CLOWN ALLEY: "The B.B. Club", Ringling Bros. Circus (circa 1900)

I have seen newspaper accounts describe this as the "Button Boosters Club" but the back of the photo identifies it as the "Button Busters Club" (likely as in 'you'll bust yer buttons') and the Hagenbeck Wallace clowns had one as well.

 "B.B. Club" was a common newspaper abbreviation for baseball team at the turn of the century.

All the performers listed are clowns so some of the clowns either had their own 

social club within the larger alley or this is a baseball team comprised of Ringling clowns

A much better scan from the personal collection of Hank Peare (courtesy of Gary Peare)

BUZZY POTTS

POODLES HANNEFORD: New York Clipper (April 7, 1920)

SETTLE POODLES COMPLAINT

The complaint of Poodles Hanneford, the Hippodrome clown, charging the May Wirth act with infringing upon his material, which gave rise to considerable discussion among both vaudeville and circus folk when it was filed with the N. V. A ., has been settled in favor of the Wirth act. According to the decision of the complaint board, the infringements which Hanneford claimed against the Wirth act have and are being used by scores of equestrians. Expert testimony was given to this effect by Charles Ringling, Toto, and a number of other circus folk. However, it has been suggested that Phil, the comedian in the Wirth act, change his makeup, which, it was contended, is identical to that of Poodles .

TOTO: Hollow Tree

Courtesy of Past Tense

Autographed photo of Toto the Clown, at the Hollow Tree, n.d.

Toto’s real name was Alfonso Novello. He was born in Genf, Switzerland in 1888. He starred in comedic shorts for filmmaker Hal Roach, and started in vaudeville in 1918. His act included a dog named Whiskey, who rode along with Toto in his clown car. Toto headlined at the New York Hippodrome and the Palace Theater. He died in 1938 while in the process of suing the New York Daily Mirror for mistakenly reporting his death.

HUNTING GAG: Los Angeles Herald (November 13, 1907)

Charlie Bell: Hunting Gag August 14, 1947

DOG MADE UP AS RABBIT SCORES HIT AT CIRCUS

One of the cleverest acts in the Norrls & Rowe circus yesterday was that of Toto Ducro, clown. Ducro has a dog made up to represent a rabbit. The clown goes on a rabbit hunting trip and is followed by the rabbit dog; the clown sees the rabbit; it sits on its hind legs; the clown takes aim; fires an imaginary gun and the rabbit falls over as If shot.

The clown goes to the supposedly dead rabbit and picks it up and throws it carelessly down. The rabbit does not move from the position in which It falls, but as soon as the clown walks away the rabbit follows him again. It is a new and novel act and is the finest specimen of animal training seen in years.

Lou Jacobs and Knucklehead: Hunting Gag 1977

PETE MARDO: Hopkinsville Kentuckian (October 20, 1914)

Pete Mardo, a Famous European Clown Coming

With Ringling Bros. Shows.

Once each month the clowns of Ringling Brothers' circus, which is coming here Wednesday, Oct. 21, hold a meeting and elect a "joke editor." It becomes the duty of this official to buy all the newspapers procurable and to read them religiously. Whenever he comes upon a topic which, might serve for an up-to-date parody or humorous caricature,
he puts it aside.

Every afternoon at 1 o'clock there is a meeting of what is known as the "sawdust senate." This is composed of a committee of twenty clowns selected from the entire army of jesters. The "editor" makes his report to this body and
they discuss it and select those ideas which may be turned to account on the hippodrome track.

This is the secret of the down-to-the-minute performances of the Ringling Brothers' skylarkers. There is not a fad of dress, dance or unusual innovation which they do not portray in some ludicrous manner.

They pantomime public and political events, but with so much good humor that the bitterest of factionists pound each other on the back and roar with laughter. The clowns do not fear to enter the land of invention, but introduce gaudy painted airships which skim around in the tent top and explode while in mid-air. They flit around the hippodrome track in queer looking racing cars, throw terrible looking but quite innocent bombs, and shoot each other
from big wooden cannons. They mimic everybody and everything.

Sandwiched between the gorgeousness of the new spectacle of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba with its cast
of 1.250 characters, and the daring of the areanic displays, these Merry Andrews temper the entire circus program with the rarest of comedy.

LARRY CROSS: Wallace Bros. Circus (1941)

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. (Plymouth, Indiana 1908)

From the personal collection of Hank Peare, courtesy of Gary Peare

HAGENBECK-WALLACE CLOWN ALLEY (1924)

Art Borella

Shorty Flemm . Ernest LaDoux , Kid Kennard , Bill Hart , Joe "Koko" Coyle . Art Borella . Joe Gould , Friday Wright , Art Potter , John Potter , Bill Potter , Walter Goodenough . Earl Shipley . Ray McDonald , Louis Plamondln , Abe Arononson . Billy Henderson , Charlie West , Dick Pinckney , James Duggar . James Thomas , Chester "Bobo" Barnett and Wallace Cobb

Joe "Koko" Coyle

THE NEW YORK PLAYER: Ringling Bros. Show Long On Joeys (May 16, 1913)

RINGLING BROS. SHOW LONG ON JOEYS

Clowns Attracted an Unusual Amount of Attention During Engagement at Philadelphia Last Week 

PHILADELPHIA, May 10 . —Although every number on the program of the Ringling Brothers Circus delighted our people this week , the clown contingent this year is made up of such a list of talented performers that it is worthy of special notice . Their mirth-provoking antics cannot help but convulse people in all parts of the United States the same as they did here all this week . Al . Ringling always had a soft spot in his heart for an accomplished Joey and , as he knows that the paying public love to see the clowns , he has secured the foremost in their line in this show . To describe the many big numbers put on by the clowns would be difficult for when they are given the hippodrome track to work on , every portion of it is covered by the funny men in new and novel side-splitting diversions . An individual list of the many clowns with the show this season will prove interesting and valuable . Their names and the individual characterizations they assume , follows : Al Miaco , the youngest old clown in the business , who has been amusing the people of the United States since he was a boy—and that was many , many years ago—is giving an effective picture of William Jennings Bryan this year , besides joining in the group fun-making ; Billy Carroll , another clown who dates back a number of years , uses his individual specialty , the Two Headed Policeman ; George Hartzell . the Beau Brummel of clowns ; Horace Webb , who does the effective aeroplane specialty ; Fred . Stelling , butterfly ; Jules Tournour , pantomime clown ; Max Delea , The Strap-Hangers Plight ; Ed . Allen , rag artist ; Louie Plamodon , The Ride on Mothers Back ; W . Baird , trained pig ; Bert Leo , trained goose ; Sam Roberts , suffragette ; Paul Minno , eccentric dude ; Billy Jamison , giant fire-cracker ; The Three Mardos , Morning After and bath-tub ; Mickey McDonald , big-headed man ; Ed . Walton ; parcel post carrier ; Rollie Wilson , alligator hunt ; Alex Brock , three-legged sailor ; Eddie Nemo , long-legged man ; Jimmy Sprigs , old policeman ; The Two Casinos ; racing horse and pigs , Denny McPride , Ed . Nathers , Johnny Tripp and Earl Bambard .

FRANK CROMWELL

GEORGE HARTZELL: "The Millionaire Clown"

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (1922)

As confirmed by the New York Clipper March 29, 1922

Arnt Augestad
Felix Adler
Buck Baker
Tony Martin
Roy Barrett
The Six Casinos
Charlie Cheer
Harry Clemings
Jack Hedder
Al Sylvester
Ted Marchant
Gene Dekoe
Andrew Deltorelli
Joe Deltorelli
Tom Hart
Everett Hart
George Hartzell
The Three Jungs
The Three Harddigs
Spader Johnson
Jack LeClair
Jack Lyons
Willie Moser
Eddie Nemo
Fred Meers
Herman Poline
The Rice Trio
Billy Rice
John Slater
Joe Spissell
Jim Spriggs
Joe Stirk
Joe Arena
Charles Smith
Fred Stelling
Jules Turnour
H.A. Thompson
Pat Valdo
Fred Voody
Al White
E.W. White
George Zammert

IN MEMORIAM: Frank "Slivers" Oakley

The world lost Francis "Slivers" Oakley 100 years ago today. The fundraising effort held here on clownalley.net this past weekend raised over $3,500. to provide both Slivers and Nellie with a tombstone. We've been asked to leave the GoFundMe site active so that others can continue to contribute with any funds left over after the instillation earmarked for an International Clown Hall of Fame fund for future projects of a similar nature.

The Oakley family wishes to extend their most heartfelt gratitude for the generosity of the international clown community in coming together to honor Slivers and Nellie's memory.

SLIVERS OAKLEY MEMORIAL FUND DRIVE IS NOW LIVE!

Frank "Slivers" Oakley was the single most influential American circus clown of the early 20th century. He performed an unheard of 15 minute solo baseball routine with the Ringling Bros. Circus that made him one of, if not the, premier comedian of his day. In the off-season he clowned in vaudeville and, in 1905, began working with Marceline in the tremendous spectacles at the massive New York Hippodrome.

He was a star.

Slivers wife passed away in 1913 and he never got over the loss of his beloved Nellie. Slivers took his own life on March 8, 1916.

Tuesday March 8th, 2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of his passing and clownalley.net is raising funds to purchase a stone next Tuesday to mark Slivers and Nellie's final resting place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Queens, NY.

We are trying to spread the word throughout the clown, circus, vaudeville and variety communities that a GoFundMe site will be live from 12:00 noon on Friday March 4th, 2016 through midnight on Sunday March 6th (EST). We are trying to raise at least $3,000. for a 24"x12" stone with a laser etching of Slivers' clown character.

Any funds raised in excess will be donated to the International Clown Hall of Fame for similar future projects.

The GoFundMe site for donations is Click here to support Slivers Oakley Memorial Fund by Pat Cashin

Thank you in advance for your help, 

Pat Cashin
clownalley.net

SLIVERS OAKLEY MEMORIAL FUND DRIVE

The Go Fund Me site is live and accepting donations now, the Fund Drive begins in earnest this Friday at noon EST.

Our very first donation came from the five year old son of friend Jon P. Pult...

"Hi Pat,

I was telling my wife this morning about your fundraising plan to mark the grave of Slivers Oakley and my five-year-old, unprompted, handed me his little change wallet and said "Here, Dad. There's some paper money and some coin money, send it to the clown for his grave." It's 35 dollars. I'll match it.

Good luck with the project. I hope it works out."

There is something so cosmically, karmically, comically right about the first donation coming from a very sweet, very generous five year old boy wanting to remember a clown that he's never seen.

SLIVERS OAKLEY: Memorial Fund Drive

Next Tuesday, March 8th 2016, will mark the 100th anniversary of the passing of legendary clown Frank "Slivers" Oakley.

Clownalley.net will be raising funds to provide Mr. Oakley with a grave marker. We will begin here on the site at noon (EST) on Friday March 4, 2016 and end at 11:59 PM (EST) on Sunday March 6th, 2016.

On the morning of March 8th, 2016 I will place the order based on funds raised over the weekend.


Yours,

Pat Cashin
clownalley.net

TOM & TAMMY PARISH: Paul Gutheil Photo

CLYDE BEATTY - COLE BROS: Firehouse Gag

FELIX ADLER

FRANKIE SALUTO

THE THREE KEATONS

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (1955)

TOM BELLIG: Circus Renz (1870)

Tom Bellig, according to legend, is the creator of the Auguste clown

FRANCOIS FRATELLINI (1938)

JIM RUTHERFORD/BUCK BAKER: Fire Engine (1959)

One of the old Ringling fire engines on display at the Ringling Museum in 1959.

SUCH A FOOLISH WISH...

CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey; Bellevue Hospital, NY (1930)

DIAMOND JIM PARKER

IM MEMORIAM: Tom Mullica (1948-2016)

Very saddened to learn of the passing of the unbelievably talented Tom Mullica...

GIJON POLIDOR

ARNIE "RED" HONKOLA

Arnie "Red" Honkola, transfer from the elephant department, was a fixture in the Alley for the better part
of 20 years. A quiet guy, he kept to himself and was rarely without a bottle of soda and a cigarette.

BOXING GAG: Koko Coyle and John Toy (undated)

LOU COSTELLO: The Lemon Bit (December 15, 1957)

From the Steve Allen Show, with Tom Poston (in the Bud Abbott role) and Louis Nye...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHUCK BURNES!

STEVE & RYAN: Nothing But Nonsense Fundraiser

Steve Copeland and Ryan Combs are in the final weekend of their Indiegogo fundraiser to produce their show "Nothing But Nonsense".

They are two of the best working clowns anywhere right now and are supremely worthy, and would be extremely grateful, for your very generous support...

Nothing But Nonsense

"Hold the phone and hide the good China!

Steve and Ryan, the Sultans of Slapstick, present their new show, Nothing But Nonsense, a hilarious cavalcade of singing, dancing and visual gags that has people everywhere asking, “Who hired these two?!”

Mirroring the lives of Steve & Ryan, Nothing But Nonsense is a raucous romp filled with music, magic, and other underwhelming achievements that will have you laughing so hard rubber chickens will shoot out your nose!

Come and get in on the act with Nothing But Nonsense, an exciting extravaganza of pure entertainment that you’ll never forget….no matter how hard you try. "

We are Steve Copeland and Ryan Combs, and our passion is making people laugh. We have spent the past thirteen years touring the United States and abroad doing exactly that.

It has been our dream for many years to bring our unique brand of entertainment to people all over the world with our own show.

Nothing But Nonsense is that show. Your contribution will make our dream come true, and we can continue doing what we do best: making people of all ages roar with laughter.

P.S- We did not win the $1.6 billion Powerball drawing, so this campaign is our Plan B! 

What We Need 

Since we have spent the majority of our careers as circus clowns, we are not exactly rolling in dough! 

We are raising funds to purchase the following:

• Original music: $2,000
• Microphones and other sound equipment: $4,000
• Costumes: $1,000
• Steel, wood, foam, coating, and paint for set and prop construction: $3,000
  
  
  

  Support "Nothing But Nonsense" by clicking HERE
  
  

THE RASTELLIS: La Piste aux Etoiles

Video courtesy of Lionel Lutringer

70th ANNUAL JOSEPH GRIMALDI SERVICE: Holy Trinity Church, Dalston (February 7, 2016)

I see friends Bobbo Roberts and Tweedy Digweed in attendance.

CLOWN ENTREES: Circus Roncalli

TAMMY PARISH: Visiting the International Clown Hall of Fame!

THE MAD COMEDIANS: Nikulin Circus Festival

JACK COOK: Gibtown Showmen's Club Circus

THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE

HAIR GROWER: Kelly-Miller Circus, Pittsfield Mass (May 27, 1954)

Photo courtesy of by John F Pendergast

IN MEMORIAM: Larry Rothbard

Extremely sad news comes to us from Chicagoland this morning, Larry Rothbard, longtime musical director of the Hamid Circus has passed away.

Larry was a wonderful guy, a wonderful musician, and will be sorely missed by everyone.

THE THREE BONOS: Ups and Downs (1932)

ARNAUT BROTHERS (1928)

IN REMEMBRANCE: Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966)

Buster Keaton passed away 50 years ago today.

CHARLIE RIVEL: Vienna Children's Hospital (1937)

COCO: Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia (1950s)

PERCY HUXTER: Meeting the Queen (British Pathe, 1955)

HAPPY 136TH BIRTHDAY, W.C. FIELDS!

BIZARRO

BILL IRWIN: Cheers of a Clown (Vanity Fair)

CHEERS OF A CLOWN 

Bill Irwin, photographed in New York City. Photograph by Annie Leibovitz. Kennedy Center Honors founder George Stevens Jr. writes an appreciation of our great clown for his brilliance as a performer and audience member. 

BY GEORGE STEVENS JR.

 We go to the theater to be surprised, and for 40 years Bill Irwin has been on a steady quest to surprise us. Strangers rarely stop this chameleon-like artist on the street, because his own persona is so well disguised within his extraordinary gallery of characters. Irwin studied at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College before turning to the stage. We often discover him wearing extremely baggy pants, black horn-rimmed glasses, and an item from his storehouse of bizarre hats on his head. His training and versatility gave him tools to enchant us in offerings ranging from Fool Moon and Old Hats, with his fellow clown David Shiner, to Waiting for Godot, with Steve Martin and Robin Williams, and King Lear, playing the Fool, a performance New York Times critic Ben Brantley described as “insolent, fearful, desolate and touched with the antic brilliance of madness.” Then he surprises us by turning up in The Good Wife, Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Rachel Getting Married, with Anne Hathaway, or as a serial killer on CSI. Or at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as a drum major marching with a band that would not follow his directions.

Most recently I encountered Mr. Irwin at the Kennedy Center. On this night our surprise was to see him enter in one of his baggy-pants ensembles with a bow tie and derby hat, only to be joined by acclaimed ballerina Tiler Peck in a pas de deux that juxtaposed Ms. Peck’s balletic gifts with Irwin’s charm, humor, and considerable dancing skill. His bulky shoes seemed crafted to inhibit graceful movement, but he took on the qualities of the ballerina with his shape-changing eccentricity. It was a beguiling partnership.

Irwin has been a regular at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, performing onstage from time to time, but I rank him as our all-time most valuable audience member. We edited the Honors for television, and whenever we cut to Bill he was responding in perfect pitch, enhancing the viewer’s appreciation with the sensibility that works for him onstage, all natural, everything coming from inside.

In 2007, he gave me my favorite surprise. I went with a touch of skepticism to see him as George in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Irwin’s clown took the night off. His seemingly mild, slightly stooped academic in a sweater-vest was so true to a college professor that his emerging rage and scarring wit were chilling and powerful when he tangled with Kathleen Turner’s boozy Martha. It is the best rendering of George I’ve ever seen, and it earned him a Tony Award for best actor.

Bill once said, “When you’re onstage, part of you wants to be off as fast as possible. And once you’re offstage, everything is in anticipation of the next time you’re on.” We’re waiting, Bill.

DREAMSCOPE ART: Whiteface, Auguste and Character

Harry Dann

Lou Jacobs

Otto Griebling

POW! RIGHT IN DA KISSA!