That's Charlie in the center. I'm not sure who is on the left but that's a young Lou Jacobs out of makeup on the right.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
CHARLIE BELL: Ringling, circa 1930s
That's Charlie in the center. I'm not sure who is on the left but that's a young Lou Jacobs out of makeup on the right.
MYSTERY CLOWN: Ringling, undated
I know that Greg DeSanto knows who this guy is but I always blank on his name. He had a really interesting auguste makeup at a time when the only augustes on the Ringling show were him, Lou Jacobs, Chesty Mortimer and Gijon Polidor.
KEITH OLBERMANN: October 30, 2008
For those four people who wrote me to say that they strongly objected to seeing links to political videos on clownalley.net: Here's something to like even less... Keith Olbermann's comments for Oct. 30, 2008.
If you don't want to hear what Mr. Olbermann has to say about John McCain's own ties to William Ayers or Rashid Khalidi, the computer works just like the TV or the radio... don't click the link.
To those four, and anyone else who dearly loves free speech but only under the condition that it aligns perfectly with their own political point of view... we'll miss you. We really will.
For the rest of us, this will all be over, one way or another and for better or worse, on Tuesday.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
CLOWN COLLEGE: Memories of 1985
Photos by Barry Phillips
KULIKI TAKA, INDEED.
Lou Jacobs addresses the class of '85...
...and "wows" them with his Jackie Mason impersonation.
(In all the time it took to elaborately paint that prop no one thought to check the correct spelling of the word "accurate"?)
Lou and Circus Sarasota's Robin Eurich
Two "Master Clowns" discuss their art
An important moment for the class of '85: Frosty Little gathers the
students outside the arena to explain the birds and the bees:
"Well kids, it's like this... sometimes when a Mommy Clown and a Daddy Clown love each other very much..."
Budgets were tight that summer, George Shellenberger and Frosty Little had to
take part-time jobs as school crossing guards in the early morning hours to bring
in a little extra cash for the program.
Another important moment: "Greg DeSanto Discovers Soap"!
Have you ever seen someone so happy? So totally, malevolently happy?
Mike Hinman seems sheepish and uncomfortable to be in the
presence of DeSanto in his full blown Berserker Rage.
KULIKI TAKA, INDEED.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
EMMETT KELLY: Dodger Mascot
Los Angeles Times file photo
Emmett Kelly, right, in an undated photo, with a mystery guest. The picture was apparently a publicity photo for the Jan. 21, 1962, television program "Project 20," which featured the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.
By Keith Thursby
Times Staff Writer
It was an unlikely sports story—a clown announcing the end of his connection with the Dodgers.
Emmett Kelly said the Dodgers had failed to renew his contract for the 1958 season. Kelly, a longtime performer with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, was no mere clown act. He had performed on Broadway and in movies and had taken off the 1956 season to serve as the Dodgers’ mascot in Brooklyn. (You can still find Dodger pennants from that era with Kelly’s portrait.)
The Associated Press story noted that Kelly’s "glum face had been a source of laughter to millions of children."
Photograph by Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times
Emmett Kelly cleans his plate--in this case home plate--during a Dodgers-Braves game on April 15, 1962, for Senior Citizens Day at Dodger Stadium.
He blamed the Dodgers’ selection of the Coliseum for the decision. He said the team’s first home in Los Angeles was "too big for one clown."
The story said Kelly was returning to his first love, the circus. He died in 1979.
Photograph by Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times
Emmett Kelly jokes with an umpire at Wrigley Field in a photo published June 30, 1957.
Los Angeles Times file photo
Emmett Kelly, possibly in Vero Beach, Fla., in a photo dated June 27, 1957.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, circa 1930s
CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP: Gijon Polidor, Tad Tosky, Paul "Chesty" Mortimer, Felix Adler, Billie Demiro, Lou Jacobs.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: BBC's "STAN"
Based on Neil Brand's critically acclaimed radio play of the same name, the drama follows Stan Laurel's last visit to his dying friend and comedy partner Oliver 'Babe' Hardy and Stan's subsequent coming to terms with the ghosts of his past. Written by Garrett Fallah...
Saturday, October 25, 2008
SHANE CASHIN: 1st Whiteface Makeup, October 25, 2008
Shane made good use of his new wig today, heading to the Chiller Theater convention in Parsippany, NJ to meet some of his TV pals...
With a clown nose and his new wig, a little siller and a little more like Daddy used to do it.
With Daddy's childhood hero, Frank Avruch. Mr. Avruch played Bozo the Clown on WHDH-TV in Boston and his show was syndicated nationally. He was the Bozo that I saw on WPIX-TV out of New York growing up and the reason for my childhood interest in clowns and circus.
Those same shows recently became available on DVD, giving Shane an opportunity to see Daddy's first clowning inspiration.
Mr. Avruch was delighted that Shane was as familiar with the show as he was. We asked him about how Bozo selected his "Butch For a Day". After a little coaxing from Daddy, Mr. Avruch closed his eyes real tight, went into his magic Bozo trance, spun around and pointed to Shane. On cue Daddy produced a bag with a red tail coat, a marching band hat and a Bozo doll... exactly what "Butch For a Day" got on the TV show!
Shane also got to meet Carroll Spinney, who played characters such as Mr. Lion, Kooky Kangaroo and Grandma Nellie on the WHDH Bozo show but he is much better known for the job he took after that. For the last 40 years he has played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street!
Mr. Spinney so enjoyed Shane's "Butch For a Day" bit that he took out a pad of paper and reprised one of Mr. Lion's old chalk-talk tricks from his Bozo days He wrote Shane's name on a piece of paper and turned it into a sketch of Shane's dog Honeybear!
Terri Runnels is a former WCW and WWE professional wrestling manager, and TV host. She was extremely sweet and left her own table to run over to get her picture taken with Shane while he was in line to meet Carroll Spinney.
Later she autographed a photo for him that will be added to his growing "Shane Wall of Fame".
And then we came home to tell Mommo all about and and make some pizzas!
Shane wearing Daddy's old Ringling whiteface makeup but with a pained on nose,
making him look like a little Frosty Little.
making him look like a little Frosty Little.
With a clown nose and his new wig, a little siller and a little more like Daddy used to do it.
With Daddy's childhood hero, Frank Avruch. Mr. Avruch played Bozo the Clown on WHDH-TV in Boston and his show was syndicated nationally. He was the Bozo that I saw on WPIX-TV out of New York growing up and the reason for my childhood interest in clowns and circus.Those same shows recently became available on DVD, giving Shane an opportunity to see Daddy's first clowning inspiration.
Mr. Avruch was delighted that Shane was as familiar with the show as he was. We asked him about how Bozo selected his "Butch For a Day". After a little coaxing from Daddy, Mr. Avruch closed his eyes real tight, went into his magic Bozo trance, spun around and pointed to Shane. On cue Daddy produced a bag with a red tail coat, a marching band hat and a Bozo doll... exactly what "Butch For a Day" got on the TV show!
Shane also got to meet Carroll Spinney, who played characters such as Mr. Lion, Kooky Kangaroo and Grandma Nellie on the WHDH Bozo show but he is much better known for the job he took after that. For the last 40 years he has played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street!Mr. Spinney so enjoyed Shane's "Butch For a Day" bit that he took out a pad of paper and reprised one of Mr. Lion's old chalk-talk tricks from his Bozo days He wrote Shane's name on a piece of paper and turned it into a sketch of Shane's dog Honeybear!
Terri Runnels is a former WCW and WWE professional wrestling manager, and TV host. She was extremely sweet and left her own table to run over to get her picture taken with Shane while he was in line to meet Carroll Spinney.
Later she autographed a photo for him that will be added to his growing "Shane Wall of Fame".
And then we came home to tell Mommo all about and and make some pizzas!Friday, October 24, 2008
SHANE CASHIN: His First Yak Wig!
Shane was surprised when he got off the bus today to find that there was a package in the mail for him from Trick and Tara Kelly. he opened it and his jaw hit the floor when he saw that it was a real, honest-to-goodness yak clown wig just for him!
I have to admit, my jaw hit the floor too! What a thoughtful and generous gift!
It came with the following note...
Hi Shane,
We saw the video of you and your Dad in the parade. You were awesome! We thought you would like to have a new yak wig to go along with your cool outfit and makeup. Best of luck with your clowning career!
Bump a nose,
Tara and Trick Kelly
Thank you guys! Tomorrow there will be pictures to show just how much this great gift is appreciated.
BILLY VAUGHN: Balloon Come-In, Garden Bros. Circus
A little bit Blinko and Maran, a little bit Dime and Connie Wilson... Billy Vaughn shows that he knows his history and learned from the best doing come-in on the Garden Bros. Circus.
THE CIRCUS REALLY BEGINS ON MONDAY!
Feld Entertainment has (in a very smart move) set up a website making it easier for folks to follow the trial, which begins on Monday.
Grab a seat and a bag of popcorn! This should be good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)