voice kept telling me it was going to be ok. I just had to believe. There he stayed for most of the night. I would sleep and waken, and he would sometimes be asleep, other times he’d smile and comfort me.

Surgery went well, and my leg wasn’t amputated, but I was in and out of surgeries, casts, and the hospital for the next two years. Richard passed away from leukemia the second year, but has lived on in my heart and memory. His father became my hero as I watched him on television, then and in later years. For during the time I knew Mr. Skelton and his son Richard, I only saw their courage, compassion, and tender hearts. I saw a man who was “in character” to make the children laugh and forget their illnesses, but I also saw a very gentle man who was not “in character”, as he sat by the bed of a fatherless 11 year old. Setting aside his own fears, or sadness, Red Skelton, the clown who entertained millions during the early days of television, made sure I was able to face a scary situation with the hope it was going to be ok.”

I find this remarkable. Dealing with the approaching death of his own son, Red Skelton found it within himself to keep up the spirits of other children. I guess he really meant it when he said, “God’s children and their happiness are my reasons for being”. In the years to come Skelton would become a major donor for charities for sick kids, and would also assist children through his establishment of the Red Skelton Foundation in his hometown of Vincennes, Indiana.

The complete article, which focuses on Richard's faith and his pilgrimage, is available here.

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