Thursday, October 02, 2008

Cole Bros. Program 1947 #14


Scan10787, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 10/02/2008 06:01:00 AM

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looking rather Crisp & Gussied UP :
I wonder if Ottos TATERED WARDROBE Look was Altered for this Hollywood Photo ? Or is it just an " Earlier Stage " & part of his Charactors Evolution .

02 October, 2008 08:20
Anonymous said...

The story behind this picture is that Joseph Cotten was a serious collector of circus clown materials. He had a collection of more than 300 items when he was profiled in "Circus Clowns Are Actor's Hobby" in Hobbies, February 1946. His wasn't the typical figurines and such, but high end prints and some real artworks. What became of his material?

Ernest Borgnine blurted out his interest to be a clown on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and thereby gained an invitation to appear several times in Milwaukee's Great Circus Parade. He comments upon the experience, two full pages, in his recently released autobiography.

To quote his profile, "Cotten still hasn't realized his ambition to play the part of a clown in the movies, on the stage or in radio. He does not know any of the prominent circus clowns personally, and has never donned clown white and costume for 'guest' appearances with shows as have many circus fans for whom clowning is a hobby."

Jimmy Stuart donned whiteface for Cecil B. de Mille's circus epic, in a rather bizarre manner fulfillling a public stereotype of the craft, but maybe people know others more reflective of the actual practitioners?

02 October, 2008 09:53
Anonymous said...

Joseph Cotten was a long-time member of CFA, and in an old roster I have, he listed his actual street address, an extreme rarity for screen stars. He gave his occupation as "thespian".

Otto had a philosophy for his character that developed during his long recovery from a riding accident. It was, "Ya gotta use psychology." His studious insight paid off with performances that even other clowns, jaded and world-weary of clown gags, would laugh at. The wardrobe in this shot may have been recently acquired, as we remember the disshelvelment of his seasoned outfits. About his tattered pants, he would say, "Ya gotta start wit' da knees."

Another Hollywood star who loved clowns came by it naturally--Red Skelton. His father was a clown. A sensitive and perceptive artist, his paintings of clowns revealed that Skelton knew what American circus clowns should look like.

Ernest Borgnine's agent, Flo Joseph, is reputed to have grumbled about the actor's time at the Milwaukee parade, since there was no money in it.

James Stewart talked fondly of his role as Buttons on THE TONIGHT SHOW, in Carson's run. He named Lou Jacobs, Blinko, and Emmett Kelly among his friends in Clown Alley. He told this story: "So I wrote DeMille a letter and said, 'I want to be in your circus picture, and I want to play a clown.' And he had this great part written for me. How I loved that wonderful make-up. I was ready for a shot, wondering what to do out there with the real clowns, and Lou Jacobs sidled up to me and said, 'Don't worry about nothin'. Just follow me in and you'll be OK.'" He spoke with fondness of the show people and the helpful welcome the stars all received from them.

But the Buttons character drew extensive criticism and condemnation of the role as the doctor who euthanized his wife and ran off to hide behind the whiteface. I liked Stewart's acting, but not DeMille's script. I was working with make-up as a kid confined by physical limitations, and had questions: How did this doctor character just turn up on the Ringling show and suddenly become a featured clown? When real pros quickly remove their make-up after their shows, how does a clown wear make-up 24 hours a day, and expect not to be noticed? How did he manage to shave? How did he sleep at night and keep his make-up in shape? DeMille doesn't say.

In line with these questions, I asked Tuffy Genders about the roles of "Mr. Henderson" (Lawrence Tierney) and his games run by "Harry" (John Kellogg), being carried out even to Harry and Klaus (Lyle Bettger) wrecking the train. Didn't John North or the family have script approval to protect the family name against the theme of grift? Tuffy gave me a side glance and said, "They got paid."

02 October, 2008 15:31
Harry Kingston said...

The thrill of a life time for me was to meet and talk with Mr. Stewart here in town when he came in with Ronald Regan.
I called him buttons when i met him and told him that was my favorite film. He was so nice and talked about the film and I asked him if he had a print of it and he said he did.
We were at the airport here in town and after about 10 minutes he excuaed himself to shake hands .
The next morning I worked a political breakfast for free to see him again and this time I had my 1 sheet movie poster for him to sign. Well on the way out to the limo I asked as he went by if he would sign and he did gladly did and asked where did you get that old poster.
Many members of the Beaumont fire and police department that I knew where there and remember this signing and a few laughs as well.
I will never forget this as what a great actor and a kind person.
Harry

02 October, 2008 19:50
Mike Naughton said...

A little trivia-Mr. Cotten appeared in the motion picture "Gaslight" which also starred Charles Boyer, Ingrid Berman and Angela Lansbury.

Plus, I recall seeing him in television shows every now and again.

03 October, 2008 06:20
Anonymous said...

Joseph Cotten was a favorite of Orson Welles. Their two most celebrted films together were "Citizen Kane" and "The Third Man".

03 October, 2008 14:08
Anonymous said...

Roger,
Two of the all time great films!
Bob Kitto

03 October, 2008 20:12

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