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July 31, 2007
Payaso
Michelle Musser
clown reloaded
Clowning makes a community go 'round
The Express-Times Mon, 30 Jul 2007 9:43 PM PDT
Balloons the Clown (Neal Fehnel of Palmer Township) pals with local filmmaker Lou Reda at Reda's Ferry Street office in Easton. Fehnel says Reda was instrumental in giving him his start in clowning back in the mid-1970s.
Zounds! Look at all the clowns
As a tribute to clowns and National Clown Week, The Express-Times asked local fun-makers to share a bit about themselves and their craft.
Express-Times Photo | SUE BEYER
A circus at Arnie's Place
Concord Monitor Tue, 31 Jul 2007 5:05 AM PDT
Arnie's Place owner Tom Arnold would like to be a clown someday. His father was a potentate with the Shriners and he'd like to join, but he's too occupied with ice cream.
Pepsi Clown
Making kids' birthdays a piece of cake
Savannah Morning News Sun, 29 Jul 2007 10:02 PM PDT
When SillyDilly the Clown started her Savannah birthday entertainment business at the start of this year, her aim was to do parties every weekend.
SillyDilly, whose real name is Jennie Gartside, is busy entertaining at children's birthday parties every weekend. (Photo: Savannah Morning News)
Clowns aim to improve image through ministry outreach
Kane County Chronicle Mon, 30 Jul 2007 3:44 AM PDT
SUGAR GROVE - It was easy to tell Sunday who dared venture into the southeast corner of the Sugar Grove Corn Boil - they wore round, purple stickers telling the world, "I met a clown today."
Tiny T. the clown makes a balloon animal for Mia Spinozzi, 3, of Elburn, Sunday at the annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil. Steve Slaughter was one of three clowns participating in a clown ministry through Sugar Grove United Methodist Church. (Kendra Helmer photo)
July 30, 2007
Families enjoy summer celebration at Suffern library
The Journal News Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:40 PM PDT
SUFFERN - The cotton candy station was busy, but Merlin the Magical Clown was the main attraction yesterday at the Suffern Free Library. About 200 people came to the library's summer celebration, which featured face-painting, music and food.
Angela Gaul/The Journal News
Benjamin Miller, 4, of Suffern eats cotton candy during yesterday's outdoor celebration at the Suffern Free Library.
No more clowning around for Alan Alda
Chicago Sun-Times Sun, 29 Jul 2007 2:15 AM PDT
He drove a cab, worked as a doorman, and for a time he was a clown who stood in front of gas stations to reel in patrons for super premium unleaded. "I was a great clown," says screen icon Alan Alda. "I gave it everything and would dance in the hot sun, jump in the air and spin around. Yeah, I twisted my ankle, but kept going. I didn't even know how to dance, but I did it."
Alda spent six years in clown hell before getting his big break and he has never taken a minute of his Hollywood run for granted. "Even after 'MASH,' I said, 'I might have to go back to driving a cab someday and if so I'm emotionally ready.'"
Tale of Holocaust clown coming to big screen
Mail and Guardian Sun, 29 Jul 2007 0:41 AM PDT
German and Israeli filmmakers have come together to tackle the subject of the Holocaust for the first time in an ambitious screen adaptation of a bestselling novel.
Adam Resurrected, based on a darkly comic 1969 novel by popular Israeli author Yoram Kaniuk, tells the story of Adam Stein, a Jewish-German clown who is forced to entertain inmates in a Nazi concentration camp. His life is spared only because he plays his violin for the prisoners being sent to the gas chamber.
Jeff Goldblum is to play the part of Adam, while Willem Dafoe will play the concentration camp commandant who forces him to act like a dog. Goldblum has described it as "the most difficult role I have ever had to play". Directed by Paul Schrader, who is best known for his screenplay for Taxi Driver, and produced by the Israeli Ehud Bleiberg and the German Werner Wirsing, the harrowing film has been compared to Roberto Benigni's Oscar-winning Holocaust "black comedy" Life Is Beautiful.
Laugh pack: Tri-Citians clown it up for Water Follies
Tri-City Herald Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:41 AM PDT
For a few special Tri-Citians, putting on brightly-colored grease paint and performing silly gags is more than a way to make a buck.
July 29, 2007
Take time to clown around
Akron Beacon Journal Sat, 28 Jul 2007 0:29 AM PDT
Make your own jokester to celebrate laughter, National Clown Week at beginning of August
Here are some instructions to make a clay pot clown (!?) in honor of National Clown Week. Too bad there's no photo.
July 27, 2007
Who are these guys?
'A Clown Show' tackles race relations
The Tennessean Fri, 27 Jul 2007 0:08 AM PDT
Jean Genet's The Blacks: A Clown Show ... delves into what blacks believe whites think of them and vice versa.
Teatr Licedei
Evening Standard Thu, 26 Jul 2007 9:27 AM PDT
St Petersburg clown troupe Teatr Licedei was founded by the legendary Slava Polunin so expectations were high for this latest import, The Family.
More
Marta Carbayo
Yen Town Fools
Quote of the day
"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."
- Mark Twain
July 26, 2007
Crazy English Language
Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language?
Let's face it
English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.
We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that
Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
If writers write, how come fingers don't fing?
If the plural of tooth is teeth
Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth?
If the teacher taught,
Why didn't the preacher praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables
What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy
Of a language where a house can burn up as
It burns down
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!
English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn't a race at all)
That is why
When the stars are out they are visible
But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts
But when I wind up this observation,
It ends.
Lifted from Clown-Forum, posted by ibimus
So what else is new?
The Obfuscated Tortoise
Click on the photo to visit the website of a clown-based theatre group in NYC ....
July 23, 2007
29th Oil Heritage Festival wraps up
Trevor Doyle, 6, finds a safe retreat behind his uncle, John Doyle, both of Reno, as a clown gets a little too close during the 29th annual Oil Heritage Festival parade.
July 20, 2007
Clowns prove humor is best medicine
Collier Citizen Thu, 19 Jul 2007 3:42 PM PDT
When it comes to hospitals, most people don’t clown around, but Daphine “Ssizzz” Pfaff and her jolly band of students aren’t like most people.
Photo by DONN BROWN / Collier Citizen
Dorothy Doyle (Doti) attended NCH's Clown College graduation, June 27.
No joke: Clown Week is coming
San Mateo Daily Journal Fri, 20 Jul 2007 0:02 AM PDT
At first glance, the proclamation recognizing National Clown Week and the contributions of San Mateo County clowns may seem like a joke. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve the proclamation at its Tuesday meeting.
At first glance, the proclamation recognizing National Clown Week and the contributions of San Mateo County clowns may seem like a joke. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve the proclamation at its Tuesday meeting.
Come See Me This Weekend!
At Noon Saturday, I'll be at Sunrise Senior Living in Finneytown for their annual community festival. I'm only booked for an hour -- so be on time!!!
On Sunday, I'll be at Newport on the Levee from about 1 p.m. until about 4 p.m. Come on out and I'll make you a silly hat!!!
Whatever you do, have a great weekend! The weather promises to be beautiful.
Clowns pay homage
Deseret Morning News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:22 PM PDT
A clown holds an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Wednesday. Hundreds of clowns ended their annual pilgrimage to pay their respects to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
PHOTO BY EDUARDO VERDUGO/ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Victoria, Texas, a clown show is news
The Victoria Advocate Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:55 PM PDT
Lanky the clown entertains children Wednesday at the Victoria Public Library. Lanky showed the children a variety of tricks and added an education element to his show by spelling words that went along with his performance.
PHOTO BY RONI GENDLER/VICTORIA ADVOCATE
July 19, 2007
Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown, Vol. 1
DVD Talk Thu, 19 Jul 2007 5:57 AM PDT
Infinity has released a four-disc, 30 episode collection of Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown - Collection 1 , featuring Harmon's own nationally syndicated version of Bozo, starring Boston's Frank Avruch
Infinity has released a four-disc, 30 episode collection of Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown - Collection 1 , featuring Harmon's own nationally syndicated version of Bozo, starring Boston's Frank Avruch
Charlie Chaplin: Table Ballet
July 17, 2007
Poughkeepsie Clown
Amour Impossible
photo by
François Lafite
Following a very formal military procession on les Champs-Elysée for Bastille Day (July 14), a group of clowns (Brigade Activiste des Clowns) marched in protest. View slide show.
This photo is striking for the drama, the look of comic disdain on the face of the clown and the policeman avoiding eye contact, most likely holding back the laughter.
little clown
photo by
acanofbread
July 16, 2007
Fraggle Rock: The Rock Goes On
Community rallies around Holly the Clown
Post-Bulletin Mon, 16 Jul 2007 8:14 AM PDT
For 20 years, Gert Neuvirth spread joy and laughter when she put on her makeup and became Holly the Clown.
Pepe Viyuela: Hogar Cutre Hogar
July 15, 2007
Dick Van Dyke: Sophisticated Modern Comedy
July 14, 2007
The Quigmans: Clown sleep disorders
Personal Appearance on Sunday
Come see me this Sunday at Newport on the Levee & I'll make you a silly hat. I plan to be there from about 1 to about 4 p.m.
Your pal,
Daluni
July 13, 2007
Oleg Popov: Circle of light
Fans think Buffo is Boffo
Lexington Herald-Leader Fri, 13 Jul 2007 0:17 AM PDT
His flyer boasts that he's more than just a clown. And from the looks of things, he's right. Buffo, the world's strongest clown, will be at the Lexington Lions Bluegrass Fair through July 22, balancing kids on his chin, ripping telephone books and performing other feats that flex his 181/2-inch biceps. Tommy Toman, 51, has been Buffo for 28 years now, and it's gotten him a lot of recognition.
Clown Freaks: Celebrating music, face paint and flavored soda
The Southern Illinoisan Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:34 AM PDT
Quote clarified: In Wednesday's story, No clowning around: Church hopes to stop the insanity, Greg Degrave's quote was taken out of context. To clarify, Degrave was reading an excerpt from a July 5 comment left on the Southern Illinoisan's Web site when he used the term clown freaks. Degrave did not personally refer to anyone by that term but was reading from a reader comment.
Click on "Continue reading" below to get the original story. It's a nice little drama between Christian Conservatives and Juggaloes. Though it's not very well written, but I do like the final comment by Marty Kaylor, whoever he is.
Personally, I'm not an ICP fan. What I've heard of them is totally vulgar, not my idea of clown at all, and I don't intend to post about them, but some of the quotes in this are pretty funny. If you're interested in reading more, though, there are stories leading up to this meeting. Some of the comments are innaresting, too. This town is fired up and the Juggalos are standing their ground:
June 26: Church leaders want concert to go away
June 27: ICP fans take issue with Alliance's claims
Here's the original story, published on-line without a headline....
BY BETHANY KRAJELIS THE SOUTHERN
ELIAZBETHTOWN - A lone Juggalo stood in the doorway of the Peters Creek Baptist Church Tuesday night waiting for his chance to defend the Insane Clown Posse's right to play a concert in Hardin County.
Bryan Chatelain, 27, of Raleigh listened to a group of more than 50 people voice concerns over ICP's four day musicial event, "The Gathering." The concert is scheduled to take place Aug. 9-12 at a privately owned site near Cave-In-Rock in Hardin County.
The band and its label, Psychopathic Records, have hosted the event for the past eight years at other venues across the nation.
The Shawnee Ministerial Alliance hosted Tuesday evening's meeting to address concerns over how ICP's lack of morals would affect Hardin County.
"I don't know if we can stop them from coming," said Howard Lyon, the pastor of Peters Creek Baptist Church. "But we're concerned about the morality of our community. I'm concerned about what this is going to do to our children."
Many of the attendants said they are not opposed to the Juggalos or Juggalettes, the nicknames given to fans of ICP depending on gender. Greg Degraves, pastor of Levee Pond Church in Cave-In Rock, however, said he is opposed "to the force that drives them."
He explained that "those clown freaks" and their lyrics do not represent Christianity.
When Chatelain commented, the crowd quickly asked Chatelain who he was.
"My name is Brian," he told the group. "I belong to the Juggalos."
"Brian, do you listen to ICP?" Degraves asked.
"Yes,"
Degraves then asked whether Chatelain thought ICP's lyrics were Christian like.
"They are taken out of context," Chatelain quickly responded. "These are entertainers, musicians."
"Music and real life are two different things," he said.
Chatelain, who referred to those opposed to ICP's concert as "silly geese," drove from Southeastern Illinois College to represent the Juggalo community.
"The fact that I am being targeted as a threat to the Hardin County community is unjustifiable. I, like many others, only want to vacation in the Hardin County community together with many other Juggalos to celebrate our lifestyle of music, face paint and flavored soda," Chatalain wrote in a written statement that he hoped to read to the group.
In addition to church and community members, representatives from the Illinois State Police District 22 headquartered at Ullin also attended the event.
Capt. Harry Masse, District 22 commander, said while the Hog Rock campsite would be policed by 30 members of the Cincinnati Bengals football organization, Hardin County Sheriff's Department and state police also would be patrolling the area.
"We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best," Masse said. "I don't want to get into tactical plans. It's like poker. You don't want to show your hand."
Degraves said "if you don't go to church, you won't understand" what he is opposed to, which is the spiritual aspect.
While many in the audience declared they didn't want the festival to even take place, Marty Kaylor stood up and said, "I've got one question: WWJD. What would Jesus Do?"
"He'd stand up against it," Degraces said.
"No, he'd be in the middle of it preaching," Kaylor said.
bethany.krajelis@thesouthern.com
351-5138
Stuck
Ringy Dingy
A classic (in other words, old and overdone) routine featuring Mazzy B. Hayes, Molly Tenderheart, Jamdealie D. Light, and Rufus D. Dufus, graduates of the Ohio Clown college. Must be their thesis.
July 12, 2007
This show stays on the road
Detroit Free Press Thu, 12 Jul 2007 0:19 AM PDT When he isn't performing, Poppa the Clown does publicity for the Carson & Barnes Circus, and when he isn't performing or dealing with the news media, Poppa the Clown teaches the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade circus kids. Poppa, a.k.a. Doug Munsell, is qualified. He's a retired teacher from southwest Kansas.
July 11, 2007
Changes afoot
And by "afoot" I don't mean big shoes.
We've changed clownflower.com to a blog-based site so that we can make updates more frequently, easily add photos, videos and other things of interest. If you have photos of clowns - especially your favorite clowns Daluni & Sweetpea - or of yourself wearing the beautiful balloon hats one of us made, please e-mail the pic to us (see the button on the right.... no the other right) and we'll post it here.
Bump-a-nose!
Your pal,
Daluni
The Quigmans: Disappointed Parents
Russian clown says humor with tears led to success
Reuters via Yahoo! India News Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:40 AM PDT
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters Life!) - Russia's most famous clown, Slava Polunin, says the key to his success is not his humor -- but his cunning.
I saw Slava's Snowshow during its final week in New York. It was an amazing experience that took my breath away. It was nearly an hour before I could speak of it without choking up.
