Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
PIE ROUTINE
A variation on the one done by Monty Python at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Secret Policeman's Ball.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
ICHOF: Sarasota Update
We are having an AMAZING time in Sarasota, seeing friends, meeting heroes and getting oral histories.
We visiting the archives of the Ringling Museum, had lunch with Levoi Hipps, visited with Penny and Donna Geneva (Otto Griebling's step daughters) and held a meeting at Showfolks of Sarasota.
The meeting was an incredible gathering of American clowns (and their families) stretching all the way back to the 1920s and the room's support for the Hall of Fame was wonderful. We get the feeling that we are on the right track...
Today: a visit to Palmetto, FL...
BELLO NOCK: CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congratulations go out to Mr. Bello Nock on his winning the Gold Clown at the 35 International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo. Local boy makes good indeed!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
ICHOF: Sarasota Trip, Day One
Sandy, Greg and I had a great first day, got an amazing interview with Marty Scott on the early days of the Ringling Clown College and the art of clown shoemaking.
Today we are off to visit Levoi Hipps, Penny Griebling (Otto's daughter), some time at the Ringling Museum and a presentational meeting tonight at Showfolks of Sarasota.
Anyone in the Sarasota area interested in joining us tonight, the meeting starts at 7:00.
Today we are off to visit Levoi Hipps, Penny Griebling (Otto's daughter), some time at the Ringling Museum and a presentational meeting tonight at Showfolks of Sarasota.
Anyone in the Sarasota area interested in joining us tonight, the meeting starts at 7:00.
Monday, January 24, 2011
ICHOF: Heading Down to Sarasota!
Fellow International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center board members Greg DeSanto, Sandy Weber and myself are off to Sarasota, FL today for the most exciting project in the hall's history.
We are beginning an oral history project, meeting with several performers and their families over the next four days and recording their memories for posterity.
It's a project that is long overdue and one that I wish the hall had begun at its inception. Circus clowning is a rapidly changing American folk art, the history and culture of which has sadly gone without being properly preserved.
Bright and early tomorrow morning we go about correcting that!
If you are in the Sarasota area, PLEASE join us on Wednesday night for a meeting discussing the ICHOF's past, present and future at the Showfolks of Sarasota club.
We'd love to see you there!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
IN MEMORIAM: Fred Collins
I'm deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Fred Collins. Anyone who ever worked in the variety arts in the NJ area knew Fred and his shop, Mecca Magic.
I've known Fred Collins since I was 13 years old and walked into a real magic shop for the first time. Mecca Magic was everything a real magic shop ought to be and Fred was everything you could ask for in a magic shop owner. A very talented, very generous man, he will be very sorely missed.
FREDDIE FISCHER & THE SCHNICKLEFRITZ BAND: Tiger Rag (1938)
From the film GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS. George Rock, soon to leave for Spike Jones and the City Slickers, is on trumpet.
Friday, January 21, 2011
CLOWN ALLEY: RBB&B "Adam Smasher" (Late 1940s)
Paul Jung's classic "Adam Smasher" with Paul Jung out in front, Ernie "Blinko" Burch assisting on the left and it looks like Frank Luley on the right. I'm not sure who is playing "Adam" but I'll bet dollars to donuts that Prince Paul is one of the dwarves stuffed inside, ready to run out when that weight falls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)






