We’re all about the laughter and the smiles and the giggles! Laughter IS the shortest
distance between people!!
The Capital Region Clown Arts Festival
COAI Alley #369
We're all about the laughter and
the smiles and the giggles!
Laughter IS the shortest distance between people!!
News & Notes
January 2010
Happy New Year! May you make many smiles in 2010!!
A Great Clown Passes Roy Sandberg passed on December 18 after a battle with
cancer. We knew Roy as "Herbie". We met “Herbie” in 1978 at the Open House of Plattsburgh Air Force
Base. It was one of Roy’s first public performances after developing the clown persona “Herbie”. Besides
being one of the most active Shriners we know, “Herbie” had one heck of a clowning career. He was an ISCA member,
a COA member and a COAI member who most recently served as an International Ambassador, representing the art of clowning and
COAI at functions, events and get togethers in Canada. He appeared all over, attended conventions, competed, instructed
and shared in so many ways. Roy was what’s referred to as a clown’s clown. In 2008, Roy was presented
the Capital Region Clown Arts Festival President's Award. The following citation was broadcast throughout the land: President’s
Awards...Roy Sandburg. Roy has performed for years as “Herbie”. Roy is a Shrine Clown and COAI member from the
Keesville-Plattsburgh, NY area who has devoted thousands upon thousands of hours to the craft of clowning and the Shrine fraternity
always in service of kids who need help. Thank you, Roy! He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
As much as Roy loved clowning around, Roy was a gentleman who was truly in to clowning for the humor of it all. To honor
Roy and his love of humor, we are instituting the Roy Sandberg Humor Award. We will work to make it a fitting tribute
to “Herbie”. He, his smiles and his laughter will be missed.
NORCO Clowns Elect Fuddi-Duddy Fuddi-Duddy has been elected to lead the NORCO
Shrine Clowns of Troy’s Oriental Shrine Center for 2010. The 25 members of the NORCO Clowns appear in parades,
the Shrine circus, and community events from Troy north to Plattsburgh and the Canadian border each year. They have
even been known to make smiles across the border in Canada from time to time. The NORCO Clowns are planning a busy year
with the Northeast Clown Institute kicking things off for everyone. Andy Mullin is serving as VP, Jeremy Cunnif is serving
as Secretary, and Craig Cashman is serving as Treasurer for 2010.
Red Nose Response It’s a clown arts based charity/service group that
provides comic relief to the victims of natural disaster in North America. Some times the response is very local, such
as to the victims of a house fire down the street or across town. Some times the response is a coordinated regional
response such as to a shelter after a flood or tornado or other type of storm. The purpose is the same…bring smiles
to the rescue. It’s a great organization that had its founding in the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina.
RNR has demonstrated continual growth and, although focused on North America, it has members around the world who share information
and experiences. It costs nothing to join and it doesn’t hound you for money after you join. We have joined
up everybody we have contact info on. Joining is a great way to start out the New Year.
HVCC Offering An Intro Class Introduction to the Art of Clowning
Yes,
that is Introduction to the Art of Clowning with Marie Beck.
This course of instruction offered by HVCC will introduce
students to the ancient and honorable profession of clowning. Students will learn what a clown is, what a clown does, where
a clown performs, basic make-up application techniques, costume and wardrobe selection and introductory clown skills. Course
fee of $250.00 includes a textbook, makeup kit, and one year membership to Clowns of America. It starts February 12,
concludes May 12, and graduation is set for May 19. Class coordinator and the lead instructor is Marie Beck who we all
know as “Mischief” the Clown. Contact HVCC’s Community & Professional Education Department at
629-7339 for all the latest details. If you know someone who wants to be a clown, or wants some 101 or 201 clown arts
education, this is a great program!
Convention Locations & Dates 2010 is going to see the COAI convention
in Houston, Texas, April 20 - 25 and the WCA convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, April 18 - 23. I had the opportunity
to sit down with the 2010 COAI hosts, the Cheerful Clowns, in November to discuss their convention plans. I can tell
you that if you opt to go to Houston, you are going to be in for a great time. COAI is celebrating its 25th Anniversary
and it is going to be FUN! Word has it that WCA is going to be hosting the Clown Olympics! That has to be a barrel
of fun and laughter. Details on the 2010 conventions can be found in each organization’s publication and on their
web sites. Start planning now to attend one or the other. If you happen to be a Shrine Clown, first up is the
I.S.C.A. Mid-Winter Convention February 16th -21st, 2010 at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Center Hotel, Indianapolis, IN.
Parking has been worked out. The 2010 Imperial Session is in Toronto, Canada, July 3 - 8. You will need an
enhanced driver’s license or a passport for that one. We all need to support our international conventions!!
Are You Going To Be There? COAI’s 2010 General Membership meeting
will be conducted at the Houston Hobby Airport Marriott, 9100 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX on April 21. If you have business
you want to bring forward to COAI, contact your regional vice president…Bill LeBlanc. His phone is 508-378-1545.
His other contact info can be found in any recent issue of The New Calliope.
Where’s It Happening In 2011? COAI’s 2011 convention will be held
at the Paradise Pier, a Disney property in Anaheim, California, right across the street from California Adventure and across
the parking lot from Downtown Disney. WCA’s convention is going to be conducted in New York New City! New
York City? Yes, New York City!! Well, actually in Queens. We’ve heard that the Down Town Clowns have
teamed up with all the clowns who reside and work in the area and they are going to serve as the hosts. It is going
to be fun to see what develops. And New York City (Queens) is only 3 hours away or there abouts straight down the Thruway.
As details are released, we will post ‘em here. If you are a Shrine Clown, I.S.C.A.’s Mid-Winter is set
for February 1- 6, 2011 in Des Moines, IA. Imperial Session will be July 3rd - 7th, 2011 in Denver.
It’s Worth Repeating! Bill “Snappy” Hart has been designated
an Excellence In Clowning recipient. He will receive his award at the COAI convention in Houston. When you see
Bill, be sure to congratulate him.
DUES Do you have a current COAI dues card in your wallet? A recent check
of the New York membership page on the COAI web site indicates that several of our area COAI members are not listed.
The only reason we know of that they wouldn’t be listed is that they forgot to pay their 2009-2010 dues. If you
happen to be one of these members no longer listed, call the business office and make arrangements to get current. See
any recent Calliope for the business office contact info. Pay your dues!!
International Ambassadors
Wanted! Fuddi-Duddy continues to spearhead COAI’s International Ambassador program. If you
are traveling outside the borders of the good old USA within the next year, contact Fuddi-Duddy about spreading the smirks,
smiles, giggles and laughter of the clown arts to the countries you will be visiting. Everyone who has accepted an appointment
as an international ambassador will tell you that they have had wonderful experiences. Get in on a great job.
Somebody has to do it. It might as well be you!
Just So You Know… COAI’s business office is now in Florida.
The address is COAI, P.O. Box 1171, Englewood, FL 34295-1171. The phone number is 941-474-4351. A new 800 number should be
announced within in a week or so. Tom Newton became COAI’s business manager on January 1. Pat Newton continues
to serve as the Calliope editor. Together with their staff, they are rebuilding the COAI web site and bringing forth some
of the new 21st century bells, whistles and interactivity that COAI members are excited about. More in depth membership
service, a clown arts publication that is second to none and a web site that will be the envy of the clown arts community
are the goals of these changes. There should be more in the next issue of The New Calliope.
Other Changes Clown Supplies is now Clown Supplies Dot Com and is based out
of Laconia, New Hampshire. The fax and phone is 603-435-8812. After many years of service to the clown community,
Marie and Eric Perrson have retired. They sold Clown Supplies to Mary Ann Ross who we know as Simplicity The Clown.
While Mary Ann will not have a retail store, she promises great service through the web site and her telephone! If you
need something that she doesn’t happen to have in stock, she will get it for you!! Clowns Supplies has been serving
the clown community for over 25 years. It’s good to know that is will continue to do so.
Still More Change Clown City closed its retail store on December 31.
The shoe business has been sold and we should know more shortly. Heidi Shupta has purchased the remaining inventory
and is in the process of setting up Clown City as an e-enterprise. Heidi is from the Boston area and we know her as
Violet The Clown. We are sure that there will be a lot more info available at January Jamboree. It’s good
to know that Clown City, a great supporter of the clown arts in the Northeast, will continue in a new model.
Are You A Ministry Clown? The national conference of the Show Me Clowns For
Jesus is being conducted in Springfield, MO. They are offering a great line up of instructors and ministers. It
will be February 12 - 14 at the Clarion Hotel. For all of the details go to www.showmeclownsforjesus.orgIt appears to be a program that is truly pastoral!
Battenkill Joeys Are Clowning Around! The Capital Region Clown Arts Festival
and the Battenkill Joeys, COAI Alley #406, have combined forces to present a customized version of Klown Kollege. The
Kollege is designed to allow new Battenkill Joeys to experience and enjoy a supported entry in to the performing art of clowning.
Current alley members are brushing up their clowning skills and developing new ones. They were recently recognized by
the Mid Atlantic Clowns Association for their participation in November’s MACA Convention. They also joined the
Electric City Clowns for the holiday party. They expect to be at January Jamboree.
Questions & Answers
Q. Are there going to be a Capital Region Clown
Arts Festival classes this winter?
A. No. We have not found a place that is centrally located with a parking
lot that is plowed and lit up for everybody's safety, that is free or almost free. We are considering a couple of weekend
programs in the spring.
Q. I’ve heard you are collecting office supplies.
A. It’s true. One of
the fraternal groups in the area is collecting Teacher supplies; items that are used in the class room each day. It’s
tough out there and local schools have had to cut way back on supplies and the like forcing teacher to purchase what they
need out of their own pockets. We are just trying to reduce some of the out of pocket expenses teachers deal with.
Q. Lucille Ball is always held up as a great clown. Yet, as hard as I have tried, I have never
found a photo of her in costume and make up. Did she ever appear as a clown? Or, is she one of those people who
is considered a clown because of her unique comic performance, attitude and big heart?
A. Great question. If
you go to the Red Skelton web site, click Red’s Television Performances, you can see a promo photo of Red and Lucy together.
Red appears as “Freddie The Freeloader” and Lucy is in costume and make up as a tramp/hobo. It would be
fun to see that particular episode. Does anybody have it?
Q. According to COAI’s rules, tramp/hobo’s have white around their eyes and mouth to exaggerate
the cleaning of the soot so the clown can see and eat. Yet, the two greatest tramp/hobo clowns ever, Emmett Kelly and
Red Skelton wore no white around their eyes. What’s the story? If no eye make up was good enough for these
clowning giants, why does COAI require it? The WCA and ISCA rules aren’t so clear.
A. Every organizations
has it’s own rules. It’s simple. If you want to compete and win, you have to comply with the rules.
If you feel a change in the COAI rules is in order, draft a proposal and get it to Bill LeBlanc or Cathy Mackey. As
we have looked at the photos of Emmett and Red that are available, it appears that Emmett did not wear white on his eye lids.
Red Skelton did wear white from time to time. While I can’t speak for these clowns, I have to guess in Red’s
case, it had to do with the lights that he was working under. Red was supposedly a real stickler about such things.
The
Quickest Way To Create A Smile A Follow-up! We have chatted about handing out red noses and carrying a
mirror. Here is another quick and simple way to create a smile…SMILE! Yes, the simple act of smiling at
someone is one of the easiest ways to create smiles. When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of
others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.
And in return, they will smile back. Hey, it sounds kind of corny, but smiles beget more smiles! As you are out
and about clowning around, be sure to smile! Chances are good you will be able to create lots of smiles
just be smiling yourself! You’d be surprised at the number of clowns who don’t smile. SMILES!
They are quick, easy, fun and often appreciated much more than you will ever know.
Some History
The art of clowning has existed for thousands of years. A pygmy clown performed as a jester in the court of Pharaoh Dadkeri-Assi
during Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty about 2500 B.C. Court jesters have performed in China since 1818 B.C. Throughout history
most cultures have had clowns.
When Cortez conquered the Aztec Nation in 1520 A.D. he discovered Montezuma’s court
included jesters similar to those in Europe. Aztec fools, dwarf clowns, and hunchbacked buffoons were among the treasures
Cortez took back to Pope Clement VII. Even in North America, most Native American tribes had some type of clown character.
These clowns played an important role in the social and religious life of the tribe, and in some cases were believed to be
able to cure certain diseases.
Clowns who performed as court jesters were given great freedom of speech. Often they were the only one to
speak out against the ruler’s ideas, and through their humor were able to affect policy. About 300 BC Chinese
emperor Shih Huang-Ti oversaw the building of the Great Wall of China. Thousands of laborers were killed during its construction.
He planned to have the wall painted which would have resulted in thousands more dying. His jester, Yu Sze, was the only one
who dared criticize his plan. Yu Sze jokingly convinced him to abandon his plan. Yu Sze is remembered today as a Chinese national
hero.
One of the most famous of the European court jesters was Nasir Ed Din. One day the king glimpsed himself
and a mirror, and saddened at how old he looked, started crying. The other members of the court decided they better cry as
well. When the king stopped crying, everyone else stopped crying too, except Nasir Ed Din. When the king asked Nasir why he
was still crying, he replied, "Sire, you looked at yourself in the mirror but for a moment and you cried. I have to look at
you all the time."
BACK TO BASICS Paradeability…Clowns appear in parades for two
reasons. One reason is to draw attention to a worthy cause such as the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.
Or, to draw attention to a float or a unit or an upcoming event and then spread information. The other reason is to
perform for the crowds.
Parade performance is often called Paradeability. It is simply a clown’s or a group of clowns
ability to perform, entertain or bring laughter during a parade. Clowns may use a sight gags, an object or prop, use signs
or vocal expressions. Parade gimmicks may be carried, pushed, pulled or driven, and shouldn’t require a setup or tear-down
time. Objects used are those that can be "reloaded" quickly and on the move.
Simple signs are the best and a great crowd pleasers. Here are examples of some of our favorites:
Looking For A Mate…it’s on one side, on the other side is a lone sock
My “B” Collection…foam “B”s are glued to the other side of the sign
My “Diamond” Collection…same concept. The diamonds from a card deck are glued to
other side of a sign.
It’s Raining Cats & Dogs…cats and dogs, large enough to be seen from a distance, are suspended
by string or wire from the inside of an umbrella.
The Best Seat In The House…on the other side, a toilet seat.
Other Opportunities To Clown Around Town and/or Get Some Education
Jan 15 - 17, 2010 Northeast Clown Institute, Plymouth, MA This a great educational program!
There still might be some room. Contact Pea-Pa at peapa2@verizon.net or call him at 508-759-2679 to find out if you can sneak in and be a part of things.
Feb 4 - 7 January Jamboree in February, Mystic Hilton, Mystic, CT The last one! Sue and
Doug are retiring. Don’t miss it! Promises to be the best ever!!
You can still call Clown City to register…860-889-1000.
They will take your registration right over the phone. To make your hotel reservations at the Mystic Hilton, call 860-572-0731.
Feb 17 Introduction to the Art of Clowning Class coordinator and lead instructor is Mischief
the Clown. Contact HVCC’s Community & Professional Education Department at 629-7339 for all the latest details.
April 20 - 25 COAI’s 25th Anniversary Convention in Houston, Texas. Don’t miss out
on this celebration of Clowns of America International and its many members. Houston Hobby is the destination airport.
The web site? http://www.coai2010houston.com Get your registration mailed in and start on your travel arrangements
May 19 7 PM HVCC Clown Class graduation
June 11 - 13 Humor Project Conference Silver Bay, NY
More info available at the HumorProject.com
October TBA 200 Years of PT Barnum, a celebration of the American Circus. Look for details.
