NEW POLL

Someone had suggested an end of the year poll to test our new voting mechanism before next year's clownalley.net awards. The names to the right are in no particular order and represent the preliminary list suggested by my asking three members of the clownalley.net advisory board.

Any working clown act, anywhere in the world, is eligible for nomination; just ask and they will be added to the list.

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NEWFLASH!

I've come to find out that names can only be added until the first vote is cast, then it becomes locked. So this isn't really the solution that I was after.

I'm changing the closing time on the poll, so voting will end at midnight tonight and results will be posted immediately after.

JEFF GORDON: From Circopedia

From Circopedia...

JEFF "GORDOON" GORDON

By Dominique Jando

Jeff Gordon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1954. A former All-American Springboard Champion diver, he graduated from Clown College in 1979, and spent the following year somersaulting over elephants at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. In 1981, he joined the Big Apple Circus, where he worked on the ring crew, and also appeared as a plant in the audience for the Big Apple Circus’s trio of clowns, Carlo Pellegrini (Carlo), Michael Christensen (Mr. Stubbs), and Barry Lubin (Grandma).

Jeff’s first experience as a clown on the Ringling show had not been conclusive, but he felt much more comfortable in the intimate, one-ring European format of the Big Apple Circus. So, in 1983, he became a full-fledged member of that circus’s Clown Alley as "Gordoon," a new, and this time, definitive clown persona. Mr. Stubbs, Gordoon & Grandma would be, for the five years that followed, the iconic clown trio of the Big Apple Circus.

In 1989, in a quixotic attempt to run away from the circus and join a home, Jeff found himself on Broadway, playing The Dean in Bill Irwin’s Largely New York, a role he subsequently played on tour. He was back at the Big Apple Circus in 1991-1992, in Greetings from Coney Island, and 1992-1993, in Going Places, where he was the show’s lead character.

Then Jeff went on to perform in Asia, appeared with Bill Irwin in the Seattle Rep’s production of Molière’s Scapin, and was for several years "Le Clown Gordoon" at the French Pavillion of Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center. He then moved to San Francisco, where he was involved with the very successful Teatro ZinZanni. In 2000-2001, Gordoon was back to the Big Apple Circus, where he starred in Clown Around Town with Tom Dougherty.

Afterwards, Jeff Gordon participated in the Tianjin International Comedy Festival in China (2001), and toured with Circus Vidbel in 2004. He has since worked extensively on dates in the U.S. and in Asia. In 2007 and 2008, he was with Zany Umbrella Circus in Amman, at the Jordan’s Children Museum. He has done many Artist-in-Residencies in the Pittsburgh area, where he now lives.

SHANE CASHIN: With Santa, 12/14/08

Shane visiting with Santa (my father-in-law, Ron Williams) at the annual Breakfast with Santa at the Ocean Township Italian-American Association.


What? You got a problem with dat?

GIJON POLIDOR: Two Poses, 1938

JENNY VAN MEGGELEN: Circus Altoff

CLOWN COLLEGE: Window Sticker

I am not selling these window stickers.

I have found that there are several sites around the web where you can design your own custom window stickers, for your own use.

I designed this one, for my own use.

If other alumni would like to look around on the web for similar sites where they too could make a similar sticker for their own cars, that is their own business.

Not really a business, because they wouldn't be selling them. They would each only be ordering one; for their own use.

MARTINE BOUCHER NEWS!!!

Not exactly good news but much better news from Ian Lloyd...

Pat,

I have received news that Totoche has had the trache tube removed, is breathing well on her own, is talking, drinking and eating somewhat. She is still in ICU but her condition has been upgraded and things look very good under the circumstances. Clopin (Lise-Nathalie) may have more up to date info than I do as I have to translate the news that I get.

Ian

SONNY FOSSETT: Undated Photo

KIMTOM CLOWN FESTIVAL: "Who Pied Alex the Jester?"

Some footage of Alex, his posters around the city and taking his first pie in the face backstage at the 2008 Kimtom Festival in Shanghai.

(I don't want to spoil the surprise for you but the pie was thrown, quite masterfully, by my pal Ryan Combs)

PAUL JUNG: To Tell the Truth, 1957

Video courtesy of Dick Wheeler

SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW: Thank You!

My very sincere thanks and deeply heartfelt appreciation to my new friends Slava Polunin and the Broadway cast of Slava's Snowshow (especially Jef Johnson) for inviting me to the show last night and backstage afterwards to meet up and talk clowns and clowning.

JACKIE LE CLAIRE AND MITCH FREDDES: Sarasota Showfolks Circus, 2007

BUMPSY ANTHONY: Undated Photo

HOUSCH MA HOUSCH: Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione, December 5, 2007

Antoine au cirque d'hiver Bouglione 5 décembre 2007
Uploaded by Le_papa_d_Antoine

PIO NOCK: Tuba

The supremely talented and versatile Pio Nock

JACKO FOSSETT: Undated Portrait

EMMETT KELLY: Bertram Mills Circus, 1938-39

I recently discovered this picture, maybe my favorite of Emmett, taken at what I believe would be the Bertram Mills Circus.

That is my guess because the Cole Bros. Circus where Emmett worked in the late 1930s didn't play any indoor dates (to the best of my knowledge) other than the New York Hippodrome, and that ain't the Hippodrome.

Emmett appeared with Bertram Mills in 1938 and 39 and, I understand, would have been invited to return were it not for the war.

The Paul Jung Troupe had been invited to join the Betram Mills Circus in 1938 as well but, unfortunately, had to back out. It would have been very interesting indeed to see how European and American clowning would have developed had the continent had the opportunity to see Jung's slam-bang Bob Clampett/Tex Avery cartoon-style clowning and had this master 3-ring producing clown returned to the States flush with ideas gleaned from watching and learning from his more classical European counterparts.

ROB TORRES: X° International Circus Festival City of Latina

JAMES RAY CLARK III

JAMES RAY CLARK, III
(June 5, 1956 - December 9, 2008)

James R. Clark III, 52, of Tinton Falls, cherished husband, adored father, beloved son, and loyal friend, died peacefully in his home on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.

He was born in Norman, O.K., and has lived in both New Jersey and California. He worked with computers and video electronics for over 20 years, most recently as the Vice President of Video Visions in Philadelphia, P.A.

Jim was an avid golfer, amateur astronomer, ardent audiophile, and many more things words cannot express.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Fran (Ciurczak) Clark; son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Colleen Clark of Columbia, S.C.; mother and father, Margaret and James R. Clark, Jr., of Waldwick, N.J.; mother-in-law, Sophie Ciurczak of Tinton Falls; sister, Ann Van Hine of Greenwood Lake, N.Y.; sister and brother-in-law, Christine Clark and Arend van der Veen of Schenectady, N.Y.; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Jon Kenney of Alameda C.A.; sister-in-law, Kathryn Ciurczak of Scotch Plains, N.J.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Susan Ciurczak of Haledon, N.J.; and nieces, Megan, Emily, Isabel, and Lainey.

Visitation service were held 4-6 p.m. with a memorial service that followed, Friday, Dec. 12, at Ely Funeral Home, 3316 State Highway 33, Neptune, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties 3300 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753. Condolences may also be made online at www.elyfuneralhome.com.

"By gathering together the fallen petals,
you cannot recreate the beauty of the flower."

To those who knew Jim, no explanation is necessary...
To those who didn't, no explanation is possible.