Evan sent more proofs from last week's photo shoot. Here's another of my favorites.
To find out about having your photos done by Evan Young just click here.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
MORE
Evan sent more proofs from last week's photo shoot. Here's another of my favorites.
To find out about having your photos done by Evan Young just click here.
INSIGHT FROM THE DALAI LAMA
"We have to adopt a wider perspective, and always find common things between the people on north, east, south, and west. Conflict comes from the basis of differences."
JOHN BELUSHI: National Lampoon's LEMMINGS 1973
John Belushi (pre-SNL) as Joe Cocker, Christopher Guest as Leon Russell and Chevy Chase on drums.
Friday, January 23, 2009
MY NEW TEMPORARY HEADSHOT
Until the finished high-res photos arrive I'm using this one as my new headshot for the fair convention here in Hershey, PA.
I'm updating my website this weekend and would appreciate quotes and blurbs that I could add from some of you folks.
KRASKY VOSTOKA GROUP
I think I'm missing the humor in this. It's very well timed and choreographed, but it doesn't strike me as particularly funny.
Is there some cultural element to this that I not getting?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
THE LIST
Someone asked in the comments of a posting the other day something to the effect of "What gave me the authority to say what is and what isn't a clown?" I don't hve that authority. The audience does. They'll tell you loudly and clearly if you are making effective choices.
Unfortunately many entertainers either don't or won't listen to their audience.
I can't give anyone a magic pill (myself included) that will make them a better clown but I can give you this list of things that I notice that immediately tell me that the person standing in front of me in the clown suit is most likely not going to turn out to be the next Grock...
1) A name badge
2) A foam nose
3) A rainbow wig
4) Any costume items purchased from Party City
5) Poorly designed and/or applied makeup
6) Makeup applied over a beard or stubble
7) Cheap clown shoes
8) A whistle
9) A horn
10) Using store-bought toys for props (not always, but most times)
11) The spangled and/or sequined vest and bowtie combo
12) Any costume pieces from the Goodwill which have not been altered significantly in any way
13) Any costume pieces derived from a McCalls, Buttericks or Simplicity pattern
14) Rainbow striped anything
15) Balloons, hearts or other designs in their makeup
16) Stickers or balloons
17) A ProKnows nose applied with anything other than fishing line, Skin-Bond or ProKnows adhesive.
18) Generic "clown names" (Giggles, Huggles, Snuggles)
19) Magicians, Balloon Twisters or Face Painters passing themselves off as clowns
20) Afro wigs
21) Emmett Kelly Jr collectibles or any discussion thereof
22) Any patches on their costume telling me what organization they are with, what office they hold in the organization, what events they have attended or where they went on vacation
That's just 21 off the top of my head
Anyone else have any "pet peeves" that they'd like to add to the list?
Anyone else have any "pet peeves" that they'd like to add to the list?
OSCAR NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED...
and Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer all got robbed.
Not up for Best Director.
Not up for Best Screenplay.
Not up for Best Picture.
R O B B E D !
(at least WALL*E looks like a shoe-in for Best Animated Feature,
but it REALLY should have qualified for Best Picture!)
but it REALLY should have qualified for Best Picture!)
RONKIAN
"Hey Nerdlinger! I served with Harold Ronk: I knew Harold Ronk;
Harold Ronk was a friend of mine. You, you big doof, are no Harold Ronk!"
Harold Ronk was a friend of mine. You, you big doof, are no Harold Ronk!"
FRED STONE
From Wikipedia...
Fred Andrew Stone (August 19, 1873 – March 6, 1959) was an American actor. Stone began his career as a performer in circuses and minstrel shows, he went on to act on vaudeville, and became a star on Broadway.
He was particularly famous for appearing opposite David C. Montgomery, a 22-year partnership, in shows such as The Wizard of Oz premiering in 1902, and the Victor Herbert operetta The Red Mill in 1906. In 1939, he appeared in a radio program promoting the new MGM film of The Wizard of Oz, in which he got to meet the actor who played the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger, who was a great admirer of Stone's work, and although Bolger was too young to have seen Stone play the Scarecrow in the stage play, he did see Stone in The Red Mill.
His feature film career began in comedy westerns, his first The Goat, was filmed in 1918. He starred in 19 feature films.
Stone received an honorary degree from Rollins College, a small liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida, in 1939. At this time a small theatre was named in his honor. The original Fred Stone Theatre—a smaller flexible space sitting adjacent to the College's larger principal venue, the Annie Russell Theatre, named after another great American Actor and benefactor—was a wooden bungalow that was razed in the early 1970s. A nearby wood and brick-faced Greek revival styled hall, converted into a 90-seat black-box performance space, was re-dedicated as The Fred Stone Theatre during this period, and although it has been moved to another location on campus, it still stands and is active as a performance venue for smaller experimental productions as well as student directed and choreographed works.
The Rollins Archives have extensive information on the career of Stone, including numerous photographs.
He is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
He was particularly famous for appearing opposite David C. Montgomery, a 22-year partnership, in shows such as The Wizard of Oz premiering in 1902, and the Victor Herbert operetta The Red Mill in 1906. In 1939, he appeared in a radio program promoting the new MGM film of The Wizard of Oz, in which he got to meet the actor who played the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger, who was a great admirer of Stone's work, and although Bolger was too young to have seen Stone play the Scarecrow in the stage play, he did see Stone in The Red Mill.
His feature film career began in comedy westerns, his first The Goat, was filmed in 1918. He starred in 19 feature films.
Stone received an honorary degree from Rollins College, a small liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida, in 1939. At this time a small theatre was named in his honor. The original Fred Stone Theatre—a smaller flexible space sitting adjacent to the College's larger principal venue, the Annie Russell Theatre, named after another great American Actor and benefactor—was a wooden bungalow that was razed in the early 1970s. A nearby wood and brick-faced Greek revival styled hall, converted into a 90-seat black-box performance space, was re-dedicated as The Fred Stone Theatre during this period, and although it has been moved to another location on campus, it still stands and is active as a performance venue for smaller experimental productions as well as student directed and choreographed works.
The Rollins Archives have extensive information on the career of Stone, including numerous photographs.
He is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
CONGRATULATIONS ALEX!: Another Big Announcement out of Hugo!
Thanks to Brandon Foster and Steve Copeland
Good news from the Winter Quarters of the mighty Carson & Barnes: Alex Acero, formerly with Ringling, has signed on to return to the C & B as a solo clown for 2009!!!
You might have seen his great trampoline act during pre-show of Bellobration. His brother, Yvinson, is still on the Red Unit.
Looks like the comedy out of Hugo is in good hands this year!
Good news from the Winter Quarters of the mighty Carson & Barnes: Alex Acero, formerly with Ringling, has signed on to return to the C & B as a solo clown for 2009!!!
You might have seen his great trampoline act during pre-show of Bellobration. His brother, Yvinson, is still on the Red Unit.
Looks like the comedy out of Hugo is in good hands this year!
INSIGHT FROM THE DALAI LAMA
"If we examine ourselves each day with mindfulness and mental alertness, checking our thoughts, motivations, and their manifestations in external behavior, a possibility for change and self-improvement can open within us. Although I myself cannot claim with confidence to have made any remarkable progress over the years, my desire and determination to change and improve is always firm. From early morning until I go to bed and in all situations in life, I always try to check my motivation and be mindful and present in the moment. Personally, I find this to be very helpful in my own life."
STEVE MARTIN: We Need More of THIS!
People asked the other day what I have against Steve Martin.
I have nothing against Steve Martin. When he is good, he's the very best that there is. When he's great he's one of the best there ever was.
Unfortunately, all too often Steve Martin takes on projects that are far beneath his considerable talents. We don't need Steve Martin for that. We don't need him to be in bad films. That's what we have Rob Schneider and Pauly Shore for.
We need him for the things like this. The things that he, and he alone, can do...
"The Great Flydini"
"Steve Martin and His Singing Balls"
"The Great Flydini"
"Steve Martin and His Singing Balls"
THE HUMPTY DANCE: Here's your chance, do the Hump!
One of the great clown characters of the 80s, Humpty Hump.
The 80s saw a rise of exaggerated comedy characters: Pee-Wee Herman, Judy Tenuta, Bobcat Golthwaite, Sam Kinison, Dice Clay, Steven Wright and Emo Phillips to name a few. Today the only strong character from era still in the limelight (thanks to reality television) is Flavor Flav.
Who is more a fool, the fool or the fool or the fool who follows the fool?
Even the Wiggles are spunky and like their oatmeal lumpy.
I, however, don't want to think about them getting "busy", in a Burger King bathroom or anywhere else.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
CLOWN ALLEY: Detroit Shrine Circus
Photos courtesy of Greg DeSanto
Everett Hart, Paul Jerome, Jo Jo Lewis and Charlie Bell...
and this was only PART of the Alley!
(I'm sure that there were Shrine clowns in Detroit at the time, but back then producers had some pride in the shows that they produced and only used the very best of the volunteer clowns to fill out the larger ring gags)
Felix Adler
At it's peak, the Detroit Shrine Circus ran for 17 days and paid it's clown alley better than any other Shrine date in the country. As a result they had their choice of the best circus clowns in the country...
Everett Hart, Paul Jerome, Jo Jo Lewis and Charlie Bell...and this was only PART of the Alley!
(I'm sure that there were Shrine clowns in Detroit at the time, but back then producers had some pride in the shows that they produced and only used the very best of the volunteer clowns to fill out the larger ring gags)
Felix AdlerBack then these men weren't good simply because they were Ringling clowns,
they were Ringling clowns simply because they were good.
they were Ringling clowns simply because they were good.
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