Wheeler Presents A                      Chronology of Clowndom

1980

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Peggy Williams retired from full-time clowning to take a position with the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus education program.

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Glen "Frosty" Little was named Boss Clown of both the Red and the Blue Units and Director of all Owners of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

The first Wrangler Jeans ProRodeo Bullfight Tour was held to formalize rodeo clown bullfighting and arena stunts and to create the first Freestyle bullfighting competition. (picture courtesy of Joe "Tex" Roberts)

Bob "Bozo" Bell, was given the Governors' Award, the  highest honor of the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Board of Directors.  (Picture courtesy of WGN-TV)

Clown and Circus Halls of Fame inductee Lou Jacob's clowning partner of 14 years, a performing chihuahua  named Knucklehead died. (click on picture to enlarge) Whether donning a mini elephant trunk or fake rabbit ears, Knucklehead had been a vital part of Lou's act and life, and was mourned and sorely missed.

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Leon "Buttons" McBryde created the Ronald McDonald School Safety Show and the Big Red Shoe Review, for McDonald's Corporation. (Picture courtesy of Larry H.'s Website)

Clown Hall of Fame inductee "Prince Paul" Alpert retired from circus life, and moved to Massachusetts to be near family.

Shrine Clown and Clown Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Rival died (born 1896).

Wheeler the Clown made his first public appearance, as a whiteface clown, in Utah's Days of '47 children's parade. (hey, that's an important event in clowning history to me!)

1981

Shrine Clown and Clown Hall of Fame inductee  Al Ross died (born 1907   given name: Alphonse Helwig).  (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

1982

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Frankie Saluto died. (born 1906)  (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Gene "Cousin Otto" Lee, retired from circus life, and became the new editor of Clowning Around, the official publication of the World Clown Association. (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

1983

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Kaye died. (born 1908)   (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

Toddlers Friends, a weekly Chicago television show, gained a new regular cast member, Clown Hall of Fame inductee Leon "Buttons" McBryde. (Picture courtesy of Larry H's Photo Website)

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Glen "Frosty" Little was named Master Clown. by Ringling management. (He was only the fourth person to hold that last title.)  (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

1984

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Bob Bell (left) retired from WGN-TV, Chicago, where he had worked for  28 years, portraying Bozo the Clown  for 24 of them. At this time, The Bozo Show was number one in its local time slot. After a three month talent search, Joey D'Auria (right) was chosen to take over the role of Bozo.  (photos courtesy of WGN-TV)

Bozo the Clown first ran for President of the United States. (hope he runs and wins next time; clowns have morals, and know how to lose gracefully!) (photo courtesy of WGN-TV)

Irwin Feld died. His son, Kenneth Feld, took over the ownership and management of  the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

1985

Increasing health problems caused Clown and Circus Halls of Fame inductee Lou Jacobs to retire from the rigors of the performing clown. At this time, he continued to teach at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. (Lou's picture is part of Wheeler the Clown's private collection)             

1987

Hollywood clown legend David Daniel "Danny Kaye" Kaminsky died. (born 1913)

Clown Hall of Fame inductee "Prince Paul" Alpert  died (born 1913 in Bangor, Maine) (Picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame)

The Clown Hall of Fame was created in Delavan, Wisconsin. Four major Clown associations, affiliated themselves with the the Clown Hall of Fame, (Clowns of America International, World Clown Association, International Shrine Clown Association and U-W LaCrosse Clown Camp) and were given the initial responsibility of choosing inductees into the Clown Hall of Fame.

The Bozo Show (WGN-TV, Chicago) received an Emmy award. (photo courtesy of WGN-TV)

1989

Tony

Red as Freddie

Lou

Felix

Weary Willie Sr

Otto

  The first Clown Hall of Fame inductees were Mark "Tony" Anthony, Red "Freddie the Freeloader" Skelton, Jacob "Lou Jacobs" Ludwig, Frank "Felix" Adler, Emmett "Weary Willie" Kelly, Sr., and Otto Griebling. Only Skelton, Anthony, and Jacobs were still living at the time. Sadly commenting on his deceased friends and fellow inductees, Lou Jacobs said, "It looks like I'm the Last Of The Mohicans." (Tony's picture courtesy of the International Clown Hall of Fame. Lou's picture is part of Wheeler the Clown's private collection)         

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1989

Lou Jacobs was also inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame that year. (Lou's picture is part of Wheeler the Clown's private collection)             

Clown Hall of Fame inductee Don "Homer" Burda performed at the International Clown Summit in Scotland.