CLOWN ALLEY: Kelly-Miller, 1951

Eddie Dullam & Lee Virtue, looking like two Bill Ballantine drawings come to life.



Mr. Virtue



Mr. Dullam, whose makeup evolved over the years but never traded in his yarn wig.

GIJON POLIDOR: Undated Photo

Gijon Polidor on Ringling in a photo that looks to have been taken by Maxwell Frederic Coplan.

GEORGE L. FOX: 1875 Humpty Dumpty Program

I found this on eBay this morning.

A rare large July 1875 program for the great 19th century clown G L Fox in his most famous role as Humpty Dumpty.

Please click the title of this post to view the eBay posting of the item.

MYSTERY ORLANDO AREA SHRINE CLOWN

I received this email the other day...

_________________________________________________________________

Hi -

I've been asked to restore a photo of a friend's uncle and a clown, taken about 1991-92.

I worked out that the photo was taken at a Shriners' circus (by zooming in on the background and seeing three men wearing fezzes). I determined that the circus was put on by the Orlando Shriners' group. I wrote to their webmaster a couple of weeks ago, with no response.

I've also scoured the Internet, looking at thousands of clown pictures, to no avail.


As you can see, the clown's face is largely obliterated. This is why I'm researching this. If I can find another photo of the clown, I can work from it to restore this photo, which is a prized possession of my friend's uncle. Otherwise, I'll just have to wing it and hope I come up with something reasonable.

If you can help in any way, I'd greatly appreciate it.


Regards,
Bill Phillips

______________________________________________________

Anyone who can help, please email me at CASHINCOMEDY@YAHOO.COM

ED WYNN

I noticed that Ed Wynn's high arching eyebrows are very similar to the one's in the photo of Little Walter from last week.

KARL VALENTIN: DIE VERHEXTEN NOTENSTANDER

Posted to YouTube by TryAgain02


German cabaret clowning from the 1920's. Karl Valentin - Die verhexten Notenständer.

BUZZY POTTS: Ringling/Barnum, 1951

Buzzy Potts in a 1951 publicity photo for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

DUANE "UNCLE SOAPY" THORPE: In Memory

Comments courtesy of Joel Heidtman


In loving memory of Duane Lawrence "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe: October 11, 1924 - December 9, 1995

Rest well dear friend... you are loved.

Your pal, Joel Heidtman

JOHN LENNON

It's been 27 years since we lost John Lennon, probably my strongest role model during my teenage years and someone who's influence strongly shaped my opinions about music, art, comedy, philosophy, fatherhood and life in general.

27 years ago 40 seemed like a full life to me. Now that I'm 40, and the father of a five year old son of my own, I have a very different opinion.


HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER)


So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over
If you want it
War is over

Now...

SAM BARTON: Breakaway Bicycle Act

Posted to YouTube by Sam Royston


Sam Barton from the film CAVALCADE OF VARIETY (1941), which is itself a compilation of three earlier films, VARIETY (1935), VARIETY PARADE (1936) and MUSIC HALL PARADE (1939).

Sam Barton (1894-1941) toured the British music halls with a speciality bicycle act similar to Joe Jackson's (1873–1942). Is there anyone out there who knows which act came first?

JAY & NICK STEWART: Myrtle Beach, SC, 2005

One of the very best American circus clowns (and clowning instructors) working today, Jason T. Stewart and his son Nick in Myrtle Beach, SC at the 2005 Clown College reunion.

Jay and family have recently relocated to the northeast where he's become a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit.

LITTLE WALTER

Antonet's partner prior to teaming with Grock and an extremely prolific and influential auguste in his own right, Little Walter.

VASIA GUSCHINSKY: Undated Photo

Russian circus clown Vasia Guschinsky.

REX "BOXCAR" YOUNG: Utica Shrine Date, 1960s

Rex "Boxcar" Young at a Shrine date in Utica, NY in the 1960s. It's supposedly from the Beatty-Cole show but I don't know that McCloskey and Co. were doing shrine dates in the 1960s, or that Rex ever worked for them.

Anyone know?

JOE LEE?: Hoxie Bros. Circus, 1982

Can anyone confirm whether or not this is a photo of Clown College grad and CLOWNS FOR BEGINNERS author Joe Lee on Hoxie in 1982?


Even if it isn't, click the title of this post for a link to Joe's book.

HAL NEWPORT: John Robinson Circus, 1907

A cabinet photo of Hal Newport and his pet pig Rosie on the "John Robinson Traveling Circus" 1907.

MITCH FREDDES

A Master Clown if ever there was one, Mr. Jonathan "Mitch" Freddes.

Mitch, if you're coming to China in 2008, I call dibs! You're on my team.

RONALD McDONALD: In the Baltimore Sun

For all those that wrote in with Ronald History related questions, there is an article out there for you in today's Baltimore Sun.

I'd like to be able to link to it for you but my macbook's hard drive has crashed (yet again) so, at least for today, I'm posting from a computer three years older than dirt.

FELIX ADLER: Mechanix Illustrated

WILLARD SCOTT: As Ronald

Willard began as Bozo the Clown before becoming the very first Ronald.

For more information, please click the title of this post.