VAUDE_VISUALS

This past month there was a wonderful show which actually happens every month. The New York Downtown Clown Revue. When most people think about ‘clowns’ they have this image pop into their head.

Bozo the Clown

The American public has had almost no exposure to the true ‘european’ style clown. This Bozo image has been popularized by the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus and other American circus shows traveling the country for almost 100 years. Most graduates from the Ringling Brothers Clown College (no longer in existence) are required to wear a certain type of clown costume if they make it to the ranks of the Ringling Bros.& Barnum and Bailey Circus. The impression one gets is that this is either ‘family’ or ‘child’ entertainment. Unlike Europe where they have beautiful theatres devoted to serious ‘clown theatre’ where adults attend without the little ones in tow.  There is a tradition of ‘types’ of clown which goes as far back as the greeks. Author/historian/professor John Towsen could tell you more about ‘history’ of clowns in his wonderful blog and his book CLOWNS. In this interview with the trio Le Fromage Royal all three participants talk about their influences on this ‘new’ old skit.

Le Fromage Royal - ©2010 Jim Moore / All Rights Reserved

Joel Jeske, Christopher Lueck and Michael Richter of “Le Fromage Royal” .

Interview with the cast of Le Fromage Royal at the Krane Theatre, NYC

The evening wasn’t by any means just the Fromage Royal dudes.

Check out the NY Downtown Clown Revue BLOG to see.

Francis and Lotte Brunn joined Ringling Bros. show in 1948 when they first came to this country.  They worked the Ringling show for 2 seasons and then went to the Pollack Bros. Circus. Lotte met her future husband at the Pollack Bros. Circus in 1951 and then left Francis with the circus and went off to get married and start their own careers. Here is a picture of Lotte with Ringling clown Emmett Kelly. (Thanks to Michael Chirrick for this!)

Emmett Kelly and Lotte Brunn at Ringling circa 1949. (Photographer Unknown)

One of the funniest acts I have seen and enjoyed is Chris Allison’s side show freak CONEY ISLAND CHRIS. He mixes the zany attitude of the likes of Jerry Lewis’ nutty professor and Pee Wee Herman with a glass eating, finger in a rat trap, silly costume and hysterical facial gestures Coney Island simple guy trying to learn the ropes of sideshowville. Coney Island Chris made it to the finalist on AMERICA’S GOT TALENT.

©2009 Jim Moore / All Rights Reserved

While photographing Philippe Petit’s wire walk inside the Louisana’s Superdome in 1975 I had a chance to capture the other star of the show Mishu. I was documenting the preparation rigging for Petit’s walk in the Superdome and the circus was rehearsing. Mishu was walking thru his entrance for the evening performance and I got the two of them to pose for me. The walk took 26 minutes and was two hundred feet above the three rings of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The electronic bulletin board read Philippe Petit – The highest, longest indoor high-wire walk ever.” (High-wire photograph to come.)

Mishu and Philippe Petit 1975 / ©2009 Jim Moore