EKATERINENBURG CLOWN FESTIVAL: April 15, 2007

Photos an comments courtesy of Raffaele de Ritis


The finale at Ekaterinenburg clown festival (Russia) on the evening of April 15:

Anatoli Marchevsky (in the center) surrounded by David Larible, the Taquin brothers, Monti and co., Pipo Sosman, Mik and Mak and others.

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Blue Unit, 1974

Photo courtesy of Billy Vaughn


RBB&B Blue Unit TV special in 1974 with Flip Wilson, Earl Chaney, Kevin Bickford, Billy Vaughn, Don Debelli and Ed Smith.

CLOWN ALLEY: Barry Lubin and Mitch Freddes, 1977

Photo by Thomas C. Fitzgerald


Barry Lubin and Mitch Freddes on the Ringling Red Unit in the Winter/Spring of 1977.

I know that Mark Gindick bears a very strong resemblance to Mr. Lubin (that's how he got the job as Grandma) but this photo really looks, at least to me, like it could be a picture of Mark from Clown College '97.

Tomorrow I hope to be able to share more extraordinary photos from this period from the collection of Bill Payne.

CLOWN COLLEGE REUNION, 1987: Two Views

Photos courtesy of Billy Vaughn and Robin Shaw-Bickford


First this photo from Robin Shaw of Billy Vaughn, Kevin Bickford, LeVoie Hipps, Joe Banker, Harold Brittingham, and in front, Joe Gieb



I was floored the other day when, from Billy Vaughn comes this photo which must have been taken just a few seconds before or after Robin's of George Draughon, Billy Vaughn, Robin Shaw, Kevin Bickford, LeVoie Hipps, Joe Banker and Joe Gibb.

Anyone out there interested in more photos from the CC reunion in '87 as we lead up to 2008's big "Hulabaloo in Baraboo"?

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Red Unit, 1975

Photo courtesy of Jonathan "Mitch" Freddes


What a great time this must have been... and it wouldn't be like this for very much longer. Look at that mix of older veteran clowns and talented young up-and-comers. What an education that generation of clowns got!

From Mitch...

Pat here is a list of the clowns in the picture.Names with * are from my CC class,


Bottom row L to R :
Bobby Kay
Lou Jacobs

2nd row:
* Mike King
Mike Padilla
Dougie Ashton
Jimmy Briscoe
Serf Rocha

3rd row:
John McHugh
Leonard Wolen
Peggy Williams
Kockmanski
* Tim Doody
Anthony Chicino
Frosty Little
Duane Thorpe

4th row:
Vince Monzo
* George Koury
Mark Buthman
Jim Tinsman

5th row:
* Mark Stolenzberg
* Mitch Freddes
* Barry Lubin
* Ruth Chaddock
* Dale Longmire
* Bruce Gutilla
* Kathy Herb
Richard Mann
Ron Jarvis
* Steve Laporte


Note the tie that Lou Jacobs is wearing.

I own that tie.

I found it on eBay for $7.00, from the collection of an old circus fan in Pennsylvania. I was fairly certain that it must have been one of Lou's from the description and eBay photo but was almost positive when it arrived. Then Mitch sent this photo which confirmed it.

Best eBay deal EVAR!

GIOVANNI ZOPPE: Nino's Bounding Rope

He's no Walter Galetti yet, but he's certainly on his way ; )

JONATHAN "MITCH" FREDDES: Ringling 1977

Photo by Thomas C. Fitzgerald


I had the chance to speak with Mitch yesterday morning and had a great conversation where he brought up Gunther Gebel Williams' right-hand man, Ben Seid.

I've been told that there is a wealth of really great Ben Seid stories out there waiting to be told!

C'mon guys, let's hear 'em!!!

DANISE PAYNE: From Robin Shaw

Photos courtesy of Robin Shaw-Bickford




The radiant smile of Ms. Danise Payne, formerly with Ringling, UniverSoul and the LA Circus.

CLOWN ALLEY: Shrine Circus, Wichita, KS, May 1978

Photo and comments courtesy of Billy Vaughn


This is from a Paul Kaye show in Wichita, KS in 1978.

The clowns are Ken Miller, Flower, Ed Ball, & Billy Vaughn.

CLOWN ALLEY: Shrine Circus, Madison, WI, 1978

Photo and comments courtesy of Billy Vaughn


This is from a program of Bill Kay show in Madison WI, 1978.

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling in Dayton, OH, 1947

That's Charlie Bell on the right but I'm not sure who he's standing with.



Professor Paul Wenzel



Not sure





Charlie Bell in the foreground with Paul Wenzel in the background on the left

BAMBOUK OPENS TODAY IN NYC!!!

Bambouk brings their Vaudeville-inspired silent comedy to NY for a limited run from April 16-27.

Bambouk is the creation of two American theatre clowns, Matthew Duncan and Brian Foley. Matthew and Brian juggle plates, flip hats, ride a sixfoot unicycle, play the accordion, ukulele and musical saw, even make an audience member float in mid-air! They wear no makeup, just red noses and tuxedos.

BAMBOUK has opened for the Drifters, the Platters and Charo, and shared the stage with award-winning circus artists from the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil. Together and individually they have been the featured physical comedians in stage productions, ice shows, cruise ships and theme
parks since 1990. BAMBOUK has been seen multiple times in China, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and throughout the contintental U.S.

BAMBOUK Bald Comedy. In Tails.
WHEN: Opens April 16 - April 27, 2008
WHERE: American Theatre of Actors located at 314 West 54th Street, 2nd Floor
SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm; Sunday 2pm and 7pm
PRICE: Tickets are $30 for Adults, $20 for Children aged 8 to 13

OTHER NOTES: Not suitable for children under 8. Recommended for Adults.
Call SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com
Running time is 1 hour, 45 minutes with one intermission

For more information please click here.

CLOWN ALLEY: From Billy Vaughn

Photo courtesy of Billy Vaughn


This is the Castle Show alley 1980.

A few corrections:

Mr. Castle's first name was "Hubert", not "Herbert".

Bill Ballantine's son Toby's last name is "Ballantine", not "Valentine".


I'm fairly certain that the reporter is correct about it being Wichita.

CLOWN ALLEY: Clown Band, Shrine Circus , 1962 (?)

Photo and comments courtesy of Tom Holbrook




Pat,

I saw that you posted the photo I own that Arte found on-line & emailed you through your blog some info on this image.


Here is another image of the Sherman Brothers in the Shrine Circus Clown Band, I believe from the 1962 or so. Maybe someone can help us with the show.

clownalley.net is getting bigger. Glad to be of help.

Hope you too can be of help to my research on the Sherman Brothers.
I am in need of ANY and ALL info, photos, programs, articles, stories,...
Tom Holbrook



Anyone out there have any scans of photos or articles on Chester and Joe that I can pass along to Tom to help him with his research?


As for this picture, I think that it's...


TOP ROW: Chester Sherman, unsure, Jimmy Davidson, Al Ross, Charlie Lewis, Al Ackerman (?), unsure and Joe Sherman

BOTTOM ROW: Bob-lo (?), Happy Kellams, Carl Marx and Dick "Rocko" Lewis


If this is a photo from 1962 it has got to be extremely late is Dick Lewis' career.

GENE RANDOW AND HAROLD SIMMONS

Gene Randow



Harold and Gene

REX "COUNT DE BOXCAR" YOUNG: Autographed Photo

MYSTERY CLOWN: Hoxie Bros. Circus, 1976

GLEN HEROY: Parade Magazine

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Burns


Glen Heroy!

$28,000 as a full-time hospital clown???

See me after class.

OTTO GRIEBLING: Peru Republican, April 20, 1951

Diamond Ring for Otto Griebling

BEQUEST OF DENVER, COLO. LAWYER TO SAD FACED CLOWN
From Peru Republican, April 20, 1951. Hobby Bandwagon, Vol. 6, No. 5 (June), 1951, p. 7.

Sitting upon the floor and knitting a sweater the famous Peru clown Otto Griebling with Ringling Circus now in New York City was found recently by Sidney Fields, who writes under the heading "Only Human" in the New York Daily Mirror, as follows:

Otto Griebling: A Grin Out of Any Grouch

Ten years ago a rabid circus fan died in Denver, and his lawyer spent the next three months hunting for a little clown. The lawyer finally caught up with the clown in Rochester, Ind., and showed him a portion of the will, which read:

"Because no one has ever made me laugh like the sad little tramp, Otto Griebling, I bequeath him my diamond ring valued at $500."

Over at the Garden the other day Otto sadly showed me the ring. This is his first year with the Ringling Circus. He's a round little man of 52 with woeful eyes, who has been in circuses for 38 years, and a clown for 31. Even experts like Emmett Kelly consider Otto a master at the serious art of clowning; and they will watch him to learn.

During his early days Otto was a trapeze man for five years, when they worked without nets. One day he fell 18 feet, and broke his leg. They said: "You're no good to us anymore," and gave him $5 and left him lying on the empty lot, crying. Four weeks later Otto was well enough to join another circus.

"Selling candy," he says. "But I was fired in five days. I happened to overcharge a lady. There's 5,000 people in the tent and I overcharge this lady. She happens to be the boss' wife."

And back in the early days he worked with Tom Mix who shot Otto in the leg during one performance. They were great friends - Tom was best man at Otto's wedding.

Unclamping The Iron Jaw

Otto has three children and two grandchildren. After he and his first wife, an "Iron Jaw" who hangs from the circus top by her teeth, were divorced three years ago, Otto married a St. Louis real estate woman.

Another friend of Otto's was Jack Dempsey. They worked together when Dempsey and Carpentier were doing exhibition bouts for the circus.

"When we went fishing once," Otto says, "I pushed Dempsey off a bridge into the water. He got mad, so I got scared and run like crazy."

Otto arrived here from Germany by way of Yokohama. His mother come here alone after his father died. His brother, Emil, now a Wall Street man, worked his way over on a boat, and his mother thought Otto could do the some thing.

"I go to Bremerhaven and get a cabin boy job. Three days out to sea I ask the other boys when we dock at Hoboken. They tell me, we're out. We're going to Yokohama. So I have to go back to Bremerhaven. But this time I take the right boat."

His mother was about to make a tailor out of him, but Otto read an ad calling for an apprentice bare-back rider. He ran off and joined the circus. His boss whipped him every day, as part of the regular instruction. One day the boss sent Otto out with a five dollar bill to get one loaf of bread and one bottle of milk. Otto had never seen that much money before. He took off, and spent the next two years logging and farming in Wisconsin. Then he read an ad in the paper about the some circus he left.

Delayed Errand

Otto went back. Before he saw the boss he bought two bottles of milk and two loaves of bread and brought them in with the right change of the late five dollars.

"He counts it very carefully and says: 'Now get to work.' He was strict, but he knocks it into me. He taught me everything, dancing, bare back riding, pantomine, juggling, the trapeze."

He never taught Otto how to be a clown. In fact, he told Otto: "Whatever you do, don't try to be funny. It's not in you." Otto says that settled it because the boss was always wrong. When Otto wanted to be right, he'd always ask the boss what to do and then do the exact opposite. So he become a clown, the unsmilingest clown in the world.

But with his studied sadness he makes a grin out of any grouch. He sits and knits in the ring, or gets his finger caught in a bottle, and manages to trip and kick himself in the mouth.

There's an apocryphal story about Otto, which he will not deny. One day his friends sent him to a psychoanalyst to find out why Otto never smiled. The analyst said:

"I know the cure. You go to the circus and see this clown, Otto Griebling. He'll make you laugh."

"Pardon me, Doctor, said Otto. "I'm Otto Griebling." The analyst sighed sadly and said: "Well, then there's nothing I can do for you."

BAMBOUK OPENS TOMORROW IN NYC!!!

Bambouk brings their Vaudeville-inspired silent comedy to NY for a limited run from April 16-27.

Bambouk is the creation of two American theatre clowns, Matthew Duncan and Brian Foley. Matthew and Brian juggle plates, flip hats, ride a sixfoot unicycle, play the accordion, ukulele and musical saw, even make an audience member float in mid-air! They wear no makeup, just red noses and tuxedos.

BAMBOUK has opened for the Drifters, the Platters and Charo, and shared the stage with award-winning circus artists from the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil. Together and individually they have been the featured physical comedians in stage productions, ice shows, cruise ships and theme
parks since 1990. BAMBOUK has been seen multiple times in China, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and throughout the contintental U.S.

BAMBOUK Bald Comedy. In Tails.
WHEN: Opens April 16 - April 27, 2008
WHERE: American Theatre of Actors located at 314 West 54th Street, 2nd Floor
SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm; Sunday 2pm and 7pm
PRICE: Tickets are $30 for Adults, $20 for Children aged 8 to 13

OTHER NOTES: Not suitable for children under 8. Recommended for Adults.
Call SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com
Running time is 1 hour, 45 minutes with one intermission

For more information please click here.

CLOWN ALLEY: Paul Kaye in Hawaii, 1979

Photo and comments courtesy of Billy Vaughn


This is Chris Bricker, "Blinko" (Ernie Burch), Billy Vaughn, Ken Miller, & Abe Goldstein on the Paul Kaye show in Hawaii 1979.

EDDIE DULLAM: From Bill Strong

Photo courtesy of Bill Strong



To visit Bill's excellent circus history blog, YESTERDAY'S TOWNS< please click the title of this post.

FELIX ADLER: With Arthur MacArthur

A few odd things about this photo...

1) I didn't think that Felix had changed the way that he did his eyebrows until later than 1951. They are a high arch by the mid 1950s and not the dots that they had been in the 30s and 40s.

2) The caption doesn't mention Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey or John Ringling North anywhere. Instead they use the phrase "The Circus at Madison Square Garden", which everyone knew was Ringling. This just seemed to be taken for granted until the Feld era.

3) Who names their son "Arthur MacArthur"? Really?!? Truman should have fired him just for that alone.

RON "BOO BOO" YARBOROUGH: 2008 Hejaz Shrine Circus

Photos and comments courtesy of Ron Yarborough



Boo Boo with some of the other Hejaz Shrine Circus performers; Shane Hansen is at the far right.



Boo Boo getting ready for the Washer Woman gag.



Boo Boo and Giovanni "Nino" Zoppe.





Hi Pat,

Once again you were missed at the annual Shrine Circus in the Greenville, S.C. area. I told Jim Hamid that we had to have you back next year, so save those dates!

Enclosed is a picture of me and Giovanni "Nino" Zoppe. He did an excellent job and the crowds loved him. I consider myself very fortunate to work with legends such as Giovanni, a 2003 International Clown Hall of Fame inductee, and what a nice guy. I know one day you will be on that list too. By the way he said to say "hi" and he missed you not being in the show with us too.

We had packed houses at all 14 shows, a great circus and fun crowds. H

Highlights of the show were, of course, Nino, Shane and Alecia Hansen and the Jacob- Barretta elephants. I can’t wait till the show comes back next year!

Take care and talk to you soon, your clown pal,

Ron "Boo Boo" Yarborough

BAMBOUK OPENS IN NYC APRIL 16TH!!!

Bambouk brings their Vaudeville-inspired silent comedy to NY for a limited run from April 16-27.

Bambouk is the creation of two American theatre clowns, Matthew Duncan and Brian Foley. Matthew and Brian juggle plates, flip hats, ride a sixfoot unicycle, play the accordion, ukulele and musical saw, even make an audience member float in mid-air! They wear no makeup, just red noses and tuxedos.

BAMBOUK has opened for the Drifters, the Platters and Charo, and shared the stage with award-winning circus artists from the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil. Together and individually they have been the featured physical comedians in stage productions, ice shows, cruise ships and theme
parks since 1990. BAMBOUK has been seen multiple times in China, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and throughout the contintental U.S.

BAMBOUK Bald Comedy. In Tails.
WHEN: Opens April 16 - April 27, 2008
WHERE: American Theatre of Actors located at 314 West 54th Street, 2nd Floor
SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm; Sunday 2pm and 7pm
PRICE: Tickets are $30 for Adults, $20 for Children aged 8 to 13

OTHER NOTES: Not suitable for children under 8. Recommended for Adults.
Call SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com
Running time is 1 hour, 45 minutes with one intermission

For more information please click here.

JOE AND CHESTER SHERMAN: From Arte Bausman

Photo and comments courtesy of Arte Bausman



Pat,

Browsing the site, I noticed that Bill Strong had sent a photo of an unidentified clown. That clown is Tom Sink, from Ohio.

Also, thanks for continuing to post info about Joe and the Sherman Brothers. I've attached a photo I found on another site. If I could remember where I found it, you could credit that site.

Regards;
Arte Bausman


************************************************************
THIS JUST IN!!!

This just in from Tommy Holbrook...

I have this image it was posted on Mike Charrick's site and he was kind enough to send the original to me for my research project on The Sherman Brothers. He worked with Joe & Chester on the Polack show in the 1970's the photo is from 1972.

Tom Holbrook "The Bozologist"

LAWRENCE "DUKEY" ANDERSON : From Bill Strong

Photos and comments courtesy of Bill Strong



Here are some new arrivals at "The Dime's Store", in one photo Dukey appears to be counting the fingers on his right hand.

For the unknowing, Dukey lost part of his left hand to an M-80 that went off before he could get rid of it. I trouped with Dukey on the Davenport Circus in the '50's. What a great guy.

To visit Bill Strong's eBay store, Gibstown Circus Dime's Store, please click the title of this post.

CLOWN ALLEY: From Billy Vaughn

Photos courtesy of Billy Vaughn


Scott O'Donnell and Billy on Circus Royale, 2002


Billy with Mike Snyder and Scott O'Donnell on Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus, 2000.

WHEN BAD MOUSTACHES HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE...

Few people remember way back when Casey Cainin worked elephants for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass ; )

MARK ANTHONY'S DOG, BINGO: From Robin Shaw

Photo and comments courtesy of Robin Shaw-Bickford


Mark sent this from somewhere on the road to us in 1983. He was on his way out to California to work.

His dog Bingo and he were always together. Mark would always share half of his food with his dog, no matter where he was, and what the food was, Bingo always received a little snack. Mark used to carry tons of food for Bingo wrapped in a napkin in his pocket wherever he went. Bingo was a slobbering, wonderful dog.

When asked about the life-sized Bumpsy Anthony statue that Bingo was standing next to in the photo...

He was best friends with Mark, and had been a clown for his whole life, including Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey, and a whole lot of other shows.

Bumpsy passed away in Florida on a beach some time ago in his trailer with his loving wife by his side.

Mark talked about him all the time, and the gag of pulling a length of rope around the arena which he did in a very funny way. He had a very long, stretched out looking neck and often times looked like a turtle. He was given his name "Bumpsy", from other clowns in Clown Alley, because he was always bumping into things and people, and walked with a bumpity kind of style.

A talented man, Bumpsy was one of Mark's very favorite clowns.

CLOWN ALLEY: Joe Sherman and Billy Vaughn, 1979

Scan courtesy of Billy Vaughn


From the archives of the one and only, Mr. Billy Vaughn.

JERRY JAY: Jerry and Dagmar

Photo courtesy of Jerry Jay


Why would anyone put up with the rigors of mud show clowning, you might ask ask?

Well, because sometimes you get to stand next to the lovely Dagmar.

And that's more than reason enough.

RUMPY: Garden Bros., Circa 1984

Photo courtesy of Yasmin Rodriguez Rivera


Roger "Rumpy" Prystanski with a young Yasmin Rodriguez Rivera on the Garden Bros. Circus.

CIRCUS PRICE: From Raffaele de Ritis

Photos and comments courtey of Raffaele de Ritis


The Pompoff-Thedys



The Chickys



The Barios



Here are few lobby cards, from the Madrid's circus Price of the late 60s, for your blog. I got the pictures from Ramon Bech, the collector that owns them.


Raffaele