SLIVERS OAKLEY: Ringling Bros. Circus Poster (Circa 1900)

This lithograph - perhaps the only surviving example - was printed by the Courier Litho Company for the Ringling Bros. Circus about 1900. This particular poster sold at auction in September of 2010 for nearly $5000.00

SPADER JOHNSON: Circa 1910

FROSTY AND SOAPY Mid 1980s

Photo courtesy of Michael Johnson 

Glenn "Frosty" Little and Duane "Uncle Soapy" Thorpe at the Chicago Ampitheater

BUSTER KEATON: Cops Analysis from Ben Model

Click here to hear Ben Model explain key scenes, at actual speed, from Buster Keaton's COPS.

BUSTER KEATON: Happy 116th Birthday

DUO FRENKIS

THUNDER & BLAZES

I don't think it was the creator of this clip's intention but this piece very clearly illustrates the difference between what clowning is supposed to be... and what it all too often is. It's not a fashion show or a fetish party... it's clowning. You have to DO something.

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CLOWN COLLEGE REUNION: Cape Cod, MA (Sept. 22-25, 2011)

Do we all have to fill this out again?

THE RASTELLIS

Photo courtesy of Johnny Xod 

OTTO GRIEBLING: Bellevue Hospital, New York City (1960s)

MICHAEL "COCO" POLAKOVS: Bellevue Hospital, New York City (1960s)

Michael "Coco" Polakovs performing at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey benefit show at New York's Bellevue Hospital, an annual tradition throughout the "North Era", in the 1960s. Coco told me that this colorful harlequin checked outfit was custom made for him in England and was his very favorite costume.

MYSTERY CLOWN: Circus Krasnodor

LA FAMIGLIA DIMITRI

BILLY VAUGHN: Photos From His Induction Into the International Clown Hall of Fame

Photos courtesy of Noah Van Denburgh 

Billy Vaughn accepting the plaque inducting him into the International Clown Hall of Fame from ICHOF Executive Director Greg DeSanto in a ceremony which took place Friday August 26th during the 2011 Circus Fans of America convention in Newburgh, NY. A wonderful retrospective video of Billy's career (courtesy of ICHOF board member Sandy Weber) was screened and fellow circus clowns Scott O'Donnell, John Kennedy Kane and Michael Karp were in attendance.

Congratulations, Billy. Well deserved! 

CONGRATULATIONS, BILLY VAUGHN!

 

Congratulations go out to Billy Vaughn who will be inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame today in recognition of a circus career that has spanned decades and is distinguished for his exceptional qualities both inside and outside of the ring.

Truly a clown's clown, the honor is extremely well deserved and very happily bestowed.

Namaste!

IRA GLASS: On Getting Better

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

MYSTERY CLOWN: Does Anyone Know Who This Is?

KELLY-MILLER 2011: Don't Miss It!

I saw a circus yesterday that made me wish I was seeing the current edition of Kelly-Miller again. I said it before and I'll say it again, dagnabit: The current edition of Kelly-Miller is just about as good a traditional circus as I've ever seen.

BILLY PEARCE: Children's Royal Variety Performance (1992)

DANISE PAYNE: Gerry Cottle's Circus