CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling at the Garden 1920s?

A photo that looks to have been taken at the old Madison Square Garden, probably in the 20s, at a PR event with "non traditionally or differently-abled" children. The ringmaster at right looks to be the legendary Fred Bradna and I'm not sure but the little clown on the left looks to be a very young Frankie Saluto.

LES FRANCESCOS: Military Entree

Paul Jung wasn't the only clown with an Army Gag way back when. Even though his was VERY widely imitated in America, this one is entirely different and doesn't seem to reference it at all. I do have to say that, as good as this one is, I think Jung's had a MUCH better blow-off. The alien/boogeyman just doesn't compare with loading Prince Paul into a canon and firing him up into the rafters.

One day I'd like to take Jung's gag. this one, Abbott and Costello's and the one Joe Besser did in Olsen & Johnson's show SONS O' FUN and combine them with new material to create an "ultimate" military style gag.

But then, how would I do it when most producers never hire more than one clown anymore?

And does anyone know if Francesco, who is back in France recovering from a surgery while his son covers for him on Big Apple, is related to these Francescos?

Anyone know how Francesco is doing? I'm hoping that he's doing well and will be able to return by the end of the season.

GOLDEN NOSE AWARDS

NEW YORK DOWNTOWN CLOWN
GOLDEN NOSE AWARDS

New York Downtown Clown is proud to present the ONLY Clown Awards Show in North America- The New York Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards.

This first-annual event will honor Clown Excellence from performances of the New York Downtown Clown Monthly Revue’s inaugural year. In addition to the awards presented, the evening will include performances by nominees, dance numbers, door prizes, red carpet, and audience participation games with prizes. The show will also feature Clown Superstar Presenters, including Barry Lubin (Grandma- Big Apple Circus) and Hovey Burgess (The Father of the New Circus Movement). The Golden Nose Award Statues will be designed and created by Clown Nose/Mask Maker, Stanley Allan Sherman (creator of the WWF Mankind Mask).

Dress: Formal Attire- Noses Optional

The Categories and Nominees for the 2007 New York Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards are:

Audience Choice Best Clown:
Brent McCoy
Hilary Chaplain
Mark Gindick
Poofy Du Vey

Audience Choice Best Clown Piece:
Classically Trained by Hilary Chaplain
Glamourpuss by Kendall Cornell
Super Nova by Mark Gindick
Jeff Seal and His Big Red Ball by Jeff Seal

Clown of The Year:
Eric Davis
Hilary Chaplain
Joel Jeske
Kendall Cornell

The Producers of Slava’s Snowshow (David Foster and Ross Mollison) will receive the Clown Achievement of The Year Award for running the show for two record breaking years off-Broadway.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE SHOW

This is the First Clown Awards Show in NYC and the only one in North America.

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Well' the only one CURRENTLY in America.

For more on the New York Downtown Clown Monthly Revue, please click the title of this post.

CHRISTOPHER "HOOT" HUDERT

A great clown, a great puppeteer and a great dinner conversationalist, Mr. Christopher "Hoot" Hudert on the Ringling Red Unit during Gunther Gebel Williams' Farewell Tour.

For more on Mr. Hudert and his company APPLAUSE UNLIMITED, please click on the title of this post.

CHAZ CHASE: Cirque Bouglione

After a long career in vaudeville Chaz Chase sort of dropped out of sight in the 1940s, only to re-emerge in the 1950s as a sought-after guest on many television variety programs.

This mid-60s clip tells us that he was working in European circus during that time and I've recently found out that his final two appearances were on Late Night with David Letterman shortly before his death in 1983.

THE SLIVERS OAKLEY PROJECT

It's time to get moving on something that Tom Dougherty had suggested when I saw him a few months ago...

Frank "Slivers" Oakley, the single greatest and most influential American circus clown of his generation, has been languishing in an unmarked grave in NYC for almost 100 years now and it's high time someone gave the man a marker befitting his enormous contributions to American circus clowning.

That someone really should be us.

So I throw this open to the floor: Does anyone have any suggestions on how to best raise the funds necessary to get Slivers a really world class monument?

I'm open to any and all suggestions on this one.

If this project is successful there are two far more cheerful and less expensive ones that I'd like to embark on before year's end.

GIJON POLIDOR

After the era of Slivers Oakley, Spader Johnson, Al Maico and Buck Baker guys like Bluch Landolf, Paul Wenzel, Jack LeClair, Felix Adler and this man, Gijon Polidor, were central to the Ringling Alley before the well known JRN-era Alley lead by Lou Jacobs, Emmett Kelly, Paul Jung, Paul Jerome and Otto Griebling.

Here we see Gijon (I've been told he was Belgian despite the "French Funny Face" of his signature) as one of the three classic elements of good circus promotion: Funny Clowns, Pretty Girls and Elephants.

Sadly, this photograph couldn't be taken in Connecticut today.

COMEDY CAR ACT

I'm hoping some of the European folks could help me out with the name of this act? It's from a 1960s French video and I can't make out the performers' names from the introduction.

WILLIE, WEST & McGINTY: Plastered (1930)

The greatest knockabout comedy act in the history of vaudeville, Willie, West & McGinty in their Paramount short PLASTERED from 1930.

Irvin Feld missed a very narrow window of opportunity in the late 60s to recreate this act when the Ringling circus featured three clowns who would have been dead ringers for WW&M, Michael Karp, Doug Ashton and Freddie Freeman.

AVNER THE ECCENTRIC

Photos courtesy of Bill Strong





Avner's show the other night with Mark Jaster seems to have put everyone in an Avner frame of mind and "Avner-mania" is running rampant across the country.

But why talk about him here? This is a forum for circus clowns, not "New Vaudevillians".

There is a lot more circus-style clowning to Avner than one would expect. While he may not wear the wig, big shoes or emerge from a tiny car that audience still associate with circus clowning in America, I don't think he'd be at all out of place on a show like Circus Flora or Big Apple. It's actually suprising to me that he HASN'T toured as the "featured clown" with a one-ring "New American Circus". He's mastered virtually all of the manditory "New Circus" skills in Hovey Burgesses' CIRCUS TECHNIQUES and I think that his unique character would really flourish outside the strict confines of the procenium stage.

Maybe if I taught HIM the Chair Gag... ; )

Bill Strong sent along these pictures from a time long ago and far away when Avner still linked to circus clown tradition via that smallest of masks, the red nose. He has since dropped it, and I think it's for the better. His face is more than expressive enough to convey the idea of "clown" without any help from makeup or noses.

AVNER THE ECCENTRIC: Exceptions to Gravity Promo Video

The promo video for Avner's show EXCEPTIONS TO GRAVITY.

It strikes me that Avner's show is actually closer to what people are trying to describe when they talk about the "New Vaudeville" performances of Bill Irwin. Irwin's shows are uniformly brilliant, but I think owe more to the Commedia tradition and silent film comedy than to vaudeville.

There are bits and pieces that bring to mind previous vaudevillians such as W.C. Fields, Chaz Chase, George Carl and many others but they are all being channeled through Avner's unique and very distinct persona and style and morphed into something original and new.

Avner could be working today, tomorrow or 90 years ago, anywhere on earth, and would still be considered a legendary vaudeville comedian.

PAUL LOPEZ: Hat & Broom Gag

Here's Paul Lopez, a very talented young clown that I worked with last season on Mike Naughton's Yankee Doodle Circus, performing Giovanni "Nino" Zoppe's hat and broom routine on the Zoppe Family Circus in Racine Wisconsin in the summer of 2006.

Gordoon taught the chair gag to me, I taught it to Paul.

And the virus spreads...

AVNER THE ECCENTRIC and MARK JASTER Tonight in Frederick, MD!!!

Two of the most respected masters of contemporary American "New Vaudeville" stage clowning are appearing together tonight at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, MD. If you missed out on seeing Gordoon and Drew the Dramatic Fool in Pittsburgh on April 10th, this is a good way to begin to deal with your immense sorrow and loss.

This one is not to be missed.

Click on the title of this post for more information.

AL MIACO: Out of Makeup

Turn of the century American circus clowning legend, Al Miaco out of makeup.

ONIONHEAD

A slideshow featuring Robert "Onionhead" Dunn, a longtime fixture on the UniverSoul Circus.

CLASSIC GAGS: The Chair Gag

For those out there who are unfamiliar with the Chair Gag (and I can't believe there are many of you) here it is, done pretty well, save for the whistle. I'm not sure of the clown or the show.

I was always afraid to do this one because I was worried one of the volunteers would drop to the floor. Jeff "Gordoon" Gordon was kind enough to teach me the gag in all of about 5 minutes and I've used it (without incident) when needed ever since.

Once, when we needed to cover some time, I stretched this gag to the breaking point and got 12 minutes out of it by using virtually every audience volunteer bit I'd ever seen or thought of. It worked out well but I wouldn't want to do it that way every night.

EMMETT KELLY: Emmett Smiles

There are A LOT of silly mistruths about Emmett Kelly that are obviously false but have nonetheless have repeated for so long that it's hard to believe that they are still being circulated on the clown convention circuit and by lazy newspaper reporters, but they are.

One is that Emmett Kelly always added a little black tear in the corner of his eye to his makeup after the tragic 1944 circus fire in Hartford. Oh yeah? Then why doesn't this legendary "little black tear" appear in any one of the six billion photos of Emmett taken in the years after? Does it appear in the films THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH or in his movie THE CLOWN AND THE KIDS? No, it does not. Next time someone tells you that one slap them hard for me.

Another is that Emmett never smiled in makeup and was never photographed that way.

See above, which looks staged but was reportedly taken when Emmett heard the news of the birth of his daughter, Stasia during his tenure as mascot for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

And another one bites the dust.

The funniest of all, I recently had a Shrine clown tell me WITH A STRAIGHT FACE that Emmett, knowing that he was dying, went to the doctor to see if there wasn't something to cure his growing depression. "Go to the circus and see Emmett Kelly, the famous clown. He's the funniest man in the whole world. He is sure to cheer you up." "But doc" said Emmett. "I am Emmett Kelly. Who is there to cheer me up?"

First of all, I've read this story in print in just about every book on clowning or circus that I've ever opened and it's never attributed to the same clown twice. I've heard that it was Grimaldi. I've heard that it was Grock. I've heard that it was Chaplin.

It's not a true story.

Second of all, Emmett hadn't worked steadily in circus for more than 20 years before he died. It had been quite a long time since Emmett had been a full-time circus clown that people expected to see at ANY circus, much less Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (the one he is most associated with in the minds of the American public) which hadn't played Sarasota in many years.

Third of all, Emmett died suddenly of a massive heart attack while taking out the garbage at his home in Sarasota, FL. Even if he did realize that he was having a fatal heart attack and was consumed with depression at the thought of immenently facing his own mortality AND had the good fortune to meet a doctor somewhere in the middle of his own driveway on his way to the curb...WHAT DOCTOR WOULDN'T KNOW THE NAME OF HIS PATIENT?!? WHAT DOCTOR IN THE CIRCUS COMMUNITY OF SARASOTA FLORIDA WOULDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS TREATING THE FAMOUS EMMETT KELLY?!?

And, of course, what kind of a respectable doctor keeps regular office hours outdoors in someone else's driveway? Much less that of a semi-retired circus clown? Even if it was just a walk-in clinic, what kind of money is there in something like that?

Fourth, what would stop Emmett from laughing at any one of thousands of comedians on film, on television on radio, on cassette tape, 8 track or LP or even opening the newspaper to the comics page? But because Emmett was a circus clown the assumption is that he could only be made to laugh by OTHER circus clowns?!? And that no clown was ever funny enough to make Emmett himself laugh?

This one is really beyond dumb. If someone tells you THAT one, slap them REALLY hard for me.

DAVID LARIBLE: Scarf Juggling Ballet

Closing out this week of Larible videos, here's David's scarf juggling ballet from Circus Massimo in 2002. Also in this clip is a fairly amazing rola bola act but we don't care about that, do we? No we most ceratinly do not. Not here.

They aren't posting Otto Griebling or David Shiner clips on rola bola blogs, are they?

BILLY VAUGHN: With Katie and Magaret Naughton

Photo courtesy of Mike Naughton



One of the truly great American circus clowns of recent times, Billy Vaughn, with Mike Naughton's daughters Katie (l) and Margaret (r). I hope to be able to post some video that I just got of Mr. Vaughn (auguste) teamed with Mike Snider (whiteface) working together on the Vidbel show next week.

DAVID LARIBLE: More From David

More of David Larible from Circus Massimo in 2002.

I'm glad that someone else compared Larible with Oleg Popov yesterday. I've always found him extremely "Popovian" (?) but he's overcompensating for one of Oleg Popov's biggest character defects: David smiles almost constantly, from what I've seen Popov almost never smiles in the ring unless he's doing something to someone else.

He doesn't smile when he enters.

He doesn't smile when he leaves.

He only smiles when he being "clever".

Which strikes me as a strange approach for a clown to affect. I've seen several versions of his famous Juggling Cook routine, recorded over a period of decades, but it always seems to be presented with an air as if Popov is doing the audience a favor by allowing them to bask in his particular genius.

But, he's a legend.

It may just be that I don't know enough about Russian comedy, Soviet circus history or the intricacies of their politics to get some subtext that would snap Oleg Popov into better focus for me.

BOBBY KAY: Business Card

Photo courtesy of Mike Naughton



Bobby Kay's business card, with home address and phone number, given to Mike by Bobby in 1974.

From Mike Naughton...

"Bobby gave me this card when I finished CC '74. For several years prior I usually wrote to him via the Venice address. I treasured this card with his home address because I thought it was a sign of achievement and acceptance into the world of circus; what can I tell you I was 18."

Again Mike, thank you for sharing!

DAVID LARIBLE: Spotlight Gag

Since his name came up yesterday, and since we've already posted Emmett Kelly's version of the Shorty Flem Spotlight Gag, here's David Larible's interpretation.

Stripped of the hype of the Feld Entertainment publicity machine, Larible is not a charmless performer. On the contrary, he is an extremely talented clown.

But for all his skill he is one clown that nearly always leaves me cold.

My problem with Larible is that I've never found his character nearly so huggably soft, so sweet-as-candy, so "don't-you-just-want-to-eat-him-up-he's-so-absolutely-lovably-cute" adorable as David's character seems to find himself.

I know that I am in the minority on this one. Whether it's because he's featured on the commercials, billboards, posters and programs, whether it's because he is standing firmly in the spotlight throughout the show or whether its his natural talents, gifts and abilities, audiences around the world seem to love him.

But for me, David Larible is, and always will be, the anti-Shiner.

And that's just my personal opinion on the subject. I like my clowning with a little less treacle. You may enjoy yours so sweet you risk diabetic coma. Circus comedy is an incredibly Protean art form. Like with jazz, there is room enough for endless diverse styles and welcome innovation under the amorphous umbrella heading of "clown".

CLOWN ALLEY: The Day Lou Met the Class of '74

Photo courtesy of Mike Naughton




From Mike Naughton...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

This photo was taken at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus World in Haines City, FL on US 27, just east of I-4 -- Clown College '74.

They brought us to Circus World for Elephant Riding Class this is where I met the Woodcock Family for the first time. This was also the first time Lou Jacobs was introduced to the class. He presented his "Hunting Gag" to thunderous applause from a most enthusiastic audience.

I don't want to misspell or misidentify anyone, so I'll only name those I am certain of. When I dig out the Class Roster I should be able to correctly identify all.

From the left, arms crossed is the stalwart Ruthie Chaddock; to the right of Ruthie, also arms crossed and looking fetching in tank top and neck scarf is Bruce Gutilla, behind Bruce with the cap is myself; in front of me is Barry Lubin before he had a sex change and became a senior citizen; to the right in a "shower cap?" is Dale Longmire (I just washed my hair and couldn't do a thing with it); next to Dale is George Khoury; several clowns over in civilian attire is Bobby Kay; peeking out from behind Lou's elbow is Mark Stolzenberg; down front in the center and in the afro wig is Mitch Freddes and to the right is Rick Davis. Right in front of Lou's collar is a little person, Mike King and to the left of Mike is Kathy Herb wearing overalls. Rumor had it that Mike King, who was working in Circus World prior to CC had a guaranteed contract to join the show but had to attend CC first. He was a very hard working individual and an excellent "little clown".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A photo of the day that folks like Barry Lubin, Bill Irwin, Dick Monday, Mitch Freddes, Ruth Chaddock and Mark Stolzenberg all met Lou Jacobs for the first time? Historic indeed! Thank you, Mike!

The look on Barry Lubin's (winner of the 2007 Felix B. Adler Awards Lou Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award) alone is worth 100,000 words.

MICHAEL KARP

Michael Karp, the last professional circus clown hired by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey before they started training their clowns through Clown College, lost all of his photos and circus memorabilia from his years on the road in a terrible fire two years ago.

If ANYONE has ANY photos of Michael or ANY materials relating to his years on the road, originals or copies, please contact me at cashincomedy@yahoo.com so that we can get them to him.

Thanks,
Pat

LES GOTYS: The Bird Entree

Probably my very least favorite of all the well known European entrees. I've seen this routine performed by several different acts over the years, usually with great skill and tremendous ability, but this one always leaves me cold.

This is no reflection on Les Gotys, or anyone else who's performed this piece. It's just my personal feeling about it. Audiences seem to love it.

Maybe it's the whistles? I really can't stand when clowns use a whistle throughout their act. I just find that it really grates on me.

Anyone else have a particular routine or prop that they just dread seeing again (and again and again)?

LES GOTYS: The Mirror Entree

Before Harpo Marx performed it with Lucille Ball on I LOVE LUCY, before he performed it with his brothers in DUCK SOUP, "The Mirror Entree" was a European circus classic. Here it is, in the ring, being done by Les Gotys at Circo Massimo in 2002.

MUMMENSCHANZ: The Muppet Show

A scene by Mummenschanz from the 1977 episode of the Muppet Show that they hosted.

To learn more about Mummenschanz (who were on Broadway and were doing LOTS of TV appearances when I was a kid but never got to see them live until they played Lincoln Center a few years back) please click the title of this post.

GOOD GOLLY, IT'S MORE FUMAGALLI!

FUMAGALLI

Fumagalli, the European clown appearing with the Big Apple Circus next season.

KEITH CRARY

Photo courtesy of Mike Naughton



A photo of what may be the last of a dying bred, the elegant American neat circus whiteface.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls... take a good look, there are not many of them left in the wild and without some sort of a preservation effort these sparklely, spangled creatures may vanish entirely during our lifetime.

Thought you'd all like to see this rare photo of Keith Crary, Bobby Kay's protege and uncle of Adam Kuchler's (spelling?)

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling 1930s?

Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygurl



I'm not sure of the identity of the clown on the left (it looks like it may be one of the Hanlons) but the clown on the right is none other than the "King of Clowns" (years before Budweiser was "The King of Beers", Elvis was "The King of Rock & Roll" or Michael Jackson was the "King of Pop") himself, Felix Adler.

Felix seems to be paying homage to Slivers Oakley here with his choice of hats in this photo which looks to have been taken on Ringling in the 1930s.

CLOWN ALLEY: Unknown Shrine Date

Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygurl



Let's see how many of these I can get right...

It looks like (in the back row, from left to right) we have Gene Randow, Billie Burke, Larry Cross and Dime Wilson.

In the front row (again, from left to right) there's Connie Wilson, I'm not sure, Harold Simmons and a guys who is a little shorter but dressed exactly like the other guy I didn't know. I'm guessing that these guys were a little partner act.

Well, six out of eight is still pretty good, I guess.

Anyone out there know these two little people or the name of the show this was taken on?

JEFF "GORDOON" GORDON AND DREW RICHARDSON TONIGHT IN PITTSBURGH, PA!!!

Two of America's greatest living clowns, Jeff "Le Clown Gordoon" Gordon and Drew "The Dramatic Fool" Richardson are appearing together this evening in Pittsburgh, PA on a single bill! Don't miss this one if you can in any way help it.

THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO SEE TWO ABSOLUTE MASTERS AT THE PEAK OF THEIR CRAFT!!!


__________________________________________________________________________________________________


One night only! Laugh at two solo performances by Pittsburgh's own internationally acclaimed visual comedians, Drew Richardson and Jeff Gordon as Drew the Dramatic Fool and Clown Gordoon. This special event will be videotaped, so come help fill the house and support outrageously fun theater. For ages 7-107. Refreshments will be served.

The Laughter Arts Foundation
presents
Artfool Antics: A Five-Dollar Double Bill

Tuesday, April 10, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $5 suggested donation
Reservations available at
tickets@dramaticfool.com
or call 412-781-0588

For more information,
call Drew Richardson:
412-683-3517
http://www.dramaticfool.com

TWO SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN: McBryde and Howle

Two of the most distinct makeups of the early Clown College era, two great instructors and two of the nicest guys that you'd ever want to meet, Leon "Buttons" McBryde and Jim Howle.

For those of you who don't know, Leon is the "ProKnows Guy", the maker of great quality clown noses, makeup and other accesories that have dramatically improved the look of clowns all around the world.

Jim Howle also has a line of makeup and noses but is probably best known as America's premier clown portaitist. His paintings of clowns such as Lou Jacobs, Felix Adler, Emmett Kelly, Otto Griebling, Leon McBryde, Frosty Little, Bobby Kay and Mike Keever (just to name a few) serve to wonderfully legitimize my arguement for the study of "Classic American Circus Clown Makeup Design As Vanishing American Folk Art".

I don't believe that Mr. Howle has a website. Clicking the title of this post will take you to Mr. McByde's PROKNOWS.COM.

ANNIE FRATELLINI: Monde du Cirque Lausanne 1987

Annie Fratellini, working without her husband and usual partner Pierre Etaix, performing in the ring as one of the 450 international circus artistes at a festival called Monde du Cirque in 1987. She is followed in this clip by Marco Morelli of Switzerland.

GROCK: Happy Easter!

Photo courtesy of Sue Lenz



I've been holding on to this photo that Sue Lenz sent for a few months now, just waiting for the right time to post it.The basket of bunnies makes it seems kinda "Easter-y" to me.

For everyone out there celebrating Easter today, Happy Easter. What did the bunny bring you?

For everyone else...um, hey. Spring is here! You guys have a great Sunday, April the 8th and a really nice solstice. I've got non-denominational jellybeans if anyone's hungry.

RANDOW & SIMMONS

Photo courtesy of "circusbutterflygurl"



One of the most enduring clowning partnerships on the Shrine circuit was that of Gene Randow and Harold Simmons.

They dressed alike and most of their gags centered on their identical appearances but disparate proportions with tall Gene Randow carrying a small potted plant and little Harold Simmons carrying an enormous one or Gene smoking a tiny cigar and Harold with one twice his size.

LES FRATELLINI: Paul and Albert

Sketches of Paul and Albert Fratellini from the book CLOWNS de PARIS by SERGE and illustrated by ALDEN.

It looks like a really great book and a copy is currently up for auction on the French eBay site but the seller doesn't accept PayPal and, for me, it's just too big a hassle to deal with paying for auctions the old-fashioned way. Especially when I don't read or speak any French.

I don't have that much faith in Alta Vista's Babelfish translations.

If you are fluent and French and interested in the book, please click the title of this post to be linked to the auction.

DENIS LACOMBE: The Mad Conductor

I'd hoped to be able to post some video that I have of the Fratellinis performing after the death of Paul (or Paolo, if you prefer) today but I can't locate the video at the moment.

In the meantime, let's all enjoy a few minutes with Denis LaCombe, The Mad Conductor.

LES FRATELLINI: Another Postcard

I wonder why Paolo and Alberto's names got "anglicanized" to "Paul" and "Albert" but Francois never became "Frank"?

Probably because "Frank" sounds like the first name of an overweight plumber from Staten Island and "Francois" sounds more like an elegant whiteface clown and star of the Cirque d'Hiver.

Just my guess.

CHUCK BURNES: Thanks!

Very sincere thanks go out to former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus clown of the 50s and 60s, Mr. Chuck Burnes for his extremely kind words about CLOWNALLEY.NET in his column in the latest issue of Circus Report!

THE FRATELLINIS: Trio Photo

As a compliment to yesterday's individual postcard photos of Francois, Paolo and Alberto Fratellini here's a group photo along with autographs.

For those so inclined, you may compare and contrast Lou Jacobs' makeup in the photo below with the photos of Alberto's seen here and yesterday.

LOU JACOBS: For Paul Gutheil

Since Paul Gutheil enjoyed the previous pictures of Lou so much, here's one more. I don't know the identity of the person Lou is shaking hands with but this one looks to have been taken in the late 30s/early 40s.

I always enjoy the chance to catch up with Paul and Diane and look forward to seeing them again next week when the mighty Hamid Shrine Circus makes it's way to beautiful Wilkes-Barre, PA where I'll be working with friends Shane and Alecia Hansen, Adam and Eric Burke, musician Larry Rothbard and scores of other circus luminaries.

Les Fratellini

Photos courtesy of circusbutterflygirl


No, I have not been made Executive Director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and no, it is not moving to Long Branch, NJ, the birthplace of Dan Rice.

I got back to my hotel room last night after a two show day as Comedy Ringmaster of the Hamid Shrine Circus in Greenvile, SC to find all of my e-mailboxes jammed with congratulatory messages about yesterday's ICHOF message that I posted.

Thank you to everyone who sent one, but it was just an April Fool's joke.

Now, if someone would like to actually offer me the position of Executive Director of the ICHOF I'd love to talk to them but no, it's just a joke. If you click on the link in the original post it will take you to the Wikipedia entry for April Fool's.

Thank you once again and I hope you'll forgive me. I'd like to begin to try to make it up to anyone who is upset at being "punk'd" by posting these three postcard photographs of the immortal Fratellini Trio, Francois, Paolo and Alberto...

INTERNATIONAL CLOWN HALL OF FAME HEADED TO THE JERSEY SHORE!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am extremely proud to announce that I have been offered and have accepted the position of Executive Director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and, thanks to an very generous grant from an anonomous benefactor, the International Clown Hall of Fame will be moving to the campus of Monmouth University in Long Branch, NJ with an expected opening date of August 28, 2007.

The International Clown Hall of Fame comes to New Jersey from it's original home in Wisconsin and includes scores of the world's greatest clowns of the past and present among it's honorees.

The ICHOF will now be housed in the former Lauren K. Woods Theater building which will be renamed the Dan Rice Center and will house not only the extensive collections of the ICHOF and very generous donations from the Circus World Museum in Baraboo but also a world class "theater-in-the-round" that is absolutely perfect for the staging of theaterical circus productions.

In addition to entertaining and educating area school children as well as the the general public about the art and craft of circus clowning, the Dan Rice Center will be an essential component of Monmouth University's new course in classical circus clowning which we expect to be able to expand and offer as a four year, fully accredited major by the fall of 2010.

An announcement of our amazing faculty will be made very soon. I think we've put together the greatest assemblage of international clowning instructors possible without the aid of a time machine.

To find out more about the new facility, the International Clown Hall of Fame, Monmouth University's new course in circus clowning and how all of these will be intergrated with CLOWNALLEY.NET and the Felix B. Adler Awards just click on the title of this post.

CHARLIE RIVEL: La Rivel

M. Josep Andreu

LOU JACOBS: Candid Shots

Photos by Dick Lapham



According to the eBay auction where I found these, the photos were taken by Dick Lapham, a friend of Lou's who did carpentry work for him from time to time and was (along with Lou) a member of the Sarasota Lions Club.

I never knew Lou was a member of the Lions. If he was going to join anything you'd think he'd have been a Shriner but I think the nearest Shrine club was in Tampa so maybe he just wanted to join something nearby.

Anyway, the photo above features Lou and Jimmy Armstrong with former circus performer and star of the circus film TRAPEZE, Burt Lancaster.




Lou with two of his good friends: on the right is Iron Eyes Cody and on the left is Red Skelton.




Portrait of The Artiste As A Young(er) Man




Lou with a dog outside what may be his home in Sarasota.




Lou love of dogs is well known.




This is what Lou Jacobs looks like standing next to a regular sized car. The house, and the tents in the background, is what leads me to suspect that this may be Lou's Sarasota home near the old Ringling Winter Quarters.




Lou with another great dog walkaround, a large dog in a small doghouse with "NO VACANCY" printed on the roof. This may have been a topical gag referring to the post WWII housing shortage.

This series of photos is currently up for auction on eBay. If you'd like to view the auction please click on the title of this post.

ART COOKSEY: The Sandy Weber Interview

Sandy Weber taped a great interview with former Clyde Beatty and Ringling clown Art Cooksey back in 1994 which he generously decided to share with us online. In it Art discusses his time on the Beatty show, the Ringling show, his time as host of an afternoon TV kiddie show and what it was like to work alongside fellow clowns Otto Griebling, Emmett Kelly, Lou Jacobs, Felix Adler, Paul Jung, Paul Jerome and many others.

The two part interview can be found by clicking the title of this post.

CLOWN ALLEY: The Big Apple Circus

Photographer unknown



Two 2007 Felix B. Adler Award winners, Barry "Grandma" Lubin (Lou Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award Winner) and Greg DeSanto (the louder, bossier half of the team of Greg and Karen DeSanto, winners of the Paul Jung Award for Best Ensemble) seen here during the run of Big Apple's 2006 production GRANDMA GOES TO THE MOVIES (directed by former Clown College director Steve Smith) with the author of STEP RIGHT UP! THE ADVENTURE OF CIRCUS IN AMERICA, Mr, LaVahn Hoh.

It was my good fortune to meet all three of these gentlemen when I attended the final class of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College class of 1997 (TEN YEARS AGO?!?) where Greg, Karen and Barry taught and LaVahn acted as official Clown College historian.

1965

Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygirl



A "found" photograph from an unknown photographer of an unknown clown on an unknown show.

At first I thought it was Bobby Kaye doing a 1965 animal walk for Ringling, but that's not Bobby and no one else on the Ringling show at the time looked like that. It's no one I recognize from the Beatty-Cole Alley either.

Anyone out there recognize the clown, elephants, the handler or the vintage Mustang parked in the background?

Grandma Goes to Monte Carlo

No, thats not the title of a screwball Disney film starring Ruth Gordon. Our own 2007 Felix B. Adler Award winner of the 1st ever Lou Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award, Mr. Barry "Grandma" Lubin, has been invited to perform in the 2008 Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo!!!

A richly deserved honor for a truly great clown.

Barry became my hero the very first time I watched him work in 1996 and has impressed me more and more as the years go by.

And he need not worry how "Grandma" is doing here at home while he is away performing in Germany with Circus Krone. My family and I saw Big Apple at their closing show in Somerset, NJ yesterday afternoon and Grandma is in excellent hands, currently being performed by the very funny Matthew Pauli.

Matthew is particularly funny when he is improvising and gets a certain twinkle in his eye that tells you that he is having the time of his life working with straightman Joel Jeske.

Joel is doing an incredible job as host and foil to not only Grandma but Francesco (actually Francesco's son stepping in for Francesco while he attends to a medical issue from which we all hope he quickly recovers in time to rejoin the tour), Justin Case (rumored to be headed to the Ringling Gold Unit) and Johnny Peers who pulled out all the stops and displayed the high level of showmanship that makes it abundantly clear that he is unquestionably a world-class circus clown in addition to being an absolutely amazing dog trainer.

We enjoyed the show immensely and once again thank our host, Mr. Don Covington for the type of idyllic afternoon that really makes life worth living.


I'm off this week to South Carolina to perform a new comedy Ringmaster character for the Hamid Shrine Circus, so if you live in or around Greenwood, Anderson or Greenville please stop by and say "Hi"!

CLOWN ALLEY: 136th Edition Ringling Blue Unit

The clowns of the 1st year of the 136th edition Blue Unit tour of the Ringling show (now in it's 2nd year so some of these clowns have left), under the leadership of Boss Clown Scott O'Donnell.

Scott has more than capably filled the gap left by the sudden departure of Madame Shamsheeva with his endearing comedy dog act, one of the best around.

Frankie and the Prince

Frankie Saluto and Prince Paul Alpert from Ringling in the late 60s.

BILLY SMART'S CIRCUS: Boxing Gag

I'm not sure who the clown is but I've seen the gag before. I've seen it done at Cirque de lar Mer in Sea World Orlando (with the same music) and I know Don Christensen has been doing something similar to it around Europe. For lack of a better title let's call it "The Audience Participation Boxing Gag".

It has less in common with the classic Chesty Mortimer/Otto Griebling/Freddie Freeman-style Boxing Gag (or the Boxing Machine that the Llatas did) than it does with David Shiner, Rene Bazinet and David Larible but it seems to be rapidly becoming one of the "contemporary standards"; a gag in several people's repetior.

DAVID SHINER: Nouvelle Experience

David Shiner performing in Cirque du Soleil's NOUVELLE EXPERIENCE in a segment that is not included in the home video release.

Mr. Shiner is currently directing le Cirque's latest production, CIRQUE 2007.

Abbott & COSTELLO: More Busy Bee

There is a video on YouTube of Abbott & Costello performing the Busy Bee (called "The Sons of Neptune") with the great Shemp Howard from their 1941 film IN THE NAVY that I'd like to repost for everyone here but the person who posted it has disabled imbedding so you'll have to go over to YouTube to see it.

1) Go to youtube.com

2) search for "ABBOTT", "COSTELLO" and "SONS OF NEPTUNE".

3) Enjoy!

ABBOTT & COSTELLO: The Busy Bee

William (Bud) Abbott (born 10/02/1897 in Asbury Park, NJ) and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo on 03/06/06 in Paterson, NJ) performing The Busy Bee (called "Buzzin' the Bee" here) with co-star Sid Fields during the 1952 season of THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW.

CIRCUS RONCALLI: The Busy Bee

Whiteface Francesco Caroli along with Augustes Zippo (Bernhard Paul) and Angelo (Angelo Munoz) perform the Busy Bee (also known as "The Honeybee") entree at Circus Roncalli, taken from a German television special.

Gianny "Fumagalli" Huesca learned the routine from these three, so it's probably a pretty good indicator of how he'll present it if he does it on the Big Apple Circus here next season.

THE POMPOFF THEDY FAMILY: For the Blue Unit Clowns

I had a wonderful time Saturday night visiting with Scott, Steve and the clowns of the 2nd year of the current Ringling Blue Unit tour.

The Blue show is what the Blue show is. It's not my cup of tea, but there is a whole lot of talent in the Alley right now and they are trying their best against a lot of very high "concepts" that don't exactly showcase them (or anyone else) in the best possible light.

That said, some members of the Alley were asking to see some more of the Pompoff Thedys. I have some great footage from the Ed Sullivan Show but Sofa Entertainment has requested that I not post any more Sullivan clips.

This clip, from a 1970s Danish TV special (the same one that gave us previous clips of Joe Jackson Jr. and Charlie Rivel) features red clowns Pepe (as the short, Harpo Marx-like Auguste) and Sandro (as the 2nd, or "Contre" Auguste) with Pablo in the role of the White.

Kinko

Always a welcome addition to The Alley...Mr. Glen "Kinko" Sunberry.

SPIKE JONES AND THE CITY SLICKERS: Fireman Save My Child!

Lindley Armstrong "Spike" Jones (December 14, 1911, Long Beach, California -- May 1, 1965, Beverly Hills, California) and his band, The City Slickers (featuring talented musician/comedians including Georgie Rock, Freddie Morgan Earl Bennett as "Sir Frederick Gas", Dick Morgan, Joe Siracusa and Billy Barty) from their appearance in the 1954 Universal remake of FIREMAN, SAVE MY CHILD!

The film was originally designed as a vehicle for Abbott & Costello, who backed out due to illness (but can still be seen in some long shots) when Lou Costello came down with rheumatic fever. Or Costello turned down the script. Or the team decided to film Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde instead. Whatever the reason, when the film was finally released, Spike and the Slickers were instead sharing the silver screen with the immortal comedy team of Hugh O'Brien and Buddy "Shipoopi" Hackett.

While "The Poet & Peasant Overture" bit has always been one of my favorites, it's the Billy Barty headspin seen towards the end that really makes this clip!

CIRQUE ARLETTE GRUSS: Andre & Frisco

Cirque Arlette Gruss' Andre & Frisco perform their Paper Hanger entree. I've seen Norman Wisdon do a very similar routine on an early 60s television special and I don't know if Wisdom was performing an old circus gag or the Euro-clowns adapted an old televison bit.

For more on Cirque Arlette Gruss, please click the title of this post.

BOBBY KAYE on Queen For a Day

Extremely rare video from long before he became one of only four Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clowns to earn the title of "Master Clown", here we see Robert "Bobby Kaye" Smiley doing advance work for the circus by appearing on an episode of the daytime game show QUEEN FOR A DAY.

Bobby is partnered here with a woman identified only as "Larry". Despite the claim by the host, "Larry" was not a Ringling circus clown and doesn't seem to be a pro clown at all. Who is she? Why is she there? I don't know.

Beware the Ides of March!

HAPPY PI DAY!!!

"The lady wants a B I G CAKE! Gimme da flour boys, gimme flour!"

Members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 122nd edition Blue Unit Clown Alley performing the kind of great big, messy classic-style circus gag that I love to see but would hate to be in.

The gag is described here by Clown College director Steve Smith and features Producing Clown Greg DeSanto as the Head Baker, Kevin Carr, Marge Talavera and Cezary Skarzynski as his Assistant Bakers, Ceslee Conkling as the customer who gets pied (and takes the incredible high back fall) at the end and Laura Presley as the person popping up from the oven at the blow-off.

Mr. DeSanto himself tells us that Kevin Carr did the first year along with Marge, Cezary & Ceslee. The second year Dave Kiser and David Solove came in to replace Kevin & Marge who left that year. Cezary and Ceslee were always in it.

Sean Conklin would fill in for Greg when he'd be off teaching at Clown College (Kiser was his usual substitute). On the rare times Ceslee was out (she broke a rib somewhere along the line), Lara Heitman filled in.

How's that for a Pi Day video?

Today's Post 3/14

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In light of the fact that today is "Pi Day", today's extremely appropriate video will be posted at exactly 1:59 PM EST.

Happy Pi Day!


~P

Mitch Freddes

Clown College class of '74 graduate and currently featured on the Ringling Gold Unit, Mr. Jonathan "Mitch" Freddes.

Picture

"Another Happy Customer!"

Photo courtesy of circusbutterflygurl



Proof that well-meaning parents and grandparents have been traumatizing youngsters with the idea that toddlers would somehow like their picture taken with a gaggle of strangers in makeup since the invention of photography, comes this mid-forties photo (that "circusbutterflygurl" found "somewhere on the web" which may or may not originally be) from National Geographic.

I'm on the road right now and don't have my usual cheat sheets with me so I can only identify (bottom row starting at left) Prince Paul Alpert, Paul Jung and Jimmy Armstrong.

The man in the top row, far right, looks to be Art Cooksey.