2002 Kinoshita Clown Alley

 

Sean Hartman, Kelly VanCleave, Adam Kuchler, and Peter Bufano on Circus Kinoshita in 2002. 

All were Clown College grads (Sean 94, Kelly 85, Adam 95 and Peter 86) and former Ringling clowns (Sean Red 2002, Kelly Red 1986-1989, Adam Blue 96-99, and Peter Red 87-88). 

Peter also came back in 2006 and the first half of 2007 as a keyboard player on the Blue Unit band. He was my next door neighbor on the train and we had lots of fun conversations. 

Kelly stayed on Kinoshita for many, many years. She started sometime in the 90s and was there into the 2010s.

Ringling: Bike Display

 

Another great photo from Brandon Bolden's collection. This is the Blue Unit Clown Alley for the 130th Edition of Ringling in 2000. 

The second half opened with a bike display with all of the clowns wearing fun costumes to make it look like they were kids dressing up and playing pretend. 

Each clown had a bike that fit in with their character: the cowboy had a unicycle with a saddle that looked like a hobby horse, the scientist had a bicycle with an extendable and retractable magnet on the front, the doctor clown had a.... mini bicycle.....yep! It all checks out! 

Top row left to right: Leo Acton, Marni Sussman Zalban, Todd Zimmerman, Pat Acton

Middle row left to right: Melanie Covello, Cherie Gregg, Cezary Skarzynski, David Gregg, Thom Wheaton, Steve Lough, Gabor Hrisafis, Brandon Bolden, Lance Brown, Josh Zehner, Elizabeth Sekine Lough

Bottom row left to right: Christy McDonald Atkinson, David Solove, David Hennessy