DALE LONGMIRE: Get Well Soon!

Our thoughts and prayers today are with Dale Longmire (Ringling/Vargas/Walker Bros.) who is recovering from open heart surgery and valve replacement at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Lee Stevens spoke with Dale's sister and heard that all was going well. He should be out of intensive care by this morning.

Dale, get well soon!!!

"You've heard the expression, "ONE IN A MILLION", he's two of them!!!!"
~Bill Strong on Dale Longmire

MILO & ROGER

Posted to YouTube by "patrickske"


After finding this the other night I was going to keep this to myself and use it as "inspiration" for the next series of shows in China, but it was just too good not to share.

For more on Milo (According to Mr. DeSanto it's pronounced "MEE-low") and Roger, please click the title of this post.

LES FRATELLINIS: The What Now?!?

According to the back of this photo, the Fratellinis came to the United States in the mid 1920s?!?

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling-Barnum, 1943

Taken from the 1943 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Program. OK, that's Lou Jacobs and Chesty Mortimer up top, Felix Adler in the center and Paul Jerome in his tramp makeup in the lower left hand corner.

Who is the guy in the lower right? Paul Jung? In 1943?!?

How OLD was this? If it is Jung, was this even taken while Jung was on Ringling? It looks like an early 30s photo from Hagenbeck-Wallace!

GEORGE L. FOX: Comedy/Tragedy

For more ruminations on Mr. Fox, please click the title of this post.

MARIANO SAVIO: 1989

Mariano Savio in "Clown Fiorellino", 1989.

CUBAN CHRISTMAS RINGLING ALLEY VIDEO 1950s: THE RAREST OF THE RARE!

I've just received extremely rare video of the clowns of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performing a Christmas themed number during one the Ringling show's trips to Havana, Cuba during the 1950s. This comes from the estate of a very well known American circus collector and archivist. I am almost certain from it's pristine condition that, other than it's video transfer, this footage has gone unseen since the 1950s.

The footage features Lou Jacobs, Felix Adler, Paul Jung and Otto Griebling.

This number was revived briefly by Jackie LeClaire for the John Ringling North-produced Continental Circus during the holiday season of the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Please click the title of this post for the link to the video. Enjoy!

CLOWN ALLEY: Zippo's Academy of Circus Arts

Posted to YouTube by JaneyTClown




Slosh Act at the Academy of Circus Arts Graduation Showcase.

"There is nothing that can be done that can't be made better by adding Benny Hill music."

FRANKIE SALUTO: Ringling/Barnum, Undated

Frankie Saluto with his pet rabbit preparing for their walkaround.

CLOWN ALLEY: Kelly-Miller, 1951

Eddie Dullam & Lee Virtue, looking like two Bill Ballantine drawings come to life.



Mr. Virtue



Mr. Dullam, whose makeup evolved over the years but never traded in his yarn wig.

GIJON POLIDOR: Undated Photo

Gijon Polidor on Ringling in a photo that looks to have been taken by Maxwell Frederic Coplan.

GEORGE L. FOX: 1875 Humpty Dumpty Program

I found this on eBay this morning.

A rare large July 1875 program for the great 19th century clown G L Fox in his most famous role as Humpty Dumpty.

Please click the title of this post to view the eBay posting of the item.

MYSTERY ORLANDO AREA SHRINE CLOWN

I received this email the other day...

_________________________________________________________________

Hi -

I've been asked to restore a photo of a friend's uncle and a clown, taken about 1991-92.

I worked out that the photo was taken at a Shriners' circus (by zooming in on the background and seeing three men wearing fezzes). I determined that the circus was put on by the Orlando Shriners' group. I wrote to their webmaster a couple of weeks ago, with no response.

I've also scoured the Internet, looking at thousands of clown pictures, to no avail.


As you can see, the clown's face is largely obliterated. This is why I'm researching this. If I can find another photo of the clown, I can work from it to restore this photo, which is a prized possession of my friend's uncle. Otherwise, I'll just have to wing it and hope I come up with something reasonable.

If you can help in any way, I'd greatly appreciate it.


Regards,
Bill Phillips

______________________________________________________

Anyone who can help, please email me at CASHINCOMEDY@YAHOO.COM

ED WYNN

I noticed that Ed Wynn's high arching eyebrows are very similar to the one's in the photo of Little Walter from last week.

KARL VALENTIN: DIE VERHEXTEN NOTENSTANDER

Posted to YouTube by TryAgain02


German cabaret clowning from the 1920's. Karl Valentin - Die verhexten Notenständer.

BUZZY POTTS: Ringling/Barnum, 1951

Buzzy Potts in a 1951 publicity photo for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

DUANE "UNCLE SOAPY" THORPE: In Memory

Comments courtesy of Joel Heidtman


In loving memory of Duane Lawrence "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe: October 11, 1924 - December 9, 1995

Rest well dear friend... you are loved.

Your pal, Joel Heidtman

JOHN LENNON

It's been 27 years since we lost John Lennon, probably my strongest role model during my teenage years and someone who's influence strongly shaped my opinions about music, art, comedy, philosophy, fatherhood and life in general.

27 years ago 40 seemed like a full life to me. Now that I'm 40, and the father of a five year old son of my own, I have a very different opinion.


HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER)


So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over
If you want it
War is over

Now...

SAM BARTON: Breakaway Bicycle Act

Posted to YouTube by Sam Royston


Sam Barton from the film CAVALCADE OF VARIETY (1941), which is itself a compilation of three earlier films, VARIETY (1935), VARIETY PARADE (1936) and MUSIC HALL PARADE (1939).

Sam Barton (1894-1941) toured the British music halls with a speciality bicycle act similar to Joe Jackson's (1873–1942). Is there anyone out there who knows which act came first?

JAY & NICK STEWART: Myrtle Beach, SC, 2005

One of the very best American circus clowns (and clowning instructors) working today, Jason T. Stewart and his son Nick in Myrtle Beach, SC at the 2005 Clown College reunion.

Jay and family have recently relocated to the northeast where he's become a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit.