From Le Grand Chapiteau: In 2004, with subversive, crazy audience participation numbers, Toto (Guillermo Castineiras) and Voki (Voki Kalfayan) brought a contemporary North American vision of clowning to the show by bringing some of David Shiner's best acts. In the "Film Scene" (as seen in Nouvelle Experience) Voki plays an embittered film director who tries to guide four audience members through a few routines for a shocking scene in his film. The dictatorial director grows increasingly frustrated with his actors’ abilities (or inabilities), and hence the comedy. Another is the re-introduction into what has become a crowd-favorite in "The Car", in which Toto selects a female audience member to go on a drive-date with. {NOTE: Sometimes it's just Voki, sometimes it's just Toto; In 2006, Voki left and and others have played opposite Toto, such as: Ambrose Martos (2006), Eric Davis (2007-2008), and Fabio Esposito (2010) amongst others.}
A couple more program scans from the collection of Ralph Pierce. In the first you can see a white faced Tom Sink, better known as "Popcorn", who performed on mud shows for many years. I know him best from his stint on Kelly Miller. Also a photo of Buck Nolan, long time Clyde Beatty clown, sporting a makeup that's new to me.
The second page.....that's anybody's guess. I'm guessing the pair in the upper left corner are Roberto & Eleazar....just rolls off the tongue.
Any info on any of those clowns (or the show they're on) would be most appreciated!
Additional info from Dan McCallum and Greg DeSanto: Also pictured in the first photo are Walt and Millie Stimax, who in addition to being clowns had a chimp act.
The first photo is most likely from a Hoxie Bros. program.
Andrey Jigalov was born on April 21, 1966 in Chelyabinsk. He grew up on the CHP. From an early age he was engaged in music. At the age of 13 he composed his first song and since then, according to him, he has not parted with the guitar. "The courts still remember my "concerts,"" he said.
After graduating from the eighth grade of school, he studied at the Chelyabinsk Vocational School, having received a specialty of welder. Then he worked at the Chelyabinsk tractor factory.
In 1984-1986 he served in the Soviet Army and served in Shuya. In 1987 he entered the GUCEI (State School of Circus and Variety Art by M. Rumyantsev (Pencil).
He became widely known in 1990, when he played the main role - Kolya - in the tragicomedy of Nikolai Dostal "Cloud-paradise". Thinking of the film "Cloud-paradise", Nikolai Dostal was looking for an actor similar to Yuri Nikulin in his youth. The candidacy of Andrei Jigalov was prompted by actress Alla Kluka.
In the plot of the film loitering in the yard from idleness Kohl annoys neighbors with stupid conversations. Not finding interlocutors on the street, he goes to his friend Feda. Meet him tired and indifferent. Wanting to attract attention, Kolya says that he is supposedly going to go to a friend - the Far East. This decision finds universal support, Kolya becomes a local hero, all the neighbors participate in his gatherings and wires. Under the dictation of Fedi he writes a statement of dismissal, Valya collects his suitcase, enterprising neighbors buy his furniture. For the decision to leave boring monotonous life Kolya gets respect and even good envy of friends. And when he says that the story of leaving - just a fiction, no one believes him. Kolya is put on the bus, and he leaves his hometown and the people who became his closest for that day.
According to a survey of film critics and journalists, "Cloud-Paradise" was recognized as the best film of the year, the role of Andrey Jigalov - the best male role.
For his work in this film, he received the Prize "For breaking the barrier between films for the chosen and cinema for all" at the first film festival "Kinotavr" in 1991. In 1992 he was awarded the Golden Aries Prize. He was also awarded the "Silver Leopard" - a special grand prize of the jury and the second prize of the city of Locarno, the prize of the ecumenical jury, the prize of the youth jury, the prize of the International Confederation of Experimental Cinema in Locarno. He also won the Grand Prix II MFEC (France) and the Special Jury Prize for the Cast of the Young Actors Film Festival in Geneva. Andrey Jigalov in the film "Cloud-paradise"
In the 1990s he played in several more films - "Body," "The Hermit," "Education of Cruelty in Women and Dogs," "It's Not Serious" and others. He worked as a clown with Eduard Alekseenko at the Center of The Eccentrics of Alexander Jerome. In 1992 he was awarded a gold medal at the prestigious circus festival "Circus of Tomorrow" in Paris.
In 1993 he left under a circus contract for Germany, where he settled. With his variety-circus "Jigalov-show" performed in the best circuses in Europe. Recognized as one of the best clowns in the world. He received almost all the highest awards in the field of circus arts, including the "Chaplin Cup" at the international competition in Canada. In 2003 he received the highest award of the circus world - "Silver Clown" at the circus festival in Monte Carlo from the hands of Princess Stephanie.
In 2005, he starred with Nikolai Dostal in the sequel to the film "Cloud-Paradise" - the picture "Kola-roll the field". This is a new story about the same heroes. Once accidentally thrown in front of witnesses phrase forced Kolya to leave his house and her girlfriend. Overcoming the seas and oceans, Kolya returns to his hometown, unaware of the changes that occurred in his absence. For fellow countrymen such a surprise - a complete surprise, splashed out a storm of emotions and escalated into panic, because the arrival of Kohli - the real threat of their measured life. Like ten years ago, Kolya invents a story that turns everything upside down. At the 2005 Window to Europe Film Festival, the film "The Rolling Field" was awarded the Special Jury Prize "Golden Rook". Andrey Jigalov in the film "Kola-roll-up field"
In 2007, jigalov starred in the joint production of Kazakhstan, Germany, Russia and France "Songs of the Southern Seas." In 2011 he played the role of Vasi Skvortsov in the crime series "Comrades Cops". In 2016, he shot a video "Ranetki" about a Chelyabinsk guy. The text was composed by Yuri Kosintsev, his colleague by profession and countryman.
Andrey Jigalov lives in Berlin,Germany, and continues to work as a clown. His performance of La Clown on the German NETWORK's GOP variety show for 15 years has been the leader in the number of viewers who have visited it. He performs with the Jigalov and Friends Show in well-known circuses and variety shows - Roncalli, Knie, variete Wintergarten, etc.
Mike Snider backstage after performing the mouth chase on Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus in the 1990s.
The mouth chase was first performed by Steve LaPorte and Teri Dryden on Ringling in the 1970s. Since then it has been performed again several times on the Ringling show, Vidbel, Shrine dates, Kelly Miller Circus, and even (for a very brief time) at Cirque D'Hiver Bouglione in Paris!
For the next few days I will be sharing some circus program scans from the collection of Ralph Pierce. First up, the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Clown Alley from the 1980 season. I'm 99% sure it's from 1980 because Tony Blanco graduated from Clown College in 1979 and was only on the road for a partial season, or so I've heard.
Jimmy James became Ringmaster that year and John Kennedy Kane aka Eggroll took his spot in the Alley. Not sure why he isn't pictured.
Stephan Kreiss milking every laugh out of the simple act of going up stairs. This is an excerpt from Spymonkey's production of Moby Dick performed at the Lyric Hammersmith in May 2010.
Don Saunders performing in 1960. I would love any more info about him (John Cooper? Bobbo Roberts?) I've heard conflicting reports of him being British and Scottish.
I know he performed on many variety TV shows like Hollywood Palace, Ed Sullivan, and La Piste Aux Étoiles.
Many thanks to Bobbo Roberts for sharing these masks of clowns who performed on British circuses that could be found on the backs of boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
If anyone has an extra Enrico Caroli mask lying around, feel free to send it to me. Christmas is coming, after all!
Percy Huxter of Bertram Mills Circus
Fiery Jack of Chipperfield's Circus
Alby Austin (sporing his Caesar Romero Joker mustache) of Bertram Mills
Harty of Billy Smart's New World Circus
Pimpo (Famous for his "Where's My Money?!" gag) of Lord George Sanger's Circus
Enrico Caroli of Les Francescos, from Tom Arnold's Harringay Circus. I wonder if Roseanne Barr was part owner?
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend!
To kick things off again, here's Doug Rougeux, Jim Vogelgesang, and Glenn Dwyer performing that perennial favorite, Door In The Floor, on the 115th Edition of Ringling in 1985.
I just heard from John Cooper that Walter Galetti passed away yesterday. I don't know any more than that but will update as soon as I do.
From Dominique Jando on Circopedia:
A popular figure in the European circus ring for twenty years, the clown and ropedancer Walter Galetti was born January 29, 1931 in Thayngent, in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland. He was originally trained as a brick mason, but that was not the life he really wanted: At age twenty-one, he “ran away and joined the circus”—in his case, Switzerland’s premier circus, Circus Knie, where he found a job as an animal keeper.
His ambition, however, was to perform in the ring, and during his spare time, he trained on the bouncing rope. It was perhaps a little late for Walter to become a strong acrobat, but he had a cheerful nature, and he began to work as a clown. The very colorful costume and makeup he eventually developed would become as iconic as those of Lou Jacobs or Paul Jung, and the face of Galetti, the clown, would eventually grace anonymously many a circus poster!
In 1966, together with his wife Mary (who, like him, didn’t come from a circus family), Galetti developed a charming act, The Clown And The Ballerina, which was soon noticed by circus directors and agents. Thus Galetti (as he was billed, without first name) started a brilliant career that lasted two decades. He went on to work in practically every major European circus, and appeared many times on television shows.
Galetti retired from the circus ring in 1986, but his performing career was not over. He settled in his wife’s hometown, Rankweil, in Austria, and developed a puppet show for children, which he still performs to this day (2013). In 2005, he published his autobiography, Ein Clown geht um die Welt. Walter and Mary Galetti have three children, Carmen, Maria, and Marco.
The clown segment from the documentary Winter Quarters: The Circus Tradition featuring members of the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Clown Alley, Ann Coydel, and Bruce Warner.
Joe Wesson and Jeff Wirth perform in the Ringling Clown College graduation of 1978. Joe and Jeff both went on the Blue Unit, where they performed this gag in Come In. When Jeff left the show, Joe and Tom Dougherty performed it together.
Fumagalli, his brother Darius, and Nico performing Le Miel (The Honey), which is commonly called Busy Bee in American clowning circles. Even some clowning squares!
Brum performing that old chestnut, "You Can't Play That Here", on Roberts Bros. Circus in the UK.
More info from John Cooper: “ Brum was portrayed by Tommy Cook, his family going back several generations in English circus. I don't recognise the ringmaster. It looks like the clip is from a TV recording. Incidentally, "Brum" is an affectionate name for the city of Birmingham in central England.”
Hey guys, sorry for the couple day lapse of not posting. Had to come up to Wisconsin to work on some stuff.
I bought a Mega Millions ticket on the way up, and the drawing is tonight, so here's Mark Branner and Huel Speight performing the lottery track gag on the 121st Edition Red Unit in 1991 for good luck!
Members of the Circus Vargas Clown Alley perform walkarounds around 1987. I can spot George Clyatt, Scott Parker, Chris Green, Marty T. Clown, and Lorenzo (last name I don't know). Aside from that, I have no idea who the rest are. Heck, even people that were in the Alley couldn't ID them for me!
Yesterday, October 24th, the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center experienced heavy water damage to the interior of the museum. We were able to move artifacts to safer locations and have begun assessing the damage. Clean up and restoration of the building and artifacts will tax our very limited resources at this time, and it is with deep respect that the Board of Directors of the ICHOF humbly ask for your assistance.
Any size contribution is greatly appreciated and we are confident that 2021 will see a return to full operations and many new exhibits celebrating clowns all around the world!
If you enjoy the content of this blog, much of which comes from the ICHOF archives, please consider making a donation during this difficult time. No amount is too small, and if you don't have any money to give, please consider sharing the above link on social media.
Josh Shack performing his music act at the Circus Smirkus Alumni Show in 2007. Josh began performing with Circus Smirkus in 2000, and currently performs residencies with the company and acts as production manager when the show is on tour.
Josh is also a fantastic director and has directed multiple pantomimes, the clown show Out of Orbit for Dan Berkley, and two productions of Nothing But Nonsense for Steve & Ryan.
For those of you paying attention, I mentioned Tandarica in yesterday's blog post about Los Calugas.
I did a little digging and found this info about him on an Argentinian website:
-Dear friends, first of all I thank you for everything shared and for having accompanied us throughout 2019. I also sought information about Alexandru Veterany and discovered that he was actually born in Bucharest on 16 January 1926 and died in Buenos Aires on 1 May 1995. He was a very popular comic actor and comedian of film, theatre and television and performed in Argentina during the 1980s. Tandarica was a great character with which he would adopt as his own stage name and label in two Argentine films and several television programs. He was a very clumsy and suspiciously drunk waiter who, with his silly acts and falls, caused discomfort and disasters around him. He was regarded as an Argentine Chaplin, an actor who was his great inspiration. He also performed in the circus of the RÃo de la Plata and in magazine theater. He went on to shoot a film in Hollywood with Silvester Stallone. In fact, I believe that the name of his artistic character comes from the Romanian T.D.R., a Puppet of Puppets of Bucharest, founded in 1945 (https://www.teatrultandarica.ro/
Chase Culp is an alumni of Circus Smirkus, and has performed on Ringling, Cirque Musica, Circus Gasser Olympia in Switzerland, and most recently the Venardos Circus.
Matt Morgan, Joel Jeske, Adam Kuchler, Thom Wheaton, Mark Myers, Steve Lough, Lance Brown, and Gabor Hrisafis dressed for the sideshow themed charivari in the Blue Unit's 128th Edition of Ringling in 1999.
For the national "700-year anniversary" of Switzerland, Gardi Hutter played the women jester in the Federal Assembly Chamberof the Swiss Parliament in 1991. For the festival "700 years" of 1998 of her hometown, Gardi Hutter acted as co-writer. In the winter season 1997/98 she was starring in Romulus der Grosse at the Schauspielhaus Zürich.[2]
Since 1981, Gardi Hutter had more than 3,300 performances in 30 countries and four continents, including Andorra, Brazil, China, Russia, Spain, Sweden, USA and Switzerland. There were also recordings on TV stations of 17 countries and auditions in numerous radio programs.
Elmo Gibb, Larry Armstrong, Greg Long, Doug Keady, Mat Coes, James Houser, Jay D’Amico, and “Lil’ Dave” Williams perform the Recycling Machine gag on Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus in 1991.
The Recycling Machine and many other beautiful Clyde Beatty clown props of that time were built by Producing/Advance clown Elmo Gibb.
Dominique Secher took these beautiful photographs of Yann Rossi preparing for a performance. Ryan and I met Dom while we were working in Paris, and he captures many beautiful backstage moments with his wonderful photography.
