Well, there it is! Chester "Bobo" Barnett's little car and wardrobe on display at the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center. The car and wardrobe is on loan from Bobo's daughter Bonnie Barnett, who has written a fascinating book about her father and their relationship called, Bobo's Daughter.
Bobo's car was built in 1947 by him and his brother and was used until his retirement in 1973, including 2 appearances on the Ed Sullivan show. Bobo was ahead of his time as this is a fully electric car (I believe Lou's car was gas powered).
Besides fitting his 6'3", 260 pound frame into the car, he also filled it with 6 dogs, a suitcase, and a skunk! After emerging from his car, he would pull out a little trumpet and play a beautiful rendition of "Peg o' My Heart". It would bring down the house and bring a tear to many eyes. Fortunately, much of his act is preserved on video, which we have in our archives at the museum.
Bobo was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 2010.
BTW, Bobo's wife, Dotty, also clowned with him for many years.
To my best recollection, Bobo was with us on Castle in '73. I hadn't known this was his retirement year. I remember him in dark coliseums, with just a solo spot on him and his trumpet in Center Ring--where he had them in the palm of his hand.
One year on the Castle show we had BoBo, Dougie Ashton, and Cleo Plunket jamming to gather in the dressing room in Dayton. None of us left between shows that day !!!
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Well Sandy tell us all about it
Well, there it is! Chester "Bobo" Barnett's little car and wardrobe on display at the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center. The car and wardrobe is on loan from Bobo's daughter Bonnie Barnett, who has written a fascinating book about her father and their relationship called, Bobo's Daughter.
Bobo's car was built in 1947 by him and his brother and was used until his retirement in 1973, including 2 appearances on the Ed Sullivan show. Bobo was ahead of his time as this is a fully electric car (I believe Lou's car was gas powered).
Besides fitting his 6'3", 260 pound frame into the car, he also filled it with 6 dogs, a suitcase, and a skunk! After emerging from his car, he would pull out a little trumpet and play a beautiful rendition of "Peg o' My Heart". It would bring down the house and bring a tear to many eyes. Fortunately, much of his act is preserved on video, which we have in our archives at the museum.
Bobo was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 2010.
BTW, Bobo's wife, Dotty, also clowned with him for many years.
To my best recollection, Bobo was with us on Castle in '73. I hadn't known this was his retirement year. I remember him in dark coliseums, with just a solo spot on him and his trumpet in Center Ring--where he had them in the palm of his hand.
One year on the Castle show we had BoBo, Dougie Ashton, and Cleo Plunket jamming to gather in the dressing room in Dayton. None of us left between shows that day !!!
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