Since I work at Goodwill I was wondering if you purchased any props or gags or costumes? If so, what were they and what are they used for?

well i didn't get props or gags at good will but i got alot of my costumes from there

I changed the question

ok so Costume for Willace i got my pants white & Green stipe the buttion up the sides. for hobo bob I got a over coat & a hat over coat is a lil small in the shoulders but other wise it fits ok. Scrubs i got my whole suit witch is hospitle scrub clothes & lab coat shoes, nose & desposeable stethascope were the only things i got that were never used

You wouldn't believe what kinda goods come thru there!!! It's awesome that you love clowning and you help out with a good cause. Any one else?

when i was little i swore i saw bright yellow clown shows at a good will once

I got a metal birdcage from Goodwill... I cleaned it up and spray painted it yellow... I took some cloth to cover it when I carry it arond... I ask people if they'd like to see my Blue J.

Inside on the perch is a wooden letter J painted blue with Googly eyes and blue feathers glued on it.

My best goodwill find is my clown trunk. I can't remember what other clown stuff I have found there though!

Wow, Goodwill is like the Clowns superstore!Just for starters.... My Coat, the small umbrella that I carry, The parts that my tuna can pocket watch, The tray and cups from my free shakes walk around. Scooter, the skunk, The case that I keep scruffy in, My makeup box,Bandanna's, The tube for my shave the whales razor,Sassy's face painting chair's and her paint case....

Well, you get the idea.

I also have hit the Goodwill jackpot in the clothing department. I've found not one -- but TWO -- polka dot dresses. SCORE!!

I've also found basic cotton long-sleeved striped shirts for a couple bucks each. My most recent Goodwill purchase was a yellow, green, and pink clown rain jacket! What a find!

You wonder if humans really wore these get-ups or if they are cast-offs from fellow clowns!

I think they really wore this stuff. I us to be a donation attedant and I would love when cutomers came in and donated clothes that were just straight UGLY, and they say "Take care of this for me." And they were serious. I'm now a manager trainee and I'm on the inside watching people buy all the ugly stuff! It's a big hit around Halloween with all the college students. They love finding these treasures! Mr. D. I love the bird cage deal, do you mind if I use that! Thanks to all that have posted, can't wait to hear everybody else's finds.

Anybody else?

Too many items to list. :)

Ok, I wasn't sure I was gonna post, but since you're looking for more, here goes.

My character that I do is Harpo (as you could probably tell from my user name). I got my entire outfit, except for my tie and my hat, at a second hand store. The tie I got from my grandpa, and the hat I got from my Dad's store.

My outfit consists of brown cargo pants, black and white plaid shirt (I have long and short sleeves depending on the weather), a plaid tie of browns and dark orange (made of wool), patterned argile socks, a nice pair of brown wingtips (size 7 mens, one size too big for me), a soft (and therefore mashable) top hat, and a nice tan trench coat (with a removable flannel liner).

The wig, rubber chicken, and bulb horn I got from Dad's store. I made a feather-duster gun from a toy revolver, white feathers and black elecrical tape. (I later discovered that my memory had not served me correctly when I made this, because it should have been a whisk-broom gun. I now have to figure out how to remove the handle of the broom without it falling apart, and attaching it to a toy revolver. It will be a fun project if I ever have time to work on it. The feather duster gun will suffice for the time being, though, I'd like to try and make a one-man-band for Harpo first.)

I did find a small gold harp (a Christmas tree ornament) that I tie to my belt loop (so if anyone asks me where my harp is, I can show them that I do have one with me), and that came from a second hand store.

I love second hand stores, I get my normal clothes there, as well as my 'special occasion' clothes.

I got a very dated red formal dress with white lace. I added long sleeves (red and white strip knit) to it. I was on Tara for my gone with the wind skit. A window frame with no glass and added braces to hold it up so I could look out at atlanta burning and horrid avacodo green drapes (I added red dinggle ball trim) to take down to make the dress.

A short version of carol burnetts went with the wind.

cast
me-starlet
daisy davis sheffeild=sis
Kay reed- maid prissy
rolf kerr-rhet
ryan clare-random soldier
back stage help-nancy montgomery

props-goodwill

1st place TCA I forget the year-in the 90's

That sounds like you all got some great deals!!!

I am in the process of developing another clown character ... her name is EARTHELA! Earthela really wants to keep our earth CLEAN by RECYCLING! So ... Earthela is being entirely made up from recycled STUFF (except her hair). And She is GOING GREEN ... so, most of her stuff is green.

I went to Goodwill and Salvation Army the other day, spent about $12.00 and here's what I got and what I'm going to use it for:



Bed sheet - part of costume (trim, etc).
Table cloth - main part of costume.
Doilie with ribbon - shoe laces. I might use the doilie for something too.
Brown boots that are too big for me.
Bassinet cover - ribbon and lace (actually I don't know if I will use it for Earthela ... I don't think she is the ribbon, lace kind of gal).
Green jumpsuit - bloomers and shirt.

Then, today, I went to the shoe repair shop to buy some green paint. This is a dusty place and the owner told me I could just have it because they weren't full cans.

I took some little disks off of a purse that was in my toybox that my granddaughters don't play with anymore - these I put on my shoes.
I'm going to make the ruffles on the bottom out of plastic bags, the pockets out of pancake mix bottles cut in half, a hat out of newspaper, some trim out of old pantihose (braided and spray painted) and who knows what else will come out of this.

I actually spoke to our mayor today and told him about this, because we know each other from social functions. He loved it and wants me to be sure to call him when Earthela is ready to meet the public. He said maybe we can have a cleanup day in the park and have Earthela there to supervise. I'm not sure, but he said we would think of something.

So ... here are my shoes. (Admitting you have a problem is the first step ... but I'm in denial ... I don't have a problem ... I just sold 7 pairs of shoes on ebay).

Let me know if you think of anything else ...

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/jlsnette/P1010221.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/jlsnette/P1010222.jpg

I love the idea of a Green clown! The shoes look great, Post some pics when Earthela is done.

Sweet shoes! Great clown concept.

Hasn't that concept been done before.... and before... and before???

Always good to recycle a good idea (and make a bad joke.)

I buy white collar shirts from the Salavation Army to turn into the bibs I use in costume. I cut the collar out with the top button and double up the material from the back for the actual bib, then I sew the bib back to half the collar, and attach a snap to affix the other half - ta da! - My bib opens in the front with the button and snap and I affix a couple clown buttons or iron-on stars to it to spruce it up.

Works well... I can never seem to get the red make up out of the white fabric to my satisfaction, so I go through these things... :O)

Who doesn't shop at Goodwill! Our church has dinner theaters that we raise money for missions and most of our costumes come from Goodwill. Also my clown trousers are a gigantic pair that I got from Goodwill. It is also a great place to look for props. For ministry clowns that are looking for an economical way to entertain, it is a must.

Hey Finito, would you mind posting a picture of one of your bibs? It sounds like a great idea for any number of character uses.

I second that, Fitzwilly. Finito, would love to see some pics

I took photo's if someone would like to post them, i will email... I can't seem to make it work.

I have,nt been to the goodwill but we have a thrift store called shepards helpers and i,ve got alot of stuff there like the case for my magic props, scarfs,puppets,a nice clown suit,etc... and i go in with my clown brain on to come up with ideals.

as i said before we don,t have a goodwill store but a trift store called shepherd helpers and today i found alittle basketball hoop that i,m going to fix on a hat, also found alittle shower head and make a prop with the ideal oe showers of blessings but the biggest find was a book on coin magic called the new modern coin magic by j.b. bobo

A basketball hat!!! Wow, you've GOTTA show us a photo of that. What a lucky day at the thrift store. SCORE!!!

How in the world did I miss this thread?

Mr. Dazzle, I love the birdcage and Blue Jay idea! Cute! And Nettie Belle, those shoes are to die for! You are ever so clever! (Love the new avatar, too - you have captured the look of NB so well)!

I think I will be dragging my husband to the nearest Goodwill/thrift store today! Even though I am new at clowning, I have already become a clown fashionista, and don't forget the accessories! I have drawers filled with props, magic tricks, socks, juggling balls, flower pins, etc. already. I made a little reversible purse yesterday that I can take with me to events to carry those little essentials (although a clown girl can never have too many shoes or purses, so I am quite sure I will have more before too long)!

(Now to go on a google search for all the nearby thrift stores...)

my favorite place to find bargains is the goodwill CLEARANCE CENTER where everything is 99 cents a pound! amazing. i dony know how you find the i found one in miami and one in sc(greeneville)

Mr. Homerdaclown, my sister and brother-in-law live up near you in Adairsville, and next time I am up there, I will have to check out your thrift store. Do you know any other good ones around Rome, Calhoun or Dalton?

Do you belong to an alley? You should check out Peachtree Clown Alley!

Violet there,s not a shepherd helpers in those areas but i,m sure there are other trift stores there and if you are around summerville/trion area the trift store is in trion if you need directions give a call 706 331-5157

So ... here are my shoes. (Admitting you have a problem is the first step ... but I'm in denial ... I don't have a problem ... I just sold 7 pairs of shoes on ebay).

Let me know if you think of anything else ...

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/jlsnette/P1010221.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/jlsnette/P1010222.jpg

OH,MAN! I wish I had known that you were selling them! I check Ebay often, but never have found anything that really catches my eye. Next time you decide to sell a pair, let me know or send me the link to your ebay listing, PLEEEEZE :) I'm sure they sere just cute as could be!

They are so cute!<:o) Well done!Let us know when you sell a pair of those again plesae. <:O)

goodwill? i should look there it never occured to me.

We got Gummy's suit at Goodwill. It had to be "fixed up" but it was really a good deal.
We have a Goodwill Clearance center too. Clothes are 75 cents each and other stuff is $1 a pound. Miss Moody and I went with my Mom last week. It was so much fun going thru everything. I saw so much but with money really tight this time of year I couldn't buy as much as I wanted.

I love Goodwill.

I myself like to look in back of stores even go to swap meet at end of day to see what people leave behind stuff like this can be used to make items or just at least a part a project free is good, companys there trash helps with my props.. remember dumpstir diving its not a way of life its a sport

Hi guys. My sister used to be a manager of our local Goodwill store. When I went in to see her, I'd check out the stuff they had and wow...it's a gold mine. There were bibs to be decorated, musical instruments, things you could make into gags. Another place that has a lot of stuff is the Salvation Army.

Punkin

I just checked a local equivalent of Goodwill and found an oversized "briefcase" about 9 inches wide and plenty deep for only 3 bucks. Key locks (that don't work, but keys included) so I can't mess-up the combination and lock myself out... I think it'll make a perfect clown case for me. I'm just starting out...am leaning towards Hobo, but may also develope an Auguste for parties to begin with. trying to figure out how to make the clown case fit both clowns...any ideas?

http://mail.google.com/mail/?account_id=gishamerthemagician%40gmail.com&ui=2&view=att&th=11e5cf4a4b4bce86&attid=0.1&disp=inlineA basketball hat!!! Wow, you've GOTTA show us a photo of that. What a lucky day at the thrift store. SCORE!!!

enregards to pickles qoute here,s a picture click link above quote

A basketball hat!!! Wow, you've GOTTA show us a photo of that. What a lucky day at the thrift store. SCORE!!!
in regards to pickles quote here,s a picture http://mail.google.com/mail/?account_id=gishamerthemagician%40gmail.com&ui=2&view=att&th=11e5cf4a4b4bce86&attid=0.1&disp=inline

you have a small pants? Crazy make-up... all for the your clown. Think a Clown... Felling!

i,m not for sure if you where refering to my basketball hat with your quote but i already have a clown character that,s my avatar picture but thanks anyway

I love Goodwills, Thrift stores and yardsales. My favorite thing- my clown shoes- size 14 purple high top tennis shoes- big enough to get another pair of shoes in- for only $3.00. I know they were made for me because purple is my favorite color.

Ooooooooo, I do love the Goodwills and Salvation Army stores. I have found many great things, I buy gloves, pants, I too found high top runners, sparkly pink, and added funky laces.... so many good things... what a great thing to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I'm off to the Goodwill!!! lol:D

this is not a prop but it was a good find at a trift store called shepards helpers it,s a magic book called the stein and day handbook of magic by marvin kaye i got it for 3 dollars

Sounds like a good find Homer.

The Earthelia concept ROX...im so doing that.
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Oh and my recent finds are

polka dotted vans
a HUGE Mens 2x bright yellow polo
a sash with stars on it (Rahni LUUVVVZ stars)
an orange scarf with perfect yellow and green polka dots
A bright yellow baseball hat

I went in clown makeup, played with some kids while I was there, made alot of grownups laugh, got asked for business cards twice and gave away a WHOLE garbage bag of practice balloons.
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I went to the NAM (North American Minsitries) place today (Similar to the Salvation Army / Goodwill type places.) I found a small golf bag for Bogie, a neat old lantern for Dusty, an old crank-operated hand mixer (a la Professor von Nightmare prop), and an older wooden tennis racket. (I figure I may eventually turn the racket into a string instrument for Dusty (I saw something similar on youtube once... a guitar made from a tennis racket, an old vinyl album and a small box. Think it would be great for any hobo. total spent on said items? $6.75. :)

Love Goodwill. Don't forget Salvation Army's Thrift Store The Salvation Army: Home (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf) , DAV http://www.davthriftstores.com/ , St Vincent DePauls Find a Thrift Store (http://www.svdpusa.org/AboutUs/FindaThriftStore/tabid/174/language/en-US/Default.aspx) and all the unnamed shops. Garage Sales are good but most Saturdays a clown is working.
I'ts not clown related, but I years ago I bought an old lazer disc player. The one where the lazer disk is literally bigger than a record albulm http://www.tvhistory.tv/1980-Philips-VPL700-LaserDiskPlayer.JPG. To rent a movie at the video store was $3-5 dollars. This was $10 and had 2 milk crates of movies. At the front counter the assistant said there were more movies in the back that went with the system. Thank goodness I had my show van. Over 300 movie titles on Lazar disk. A full John Wayne collection, all the Bonds, Black hole, Disney galore. It made for some cheep TV for several years.

Found a pair of ize 13 purple dress shoes for my "agent" character; he's not really a clown per se, but is more like a carnival-barker type. I plan on going around in his lavender tux coat and orange pants and giving away freebies like little toys, etc when I give out my business cards for Beezer and family.

Mommy Beezer found a purple shirt-dress with big white polka dots.

I'm always finding brightly colored scarves at Goodwill. Others have been right about the odd things you find there that can be made into great props and gags.

I bought a pump of some sort (I think it was part of an inflatable-mattress set or something from some years ago); it's a manual pump that is big and red and looks like a vintage bug-spray pump like an exterminator would have used.

On one side, there's an outlet where some kind of hose would have been attached. I stretch a balloon over it.

I'm using it with a giant housefly on some invisible thread on a wire suspended from my back... the fly is always swinging around behind me. The kids scream, I turn and spray with the pump, the fly of course swings out of the way. The balloon keeps gradually filling. I finally realize there's a HUGE fly behind me, and I run. Just as I get behind a screen or wall, the balloon bursts and I come back out with no giant bug, just a giant flyswatter stuck to my forehead, as if the fly has finally given me some of my own medicine.

Not a Goodwill prop per se, but I got a big tin can from one of those ten-pounds-of-popcorn bins that get given away on holidays to people we don't particularly like enough to really shop for.

I have covered the can to look like a giant Duracell battery.

I think instead of the balloon, i'd rig it with baby powder, so when you pumped it it would look like it's spraying..

I've found not one -- but two -- animal flashlights -- a mooing cow and a growling bear. Ya never know when you're gonna need one of those!

One of my fav finds in recent years is a plastic chicken tray, which set me back a whopping 69 cents. I think it's supposed to hold a toddler's food bowl. But I inserted a mirror where the bowl is supposed to be. You lift the chicken's wing to reveal the mirror, and it starts to cluck. I only facepaint twice a year at volunteer events, but props like this detract from my hideous artwork and get some big laughs from the kiddies.

I have found a squeeky hammer, broken fishing net and tennis raquets.

Not to mention the fact they have some of the funniest clothes around