Frankie and the Prince

Frankie Saluto and Prince Paul Alpert from Ringling in the late 60s.

BILLY SMART'S CIRCUS: Boxing Gag

I'm not sure who the clown is but I've seen the gag before. I've seen it done at Cirque de lar Mer in Sea World Orlando (with the same music) and I know Don Christensen has been doing something similar to it around Europe. For lack of a better title let's call it "The Audience Participation Boxing Gag".

It has less in common with the classic Chesty Mortimer/Otto Griebling/Freddie Freeman-style Boxing Gag (or the Boxing Machine that the Llatas did) than it does with David Shiner, Rene Bazinet and David Larible but it seems to be rapidly becoming one of the "contemporary standards"; a gag in several people's repetior.

DAVID SHINER: Nouvelle Experience

David Shiner performing in Cirque du Soleil's NOUVELLE EXPERIENCE in a segment that is not included in the home video release.

Mr. Shiner is currently directing le Cirque's latest production, CIRQUE 2007.

Abbott & COSTELLO: More Busy Bee

There is a video on YouTube of Abbott & Costello performing the Busy Bee (called "The Sons of Neptune") with the great Shemp Howard from their 1941 film IN THE NAVY that I'd like to repost for everyone here but the person who posted it has disabled imbedding so you'll have to go over to YouTube to see it.

1) Go to youtube.com

2) search for "ABBOTT", "COSTELLO" and "SONS OF NEPTUNE".

3) Enjoy!

ABBOTT & COSTELLO: The Busy Bee

William (Bud) Abbott (born 10/02/1897 in Asbury Park, NJ) and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo on 03/06/06 in Paterson, NJ) performing The Busy Bee (called "Buzzin' the Bee" here) with co-star Sid Fields during the 1952 season of THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW.

CIRCUS RONCALLI: The Busy Bee

Whiteface Francesco Caroli along with Augustes Zippo (Bernhard Paul) and Angelo (Angelo Munoz) perform the Busy Bee (also known as "The Honeybee") entree at Circus Roncalli, taken from a German television special.

Gianny "Fumagalli" Huesca learned the routine from these three, so it's probably a pretty good indicator of how he'll present it if he does it on the Big Apple Circus here next season.

THE POMPOFF THEDY FAMILY: For the Blue Unit Clowns

I had a wonderful time Saturday night visiting with Scott, Steve and the clowns of the 2nd year of the current Ringling Blue Unit tour.

The Blue show is what the Blue show is. It's not my cup of tea, but there is a whole lot of talent in the Alley right now and they are trying their best against a lot of very high "concepts" that don't exactly showcase them (or anyone else) in the best possible light.

That said, some members of the Alley were asking to see some more of the Pompoff Thedys. I have some great footage from the Ed Sullivan Show but Sofa Entertainment has requested that I not post any more Sullivan clips.

This clip, from a 1970s Danish TV special (the same one that gave us previous clips of Joe Jackson Jr. and Charlie Rivel) features red clowns Pepe (as the short, Harpo Marx-like Auguste) and Sandro (as the 2nd, or "Contre" Auguste) with Pablo in the role of the White.

Kinko

Always a welcome addition to The Alley...Mr. Glen "Kinko" Sunberry.