Amazing Clown faces

Amazing Clown faces

Some of the earliest clowns were court jesters.During the Middle Ages they performed for royalty, wearing festive costumes trimmed with tinkling bells.They made the king and courtiers laugh at their funny stories and wild antics.

Harlequin clowns came after the jesters, appearing on the scene in sixteenth century Italian theater. They always wore tight-legged, full-sleeved costumes, bright with color in diamond-shaped patterns. They also wore black half-masks and white ruffled collars.Then came the Pierrot clowns. They had big pompons, like huge buttons, down the front of their loose-fitting white tunics and on the peaks of their pointed hats. They usually wore ruffled collars, and they were the first clowns to use white makeup.The clown suits worn to Halloween parties today are like the Pierrot costumes.

The first great clown of the modern circus was Joseph Grimaldi. He appeared in London, England,in the early 1800s. At that time circuses were very small and had only one ring; thus, clowns were able to talk or sing directly to the fans. One of Grimaldi’s great songs was called “The Oyster Crossed in Love.” He sang it tenderly to an oyster, then ate the oyster. Joseph Grimaldi was so famous that clowns since then have been known as “Joeys.

Clowns were the only “kinkers” (circus entertainers) who could eat in the cookhouse while wearing makeup. They were allowed this privilege because it took so long to put on makeup and take it off.

The main types of modern clowns are the White Face, Auguste Face, and the Hobo

(tramp) clown.

The White Face is the conservative one of the group. This clown wears a white background upon which the other facial features are drawn, usually in red, blue, green, or another bright color. Features are less exaggerated and the costume a little less gaudy than the Auguste.

The Auguste, gaudiest of all clowns, wears flesh-colored makeup as a background for the large exaggerated features of the mouth, nose, and eyes. The costume is usually oversized, with bright flashy colors, and comes complete with huge, floppy shoes.

The Hobo or tramp clown is the one clown who can be untidy. The clothes are ragged and patched, gloves usually have the fingertips missing, and the shoes are often oversized with worn-out soles. Makeup is flesh-colored to the beard line, then blackened to simulate a beard. Red is sometimes used on the cheeks to give a ruddy look to the complexion which very often includes a red nose. Often the mouth and eyes are accented with white.

Famous Clowns

Courtesy: Wiki

Charles Adrien Wettach – Grock (1880–1959), A celebrated Swiss clown.

Achille Zavatta (1915–1993)

Aurelio Atayde Guizar - Bellini - Founder and star clown at Circo Atayde Hermanos in México

António Melo – Batatinha (literally Little Potato), from Portugal. A very well known clown.

Bev Bergeron – Rebo the Clown – Television clown on the shows Magic Land of Allakazam & The Magic Circus

Bim Bom – a famous clown of Revolutionary Russia, executed by the Cheka for his Bolshevik satires

Ernie Burch – Blinko - (c. 1944-1995) Host of 1950's TV show. Ringling Bros. circus. The Greatest Show on Earth film. Named by Cecil B. DeMille

Josep Andreu i Lasserre – Charlie Rivel Other than Grock perhaps the most beloved and respected of all European clowns

The Chickys, classic European clown act

Jose de Jesus Medrano – Chuchin (1953–1984) a.k.a., a Mexican clown and performance star who died tragically.

Nicolai Poliakoff – Coco the Clown a longtime star clown of the Bertram Mills Circus

Daniel Rice (1823–1901) A famous American clown of the 19th century and principal inspiration for Uncle Sam.

David Konyot – 4 times winner best clown (U K) Hungarian circus festival, Polish circus Festival

Drosta – Real name unknown. European

Emmett Kelly – Extremely well known American tramp clown

Charlie Cairoli - Italian-born British clown

The Fratellini Family – a dynasty of French clowns

George Carl – American clown who found great success in Europe. Performed Royal Command Performance for the Queen at the Palladium in London. He also received the coveted "Golden Clown" award from Princess Grace at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.

Glen "Frosty" Little – America's last living Master Clown and longtime "Boss Clown" with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus

Harty the clown – (1906–1986) Frank "Harty" Hart was chief clown for Billy Smart's Circus for 12 years. He toured the US and UK's biggest auditoriums, as well as appearing many times on TV. He even beat the panel on the BBC's What's My Line.

Johnny B, Kummiedjant Lokali

Ian P, Maltese Clown and Actor of the Rivendell Circus

Joe Jackson Sr & Jr. – famous tramp clown entree with a breakaway bicycle

Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev – Karandash (1901–1983) Soviet Clown and clowning teacher.

Johann Ludwig Jacob – Lou Jacobs (1903–1992) – During his 60 years in the American circus this Master Clown came to be known as one of the most famous clowns in the world through his innovative comic routines, compassion for others and strong dedication to his work. Credited with inventing the clown car gag.

Oleg Popov – Greatly admired clown from the Soviet Union and student of Karandash

Otto Griebling – (1896–1972) Prolific and influential Master Clown with the Cole Bros. and 

Ringling circuses. The single most admired and respected American circus clown of the 20th century

The Rastellis – European clown act

José Vega Santana – Remi (1958–present) – "Puerto Rico's Greatest Clown"

Vicki Gabereau – Rosie Sunshine - Ran as a candidate in the 1974 Toronto mayoral election

Versace - great clown and pantomime, world wide known from Mexico, touring with "Zirkus Charles Knie" 

Yuri Nikulin – Russian clown and actor

Jack Perry and Doug McKenzie – Zig and Zag Australian Television clowns

Buffo, claimed to be the world's strongest clown.