"We pride ourselves on tales of yore, it"s too bad we can't remember how many times we've told theses stories before". Well I may have told this one before, if I did,,,,here it is again. Otto had a reputation for being a tightwad, but, on the Orrin Davenport Circus,(I think it was '56), we had an overnight jump from Cleveland to Rochester, now most of the clowns traveled by bus or train so their trunks were carried in the "prop truck", for an outragious fee naturally. Otto came to me the last day & asked if I would carry his things, which turned out to be a cardboard box tied with clothes line rope, to Rochester. Now the story doesn't end there, two other clowns, who by the way were among those who talked about Otto's stingy ways, heard about it and asked if I would do the same for them, their things consisted of two foot lockers & an upright Steamer Trunk. The next day when Otto picked up his box he handed me $5.00, the other two never even said thanks.
Pat, I don't believe the term BOSS CLOWN was used during the Cole days.
The term BOSS CLOWN is strictly from the vernacular of the Feld RBBB reign.
I remember in the early 70's the term "Clown Captain" being used to identify Frosty Little, then the title became Boss Clown. The captain title being copied from the show girls' "Dance Captain".
On various non RBBB dates that I worked my early contracts listed my job description as "general clown" and the clown who supplied the gags with special wardrobe was the "producing clown".
Otto was probably billed as "featured clown" although I doubt that term was used in his contract.
Otto's trunk was featured on the stage during the fantastic gala/dinner of 20th Anniversary of Clown College. Many of us, seeing the trunk for the first time, approached the trunk with respect and awe.
Mike is correct..."boss clown" is a Feld-era title...before that it was producing clown or general clown, sometimes you may read, 'featured speciality". The clown alley of the golden age was really drescribing the dressing room. The clowns worked as individuals like Emmett or in producing clowns production ring gags (Jung). Lou had his little car, bathtub and other routines that used a regular company of little people. Otto & Freddie had the boxing routine. Paul Jung used the majority of the rest of the alley like Gene Lewis, Duane Thorpe, Harry Nelson, Chuck Burnes, Flo White, Dennis Stevens, Prince Paul etc. Coco came in the early 60's with the paint gag and levitation.
I wonder if that's his wardrobe trunk?
ReplyDelete"We pride ourselves on tales of yore, it"s too bad we can't remember how many times we've told theses stories before".
Well I may have told this one before, if I did,,,,here it is again.
Otto had a reputation for being a tightwad, but, on the Orrin Davenport Circus,(I think it was '56), we had an overnight jump from Cleveland to Rochester, now most of the clowns traveled by bus or train so their trunks were carried in the "prop truck", for an outragious fee naturally.
Otto came to me the last day & asked if I would carry his things, which turned out to be a cardboard box tied with clothes line rope, to Rochester.
Now the story doesn't end there, two other clowns, who by the way were among those who talked about Otto's stingy ways, heard about it and asked if I would do the same for them, their things consisted of two foot lockers & an upright Steamer Trunk. The next day when Otto picked up his box he handed me $5.00, the other two never even said thanks.
Pat,
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the term BOSS CLOWN was used during the Cole days.
The term BOSS CLOWN is strictly from the vernacular of the Feld RBBB reign.
I remember in the early 70's the term "Clown Captain" being used to identify Frosty Little, then the title became Boss Clown. The captain title being copied from the show girls' "Dance Captain".
On various non RBBB dates that I worked my early contracts listed my job description as "general clown" and the clown who supplied the gags with special wardrobe was the "producing clown".
Otto was probably billed as "featured clown" although I doubt that term was used in his contract.
Otto's trunk was featured on the stage during the fantastic gala/dinner of 20th Anniversary of Clown College. Many of us, seeing the trunk for the first time, approached the trunk with respect and awe.
Mike is correct..."boss clown" is a Feld-era title...before that it was producing clown or general clown, sometimes you may read, 'featured speciality". The clown alley of the golden age was really drescribing the dressing room. The clowns worked as individuals like Emmett or in producing clowns production ring gags (Jung). Lou had his little car, bathtub and other routines that used a regular company of little people. Otto & Freddie had the boxing routine. Paul Jung used the majority of the rest of the alley like Gene Lewis, Duane Thorpe, Harry Nelson, Chuck Burnes, Flo White, Dennis Stevens, Prince Paul etc. Coco came in the early 60's with the paint gag and levitation.
ReplyDelete-Greg