Harry Dann and "Baby Opal". |
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2 comments:
often and unfairly overlooked for his special place in things circus, Harry Dann had the most amazing make up and costuming of any white face clown ever...the ultimate picture book clown character...beautifully designed and applied accompanied by impeccable wardrobe--should have been as regaled and renowned as Lou Jacobs, Felix Adler and some of the others. later on was announcer on Carson & Barnes. not enough seen or said about his talents!
Not only THAT, Jerry, but Harry was the first clown (or entertainer for that matter, outside of Margaret Hamilton,) to use GREEN makeup! I used to watch him put it on - he had a little rectangular liner tin as I recall that he kept it in - and it was the second thing he'd apply, the clown white of course being the first. The green was also a grease, so first the white, then the powder sock, then the green, then the powder sock, the red, powder sock, then the black. He never blocked out the red areas, either. Most of the boys didn't in those days, including our friend Billy Griffin. A whole different time in Clowning, and a whole different cast of Clowns. Harry was one of a kind. He loved his coffee more than anyone I'd ever known. One day between numbers we went out to the hall and he - sans show wardrobe - got a cup of joe from a vendor. Standing there in clown makeup, t-shirt, slacks and mukluks, a kid around 10 or 11 wandered over to him and asked "Are you with the circus, mister?" Harry looked down sweeltly and replied, "Shit no, sonny, I'm going to a Halloween party." That was our Harry! (And you're right - his was the most amazing and inventive and architecturally correct of any clown makeup, right up there with Felix and Lou I have ever seen. Check out Harry's obituary I penned for FINDAGRAVE.COM in the regular section - they didn't consider him "important" enough to list with other Notables, as if they know anything circus. I had it out with them over it, and Harry's is the last obituary I ever wrote for them.
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