PLAYMOBIL CHARLIE RIVEL: Want!

Playmobil schööön!

BONBON & TIINA: Comedy Cannon, undated

CLOWNFEST '08: Greg DeSanto Video Presentation

Pictured left to right (top row) Vince Pagliano, Pat Cashin, Greg DeSanto (bottom row) Karen DeSanto, Leon "Buttons" McBryde and Jim Howle

Thanks go out tonight to the Clownfest folks, Greg and Karen DeSanto, Leon McBryde and Jim Howle for a wonderful evening of rare clown video and an even rarer opportunity to hear Leon and Jim's first hand road stories of those days when the "traditional" Ringling Alley was first mixed with these new, so-called "Clown College" graduates.

"And a great time was had by all..."

GENE LEWIS: From Chuck Burnes and Rick Whelan

Photos by Jannette Rainwater, courtesy of Michael Rainwater, Chuck Burnes and Rick Whelan





During a recent correspondence Rick Whelan wrote to Chuck Burnes...

I grew up in Plainville, CT. As you may remember, Ringling played there quite frequently during the 1950s. They wanted to tap the central Connecticut market but couldn't return to Hartford because of the bad feelings caused by that devastating circus fire in 1944.So I grew up watching Ringling almost every summer, and I guess I got hooked. And when I struck up a friendship with Gene, that made it even sweeter. I often wonder when Gene passed ... and where he is buried. The last address I had for him was a trailer park in La Puente, CA. Do you happen to know any details of his last years?

As a youngster, Gene really fascinated me. We became penpals and this correspondence lasted over ten years. I had hoped to become a circus clown some day - just like him! Now I'm 63 years old. I didn't become a clown, but I was an actor for 15 years and I often think Gene had a great deal to do with this.

The last time I saw Gene was at the old Madison Square Garden in the late 1960s. By then was in college and had decided to try acting. Gene was so happy for me ... he was always telling me to get as much education as I could and I think he thought acting was a much more "respectable" profession than clowning ... although I'm not sure, even at my age, I could ever agree with that. I think the great clowns of the world are the supreme artists of our time: Otto Griebling... Emmett Kelly... Felix Adler... Lou Jacobs... all brilliant!

Gene was born in Bloomington Indiana (or Illinois?) He was in vaudeville with a guy named Frank Faylen who later went on to have a movie career. Faylen's most famous role was the taxi driver in the Christmas classic "It's A Wonderful Life". When vaudeville went bust, Gene joined the circus and Frank went to Hollywood.

I'm just wondering if you knew Gene during your years with the circus. Any information you could give me about his life and personal history would be greatly appreciated.

All the best,
Rick Whelan

And Chuck replied

Hi, Rick! Sure! I knew Gene very well! A really terrrific guy!

I was on the Ringling show from 1955 thru 1961 - seven full seasons in all. In fact, I met my wife there!

Gene had a trailer in a little trailer park with lots of other circus people close to downtown and I frequently saw him in off-season, as well!

I know he was in vaudeville with Frank Faylen because whenever we played Madison Square Garden, Frank would visit a few times each year.

Both gentlemen ask that if anyone out there has more information on Mr. Lewis (Jackie LeClaire, we're looking at you. sir) to please step forward and share it with the group!

THE AUSTINS AND JACKO FOSSETT: From Sue Lenz

Pat,

Enclosed you'll find...

A photo of Spider and Jacko Fossett taken when we were with Robert Bros Circus in 1958

One of Jacko Fossett taken on the Stage Circus in 1956

And a photo taken about 1935 of my father and his brother with Bandbox Austin & son Len (Spider)

Regards,
Sue Lenz

JOHN KRICFALUSI ON CREATING MEMORABLE CHARACTERS

Please click the title of this post to be taken to a recent blog entry by Spumco's John Kricfalusi, creator of Ren & Stimpy, and his thoughts on creating memorable and enduring characters. Everything he is saying about cartoon characters is just as applicable to clown characters...

CLOWNALLEY.NET DVD VOLUME 2 NOW AVAILABLE!

The second in the series of clownalley.net compilation DVDs is now at the plant being duplicated and I've been told will be ready to ship starting tomorrow.

To order a copy from eBay, please click here.

9/11

I'm not going to say anything about it this year.

This is the first anniversary of 9/11 where I haven't had my skin crawl all day from the memories.

I'd like to keep it that way.

CLOWN ALLEY: Mills Bros. Circus, undated

Photos courtesy of Bill Strong

It looks like Nicholai's son, Mike's brother Sacha Coco down front.

The long legs, most likely used as the blow-off to the Balloon Chase.

KEKINO: Cirque Barletti

Kekino and his trumpet.

BERNIE KALLMAN: Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., 1977

Bernie Kallman, for my money probably the single best looking non-Ringling
grotesque whiteface in the history of the American circus.

ALBY AUSTIN? Bertram Mills Circus, undated

I'm pretty certain that this is one of the Austins, can anyone confirm or deny that this is Alby?

ITALO FORNASARI: Hoxie Bros., 1971

CLOWN ALLEY: Circus Heros, 1961

STARCONIA CLOWNS: Circus Dannebrog

CLOWNS FOR CHANGE '08: kinkoforpresident.com

Clowns for change?!?

Never before has there been a presidential candidate that so desperately needed change!

AMLETO AND GINETTO: From Raffaele

Photo and comments courtesy of Raffaele de Ritis



From Raffaele...

Amleto Cagna and his son Ginetto were among the clowns of Circorama Orfei in Italy in the late '60s-early '70s.

I remember perfectly their act: they were some of the very first clowns I saw in my life.

This picture comes from the Circorama Orfei program magazine of 1971, the same year Fellini filmed them there.

Amleto, today 86, works in a café in his hometown, Parma.

BILLY McCABE: Beatty-Cole Publicity Photo, 1960s

FELIX ADLER: Ringling, undated

The "King of Clowns" pauses to tie his king-sized clown shoes.

JIMMY ARMSTRONG: Hamid-Morton, Beatty-Cole, 1959

Jimmy Armstrong prepares to perform the Army Gag on a miserably wet afternoon on the Hamid-Morton, Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus at Palisades Park, NJ in 1959.