CLOWN ALLEY: Vanity Fair Photo by Lusha Nelson (May 1, 1934)

Felix Adler, Jack LeClair, Charlie Bell and two unidentified "funny folk".

From the International Clown Hall of Fame...

The International Clown Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the art and craft of the clown worldwide.

We hope everyone who visits this page, the ICHoF Facebook page and our website enjoys the images and the history that we have worked to compile and share.

We are confronted with a financial situation that needs our immediate attention. We respectfully ask for your support to help solve this problem and allow us to continue to preserve and present the artifacts and images that represent this worldwide art form. We need to raise a minimum of $600.00 by this Friday, July 27, 2014. If you can help, please visit our website at www.theclownmuseum.com and donate via our Paypal link button. No amount is too small to help.

We appreciate the generosity shown to this organization in the past and hope we can count on the over 6,453 individuals who follow us on Facebook to help us overcome this challenge.

The Board of Directors of the ICHOF thanks you in advance for your generosity.

THE GOOD FRIEND: The Story of Jim Howle and Teddy Goodman (A Nic Beery Film)

The Good Friend - The Story of Jim Howle and Teddy Goodman from BeeryMedia.com on Vimeo.

ERNIE "BLINKO" BURCH: Captain Blinko, Space Clown (Early 1960s)

IN MEMORIAM: Richard Fick

Photo courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame

THE WHY FACTOR: The Fool (BBC World Service)

Link courtesy of David Burd

A 17:30 minute piece on the history of fools, jesters and clowning from the BBC World Service.

ARGO: From the London Coliseum

CLOWN ALLEY: Mills Bros. Circus (Circa 1960s)

Herman Joseph, Buck Leahy and Bumpsy Anthony in an
undated photograph that I would estimate comes from the early 1960s

MICHAEL "COCO" POLAKOVS: Mills Bros. Circus (5/29/1954)

Clown
Photo by Sverre O. Braathen courtesy of the Milner Library Special Collections

HOW TO DO VISUAL COMEDY: An Analysis of the Comedy Techniques and Style of Director Edgar Wright

OUR EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY!

Pat Cashin at the Salaam Shrine Circus (produced by the Royal Hanneford Circus)
May 18, 2014 at the Mennen Arena in Morristown, NJ. Photo by Paul Guthiel.

Today marks 8 years since the launch of clownallet.net, a project most assured me would run out of material within the first few months.

Thank you all for your continued support.

PETE MARDO: Sparks Circus (1923)

Pete and Florence Mardo, Sparks Circus, 1923. Photo by Frederick W. Glasier

Pete Mardo, Sparks Circus 1923. Photo by Frederick W. Glasier

SALAAM SHRINE CIRCUS: Honoring Our Veterans (May 18, 2014)

Veterans were given a ringside seat of honor for last week's Salaam Shrine Circus in Morristown, NJ. The gentleman seated in the center is a veteran of World War II and turns 100 years old this week. Photo by Paul Gutheil.

ACROBATS AND MOUNTEBANKS: Hugues Le Roux and Jules Garnier (1890)

Billy Hayden

The complete text and illustrations of ACROBATS AND MOUNTEBANKS (1890) is available to read at The Internet Archive. The chapter on clowns begins on page 276.

THE LERFOLD TRIO

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY: Kenneth Heilbronn Photographs (1940s)

Paul Jung

Charlie Bell & Trixie

Felix Adler

Felix Adler

RHUM: The Ideal Pick Up Car (1946)

THE IDEAL PICK UP CAR

EMMETT KELLY: Pacific Ocean Park (1959)

PROF. PAUL WENZEL: Skeleton Chase Patent (Feb. 17, 1925)

Photos and research 

courtesy of Beth Grimes

Yup, that photo that we've all seen? That's a young Paul Wenzel and he filed the paperwork for his creation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 4, 1923.

Paul Wenzel should be officially recognized as the creator of the Skeleton Chase.

QUOTE

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery