Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
SAM POOKA: Part One
Folks, strap on your laughing hats...
I eagerly await the treasure that is Part Two.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
LARRY HARMON'S "LIFETIME OF LAUGHTER" AWARD RE-INSTATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CLOWN HALL OF FAME
Larry Harmon, TV Icon’s Alter Ego, Honored, Again, At Wisconsin Museum
(Baraboo, WI., Sept. 27, 2010)---
Five years ago, under a different regime, the late Larry Harmon, creator of TV’s Bozo, was dropped as an honoree at the world’s only museum dedicated to buffoonery, the International Clown Hall of Fame (ICHOF), located outside of Milwaukee, Wisc.
At the time, museum management claimed that while Harmon, who passed away in 2008, popularized Bozo on TV, he didn’t invent the character and therefore didn’t warrant a special homage in the collection.
At the time of the incident, Harmon said: “Isn’t it a shame the credit that was given to me for the work I have done they arbitrarily take it down, like I didn’t do anything for the past 52 years.”
Today, a new team of advisors at the clown hall has announced that Harmon’s induction has, for good reason, been reinstated and he is now a full fledged member of its esteemed, bulbous-nosed group which includes the likes of clown stars such as Emmett Kelly and long time Ringling Circus clown ambassador Lou Jacobs.
“Larry Harmon did so much for clowning it’s hard to fully imagine his impact,” says ICHOF president Greg DeSanto. “Multiple generations and millions of people were entertained by the Bozo character he so masterfully fashioned for television.”
Adds Harmon’s widow, Susan Harmon, “Larry would be thrilled, he so loved this character and gave his life to creating a magical persona that touched so many.”This year is the 50th anniversary of the nationally acclaimed Bozo TV show, one of TV’s most enduring shows, which last aired in 2001, after a 40 year run. Two years after his death, Harmon’s memoir, “The Man Behind The Nose,” co-authored by Thomas Scott McKenzie, has landed in bookstores via It Books’ Igniter imprint (a div. of HarperCollins) (Igniter, 256 pages, $25.99).
Bozo was a product of Hollywood. Born as a children’s record clown on the fledgling Capitol Records in Hollywood, the Bozo character gravitated to TV, first with a live show on Los Angeles station KTLA. Quickly, live Bozo TV shows cropped up in Chicago, New York, Boston and 200 other markets internationally.
Many famous folks owe Harmon their major league starts.
“Muppets” creator Jim Henson and his puppets made their TV bow on Harmon’s Bozo Show in Washington DC. Carroll Spinney, who’s been delighting kids as “Big Bird,” also got his start with Harmon and Willard Scott, 76, the eternal weatherman on NBC’s “TODAY,” was a Harmon find, too, bowing on TV as Bozo in Washington, DC.Another 205 actors around the world followed Harmon in the floppy red clown shoes and created over 10,000 hours of Bozo shows.
Press Contact: DIGNEY & CO., Jerry Digney, Jerry Brown; 323 993 3000
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To clarify: Greg DeSanto is the Director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center and is President of the ICHOF's Board of Directors. The ICHOF is now located in Baraboo, WI. Larry Harmon's "Lifetime of Laughter" award has been re-instated. Mr. Harmon is not an inductee of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center.
PAUL JUNG: At Work in His Laugh Factory (Undated)
Photo courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame
Master Producing Clown Paul Jung in a rare photo at work in his Tampa "Laugh Factory".
Master Producing Clown Paul Jung in a rare photo at work in his Tampa "Laugh Factory".
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
MR. KARP STEPS OUT!
Photo by Miriam Linna
Mr. Michael Karp (CC Class of '68 and RBB&B '67-'69) in Brooklyn, NY last Friday night at Drew Friedman's book signing were he rubbed elbows with Plonsky all-stars such as Mr. Friedman, Kathy Bidus, Mark Newgarden, F-Troop star Larry Storch, The A-Bones' Billy Miller & Miriam Linna and Dictators' lead singer Handsome Dick Manitoba!
CLOWN CABARET: Tonight in DC!
Clown Cabaretthe second Monday of every month
8 pm
October 11, November 8, December 13, January 10
February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13
Fort Fringe - The Shop - 607 New York Ave NW
Tickets $10
For years now people around the world have talked about “those clowns in DC.” Well it’s time to take the title back from the politicians and return it a little dignity again. DC's monthly Clown Cabaret provides clowns from the DC area, and a few distinguished fools from elsewhere. You just have to be the audience. Show up, laugh and play along. You are half of the show.
Clown Cabaret performs the second Monday evening of each month at Fort Fringe. We will teach, show and foolishly draw from any and all aspects of clowning: Modern, classic, circus, commedia, theatrical, verbal, silent, knockabout, slapstick, lyrical and anything/everything else we can find. So for an evening of artsy-fartsy, pie-in-the-face, clowning fun, come to the Cabaret...come see what makes a real DC clown.
For more info, click here.