Yuri Nikulin's (1921-1997) gravesite in Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow where he rests eternally alongside other masters of Russian comedy such as Nikolai Gogol and Nikita Khrushchev.
For more on Mr. Nikulin's life and career, please click the title of this post.
Graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College class of 1980 and a favorite of just about everyone he has ever worked with in his long career on the Ringling Blue Unit as well as the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, Mr. Huel Speight.
Zoe's father, Todd Zimmerman and former Boss Clown David Solove performing their Voodoo Gag on the Ringling Blue Unit in the late 90s.
After leaving the show Zimmerman, Solove and Thom Wheaton formed the physical comedy troupe NOT THEM! which still performs (sans Solove) an extremely funny, fast paced slapstick show at SeaWorld Orlando.
In 2007 Wheaton, Zimmerman and Jesse Dryden all took part in the "Happy Liuzhou International Clown Festival in Liuzhou, China.
Aji performing his "Raining Men" comedy juggling act at the Teatro Zinzanni Cabaret at the close of the "Royal Invitation" show.
I came up with a lot of business for a similar gag where the music wouldn't cooperate but could never find a satisfying "blow-off" to the gag so I've never performed it. It never occured to me to simply submit to the song that you hated and "thus the clown achieves his goal". My plan was to blow up the radio.
I'm pretty consistently amazed at just how well Ren & Stimpy creator John "John K." Kicfalusi's classic animation blog ALL KINDS OF STUFF perfectly articulates my feelings on classic and contemporary American circus clowning.
Click the title of this post, read a few of John's rants about Disney and Dreamworks and see if you don't find an astonishing amount of parallels to circus clowning, Ringling and Cirque.
Former Blue Unit Boss Clown Scott O'Donnell's comedy dog act replaced Sveltlana Shamsheeva during the second year of the "Circus of Dreams" tour before Scott injured his back and retired from performing.
I just heard from Scott who is recuperating nicely and has a wonderful opportunity ahead of him.
I wish him the absolute best of luck and a very speedy recovery.
Winner of the Lou Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award at our 2007 Felix Adler Awards, Barry "Grandma" Lubin performs here with former Ringling Red Unit Boss Clown Jay Stewart at a reunion of Clown College alumni in Myrtle Beach, SC over the weekend of July 23-26, 2006.
Six years ago Mr. Lubin, Tiffany Riley and Dick Monday were given the Herculean task of trying to make New York smile again in the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks. It's starting to fade now, the horrible memories and feelings during that period of extraordinarly crushing sadness, when any attempt at humor, in almost any circumstance, seemed so out of place and inappropriate.
These three rose to this unprecedented challenge with unimaginable fortitude, did what many thought could not be done and succeededed with a style and grace that forever places them very firmly at the absolute pinnacle of their profession.
Clicking the title of this post will take you to myGoodDeed.org, an organization created in 2002 as a way to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 and preserve the spirit of unity and compassion that existed in the nation following the attacks.
Join people and organizations everywhere who are pledging to keep the 9/11 spirit of unity alive by performing good deeds on 9/11 and every day throughout the year.
Behind the scenes and rehearsal footage from some of the giants of late 20th century Variety Arts during a tour in 1992 with Francis Brunn, Natahlie Enterline, Rudy Coby, Michael Moschen, Karen Carmichael and George Carl.
I've got to start making decisions about what do with myself following next year's circus season soon and, as much fun as I've had on the fair and festival circuit, I think that I'd like to spend a little bit more time at home than I have been the last few years.
So, as I have agreements with two shows that should keep me busy circus clowning from January through June (and two more trips to clown festivals in China) I think that I'd like to explore teaching opportunities within the clown and circus fan community to fill in the rest of the calendar.
To that end I am assembling 60 minute, 90 minute and 120 minute video presentations featuring some of the international circus clown footage that I've shown here, a lot that I haven't and a few suprises that I'd like to start booking for the summer and fall of 2008.
So, if your organization might be interested in this entertaining, informative, completely self-contained (I bring all the video as well as my own large screen video projection and sound equipment) presentation please contact me at cashincomedy@yahoo.com.
Laurel & Hardy in a rarely seen clip from PICK A STAR a Hal Roach film directed by Edward Sedgwick starring Patsy Kelly. The director in the scene is played by Roach Comedy All-Star and longtime L&H foil Jimmy Finlayson.
Laurel & Hardy in a btter known clip from the same film, dubbed into Italian.
