Thursday, June 02, 2011

From Chris Berry #1

(Felix Tipping Hat)
A few days ago there was some discussion about well known clowns wearing alternate makeup for publicity photos, the idea being that more photos of different faces would make clown alley seem that much larger. Although not as recognizable as in his standard makeup, examples from this series of photos of Felix Adler were used throughout the 1930s and 40s by Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey. The photo of Felix tipping his hat from the 1934 program was autographed to circus fan Bruce Souter.

Posted by Buckles at 6/02/2011 06:33:00 AM

4 comments:

Hal Guyon said...

As a young boy I remember meeting Felix Adler in Atlanta at Rich`s Department Store, I think he was there in advance. I don`t know what year but my Dad took me to meet him while we were visting some friends in Atlanta. I also remember going to RBBB under canvas one year in Atlanta, this may have been the same year. It had to be in the mid 50`s so I was probably only 6-7 yers old. Richard Reynolds, Maybe you can narrow this down for me.

02 June, 2011 14:01
jerry digney said...

for years, i believe, Felix was the "go to clown" for RBBB publicity and he made himself readily available, thus establishing his name/character with the press and probably pocketing a few extra bucks from grateful press agents. His look, like Lou's, is to me totally iconic and timeless. Ernie Burch, I think, learned a lot of "PR tricks" from Felix and it served him well with the many Shrine potentates and producers for whom he later worked.

02 June, 2011 15:29
Anonymous said...

I remember being introduced to Amelia, Felix's wife by Lou jacobs backstage at the old Gardens. She used to come around and visit the show when it was in town. This was in the early '60's and she appeared to be not in the best of health.
Bob Momyer

02 June, 2011 16:01
Anonymous said...

Amelia Adler was a special guest at the Felix Adler Tent's, i believe it was the 60th anniversary banquet in 1994. she did not come across as a very happy woman. a longtime Circus Fan and tent member drove to Virginia (?!) to bring her to NJ and he drove her back home as well; she never even thanked him.

i think i know but does anyone care to comment about how very little we see of "the King of Clowns" in the Demille epic ? ?

03 June, 2011 00:23

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