In Remembrance of Pat Cashin

Pat Cashin left us way too soon, eight years ago today. I was reading articles about him today and was shocked that he was only 48 years old when he passed away, which is especially sobering since I am now 40.

Pat was one of the funniest people I knew, and I still laugh thinking about the many outrageous and hilarious things he said every time I talked to him.

There are so many things going on in the world that I would love to hear his unique take on. I always admired what a great father he was, and I wish that was something I could pick his brain about now that I'm a single dad.

Please enjoy Pat's promo reel from awhile back featuring his work on several different circuses.

We miss and love you, Kunckle Head!

Circus History Spotlight featuring Leo Acton

Veteran Culpepper & Merriweather clown Leo Acton compares the differences of performing with The Greatest Show on Earth to a small circus that stays within small-town America. Circus History Spotlight! is a video series by the Circus Historical Society, a tax exempt not for profit educational organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of circus. Learn more and join today at https://circushistory.org.

Remembering Rob Torres

Before he took the international circus world by storm, Rob Torres was one of the students of the Ringling Clown College class of 1991 vying for a job with The Greatest Show on Earth. 

Instead he accomplished so much more before he left us way too soon six years ago on June 26th, 2018. Please forgive my tardy posting, and rest in peace, Rob.

Ringling 1993: Big Bike

Ringmaster Eric Michael Gillett, Boss Clown Dave DeDera as the old lady, and cyclists Darren Cooper, Max Richardson, Ray LeClair, David Frank, and Zac Whinnem performing the big bike routine on the Ringling Red Unit in 1993.

This was during David Larible's tenure as headliner on the Red Unit, so this was the Alley's one big ring spot for the tour.

As a kid I remember being disappointed that there wasn't more of the Alley clowns in the show, although between Come In gags, track gags, and walkarounds, they were doing more that the clowns got to do in the final decade or so of the show's run before the "closing" in 2017.

This act was on the Blue and Red Units in 2000-2001 and 2011-2012 respectively, but done by Eastern European acrobats. 

It is my understanding that the clowns in this act suffered many injuries from the apparatus, which is not surprising. That thing is a beast! 

In Remembrance: Leon "Buttons" McBryde

Leon McBryde passed away today. Many people know him best as Buttons, a clown who got his start in the business by graduating from the Ringling Clown College in 1969.

After spending a year on the Blue Unit, he toured ahead of the Greatest Show on Earth as a Goodwill Ambassador. 

His true legacy to clowns will be his work in clown education as a founder of the program Advanced Studies, of which he is a founding member, and also as a top clown nose maker. Leon and his wife Linda created the company Proknows, which sold all kind of clown supplies, most notably a fantastic array of clown noses that the majority of clowns in America have worn.

Throughout his career Leon performed as Santa, which became his main source of performing in his later years. 

He is an inductee of both the International Clown Hall of Fame and the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame, and was a loved and respected practitioner in both fields.

Above is a video of Leon and Michael "Coco" Polakovs taken at Advanced Studies in the 1990s.

What I have written is just a brief glimpse into Leon's long, full life. Please feel free to add more information, stories, or thoughts in the comments below. 

Rodeo Clown J.J. Harrison

Rodeo clown J.J. Harrison performing at the National Western Stock Show in 2013

Jan Damm: Circus Flora

Here is Jan Damm, who just finished touring with the new Ringling show, performing in the 2023 Circus Flora production, 'Undercover'.

From the New England Center for Circus Arts website: 

"Jan Damm began performing juggling shows for kids in central Maine when he was 12 years old. Since then he has toured nationally and around the world as a professional clown and circus artist. Highlights include headlining the production show on Celebrity Cruises ‘Silhouette’, Montreal’s ‘Festival Completement Cirque’ with ‘Midnight Circus’, playing Broadway with ‘Cirque Mechanics’, ‘Big Apple Circus’ 40th Anniversary Tour, and performance intervention work in Haiti and Lebanon with ‘Clowns Without Borders’. He’s also appeared on David Letterman, and with Circus Bella, Circus Zoppe, Flynn Creek Circus, and Circus Flora among others. Jan has a passion for coaching and creation, and has worked as an instructor throughout the country, including coaching featured acts on Smirkus Big Top Tour. He lives with his wife and circus partner Ariele, and their children Timo and Ilsa."

Clown College Makeup Class

 

Photo courtesy of Steve Marshall

Here are some of the students of the Ringling Clown College class of 1983 painting their faces in makeup class. 

Note the photos of previous graduates on the wall that the new students could study for inspiration in coming up with their unique clown face.

This photo was taken by Steve Marshall, who was a graduate of the class of 1983, and toured with the show's Red and Gold Units. He currently performs as a magician in Japan.

Mr Lorenz

Mr Lorenz aka Lorenzo Carnevale performing at the 45th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo in 2023.

Give Back Sunday: Benefitting the ICHOF

Mark your calendars for this Give Back Sunday event on June 23rd, benefiting the International Clown Hall of Fame. This is an all day event dedicated to fundraising for the cause.

The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center is a not-for profit 501 (c) 3 organization located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Since they opened their doors to the public they have had thousands of guests visit in person and view the most amazing collection of clown artifacts in the world.

Learn more about them at:  International Clown Hall of Fame

GIVE BACK SUNDAY: 
10% of our 06/23 brewery sales plus direct donations taken at the bar will be donated. The International Clown Hall of Fame will be selling some awesome memorabilia you won't want to miss out on. 

We hope you can come out and show your support for the local community!

Happy Birthday, Bill Irwin

 Happy 74th birthday to one of the absolute best, Mr. Bill Irwin.

Birthday Greetings by Jason & Justin Senft

Photo: Mark Seliger

Nick & Squid: Movie Act

From Nick: 

NiCK & SQUiD are a clown duo currently based out of Dallas, TX USA. Previous employers include but are not limited to: "Lone Star Circus", "Circus Espana" and the historic Italian circus "Circo Peppino Medini". NiCK & SQUiD's style of clowning is a mix of Theatre and Circus. By implementing strong visual elements, storytelling, humor and audience participation their content can be easily understood by various cultures around the world. Nick is a second generation circus clown and when he found Squid in 2015 he instantly fell in love with her!

In Memorium: Aaron Daniel Tucker

Aaron Tucker graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1988. Here he is in the graduation performance with Eric Zander performing their lumberjack gag. 

Clown College 1988 Lumberjack Gag

Aaron performed on the Ringling Blue Unit in 1989 and then the Red Unit in 1990. Here he is performing a cowboy gag on the Blue Unit in 1989 with Kevin Thompson.

Ringling 1989 Cowboy Gag

Post Ringling Aaron studied with Avner Eisenberg, aka Avner the Eccentric and also Aitor Basauri of Spymonkey, and he was frequently involved with The Celebration Barn in Maine.

Aaron also toured with Fabulous Problemas, a trio show that he co-wrote and performed with Amanda Huotari and Daniel Orrantia. 

The Fabulous Problemas

More recently Aaron performed all over Japan with the renowned Kinoshita Circus alongside many clown partners, most recently Jessi Hoffschildt and Randy Brake. Here he is performing on Kinoshita with Sean Hartman in 2002.

Kinoshita 2002 Ring Toss

Aaron Tucker passed away on April 2nd.

More information from Aaron’s longtime friend, Jay Stewart:

“Not mentioned here are that Tucker was a founding member of The Seaside Clowns in Myrtle Beach, SC, as well as a powerhouse member of The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, in Providence, RI.  And, it should be noted that Tucker was an accomplished musician, fronting his own band, The Sleepwalkers, as well as walking stilts all over New England for Bravo Brothers Entertainment.

Tucker showed that the word “Clown” is a big umbrella, covering a lot of disciplines, skills and outreach.

Rest in Peace, brother”

Please feel free to share your memories or photos of Aaron in the comments.

Cirque Du Soleil: "Best of Clowning"

Over an hour of Cirque Du Soleil clowning from the shows Totem, O, Luzia, Alegria, Saltimbanco, Volta, Kurios, Dralion, Kooza, Le Cirque Reinvente, Luzia, and Novelle Experience.

Clown College 1993: Edge and Trick

Edge (Edzui Szumowski) and Trick Kelly performing a Greg DeSanto directed gag in the 1993 Ringling Clown College graduation performance.

Tickey the Clown

"Tickey the clown was South Africas premier clown from 1960s onwards and become a household name in South African entertainment. He was named after the smallest coin in circulation, the tickey. He is seen here performing with his long time partner Lew Mitchem, circus performer and impresario."

Los Pepín León Trio

The Spanish trio, Los Pepín León performing in the Cirque Achille Zavatta in Paris for the 1982/1983 season.

Rocco Paris Circus Circus

One of my favorite clowns, Rocco Paris, performing as his old man character at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, NV. I had the pleasure of seeing Rocco live last year when our tour stopped in Vegas, and watching him is a true master class in physical comedy.

Les Rossyan

Last but certainly not least, it is a thrill to be sharing the bill with Yann Rossi, the white clown from the wonderful musical clown family, Les Rossyan, seen here at the 1997 International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.

Fumagalli and Darius

I am also excited to share the bill at Monte Carlo with the great Fumagalli and his brother, Darius, here performing my favorite of his entrées on Italian television in 2014.

Petit Gougou and Eddy Sosman

I am very excited to get to work with Petit Gougou here in Monte Carlo as he assumes the role of Mr. Loyal, the ringmaster of the festival. 

Here he and his partner Eddy Sosman perform an excellent plate entreé on Circus Knie in 1988. 

The Salvini Musical Clowns

The Salvini clowns from Italy performing on a German circus twelve years ago.

Happy Lou Year 2024

What better way to ring in the new year than with the man whose face is synonymous with the word "clown" AND who was born on January 1st one hundred and twenty-one years ago!

My Lou Year's resolution is to start regularly posting on this blog again. It was a busy year for me: being a single father, pulling triple duty as clown, publicity director, and social media manager for Cirque Italia's Paranormal Cirque II (as well as running influencer outreach for all five of the company's units). I am currently in Offenburg, Germany performing with my partner, Ryan Combs, in Zirkus Charles Knie's Offenburger Weihnachtscircus, AND we are preparing to appear in the upcoming International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo!

Ok, enough complaining and shameless self promotion. Stay tuned for a long overdue tribute to the late, great clown, Gaston Häni, and plenty more clowny goodness in the year to come.

Have a great 2024, everyone! 

Charlie Rivel I Clown [1979]

DESCRIPTION COMPLIMENTS OF CIRCOFRENIA

Charlie Rivel, contemporary and friend of Grock, is one of the last great clowns of his generation. When he came to Cortaillod for one of his last shows, Bernard Guillaume-Gentil asked him to tell about his memories, his successes, his best audience and the future of clowns.

What is a great clown? For Rivel: “He is a kind and innocent man. Everyone laughs at him, but he is more intelligent than the others, because it is more difficult to be a fool than an intelligent man.

Charlie Rivel, was born in Spain near Barcelona on April 23, 1896, whose real name was Josep Andreu i Lasserre. From the age of 3, he played in circuses with his father. The latter had fled the famine in Spain for Paris. During a tour in Belgium, he met Charlie Chaplin and a few years later, Rivel imitated Charlot in an acrobatic number. It is a success. Another number with his acrobat brothers will make him even more famous.

Charlie Rivel died at the age of 87, near Barcelona.

Mooky Cornish

 

Mooky as Gloria performing with her poultry partner, Galina, in Regina, Saskatchewan. 

Tom & Pepe

 

Tom Dougherty and Pepe Silva stepping into the ring of the The Great Lilloise Circus Festival in Lille, France.

Circus Vargas: Barbershop Gag

The Circus Vargas Clown Alley performing a barbershop gag in (I believe) 1987. Starring George Clyatt as the barber, Marty T. Clown as his assistant, and a bunch of clowns who are really good at standing around in the ring.

Ringling: Statue Gag

Joe Wesson, Bob Kramer, and Skip Lackey perform a statue gag for a publicity (maybe a Clown College audition) on the Blue Unit in 1980.

Emmett Kelly and Bette Middler 1977

Here are the three Emmett Kelly sections from Bette Middler's first television special on CBS that co-starred Emmett and Dustin Hoffman. Ah, the '70s!

I liked the part where Emmett was weary. 

Ringling: Almax Repair Gag

Al Rios and Max Richardson performing a repair gag on the Ringling Red Unit in 1997

CLOWN ALLEY CLASSIC: Reducing Machine Clyde Beatty 1980

Recently I discovered on an old hard drive that I had saved a lot of the videos from Pat Cashin's "Cashin Comedy Company" Youtube page that got shut down. Many, many, many videos were lost, but luckily I grabbed some! 

I'll roll them out occasionally as a little treat!

From January 28, 2007:

"The Reducing Machine" presented by the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros, Circus Clown Alley on their 1980 indoor tour.

The gag was produced by Dean "Elmo Gibb" Chambers and was announced by longtime Beatty-Cole ringmaster (and former Beatty-Cole clown), Mr. Jimmy James.

I see Mark Friesen as the yellow haired professor, Gary Cooper as the red haired doctor, "Simon" (I only know his clown name) as the yellow haired doctor, Sandy Kaye as the slim nurse, Mike Snider as the busty nurse, John Kennedy "Eggroll" Kane as the woman from the audience, and Miguel Padilla as the blow off. Any help on the other professor would be appreciated! 

My Friend, Grock

A fantastic documentary on Grock from 1962 featuring performance footage I had not seen before. Enjoy! 

Kelly Miller 1996: Darren Burrell and Tom "Popcorn" Sink

Burl and Popcorn demonstrating their skills on the Kelly Miller Circus in 1996

Ringling: Plastic Man

Andrew Scharff performing his Plastic Man routine during the Three Ring Adventure of Ringling's 129th Edition (Living Carousel) in 1999.

Andrew has been performing this routine since he attended Clown College in 1995, and has performed it on Culpepper Merriweather Circus, Kinoshita, the Togni family's American Circus, and clown festivals and performances all over the world!

Jimmy Armstrong: Clyde Beatty

 

Backstage shots of Jimmy Armstrong on the Beatty Show taken by Bruce Davidson in 1958.

Jacko Fossett, Billy Merchant, and Jimmy Scott

A program page from 1974/1975 the Belle Vue Circus in Manchester featuring Jacko Fossett, Little Billy Merchant, and Jimmy Scott.

Thank you to Fudi Zsilak for sharing!

Remembering Pat Cashin

Seven years ago Pat Cashin, the founder and namesake of this blog, passed away much too young. Not a week goes by that I don't think of him, or one of the amazingly funny things he said offhandedly, or a story about him.

I have no idea how he ran this blog so well, because I struggle to post several times a month. He was a great friend and he is missed by so many. May his memory live on in all of the people's lives he touched

Here he is with Aziz Gual and Lance Brown in final gag of the 1997 Ringling Clown College graduation, Three Brothers' Pizza.

Mump & Smoot: The Café

Canadian clowns Mump and Smoot performing an excerpt from their show, "Something", at Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario.

Nola Rae: The Conductor

Nola Rae performing a sketch from her show "Upper Cuts" at the Shaw Theatre in London, 1984.

Matute Alvarez

Chilean clown Matute Alvarez doing a version of Jeff "Gordoon" Gordon's toilet paper act.

Matute will be clowning at Cirque D'Hiver this winter along with comedy magicians, Scott & Muriel. 

Clown College: Dentist Gag

Sean Conklin and Kirby Soderberg perform a dentist gag during the 1989 Clown College graduation performance. 

Tomas Kubinek

A preview of Tomas Kubinek's one man show from Portland in 2012.

Cirque Du Soleil: Dralion Preshow Clowning

Hayden Spencer, Borys Borys, Facundo Gimenez and Guto Vasconcelos perform preshow clowning in Dralion in 2014.

The History of Bozo The Clown

A retrospective on the character of Bozo The Clown from WGN.

Los Alarcons

Los Alarcons performing on Circo Mundial

Ringling: Tom and Tammy Parish 1981

A news story from 1981 featuring soon to be ICHOF inductees Tom and Tammy Parish on the Ringling Blue Unit. 

Ringling: Human Bomb

Margie Talavera and David Kiser performing a human bomb gag on the Ringling Blue Unit in 1990.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: René Coker

René Coker and Toto Johnson performing a laundry gag on the Ringling Red Unit in 1989.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Karen DeSanto

Greg and Karen DeSanto performing their soap entrée on the Big Apple Circus' 2005/2006 tour.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Giulia Azzario

The Josè Michel Clowns, with white clown, Giulia Azzario, performing in Circus Krone in 2009.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Antoschka

Antoschka performing a rola bola act in the Planet of Smiles show.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Annie Fratellini

Annie Fratellini and her husband, Pierre Etaix performing on French television in 1975.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Christina Gelsone

Christina Gelsone and her husband/partner, Seth Bloom, are better known as the Acrobuffos. Their international touring theater show, Air Play, just performed its 400th performance to a sold out audience in Adelaide, Australia. 

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Rone & Gigi

Rone & Gigi perform Part 1 of the Big Ears Show at Clown Camp in 2008.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Ruthie Chaddock

Soon to be ICHOF inductee, Ruthie Chaddock and Steve Smith perform Dr. Quack, Chiropractor for a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about the Ringling Clown College in 1990.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Marni Zalban

Marni Zalban, Gregory Parks, and Leo Acton rehearse a musical gag in Winter Quarters for the Ringling Blue Unit in 2001.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Jessi Hoffchildt

 

Please join us in celebrating Jessi Hoffschildt, who just completed a ten year run with Kinoshita Circus in Japan!

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Gardi Hutter

A highlight reel from Gardi Hutter's show, "The Tailor". 

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Female Fools Part 2

Joe Dieffenbacher highlights more women clowns in the second part of his video series: Ariel Speedwagon, Sophia Knox-Miller, Devin Shacket, Windy Wynazz, and Leah Orleans.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Karen Hinrichs Lukes

Karen Hinrichs Lukes, Sean Hartman, Karen Fox, Brandon Magnuson, John Rieffel, Kenny Mikey, and Beth Cooper performing a rainy picnic gag during the 1994 Ringling Clown College graduation. 

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Lisa Chapman

Lisa Chapman and Tyler Bechtel performing a brain bank gag during the 1993 Ringling Clown College graduation. 

Note: If the video is silent at the beginning, it is due to copyrighted audio. Just hum Darth Vader's theme from the Star Wars films to yourself and enjoy!

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Mooky Cornish

A promo for Glories of Gloria, Mooky Cornish's solo show. 

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Iman Lizarazu

A demo reel for Iman Lizarazu's solo show filmed in 2018.

Clown Alley Women's History Month: Female Fools Part I

Joe Dieffenbacher highlights three women clowns in the first part of his video series. This segment features Kate Brehm, Tobi Allison Daniel, and Devin Shacket. 

Clown Alley Black History Month: Jamarr Woodruff

Jamarr Woodruff, Brandon Bolden, Neal Skoy, James McGrath, Dan Berkley, and Gabor Nemes teach about the importance of hydration during the Ringling Blue Unit preshow in 2006.

Note: Again, sorry for the bad audio, but for some reason it is silent for the first half of the gag.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Willie Yeomans

Willie Yeomans demonstrating his proficiency with a fire baton during the 1982 Ringling Clown College graduation.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Stephanie Knox

Stephanie Knox and Hiromitsu Harada perform a head crank box walkaround during the 1988 graduation of the Ringling Clown College.

Note: I had to remove the music from the end of the video due to a copyright claim. Just hum "Twist and Shout" to yourself when the video goes silent.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Sean Davis

Sean Davis, Darren Burrell, Stephen Simon, and Molly Pelley performing a Rapunzel gag during the 1995 graduation of the Ringling Clown College. 

Clown Alley Black History Month: Marlon Russ

Marlon Russ, Rudy Wollrabe, and Brandon Foster perform a football themed slide table routine during Winter Quarters for the Ringling Red Unit in 2010.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Brian Wright

Brian Wright, Ben Macon, and Linsey Merryfield Britt performing a wrestling gag on the Ringling Red Unit in 2015.

Clown Alley Black History Month: James Holyfield

James Holyfield, Dan Rooney, and Laura Presley performing the Reducing Sauna gag during the 1991 graduation of the Ringling Clown College.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Gregory Parks

Gregory Parks and Josh Shack performing Whack-a-Clown on the Ringling Blue Unit in 2004.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Lea Abierra

Lea Abierra and Aziz Gual perform an opera gag at the Ringling Clown College in 1997.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Lem Fillyaw

Lem Fillyaw, Brad Weston, and Alex Weinreb perform an ATM gag at Ringling Clown College in 1993.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Darren Wilson

Darren Wilson and Matt Mullins perform a tea time gag in the 1993 Ringling Clown College graduation.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Danise Payne

Danise Payne and Tina Kitt performing in the 1978 Clown College graduation.

Please check out Danise's fantastic book, Elbows In My Ears, about her life and career as a circus clown:

https://www.amazon.com/Elbows-My-Ears-Little-Wardrobe-ebook/dp/B0B41VFTW9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14VHJEFTZE828&keywords=elbows+in+my+ears&qid=1676079743&sprefix=elbows+in+my+%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1

Clown Alley Black History Month: Preston Crawford

Preston Crawford, Kevin Thompson, Kevin McGowan and....I think Christopher Hudert performing on the Ringling Blue Unit in 1984.

Peggy Williams: Ring of Fame 2023

 

Sorry this is a few days late. I've been dealing with a leak under my trailer's floor. Luckily it is fixed and I don't own the trailer anyway!

Congratulations to Peggy Williams who was inducted into the Ring of Fame in Sarasota, FL on Saturday Feb 4th surrounded by friends, family and her peers.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Huel Speight

Huel Speight, Greg Sherman, and Laura Pape perform a hat routine on the Ringling Blue Unit in 1989.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Robert "Onionhead" Dunn

Robert Dunn, or as he is known to thousands of fans of the Universoul Circus, Onionhead, speaks with a "reporter" promoting the show's run in Chicago in 2019. 

Clown Alley Black History Month: Dean Anderson

Dean Anderson, Jeff Wolff, and Gordon Klein laying some carpet in the 1986 Clown College graduation. 

Clown Alley Black History Month: Carlos Ragas

Carlos Ragas, Larry Fortunato, and David Duby performing a pizza gag on the Ringling Red Unit in 1989.

This gag was developed in Clown College the year before by Andy Martello and Larry Fortunato. 

Bernhard Paul’s 40th Birthday 1987

 

Please excuse the translation:

Such a festival hadn't been there for a very long time! ✨

Circus founder, director and clown Bernhard Paul was invited to his 40th in a tent filled with 700 celebrity guests. They were cooked by 40 star chefs with a total of 40 stars from all over Germany, who came up with 40 exclusive desserts. The main course ? Vienna Schnitzel, of course! 🍽 🍽

I Love Lucy: Lucy Hates Grapes

The Hollywood Reporter resurfaced a 1974 interview Ball did with "The Dick Cavett Show." She was asked about one of her favorite episodes, to which she said "grapes" – referencing the beloved moment from the "Lucy's Italian Movie" episode. 

However, she revealed that she thought she was going to be killed. Ball was joined by Teresa Tirelli D'Amico for the grape-stomping scene — but a language barrier kept the two from understanding one another.

Tirelli, who only spoke Italian, took an accident to heart.

"[Tirelli] was told that there would be a fight, and it was also explained to her that there were times when my legs had to come up in this huge vat of real grapes," Ball said. "I slipped and when I slipped, I hit her, accidentally. And she took offense. So, she hauled off and let me have it. This was supposed to happen, that she got right! But when she hit me ... took all the wind out of me."

"She kept me down by the throat," Ball continued. "I had grapes up my nose, in my ears, and she was choking me." 

Los Rivelinos 1988

Los Rivelinos performing in Circo Espana in 1988.

Rest In Peace: Ceslee Conkling

Taken from the world twenty-nine years ago today. Here she is with Margie Talavera performing a doctor gag on the Ringling Blue Unit in 1992.

BREAKING NEWS: ICHOF Announces 2023 Induction Candidates!

Five days into the new year, the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center is very proud to announce the 2023 Inductees!

Please welcome -

The legendary Rastelli family

Tom & Tammy Parish

Ruth Anne Chaddock

Paul Jerome

The Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome these amazing clowns and their contributions to the art of clowning into the ICHOF.

Each has left an distinct imprint of the craft of clowning and have inspired generations of clowns and their audiences with their talents and dedication.

Details following very soon as to Induction time, place & date.

Big Apple Circus: Bello and Francesco

 

Bello Nock and Francesco Brunaud on Big Apple Circus for the 1999/2000 season “Bello and Friends”.

Happy Lou Year 2023!

Lou Jacobs and Pee-Wee performing his renowned hunting gag. Lou was making a special appearance on the Blue Unit's 1982 television special.

Congratulations, Alan "Tweedy" Digweed!

 From the Independent: 

Circus clown ‘surprised’ at royal honour

Alan Digweed, known better as Tweedy, has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

A clown who has performed for decades has told of his surprise at being recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Alan Digweed, 48, known as Tweedy the clown, has worked in the circus and shows across the world, and he has now been awarded the British Empire Medal.

The entertainer, who is part of Gloucestershire-based Giffords Circus, said he almost missed the news of his royal award.

He told the PA news agency: “The honour was a complete surprise. I nearly missed out because for some reason I didn’t get the email, and then they got in touch by my agent. I was too late in the end to respond to it, but they let me off for being late, typical clown fashion I guess.

Tweedy, who was born in Aberdeen, had wanted to be a clown from an early age and was inspired by slapstick cartoons and comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

He added: “I went to Butlin’s in Ayr, Scotland, but I didn’t know how to become a clown at the time, there was no Google back then, so I taught myself how to juggle and unicycling and did shows there, and then I joined the circus the year after and learnt on the road, with some other clowns.

“Being with the circus is very different – it’s a great kind of lifestyle. It’s a travelling community, which is what I love about it, and you all kind of work together and pitch in together.

“It’s an exciting life, but a hard life as well, you would get stuck in mud.

“There’s something pure about it that I love. There’s something raw and real that I quite like about it.

“I did a tour of America with the circus which was great and seeing all that. I lived on the circus train so that was a lot of fun. Sadly the circus train is not a thing any more – it was a unique experience.”

Tweedy is currently starring in the Dick Whittington And His Cat Tweedy panto at Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

His wife Sharon performed on the trapeze in the circus, and the couple have a daughter.

He continued: “There’s been lots of interesting experiences, clowning in Saudi Arabia was interesting, there was a lot of things I couldn’t do. I had a huge list, but at the same time, they were a very easy audience as there was a lack of entertainment.”

In his spare time, Tweedy enjoys putting on charity shows and in future is planning to continue working in the circus and pantomimes.

Ringling: Gabor Hrisafis

 

Talented Hungarian clown, Gabor Hrisafis, performing during the Ringling Blue Unit spec "Upside Down World" in 2004.

R.I.P Jim "Enof" Killebrew

Here is Jim Killebrew, or as clowns knew him, Enof, as the rotund aerialist along with Frank Theriault on the Ringling Red Unit in 1987.

International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center “Thanks For Giving” Fundraiser

P.T. Barnum said, “The Noblest Art is of making others happy”.

The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Centers mission is to preserve, interpret, and share with all generations the art of clowning in all forms of performance & media. 

We are honored to celebrate the careers of those who have dedicated their lives to “making others happy”. 

Rebuilding our audience and guest attendance since the COVID shutdown has been a challenge but we are very optimistic as we work diligently towards the future. 

Our archives contain the largest collection of clown artifacts in the world, and continues to grow daily. 

We respectfully ask for your help as we move forward into 2023. The generosity of our friends here on social media as well of those who we can host in person humbles us. 

As master clown Lou Jacobs said during his Induction, “by honoring me, you are also honoring all those who came before.”

The ICHOF Board of Directors thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

DONATE HERE

Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Clown Alley T-Shirt

 

A t-shirt showing the members of the 1990 Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Clown Alley.

Clockwise from top: James Houser, Jeff Day, Mugwump....(beats the hell outta me!), Dave Williams, Ricky Ardelli, Doug Keady, Greg Long, and Robert Temple. 

Circus Vargas Clown Band

 

Chris Green and George Clyatt performing in the Circus Vargas Clown Band sometime in the mid 1980s. 

Dennis Hall

 

Dennis "Dash" Hall. Graduate of the Clown College Class of 1972, and briefly on tour with the Ringling Blue Unit in 1973.

Clowns Without Socks: Photography Entreé

Billy Ward and Frosty Little

 

Billy Ward and Frosty Little on the Ringling Red Unit in the early 1970s. One of the rare photos of Frosty in a different costume than the one he became known for.

Lou Jacobs: 20th Anniversary of Clown College

 

Lou Jacobs posing behind his likeness, which was part of the set for the 20th Anniversary of Clown College in 1987. The set was designed by CC 1971 graduate, Mitch Greenburg.

Alan Ware

 

Photo by Paul Gutheil

Alan Ware, better known to audiences of the Greatest Show on Earth as Grandpa, graduated from Clown College in 1996. He toured with the Blue Unit from 1997-1998, and when he returned to the Ringling Red Unit from 2001-2007, his Grandpa character had fully emerged.