December 16, 2004
George L. Fox
was the most famous clown (and one of the most famous men) in America in the 1870s because of his portrayal of Humpty Dumpty. He inspired a show by today's equivalent, Bill Irwin.
Fox "is considered by many to be the funniest man of his time. His white face character became an important part of popular American imagery, being used in advertisements and children's books long after his death. He is considered an influence on early film comedians including Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the Marx Brothers."
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I'd love to hear from a monkey who seen the Bill Irwin show.
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Clown ministers seem scary, but maybe that's because I can't imagine it. I keep picturing Krusty wisecracking while nailed to a cross. Or seltzer bottles at Communion. Steve Martin was and is a hell of a clown. Even plays banjo.
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im a monkey who workshopped the show (as an actor) in connecticut, and whose lady designed the set for the NY production. there is a documentary, newly released, called Bill Irwin:Clown Prince that has several scenes from the production. It was quite an amazing thing to watch Bill wrestle with his influence in the form of Fox and his continuation of this tradition. In a fascinating note, Fox went mad in the latter part of his life, partially due, perhaps, to the lead-based paint he applied some 6000 times. hope that helps.
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Fox went mad in the latter part of his life... must...resist...nightmare...fuel....
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I just saw Clown Prince on PBS tonight; it's a lot of fun.
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Interesting so many performers involved in pantomime in the nineteenth century died in their 40s and 50s -- have to wonder if this reflected merely the average lifespan or whether performance demands were so exhausting back in those days. Thanks for the links, languagehat, especially those on Fox.
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Clowns = fear Fear = death Death = clowns Clowns = fear Fear = death Death = clowns shudder
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Coulrophobia news update: Prince seems to suffer from a fear of clowns.
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Yeah, I was watching Clown Prince too -- that's what inspired the post. I find old vaudevillians fascinating, and I've loved Irwin ever since seeing him on Northern Exposure.
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I would quite like to know more about the incident on stage during Fox' last performance when he was apparently taken over by some kind of fit of madness, sadly a google search has turned up lacking in detail.
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Ain't nothin' funny about a clown in the moonlight.
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That was exactly my thought, too, Nostril. He was a clown... how did they know he'd gone off?
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We watched Clown Prince also - excellent. My SO remembers seeing Irwin in Popeye as a kid. Followed his career and SO told his HS guidance counselor that he wanted to go to clown college upon graduation. The counselor was not supportive at all. I did not know much about him but remember the Northern Exposure episodes and Adventures of Pete and Pete. Thanks for the post.
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Clowns are creepy. Creepy.
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Two cannibals sittin' on a rock, eating a clown...
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i can't remember when i first saw bill irwin, but i've been delighted at his every appearance since (NE, I Love pete and pete, videos?!, etc.) not a fan of the common clown stuff (no clown sex PLEASE), and i haven't gotten to see the show yet but the fact that he is almost literally the last of his kind, that the elevation to "art" of many different things are dying off-- --eh, i'll go on too much great people in performance arts end up in more accessible/acceptable avenues, like eddie izzard, for their own good, and ours, but i wonder if records end up adding to the myth more than documenting them and whether that is better or worse i don't know either