Lew Kish

Lew Kish, pictured here on Clyde Beatty, and also as sketched by Mark Anthony. I know Lew also clowned on Ringling in the 1940s and before that worked on Dailey Brothers, where he was a mentor to young Ernie "Blinko" Burch. 

Mark Anthony Sketches

A page from the self published book, Mark Anthony's Sketches, which was compiled by Marty Scott. This page features Mark's drawings of Bobby Kay, Keith Crary, Lou Jacobs, Billy Baker, and Jim Howle.

 

American Clown Trailer

A new documentary now available to rent or buy on Prime Video, Youtube, Fandango, Vimeo, AppleTV+,  and Google TV.

From Greg DeSanto, Executive Director of the International Clown Hall of Fame

UPDATE - A generous donor has agreed to match dollor for dollar up to $5,000!

Thank you to everyone who have been so generous so far and to the kindness of our matching donor!

To all Brother & Sister Racoons out there in clown alley-land….

As most can tell by the majority of photos and posts I make, then tend to highlight clowns and positive (and hopefully funny) energy.

15 years ago the opportunity to help guide an institution to its new home in Baraboo presented itself. During my career I’ve been blessed to have worked alongside many great clowns and been the recipient of their kindness in sharing their craft with me as a young performer.

Growing up I wanted to trip over an ottoman like Dick Van Dyke, throw pies like the Three Stooges and do the Hucklebuck like Jackie Gleason. This career path has made those, and so many other dreams happen.

I am humbled & proud of the work that the Board of Directors, friends, family and clown enthusiasts have done to help make the International Clown Hall of Fame grow, prosper and become a respected depository of clown artifacts. Even more importantly, it’s not a static museum but more of a place where new generations can come and engage in conversation, research and hear first person accounts of the performers who have come before and those who’s career’s are rising to elevate the art form of the clown.

Along with all the platitudes, we also must acknowledge the reality of keeping a museum operating. We have always been prudent in financial matters, but we want & need to progress to a more sustainable & steadier foundation. This has been the number one priority of the Board and as we work towards creating a realistic, obtainable financial future, we ask for your help in closing the gap for the immediate term.

Our goal is $10,000. To some non for profits that number is minuscule. To the ICHOF it will allow us to breathe, help close urgent funding gaps, focus on the future and create a plan that allow growth going forward.

Any amount from $5.00 to $10,000 helps us remain true to our mission. If you know me, you know how much this museum means to me. I am grateful for your support and friendship and hope you can be a part of it going forward.

With laughter - Greg

 https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-international-clown-hall-of-fame?attribution_id=sl:88306f22-d08a-419b-8cf3-076d27d4a01d&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Ringling Copier Gag

As requested by Dave Michaels, here is Jeff Schott and Ceslee Conkling performing a copier gag during Winter Quarters of the Blue Unit's 124th Edition aka the Romeo and Juliet tour. 

This was filmed during the gag night presentation where Kenneth Feld would decide what clown material would be used in the show.

I remember seeing this gag during Come In of the previous Blue Unit tour in 1993. I believe it was Robbie Edwards doing Jeff's part, but I'm not sure if Ceslee was also in it. 

Les Macloma

My favorite Soliel clowns from the late 90s/early 2000s are Joe De Paul and his partner in Dralion, and Les Macloma. The whiteface of the trio, Alain Catonne, uploaded all of their entrées from Quidam onto his Youtube channel; this is the first. 

R.I.P Dougie Ashton

ICHOF inductee Dougie Ashton passed away on August 25th at the age of 96. Please enjoy this rare audio interview with him from 1973 when he was touring with the Ringling Blue Unit. 

https://archive.mpr.org/stories/1973/10/12/life-and-role-clown-modern-circus

Clown College Japan Article

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Mark Renfro

Sorry I am a day late on this, but my day was taken up with a jump to Red Bluff, CA, waiting for hours to have my trailer parked, and trying not to melt in the August heat. Ya know, circus stuff!

Today I am in a better humor to write about Mark Renfro, who would have celebrated his birthday yesterday. I first met Mark my final year on Ringling. He was assisting Ruthie Chaddock in making plaster casts of the new clowns' faces in Fort Worth, TX, so of course I picked his brain about whatever I could think of.

In the following years he would always come to visit whatever show that Ryan and I were on, and he would have such wonderful compliments about our performances afterwards.

Many times he was accompanied by his best friend, Brenda Marshall, who reached out to me shortly after Mark's passing. She felt Mark would want me to have his extensive collection of circus clown memorabilia, which absolutely floored me. What an honor.

Last year our tour took us close enough to Fort Worth that I was able to meet with Brenda at Mark's house and move everything to a storage unit.

Since then I have been digitizing the thousands of photos, slides, and documents that Mark had been collecting from when he attended Clown College, up through his time with Clown College Japan and the original Clown College, and his years of work with the Feld organization as an amazing artist and prop builder.

I have loved sharing bits of his collection on this blog. However, so many times I am sadly reminded that I cannot ask him questions about whatever I am looking at. What a history was lost.

Thank you, Brenda, for thinking Mark would want me to have his collection, and thank you Mark for being a friend, archivist, and such a talented, dryly hilarious, and kind person.

Here are some photos from Mark's collection from his time in Clown College in 1980 and his year on the road with the Blue Unit in 1981.

With Lou Jacobs...

and Bobby Kay at Clown College

Mark's Clown College makeup (note the glitter in the makeup)....

and his makeup on the road (Mark told me that Irvin Feld said to him in his Clown College contract session, "Who are you kidding, son? You're a whiteface!")

Mark and Heidi Macklin about to perform the stork chase (which was once again done on the Blue Unit in 1992) 

We miss you, Mark. 

Peggy Williams 1980

 

Peggy Williams teaching at the Ringling Clown College in 1980. From the photo collection of Mark Renfro.

New Clowning Trio

Pepe Silva, M. Adrian, and Tom Dougherty, who will be debuting their new trio at the Dresdner Weihnachts-Circus in Dresden, Germany this December.

Tom and Pepe have been working together since they both left the Ringling Blue Unit at the end of 2009, and they met Adrian while working with Arlette Gruss in France.

They are currently in Paris rehearsing their new material. Make 'em laugh, gents!

 

Duo Rossi

Two wonderful people, Alexandra and Yann Rossi, photographed for the English circus magazine, King Pole. 

 

Remembering Pat Cashin

Nine years ago Pat Cashin left us way too soon. Not a week goes by that I don't think about him or some ridiculous hilarious thing he said, and I am constantly wishing I could get his take on something, or ask for clarification on some clown story or fact. I miss you, "kunklehead".

His contribution to clown history with this blog is immeasurable, and I have no idea how he kept it so active. I will do my best to be more frequent with my contributions to his legacy. 

Here are some rare 1997 Clown College photos of Pat from the collection of Elliot Witherspoon.

Gary Cooper

Gary Cooper, aka "Oscar", who graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1978 and then performed in the Clyde Beatty Clown Alley for a couple of seasons.

Not to be confused with the Hollywood actor. He wasn't a clown. Loser....

Gary "Patches" Ray

 

Gary Ray, better known as "Patches" is a graduate of the 1972 class of the Ringling Clown College. He had a long circus career with Shrine circuses along with his partner Steve "Checkers" Baker. 

Prince Paul

Prince Paul Alpert, photographed by Bill Ballantine on the Ringling Blue Unit sometime in the 1970s. 

Denis Lacombe Ice Capades 1989

If I am not mistaken, this would have been after his appearance in Cirque Du Soliel's We Reinvent The Circus, which was the first time I saw him perform this act.

My personal favorite is the other act he performed in that show involving a robotic "American" clown, mouth wash, and pies. Sounds like a recipe for comedy to me!

Dick O'Connor

 

Anyone have any info on Mr. O'Connor, aside from the fact that he looks like 99% of the other clowns of that era?

Amel and Andres Zachai

Mother and son clown duo Amel and seven year old Andres, who performed with the Blue Unit's 1976 Clown Alley. I believe Amel performed at Circus World in Florida before going on the road. 

I am going to be asking for recollections of the two of them from their Alley mates, so stay tuned for an updated post.

Freddie Freeman

Freddie Freeman drawn by long time Hanna Barbara comics artist Ray Dirgo in 1978.

 

Harry Dann, Bill Ballantine and Clem Hartman

 

Steve Smith and Tim Torkildson

Tim Torkildson and Steve Smith when they were working as Goodwill Ambassadors for the Greatest Show on Earth 

 

A Pictorial History of Old-Time Circus Clowns

A collection of old and rare circus clown photos provided by Frank and Violet Rehak and edited by Chappie Fox.

Some great stuff in here. Unfortunately there is also Jack Harris.... I hope an elephant pooped on him.