Tuesday, December 07, 2010

1941 RBBB Program #8


Scan00000010016, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 12/07/2010 06:12:00 AM

3 comments:

charles mathias said...

is this a young Lou Jacobs? When did he start using the "cone" head piece?

08 December, 2010 12:39
Roger Smith said...

Jacobs was among many who had more that one look. This is a classic shot. Note the perfection of his makeup application, still retaining character, unlike the cookie-cutter faces of latter day "graduates". This one is whiteface, with the features of his Auguste makeup. His conical wig came early in his career, and was used for promotional shots and walk-arounds. For his midget car act, he had to use the close-fitting Auguste wig, both of which bore the painted tops of his arched eyebrows.

To make the show appear to have more clowns, some were asked to alter make-ups for photos. There is one of Lou with Paul Jerome, both in whiteface. Jerome was better known for his smiling tramp character with his neon nose, eyeglasses, and the lit-up heart.

A famous poster featured Felix Adler in a makeup very different than his famed face with the gapped tooth effect. Minus a concocted college, these pros were masters of the makeup box who created classic, memorable characters that fit their faces and personalities, and who could readily pose in variety when needed.

08 December, 2010 17:23
Wade G. Burck said...

Roger,
If for nothing else, as you would suggest, at least there were eventually enough "graduates" of clown collage, so that there was no need to change makeup for press photos, to "make the show appear to have more clowns."
Wade Burck

08 December, 2010 19:45

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