Just wondering who you all admire in clowning or who was that one person who made you go "OK, this is REALLY what I want to do"

Emmett Kelly. His ability to take something ordinary, like a head of cabbage, and milk a laugh out of it amazed me. Also Lou Jacobs,and, Bozo the clown. I remember watching him on TV. And of course, Bob Keesham AKA Captain Kangaroo. If you remember the town clown skits, which were all pantomime, Then you watched Bob Keesham clown. He was also Clarabell the clown from the howdy doody show ( Before my time).
Non Clowns It would be Red Skelton. Truly, he was a clown and the son of a Hagenbeck-Wallace clown, But because he worked in and out of makeup I list him here. Chaplin, Buster Keeton,and Harold Llyod.

I remember about a year ago, I attended a festival that we have locally at one of the Parks and Recreation Center called After Dark in the Park. They have a great setup, contests, games, booths, jumping houses, policeman and fire safety, a real great place for kids to come and have fun and learn at the same time.

Two clowns stood near the pavillon, making balloons for the children. No noises except the air pumps, no laughter, and only a few smiles. They were, in effect, human balloon machines, as someone has so aptly called them. I remember thinking to myself about how bored they appeared to be.

Several months later I was talking about it to someone, and the clown subject came up again. I remembered what happened, and I started looking into being a clown. In december of last year, I commited myself to going to traveling Mooseburger camp that was coming to us in March, and.....................................

BIPS WAS CREATED!

Bips,
That is so interesting that you would be inspired by a bad experience. Thanks for stepping up to the plate! The world needs people like us who are passionate about doing clowning with excellence and joy!
Jubilee

I first thought of becoming a clown after a show put on by 'Kev the Clown' at my home church. For a number of months I did nothing about it until a workshop run by 'Roly' Baine was being run by a youth ministry that was making use of our church hall. I joined in and realised there was a clown inside me bursting to come out.

In fact my clown name came out of our first excercise! Rolly tipped out some hats from a box and an assortment of noses and told us to choose a hat and a nose and make a character from it. I chose a bowler hat and a posh nose. Noticing a black umberella left in a corner I grabbed it as well. when it was my turn to say who I was (in character) and a little about myself. I said that I was Gilbert from Guilford (near London) and I worked in the City (London). From that point on everybody called me Gilbert so my clown name was chosen by the others for me.

Rolly's workshop enlightened me to what clowning is about and provided me with a good start from which I have built. I still see him occasionally and have a great deal of respect for his opinions. I have made many other clown friends who's opinion I also regard. However at the end of the day I am my own clown and feel uncomfortable with hero worship. Respect other people and their opinions but always follow your heart. (eg what you know is right for you).

Wow. I have Roly's book and he is incredible to me. I wish I could be in on something with him at the head of it!! What an opportunity. God bless you, Gilbert!
Jubilee

That is so interesting that you would be inspired by a bad experience.

Ya know, when I think about it, that is pretty backwards from everything else.

Usually people are inspired by the positive actions of others. That's also normally the case with me. I guess this " exception " was a good thing! :)

I wish I could be in on something with him at the head of it!!

If you ever find yourself planning a journey to England why not take a visit to his website at http://www.holyfool.freeserve.co.uk/ He has a link which tells you where he is going to be and when. He has also got a contact page.

I remember watching Bozo the Clown on TV when I was little. And Kaptain Kangaroo. Oh! And H.R. Puffinstuff. Laurel & Hardy; Keystone Cops; Abbott
& Costello; etc. etc.

They didn't inspire me to be a clown. I didn't dream of being a clown. But I always thought how fun it would be to be a clown, just didn't know how to go about it. When a lady at our church said God told her it was time for her to start clowning again and she needed more clowns, I said, "Okay! I'll do it!"
Mercy Me was born!

I love it. My daughter is a White Face and I'm an Auguste.

I think I may have found my clown hero! I've just watched the 'Cat in the Hat' DVD which we (me and my family) rented. He is such a cool cat Clown! Comes in inviting the kids to play, Everything appears to go wrong (But the Cat is really in control) then just when the kids learn their lesson everything comes back together for a happy ending!

Perrrrfect Clown routine, Invite to Play - Chaos - Moral Life Lesson.

I had heared of Dr Zeuss books but this is the first time I have directly encountered his work. Looks like I will have to buy the DVD and start reading some of his other stories.

I also think Lucille Ball is a wonderful clowning character. Lucille just never wore the clown costume, but her actions and reactions were definately clown-like!

In 1992, I got to meet and spend time with Emmett Kelly Jr. He was making a public appearance at a local collectibles store and I new a gal who knew the guy putting the whole thing on. She got me in to see Emmett one on one and I got some great photos of him and me. The way all those folks admired this Hobo Clown really lured me into becoming a Hobo Clown.

When I started out Clowning, I went by the name of Boxcar but a trip to the WCA convention in 1993 had me change my name, as I ran into 2 or 3 other Boxcar the Clowns.
So I, being a Big "Freddy The Freeloader" Red Skelton fan, wanted a name
like that to go with my new Hobo look (I was Auguste before). I
chose Hayseed The Hobo to reflect Red's character.

I fact my heros in clowning are: Charles Chaplin, Hunter "Patch" Adams, and here in Brazil, Wellington Nogueira (Responsible for a NGO called Clowns Doctors - in portuguese "Doutores da Alegria")

My big inspiration (and I do mean BIG) is Felix Adler. He had such a wonderfully exaggerated body to go with his huge silly grin! He was known mostly for his big padded behind, but sometimes had a big round belly too!

I love all clowns who pad themselves to look extra fat. Go to the photo section to see some of me and my big behind! :D

Fannybelle!

My big inspiration to start to be a clown were two clowns whose works in a Brazilian Amusement Park (called HOPI HARI... It's like SIX FLAGS...) One of them was so awful for me... But the other (a female clown) was so beautiful...

In that time, I have had a little fear of clowns... But, and I don't know how... That female clown, was broken my fear.. I would like so much to stay together with she one time... And, pass by pass, she has helped me to broken my fear. One day, I approached her and started to talk... FINALLY... I HAD BROKEN MY FEAR OF CLOWNS... And I'm so glad about her...

We started to be friends... (We were friends for one year) and during this period. I asked her why she likes to be a clown!!! And she started to explained what is a clown, the diferences between a white face and an august... Each meeting was so greatful for me...

AFter it, I've decided to do a free clown course as a therapy in my city, but I thought that I would give up...

But the time helped me that I was wrong... And in the end of this first course, I simply love to be a clown.. I had a "clown" but couldn't continue this course... I was desesperated about it... "Not now... I need to continue", I thought... And started to search another course...

And in this course, I needed to restart my process.... And has been in this process wherever PICABURU was born...

Nowadays, I continue to study it... And intend to never give up my clown...

Hugs

Picaburu

i have to say my insperations where redskelton and any of the clowns in the rodeos that i attended as a kid. my two favorites where charlie to tall west(he was the barrel man at cow palace for years and also the smallest rodeo clown at only 3' and some change ) and the other would be wilber pauger he had one gig with a monkey in a cowboy hat chaps and vest and riding a boardercollie that use to herd ducks into a bag.