Sunday Morning Art Gallery: Karen DeSanto

Bobby Kay by Karen DeSanto




Felix Adler by Karen DeSanto




Glen "Frosty" Little by Karen DeSanto




Lou Jacobs by Karen DeSanto




Otto Griebling by Karen DeSanto


Karen graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1993 and then was featured in Ringling's Blue Unit. A member of the Clown Care (SM) hospital clowning program of the Big Apple Circus, Karen is one of the country's leading clown instructors and has developed teaching programs for the Circus's Arts-In-Education program, the National Circus Project and Ocean Park Amusements. As a businesswoman, she created and ran a successful clown and character production company in California. Her performances have taken her to the stages of Carnegie Hall, the State Capital of California and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Karen is also a published author with articles in the Rosie magazine and the children's book, Star Saves the Circus.

Click the title of this post to link to Karen's eBay store.

Classic Comedy: The DeSantos at the BAC

The artist herself, along with her husband Greg, peforming with the Big Apple Circus' GRANDMA GOES TO HOLLYWOOD tour in 2005/06.

Unidentified #1

Bill sent this photo of a clown with some of the lovely ladies of Ringling-Barnum 1946. The young woman in the front row, right side is Evelyn Theron, mother of Ninette Theron Parker

The unidentified clown in the center of the picture looks to be Harry Dann.

Unidentified #2

Photo courtesy of Bill Strong


Bill had this picture of an unidentified clown from Ringling 1952. It looks to me like Eddie Dullam.

The little girl is Michelle Olsen, daughter of flying act catcher (and Superman's Pal ), Jimmy Olsen & his wife Flo Theron.

Clowns Elephants & Pretty Girls (Minus the Elephants)

Photo courtesy of Bill Strong


The pretty girl is Ninette Theron Parker of the Fabulous Theron Family Bicycle Act. The clown is Gene Randow, Polack Bros. 1953

Click on the title of this post to visit Bill's circus blog YESTERDAY'S TOWNS

Clowns, Elephants and Pretty Girls

An unidentified clown (I can't imagine who this would be), two elephants, the smaller of which was named Baby John and a really strikingly beautiful showgirl take a dip in a Motel pool in this publicity photo from the Ringling 100th edition Blue show.

Ben Vereen

Ben Vereen, who to the best of my knowledge has never made disparaging remarks about clowns, outside the Alley in the Venice Arena surrounded by Master Clown Glen "Frosty" Little and several others including current Ringling Gold Unit ringmaster Jon Weiss smack dab in the center.

Slaton, Saluto and Ronk

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk




Dick Slaton, Frankie Saluto and Harold Ronk.

I was sorry to hear from someone who was there at the time that Frankie was picked on mercilessly in the Ringling Alley in the late 60s/early 70s because people found his hot temper very funny and enjoyed getting him all wound up just to sit back and watch the fireworks.

I don't know if that's true or if the way that Frankie was treated throughout his Ringling career or not, but I wish he'd have been afforded at little more respect at the end of it.

Swedish Police!

100th Edition Ringling Blue Show 1970: I'm not positive of the ID of the young Clown College grad emerging from the Lou Jacobs-style car but the cop is none other than Swede Johnson.

The photo brings two questions immediately to mind:

1) Who had the nerve to ask Lou (if they asked at all) if they could replicate one of his signature props (and paint it all psychedelic colors, damn hippies) for the Blue show? Kinko Sunberry was on the show from '66 to '68 and had spent probably 20 years doing a midget car act but there is no evidence that he EVER did it on Ringling, where the gag belonged to Lou.

2) Speaking of Kinko, how could the Felds justify "retiring" some of their senior (and I DO mean SENIOR) clowns in 1968 for being too old and then hire Swede Johnson who was just as old if not OLDER than the guys he was replacing?!?

Great ring mats though.

Jimmy James 1967

I believe I've posted this photo before but now we have an exact date for this early version of James "Jimmy James" Plott's classic whiteface makeup, 1967, on the Frank McClosky and Walter Kernan owned Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus.

Next season the Cole show is set to go out with rumors that the reins have passed from John Pugh to the Davenports. The new Clyde Beatty Circus (no relation to last year's Dick Garden produced show) comes from the west with Frank McCloskey's nephew at the helm.

John Ringling North III is now at Kelly-Miller, a new version of the 3 ring LE Barnes Holly, Jolly and Whatever coming and "Bello-bration", the new Ringling Red show with triangles, blue diamonds, green stars or purple horseshoes instead of rings (or no rings)...well, 2007 should be interesting to say the least.

I just wonder how many of these new shows will carry "real" alleys? I haven't heard a word about the clowning on any of them.

They are all going to have a hard time beating this year's Big Apple Circus, they have ANOTHER truly oustanding show this year.

Mr. Robert Smiley

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


An undated photo of Master Clown and International Clown Hall of Fame inductee Robert "Bobby Kay" Smiley, out of makeup.

By all accounts, a truly wonderful man.

Lester and Stanley Janus

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


Lester and Stanley Janus in the 100th edition Blue Unit show in 1970.

"Show me the mun-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

106th Edition: Group Shot

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


The assembled Clown Alley of the 1976 106th edition Blue Unit of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

I believe all but four of the clowns pictured here (Mark Anthony, Prince Paul and the Severinis' dogs) were Clown College graduates.

106th Edition: Mark Anthony

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


Clown prince of the 106th edition, Mark Anthony seen here kicking out the jams with future Clown College dean Ron Severini on the left and Terry Parsons on the right.

106th Edition: Gale Lajoye

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


106th Edition Advance Clown, Gale Lajoye.

I was in Irowood or Iron Mountain, we play them both but I'm pretty sure it was Ironwood, in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan last year playing a Shrine date at the local arena with Cindy Migley's Circus Spectacular. After the show I went looking for any open nearby restaurant but, like most of the country, the town was pretty well put to bed for the night by the time I got out.

The only place with a kitchen that was open was a bar & grill downtown where, after taking my seat, I was comped for my entire dinner since I was the clown with the circus. Seems that the owner was a good friend of Gale's, who lives in town but was away performing, and she was extending every courtesy that she could on his behalf.

Sorry I missed him, hope to meet him one day and I definetly owe him one.

Nothing tastes better after a two show day in a one day town than a free dinner across the street from the hotel.

Circus World

Photos courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


Keith Crary, Lou Jacobs, Irvin Feld, Harold Ronk and Michu with two unidentified "suits" (possibly Florida politicians or execuives from Mattel), an elephant and some other clowns at the opening of Circus World near Haines City, FL.





Lou Jacobs: the man ALWAYS had the right idea.





Clowns , elephants and pretty girls... well, two out of three ain't bad!





"OK, Mattel says it's time to put everything away."

Otto with...

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


Presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey literally throwing Harold Ronk's ringmaster hat into the ring in, I believe, 1968. On the left is Otto with a small microphone wearing a baseball cap and the ear phones he had on when Harold was "interviewing" him in one of the earlier photos Robin shared from the Ronk collection.

Otto with... #2

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


Harold Ronk, two unidentfied men and Otto Griebling

Otto with... #3

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Mr. Harold Ronk


Otto Griebling, unidentified, Paul Jung and Harold Ronk, 1964

Classic Clowning: Jerry Lewis

From the Colgate Comedy Hour: Jerry Lewis' typewriter bit, the type of "record act" that he was doing in nightclubs before teaming up with Dean Martin.

Sunday Morning Art Gallery w/ Cowboy Mike Keever

Garden Variety Clown by my pal, Cowboy Mike

Click the title of this post to link to the Cel-ebration Art Gallery in Red Bank, NJ and find out more about Mike and his artwork.

Rivel in Vienna

Charlie Rivel in Vienna 1940, the moment just before he yells, "Hey you dang kids! Get off of my lawn!" ; )

If you could judge a clown based on nothing more than the snug fit of his skullcap Rivel would STILL be legendary. Just look at that fit!

And Then There's Maude

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes, from the Estate of Harold Ronk


Ms. Maude Flippen

Right On, Maude!

Happy Thanksgiving

Yeeeeesh! Thanks again Macy's.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,
The Cashin Family

The Augustes

Albert Fratellini




Charlie Rivel




Oreste (possibly Alfredo?) Rastelli




Walter Galetti

The Beatles and Cirque

If you aren't familiar with the Beatles, this is a good introduction.

If you are, the production quality of this is absolutely amazing. It's incredible how far we've come in terms of digital technology in that we can now take 40 year old masters and make them sound as though they were recorded this morning.

AND it's the soundtrack to a circus!!!

Cirque at the Garden Beginning In 2007

In a season filled with big circus news, this story is easily the BIGGEST!!!

Click the title of this post for the link to the story.

Rex "Boxcar" Young

Photo courtesy of Bill Strong


Rex "Boxcar" Young, a man I tried to call yesterday but wasn't home and didn't have an answering machine to leave a message on. If he's still in Holland, MI (there IS a Rex Young still listed there) somebody let me know and I'll send ol' Boxcar an answering machine for Christmas ; )

"Smiley" Daly

Photos courtesy of Bill Strong


John "Smiley" Daly from the program of the 1971 Ararat Shrine Circus in Kansas City MO.



Smiley a few years later (with a look that's a few years ahead of it's time) at Circus America with John McKay

Smiley's makeup and costume here remind me of Mike Smith, one of my Clown College instructors and a very funny person.

Larry Cross

Photo courtesy of Bill Strong

George LaSalle

Photo courtesy of Bill Strong




Click the title of this post to visit Bill Strong's circus blog YESTERDAY'S TOWNS

Slapstick! on eBay

Clicking the title of this post will link you to an eBay auction (if you don't win don't worry. The book comes up pretty regularly)for Tony Staveacre's book SLAPSTICK!: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY OF KNOCKABOUT COMEDY, a great book featuring some of the giants of physical and visual comedy; circus clowns are discussed side-by-side with stars of stage and screen from both sides of the Atlantic.

He's Just a Gigolo...

Photos courtesy of Ron "Toto" Johnson



Apparently Rocco Paris wasn't only married to Dana Nelson (as seen in our photo from the Red Show's Clownbusters gag the other day) but has, in fact, been married several times. Here we see a pair of photos from his brief May/December marriage with another wife, Ron "Toto Johnson.

From the 2nd photo I think it's obvious why they split ; )

Paul Jerome and Company

Paul Jerome, in his "happy hobo" makeup and "Janitor" hat, accompanied by an unidentified but similarly garbed "Boss".

All Hail the King

Who is the King?

King Kong?

Burger King?

King Crimson?


Nope!


The King of Rock and Roll?

The King of Pop?

The King of All Media???


Brother, the only place that they all rule is in Squaresville, man!


They all pale before the one true king, the King of Clowns, Frank B. "Felix" Adler!


Long live the King!

Felix and Lola

Felix Adler with, I believe, Lola Dobritch

Lone Ranger and Popeye

Once upon a time in America, a much less litigious time, a trip to the circus meant seeing your favorite cartoon and radio stars brought to life. This was before the age of the theme park, where costumed characters are a now common sight. Even Cecil B. DeMille's GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH contains scenes of Paul Jung's "big head" mascot costumes of famous Disney characters included in Ringling's spec.

Try that today and a team of corporate copyright lawyers would eat you alive in ring two.

Oh, you might meet an unlicensed Spiderman or Spongebob at intermission on some shows, but you'll pay $10. a Polaroid for the privilege.

Here we see the Lone Ranger and Popeye happily rounding end track. It would be nice if we could still do stuff like this. I wish Shrine shows still had appearances by TV celebrities like they did in the 60s where you might see the Three Stooges, the Munsters, Bozo or Batman and Robin. Nowadays all we get are the morning zoo team from the local radio station.

"Moo-Head Manny" and "The Poo Guy" are no Batman and Robin. Believe me. What kid cares about morning zoo radio?

Sunday Night at the Movies: Curly Howard and Lou Costello

Two of the all-time great American screen clowns face off against oysters...



Jerome "Curly" Howard battles an oyster in the Three Stooges short DUTIFUL BUT DUMB (1941)





Lou Costello seems to have ordered the exact same stew a few years later in Abbott and Costello's HERE COME THE COEDS (1945)


Curly Howard and Lou Costello: Compare, contrast and discuss.

Sunday Morning Art Gallery w/ Bill Ballantine

Photo courtesy of Robin Estes


Felix Adler and one of his many performing pigs by former Ringling clown and later Clown College dean, Bill Ballantine

Sunday Morning Art Gallery w/ Mike Keever

Artwork, photo and memories courtesy of Mike Keever


Cowboy Mike Keever sez: "This very near and dear to my heart..."Eye of the Clown". It is the painting that I did from my logo that I had designed...as in I want to show everyone... the view of the world....through....the...Eye of the Clown."




"Baby Cowboy Mike...my first season...'77-'78 I later came out of the clown car with this hat on and would lasso Lou. It was fun everyday because Lou would for real try to make me miss him, which I did some. He always had that sparkle in his eye...that of a big kid out there playing...which I could also see from Ring 1 (Mule Gag) all the way down to Ring 3 (Hunting Gag)...Eric Braun between us in Ring 2 (Comedy Dog) It was a game for both of us. When I would catch him...and I would see him at the back curtain as we exited, backstage...Lou would say...

'Oh Jeez, Ya' got a lucky shot!'. and we would both smile and laugh. Good time!!! Very Good Times!!!"

__________________________________________

Thanks for sharing, Mike!


Clicking on the title of this post will take you to more info on Mike's artwork from the Cel-Ebration Art Gallery in Red Bank, NJ