| One of my books about the San Francisco World’s Fair was autographed by Jo-Jo who included caricatures of himself and his wife. (I have some letters from Bill Ballantine, which are also signed with little clown caricatures.) There is not too much information available about Jo-Jo. In an interview given years later, a filmmaker who did a movie about the fair said that Jo-Jo had been a hobo and that after the fair, he went back to hoboing. Perhaps one of our clown historians has more information about Jo-Jo’s life and career. |
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
SF World's Fair (Jo-Jo 2)
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I don't have any info on Jo-Jo but I can tell you that, with his full set of straight teeth, it's not likely that he was a hobo.
Even if the promoters or owners had provided him with the expensive costume, wig and shoes, his makeup application (not the design, which is pretty bad) is enough to tell me that Jo-Jo was probably a local "part-time professional" clown who specialized in the birthday market and grand openings.
Good makeup application is extremely difficult for newcomers. Even if he was a homeless guy and the fair had hired him a professional makeup person it's unlikely that the design would be even as good as it is. Makeup artists tend to always give clowns something akin to a "B.A.".
The fact that there is also a "Mrs. Jo-Jo" should also be a tip-off that he was most likely a part-timer and not just some random homeless guy.
~Pat Cashin
clownalley.net
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