Calliope_may-jun-lo

For Members of Clowns of America International 

May / June 2018 

Volume 35 • Number 3

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

DIRECTORS 

President 

Michael B. Cox 

9415 Alameda Ave 

Richmond, VA 23294 

804-270-1165 (H) 

804-337-6143 (C) 

coai.president.mike@gmail.com 

Vice President 

Julie Varholdt 

4601 S Kachina Drive 

Tempe, AZ 85282 

480-838-7781 

juliecoaivp@cox.net 

Secretary 

Dan Langwell 

54990 Ehman Lane 

Mishawaka, IN 46545 

574-904-9643 

laughingstockpro@yahoo.com 

Treasurer 

Sandra Winstead 

11801 Riverpark Way 

Chesterfield, VA 23838 

804-350-3687 

strawberry.red1@yahoo.com 

Alley 

Region Support 

Judy Quest 

715 North 36th Street 

Omaha, NE 68131-1906 

402-551-4185 

dearheart@cox.net 

Conventions 

Jim Caffrey 

PO Box 833 

Colona, IL 61241 

309-314-6026 

jclownus@yahoo.com 

Education 

Jim Dixon 

5323 East Murdock 

Wichita, KS 67208 

316-871-6705 

jdixon2482@gmail.com 

Junior Joeys 

Regina Wollrabe 

Post Office Box 40 

Gresham, OR 97030 

503-807-2584 

coaijrjoeys@gmail.com 

Your 

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS 

Membership 

Teresa Gretton 

3411 Lisa Circle 

Waldorf, MD 20601 

301-843-8212 

tgretton@comcast.net 

Northeast 

Bill Le Blanc 

2 Dee Jay Road 

East Bridgewater, MA 02333 

508-378-1545 

bildabbles@aol.com 

North Central 

Curt Patty 

9335 Berry Avenue 

St. Louis, MO 63144 

314-496-7824 

curt.patty@yahoo.com 

Northwest 

Alyse Axford 

116-A Sudden Valley Drive 

Bellingham, WA 98229-7751 

360-647-9229 

sales@zigzag-ragz.com 

Mideast 

Jessica King 

405 West 24th Street 

Huntington, WV 25704 

304-542-6046 

mideastjess@yahoo.com 

Midwest 

Georgia Morris 

4234 Woodworth 

Holt, MI 48842 

517-694-7100 

clownshananigans@comcast.net 

South Central 

Matthew Spraggins 

1668 Chesterwood Drive 

Rockwell, TX 75032 

972-746-8455 

spectatorart@hotmail.com 

Southeast 

Dianna Hale 

1013 Way Thru The Woods 

Decatur, AL 35603 

256-309-1153 

dhale5@att.net 

Southwest 

Lisa Ponce de Leon Terai 

710 Lukepane Avenue, #101 

Honolulu, HI 96816 

808-271-4190 

lolly4upaint@gmail.com 

Officers 

Canada 

Dale McKenzie 

867 Raynard Crescent SE 

Calgary, AB T2A 1X6 

403-273-9047 (H) 

403-606-7750 (C) 

funehappenings@shaw.ca 

Latin Countries 

Angel Morales 

24 RR5 Jardines de 

Caparra, Bayamon, 

PR 00959 

787-565-3205 

jobolin2008@aol.com 

International 

Ted White 

20 Maple Court 

Yandina, QLD 4561 

Australia 

+61-7-5472-8018 

twaddles2014@hotmail.com 

STANDING COMMITTEES 

Audio Visual: Merilyn Barrett, 407-844-2862 • klownkop@prodigy.net. 

Awards Advisory Council (AAC): Teresa Gretton (Chair), 301-843-8212 • 

gretton@verizon.net. Bob Gretton, Angel Ocasio, Walt Lee, Keith Stokes, 

Mike Cox. 

Budget: Mike Cox, 804-270-1165 • coai.president.mike@gmail.com. 

Sandra Winstead. 

Bylaws and Rules: Julie Varholdt (Chair), 480-838-7781 • juliecoaivp@cox.net. 

Cleon Babcock, Ted White, Glenn Kohlberger, Jeanne Wosaka. 

Clown Week: Carrie Ray, 214-577-6002 • shimmygiggles2011@yahoo.com. 

Competition: Bill Le Blanc (Chair), Walt Lee, Shirley Lee, John Kral, Paula Le 

Blanc, Bob Gretton, Ann Sanders. 

Ethics and Grievance: Paul Kleinberger (Chair), 518-489-2680 • 

fuddiduddy@aol.com. Glenn Kohlberger, Jeanne Woska. 

Finance: Mike Cox, 804-270-1165 • coai.president.mike@gmail.com. 

Sandra Winstead. 

Good Cheer: Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke • 863-221-4183 • crissy@ 

mizdaisyentertainment.com. 

Historians: Walt Lee, 410-551-7830 • wally788@verizon.net. 

Teresa Gretton, 301-843-8212 • tgretton@comcast.net. 

International Ambassador Program: Bob Gretton, 301-843-8212 • 

bunkytclown@comcast.net. 

Junior Joeys: Regina Wollrabe (Chair), 503-807-2584 • coaijrjoeys@gmail. 

com. Trudi Sang, Maria Shafer, Caitrina Monaco, Bob and Teresa Gretton, Dawn 

Pearson. 

Membership: Teresa Gretton (Chair), 301-843-8212 • gretton@verizon.net. 

Glenn Kohlberger, Bob Gretton. 

Parliamentary Procedure Advisor: Cleon Babcock, 515-266-6530 • 

ccbabcock@aol.com. 

Public Relations: Bonnie Love, 619-282-9668 • bonbonsandiego@yahoo.com. 

Scholarship: Jim Dixon (Chair), 316-871-6705 • jdixon2482@gmail.com. 

Lulu Mire, Judy Quest. 

2 The New Calliope • May/June 2018

May / June 2018 

Volume 35 • Number 3 

Published by 

Clowns of America International 

The mission of Clowns of America 

International is to organize all members 

desiring to pursue the honorable profession 

or art of clowning, the dedication 

toward its advancement, and the 

education of its members. 

COAI Business Office 

Post Office Box 122 

Eustis, Florida 32727 

Telephone: 

1-877-816-6941(toll-free) 

1-352-357-1676 

Hours: Monday–Friday 

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EST) 

E-mail: coaioffice@aol.com 

Website: www.mycoai.com 

Magazine Production 

SPS Publications, Inc. 

Editorial Assistant 

Rachel Strnad 

Graphic Design 

Jessica Friend 

Tracy Hofmeister 

Creative Consultant 

Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe 

Publication Deadlines 

July/August 2018—May 25 

September/October 2018—July 25 

November/December 2018—Sept 25 

January/February 2019—Nov 25 

March/April 2019—Jan 25 

May/June 2019—March 25 

Send ads and articles to 

thenewcalliope@gmail.com. 

The New Calliope (ISSN 1072-1045) 

is published bi-monthly (January/ 

February, March/April, May/June, 

July/August, September/October, 

November/December) by COAI, 800 

South Ave., Eustis, Florida 32726. 

Periodicals Postage Paid at Eustis, 

Florida, and additional mailing offices. 

POSTMASTER: Send address changes 

to: The New Calliope, COAI Business 

Office Manager • Post Office Box 122, 

Eustis, Florida 32727. 

The New Calliope articles are protected 

by U.S. copyright and international 

treaties and may not be copied without 

the express permission of Clowns of 

America International, which reserves 

all rights. Re-use of any of The New 

Calliope editorial content and graphics 

online, in print, or any other medium for 

any purpose is strictly prohibited. 

© 2018 COAI 

Clowns of America International, Inc. 

Cover design: Régis Sudo 

COVER: 2018 FIRST PLACE WINNERS. 

PHOTOS BY MERILYN BARRETT. 

CONVENTION 

12 Ann Sanders: Convention Best in Clown 

14 Annual COAI Competition Awards 

24 Group Photo Merilyn Barrett 

HOW-TO 

36 Baby Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell 

38 Clowning and Emotions Aurora “Bebop” Krause 

39 Patriotic Clowns Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel 

INSPIRATION AND HUMOR 

6 Alley Profile: Kapital Klowns Alley #6 Teresa “Blondi” Gretton 

10 Junior Joeys Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe 

42 The Little Black Clown Book Keith “Bobalouie” Karas 

45 Alley Family Album 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

4 From the President Mike “Bonkers” Cox 

5 Vice President’s Report Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 

8 Alley Happenings Judy “Dear Heart” Quest 

NEWS 

9 COAI Perks Jessica “Gabby” King 

43 Clown Calendar 

44 The Last Walkaround 

MISCELLANEOUS 

2 Officers, Directors, and Committees 

8 Write for The New Calliope! 

36 Snapshots 

37 COAI Registration and Renewal Form 

46 Our Good Cheer List 

46 Welcome, New Members 

46 Membership Gifters 

12 

Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 3 

6 

24 

36 

39


From the President 

Mike “Bonkers” Cox 

Welcome to spring! Soon it will be summer! Yay! 

I hope everyone enjoyed the convention in Richmond, VA! 

Congratulations to Virginia Alley #3 for putting on a fantastic convention! Feedback 

is always important. Please take the time to provide your 2018 convention feedback by 

e-mailing me at coai.president.mike@gmail.com. 

There are still vacancies in our elections: Executive Vice President, Membership 

Director, and Mideast Regional Vice President. If you have been a member in good 

standing for the previous two years, please e-mail Julie and me. As President, I will 

appoint members to these three positions, who are then put before the Board for approval 

after June 30, 2018. If you want to be part of this Board, please do not hesitate 

to contact us. 

We are doing everything to make COAI work for our membership, but the best 

solution is to bring in new members. We need new members not only to survive, but 

to thrive! If you know of someone who did not renew, or maybe simply forgot, please 

remind them to send in their dues. Ask your clown friends to consider a one-year 

membership to see and enjoy our magazine, as well as all the other benefits of being 

a COAI member. If it is just a matter of money, tell them about our E-Memberships. 

After all, we are the first clown organization 

to offer a full membership at a fraction 

of the cost by receiving each New 

Calliope issue through e-mail. 

We would love to hear your ideas and 

have your input going forward. Your 

Board wants to hear from the membership 

to help us continue having conventions 

that you look forward to and 

attend. If an alley wants to learn more 

about hosting a convention, please contact 

our Director of Conventions, Jim 

Caffrey, till June 30 and Frank Bunton 

after July 1. They can provide you with 

the necessary information. Also, give me 

a call or e-mail at coai.president.mike@ 

gmail.com. TNC 



The Vice President’s Report 

Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 

What’s Happening 

To Vote or Not to Vote. That is the question. 

The answer is please vote! Your vote is important! Since technology has changed, 

so has the way the COAI members now vote. We are now using online voting, which 

saves the organization a lot of money in the long run. There are no costs for extra 

envelopes and packaging. We all save a stamp, and you keep your amazing Calliope 

magazine in perfect condition. 

With the enhancements from our new website, you can now vote in a matter of 

literally two minutes. If you have not voted yet, I will walk you through it. You only 

have until midnight June 7 to cast your vote. 

First find a computer or an iPad, or even a phone that has internet. 

Type in www.mycoai.com. 

Click the MEMBERSHIP tab on the bar menu. 

A selection will come up, then click ELECTION BALLOT. 

Your ballot will come up. Be sure to fill in your information in the places indicated. 

Your membership number will be on your membership card and on the poly bag in 

which the magazine was mailed. If you do not know your COAI number or do not 

have access to it, you can call the COAI office and Laurel will be glad to find it for you. 

1-352-357-1676 or 1-877-816-6941. 

Complete the election ballot form by clicking on the person of your choice. It is 

IMPORTANT in the REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT (RVP) section of the ballot 

that you only vote for one RVP in YOUR region. 

Once you’ve voted for your RVP, be sure and click “Do Not Wish to Vote” for all the 

other candidates. These extra dots need to be checked for your 

vote to be submitted. 

Double check your choices, then click SUBMIT at the bottom 

of the page and you have voted! That was sooo easy, even 

a clown can do it! Thank you. :O) 

There are four rules you must follow for your online vote to 

be valid: 

You must put your COAI NUMBER on the ballot. 

Each COAI member may only vote once. 

If you know of someone who does not have a computer or 

is not able to vote online, please have them call the office and 

let Laurel know. We will take care of them. You cannot vote 

online on another person’s behalf. When you sign in on the 

website, your “footprint” is automatically imbedded in your 

ballot. You can only cast your vote on your ballot when you 

vote. If you insert any other name or 

COAI number on your ballot, all ballots 

with your footprint will be null and void. 

You can only vote for the RVP representing 

the region in which you live. This 

is the address at which you have registered 

on the website (which should be 

the same address where your copy of The 

New Calliope is delivered). Please do not 

cast a vote in any other region. If you do, 

your vote is null and void. 

I know this may be a bit confusing and 

bothersome, but in the end you will be 

glad you took the time to vote. 

Remember, you can call our office 

manager or myself if you have questions 

or concerns. Please don’t get frustrated 

and not vote. 

Your vote does matter. 

In the end it will all be worth it. 

Thank you for participating in the 

2018 COAI elections! TNC 

Hey Alleys! 

Want to be in 

our family album? 

Send a picture of your alley to 

thenewcalliope@gmail.com to see your 

alley in print! We’d love to include all the 

COAI alleys in the family. 

Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 5


COAI ALLEY PROFILE 

By Teresa “Blondi” Gretton, Tighe “Chicklets” 

Burke, Susan “Snickers” Saunders, Amy “Tinker 

Bell” Cliber, and Bob “Bunky” Gretton 

Kapitol Klowns Alley #6 has had a rich history in the state of Maryland, is proud 

to be the second oldest alley in COAI, and a 100% alley. When first established 

as a chapter in Clowns of America, it was under the name, The Montgomery Clowns 

(COA Calliope 5 no. 9, September 1969). During the following years, it began to grow, 

with members from the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area, including Virginia and 

Maryland. Two of the members, Bernie “San-wich” Hamburger and Frank “Fashoo” 

Wisniewski, convinced us to change our name, since we were no longer only a 

Montgomery County club. In August 1974, the name was officially changed to Kapitol 

Klowns, quite appropriate for the Nation’s Capitol. Of course, the spelling had to be a 

bit clowny, so Ks instead of Cs, and Kapitol, representing the famed Capitol Building. 

In September 2019, Kapitol Klowns will celebrate our fiftieth anniversary! 

Alley Education 

Kapitol Klowns is a non-profit organization that has prided itself on promoting education 

and clown professionalism. The first of our workshops began in 1981, with 

members as lecturers. Until just a few years ago, the annual workshop was one of the 

most well-attended two-day clown events on the East Coast. Top notch lecturers 

and dealers such as Betty Cash, Bob Gibbons, Jim Howle, Al Cohen’s Magic Shop, 

and others, were featured every year. One year highlighted the host of the TV show 

Wonderama, with Bob McAllister. Bob “Bunky” Gretton (three-time past alley president) 

remembers, “After many years of success, it evolved into the COAI Mid-East 

Regional Convention with competition. It drew two hundred or more attendees from 

twelve states. One of the most memorable workshops was a surprise presentation by 

Jim Howle of a plaque to his friend, Earl “Mister Clown” Chaney, for his induction into 

the International Clown Hall of Fame.” 

COAI Involvement 

Kapitol Klowns has always been active in COAI. Alley #6 hosted the annual COAI 

Convention in 1986, which coincided with DC’s Annual Cherry Blossom Festival 

and Parade. Approximately two hundred clowns with every possible parade prop entertained 

down Constitution Avenue, and even showcased a Clown Cherry Blossom 

Princess from the State of Confusion. 

Many award-winning members have participated in countless competitions, bringing 

home medals and trophies. In the late 1980s, Bob “Tutti” Berry, a talented and 

creative member, served on the COAI Board as the Mid-Atlantic Regional VP. Sadly, 

he passed away at a young age in 1989. Teresa “Blinky/Blondi” Gretton has served on 

the same board since 1996 as secretary and currently as Director of Membership. Her 

husband, “Bunky,” was honored in 2009 as COAI Clown of the Year and in 2015 as a 

Lifetime Achievement recipient. 

The CHARLIE Award 

In 2012, our member, Diane Jones, earned the Individual CHARLIE award. In 

1999, Kapitol Klowns also donated the Individual CHARLIE award plaque to COAI. 

Incidentally, the alley has won the Alley CHARLIE award four times: under COA 

6 The New Calliope • May/June 2018 

in 1976 and 1983, and under COAI in 

1997 and 2011. For the ’97 Clown Week, 

we went so far as to receive a #E1568 

Congressional Record from the Hon. 

Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of 

Columbia, House of Representatives). 

Also in ’97, we won the Best of the Press 

Award for the best newsletter. 

Community Work 

Living in the D.C. area does have 

some perks the alley has been able to 

enjoy. Members have met multiple times 

at the White House gate at 5 a.m. for the 

Easter Egg Roll, have been included in 

two Presidential Pre-Inaugural Parades, 

and paraded down Constitution Avenue 

Jean “Trampis” Hefner (left) and Bob “Bunky” 

Gretton (right) on the South Lawn of the White 

House for the Easter Egg Roll in the early 90s.

Left to Right: The 

professed real clowns 

en masse on the steps 

of the US Capitol in 

Washington, DC. Kapitol 

Klowns in early 90s 

posing in front of their 

charity, NIH Children’s 

Inn in Bethesda, MD. 

Top: Alley #6 gathers around actor Tom Selleck 

(can you spot that tall, handsome man in the 

back?) on the set of Her Alibi in 1989. Middle: 

Alley members after a Christmas Parade in 

2017. Front row, l to r: V.P. Tighe “Chickets” 

Burke, Diane “Tootles” Jones, and Maureen 

“Bubbles” Gill. Back row, l to r: Virginia “Mother 

of Pearl” Matos, Rita “Dottie Dot” Reardon, and 

Pres. Grant “Scruffy” Berry. Bottom: #E1568 

Congressional Record from the Honorable 

Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia 

House of Representatives) presented to Kapitol 

Klowns for Clown Week 1997. 

for the St. Patrick’s Day and Cherry 

Blossom Parades. Through the years, the 

alley has also participated in many local 

mall events, restaurant work, stage shows, 

circuses, halftime shows, and Christmas 

parties. In the mid-80s, the alley hosted 

Allen C. Hill’s Great American Circus, 

giving alley members, including the junior 

joeys, a moment to remember performing 

under the Big Top. “The alley 

set a record, with thirty-eight clowns in 

the center ring doing the Strong Man 

routine,” Bunky remembers. In the 90s, 

the enthusiastic group combined with 

many other area clowns to perform in 

two halftime shows for the famed NFL 

Washington Redskins. 

We’re in the Movies! 

Who wouldn’t want to appear in a fulllength 

motion picture with Tom Selleck? 

Our alley, with other local clowns, accepted 

the invitation to be extras in 

Selleck’s movie, Her Alibi, with hopes of 

an actual appearance in the movie’s circus 

scenes. Tighe “Chicklets” Burke (alley 

vice president) recalls, “Throughout the 

day, the director would select clowns to 

be in scenes. There were very long waits 

anticipating being chosen, but the excitement 

made up for all the time spent. 

We all brought walk-around props, and 

at times we were requested to use them.” 

When the movie was released in 1989, 

alley members arrived in clown in a limo 

to view the movie together. We were 

greeted and interviewed like celebrities 

on the nightly news. To our surprise, 

we discovered one of our very own 

Kapitol Klown members, Ellen “Hajji” 

Van Edwards, had won a part with a 

walkaround prop called Free Shakes 

(holding a tray with milkshake glasses, 

asking, “Free shakes?” then shaking 

her body). “We were all thrilled to see 

her on screen and knew we had a star 

among us,” remembers Chicklets. 

Our Charity 

The alley donated to several charities 

during the earlier years, but by far our 

favorite has been the Children’s Inn at 

National Institute of Health (NIH) 

in Bethesda, MD, which is a residence 

facility for seriously ill children 

and their families. Families stay in a 

home-like atmosphere while the sick 

child undergoes treatment and therapy. 

Chicklets adds, “We were involved 

from the beginning of the Children’s 

Inn construction and participated in 

several fundraisers there. After the Inn 

opened, our members entertained the 

families. Through various auctions and 

convention proceeds over the years, the 

alley has donated over $50,000, earning 

a star on the wall of the Children’s Inn.” 

As the alley begins to eye the BIG 

Five-O, we recognize the members 

who are no longer with us. The alley 

has seen large membership in the past 

that accomplished great things. Like 

many alleys, though, we are facing an 

empty nest with fewer members and 

a much smaller group of clowns. The 

same board has been serving for several 

years. Despite the changes, Kapitol 

Klowns Alley #6 is still proud of our 

history and we hope the candle will 

shine brighter for the future in bringing 

members back and giving new clowns a 

chance to spread miles of smiles. TNC 



DOES YOUR ALLEY 

HAVE FUN 

TOGETHER? 

By Judy “Dear Heart” Quest 

So, I hear all the time that alleys are falling apart because people are getting older. 

Okay, I get that, but does this mean people don’t want to have fun anymore? What 

happened to the fun-loving spirits who got into clowning to have a great time and 

make people happy? Have they turned into crabby old people? I doubt it! Perhaps you 

need to have a variety of fun events for alley members so they can still get together 

and enjoy themselves. 

In our alley, we have a very lively Christmas party every year. We do the steal-thegift 

game, and this year we passed the cellophane ball around with gifts. Some of the 

gifts return every year, such as the nose hair trimmer. It is the best attended event of 

the year. Spouses even come and put up with the craziness, and the food is always fantastic. 

The alley provides the main dish and somehow everybody else brings desserts! 

Only at a clown party. Last year, it was a beautiful sweater party and one couple even 

came as a duo. We have spontaneous sing-alongs, and the hostess often has to kick 

people out at a wee hour. Who wouldn’t want to come to this? 

Another thing that has happened in our alley is the Rubber Chicken Orchestra! 

Ukuleles, a washboard, a drum, kazoos, and a whistle. This has given us an opportunity 

to perform in the community outside of clown attire, and our spouses who never 

wanted to get into full clown have joined. 

Then there is the Halloween 

Party. Some people just never 

give up wanting to dress up for 

Halloween, especially when 

there are prizes! 

We also have a summer picnic. 

Another food hit! 

So, who wouldn’t be able to 

come and have fun at these 

events? Of course we are in 

parades together and do many 

other events in clown, but just 

because people are no longer able to clown doesn’t mean 

they have to quit having fun. Think about it. Alleys are more than just for clowning. 

They are for friends, fun, and caring, too. 

Oh, and by the way, please keep up your membership to COAI. It is important to 

keep up the support of our clowning organization, and at the senior rate it’s no big 

deal. TNC 

Write for 

The New Calliope! 

We count on you to keep this magazine 

chock full of interesting and 

educational clown fun. But you may 

be thinking, “I don’t have anything to 

write about.” Never fear! Here is a list 

of topics we’d love to see featured in 

upcoming issues. 

Your Favorite Story: Share a favorite 

experience in your clown career 

that makes you pause and say, “This is 

why I do what I do.” 

Costumes: How do you make a costume 

on a budget? How do you care 

for and clean your costume? How does 

your clown face affect your costume 

choices? 

Noses: Tell us about them. What 

goes into choosing a nose? What are 

the pros and cons of a glue-on versus 

a nose attached with string? We’d 

even welcome hilarious incidents with 

clown noses. 

Wigs: How do you choose a wig? 

What constitutes a quality clown wig 

versus a cheap knockoff? How does 

your clown persona affect choosing a 

wig? 

Skits, Patter, and Movement: We’d 

like some in-depth looks on the process 

and methodology behind putting 

together a good clown routine. 

Marketing and Taxes: How do you 

market yourself as an entertainer? 

How do you handle payments? Do 

you know an accounting expert? How 

about interviewing them. 

Hospital Clowning: Benefits, cautions, 

best practices. 

Places We’ve Been: Are you a globe 

trotter? Maybe you’ve clowned in all 

manner of strange places here in the 

States. Tell us about your adventures! 

If you’re interested in contributing, 

e-mail us at thenewcalliope@gmail.com. 


COAI PERKS! 

PROGRAM 


By Jessica “Gabby” King 

Clowns of America International is proud to announce the newest list of COAI Perks! 

As a member, you can receive discounts and promotions from participating COAI member-owned businesses. 

Keep watching The New Calliope, myCOAI.com, and our official Facebook page for the newest opportunities. 

If you are a COAI member-owned business and wish to participate in this growing program, please contact us at 

coaiperks@yahoo.com. 

MOOSEBURGER ORIGINALS COAI members get 10% off their purchase when they use the online coupon code 

IAMCOAI, or tell us over the phone that they are a COAI member. The coupon code can be used more than once, and is 

good until July 1, 2018. This offer is good for all Pricilla Mooseburger Originals orders, including custom costume orders 

and in-stock clown supplies, excluding shipping and handling. This offer is not valid for Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp 

registrations. To place an order, call 320-963-6277 or visit mooseburgeronline.com. 

BALLOONS AND CLOWNS AND THE MAGIC DOLLAR STORE COAI members receive 20% off all orders 

excluding balloons. This includes magic, sound systems, and games. To receive this promotion, provide your COAI 

membership number when ordering at balloonsandclowns.com, or by phone at 919-344-1313. 

SILLY FARM All COAI members receive five dollars off their purchase of thirty dollars or more. Use the coupon 

code CLOWN5 when ordering. We carry the largest selection of face and body art supplies for both beginner painters 

and seasoned professionals. Order online at www.sillyfarm.com or call 954-472-5000. 

CLOWN SUPPLIES COAI members get a new or replacement wig at 10% off regular prices. Use the coupon code 

COAIWig when ordering online at www.clownsupplies.com. 

T. MYERS T. Myers Magic, Inc. thanks you for your business and would love to offer free shipping on all orders 

over $125 to COAI members. This offer is valid for in-stock items only, shipped to US destinations. Provide your COAI 

membership number when ordering online at www.tmyers.com, or by phone at 1-800-648-6221. Don’t forget; we stock 

the freshest balloons! 

KENOSHA MAGIC AND COSTUME COAI members receive twenty-five dollars off all Happie Amp orders. 

Just mention your COAI membership number when ordering online at www.kenoshamagic.com, or by phone at 262-652- 

0300. Happie Amp is the number one portable PA system for entertainers. 

SWC MAGIC COAI members receive 10% off all orders. Just provide your membership number when ordering 

by phone at 717-578-3269. Scott Correll provides clown, comedy magic, and kid’s show supplies, as well as handmade 

magical items designed by his wife, Donna. 

GENE CORDOVA’S COMEDY CREATURES COAI members receive free shipping and handling on all orders 

over thirty-five dollars. To place an order, call 423-562-8093 or e-mail genecordova@comcast.net. 

FABRICA DE PAYASOS Y ALGO Fabrica de Payasos y Algo is offering COAI members free shipping on all 

orders of fifty dollars or more. If your order is less than fifty dollars, you receive 10% off. We take custom, personalized 

orders for dresses or suits. Contact Angel L. “Jobolin” Morales on Facebook, by searching “Payamago Jobolin Promotor 

Morales.” 



By Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe, Junior Joeys Director 

2018 Richmond, Virginia, Convention 

Every year we don’t know who is going to show up 

to convention until we get there, and every year we 

leave knowing a few more of our Junior Joeys than we 

knew before. This year was amazing because we had so 

many more people helping with our program. Some 

people volunteer in advance and some offer to help at 

the convention or politely say yes when asked on the 

spot. Every single person is appreciated beyond words 

for giving their time to the Junior Joeys who came to 

the convention and the Junior Joey Outreach program. 

We felt so proud of our Juniors as we watched them grow in skills. Nine-yearold 

Kaella worked with Gene Cordova and gave an amazing performance using her 

ventriloquism skills. Twelve-year-old Madeleine wowed us with her juggling and 

performing skills, with the assistance of Nicole Marsh Portwood. Thirteen-year-old 

Ethan sported his stand-up comedy abilities. Seven-year-old Tonya won our hearts 

as she competed with her grandma, Judy Johnson. Eighteen-year-old Emma sang a 

song to her mom, Sandra Winsted, accompanied by Julia Bothun. We were also very 

proud to have siblings Savanah (age seven) and Conor (age ten) from the Junior Joeys 

Outreach Program learn skits and perform at our showcase in front of a live audience 

for the very first time. 

We also appreciate those who gave financially. During the convention’s theme party, 

Richard Smith sold his and Dr. Nicholas Reed’s fifties jackets right off their backs, 

raising $410 for the Junior Joey Fund. Many people also supported the 50-50 Junior 

Joeys fundraiser during the banquet. The winner, Heather McFall, graciously donated 

all of the proceeds to go toward helping Junior Joeys pay their membership fees. Thank 

you, mentors, teachers, vendors, and convention attendees from all over the world 

PHOTO BY MERILYN BARRETT 

Left: Dr. Nicholas Reed and Richard Smith auctioned off their cool jackets at the costume party 

and donated the money to Junior Joeys. Right: Heather McFall of Clermont, Florida, donated 

the entire proceeds from the 50-50 at the banquet to the Junior Joeys fund. 

who encouraged the kids throughout 

the week and came to the Junior Joey 

Showcase. I cannot put into words my 

complete gratitude for every little thing 

that was shared with these kids. Their 

lives were touched and encouraged, and 

I’m sure it is an experience they will 

never forget. Thank you, everyone, for 

your kindness and generosity! 

It was such a great honor to have help 

from great clowns like Nicole Marsh 

Portwood, Christopher Hudert, and 

COAI’s 2018 Clown of the Year, Trudi 

Sang, along with Pricilla Mooseburger 

and her daughter Julia Bothun, who is 

much loved and looked up to by our 

young girl clowns. Our picture collage 

on the facing page speaks more than a 

thousand words. There was so much fun 

and learning to be had by each one of 

our young people who attended! The 

greatest gift we received was getting to 

know each other. 

Having so much help this year allowed 

me more time to video classes, competitions, 

and the Junior Joey Showcase. 

You will see some of these highlights on 

our COAI Jr. Joey YouTube station as 

I edit the clips. Be sure to subscribe to 

our YouTube channel so you can receive 

an e-mail when we upload new videos. 

Search for “COAI Jr. Joeys.” 

If you are a Junior Joeys leader or 

would like to be one, please send your 

name, phone number, and e-mail to me 

at coaijrjoeys@gmail.com. I’ll send you an 

invitation to an all Junior Joey Leader 

Zoom Meeting in the near future. We 

want to connect with you, encourage 

you, and share ideas. TNC 




AWARDS 

COAI 

Best in 

CLOWN 

PHOTOS BY MERILYN BARRETT 

At the thirty-third Annual COAI 

Convention in Richmond, Virginia, 

Competition Chair Bill “Dabbles” Le Blanc 

presented the ninth Annual Convention 

Best in Clown Award to Ann “Crazy Cat 

Lady” Sanders. 

Ann “Tuttles” Sanders, aka “The Crazy 

Cat Lady,” is a charter member and 

current Secretary of Kolonial Klowns of 

Williamsburg Alley #357. We’ve asked her to 

share some stories about her life in clowning. 

I have been clowning for twenty-six 

years, but I didn’t start till I was forty. My 

desire to become a clown was first sparked 

in the 60s when I saw an advertisement 

for Barnum and Bailey’s Clown College in 

the back of a program book. However, my 

mother counseled me against applying. “If 

you are going to college,” she said. “You are 

going to a real college because you need 

to get a real job.” 

It wasn’t until I had been a clown for a 

number of years that I learned she hated 

clowns. When she was a young girl, my 

grandfather took her to see the circus and 

a clown there pulled the flower-into-astraw 

gag on her. As a child who grew up 


during the Depression 

and had very little beyond basic 

necessities, she was thrilled at first, then 

devasted when the clown took the flower 

away and left her with a straw. She told 

me she thought all clowns were mean and 

heartless. To this day, I will not do that 

trick or any type of sucker trick because I 

do not want to perpetuate the negativity 

she felt towards clowns. 

Almost twenty years later, after I had 

attended the very first Mooseburger 

Clown Camp, I did try out for Clown 

College but wasn’t selected. To say I was 

heartbroken is a huge understatement! 

Fast forward to 1992. I was living in 

Hopewell, Virginia, and working full time 

at Fort Lee, when I saw an advertisement 

for an introduction to clowning course at 

John Tyler Community College. As an 

early fortieth birthday present to myself, 

I enrolled. The classes were held an hour’s 

drive from where I lived and taught by 

Flossie “Flossie the Clown” Bruce, with 

assistance from Winnie “Sweet Heart” 

Russell, Joyce “Ziggy” Elliott, Mike 

“Bonkers” Cox, and Alvin “Alvin the 

Clown” Baum.

I applied makeup for the very first time 

in that class, and on my drive home I 

apparently looked at myself too many 

times in the rear-view mirror. I didn’t 

realize I wasn’t keeping centered between 

the lines on the highway till I got pulled 

over by a State Trooper. When he shined 

the light into my car and saw my face, he 

laughed. After I explained I was heading 

home from a class on clown makeup 

application, he let me go with instructions 

to keep my eyes on the road and wait 

until I got home to look in the 

mirror. 

Ann 

The first time 

I competed was in 1994. 

I was in a group skit with members of 

Virginia Alley #3 at the Circus Magic 

Convention in Williamsburg. We 

came in tenth out of ten. The 

next year, back at Circus Magic, 

I participated again with Virginia 

Alley #3 in group skit and we won. 

Even with going from worst to first, 

I still wasn’t bitten by the competition 

bug until I became clown partners with 

Regina “Girl Friend” Onley. Then, after 

her passing, I competed at Circus Magic 

in 1998 and walked off stage after the 

final competition with no intention 

of competing again. Later that year at 

Peachey U JT, “Bubba” Sikes got me back 

on stage. I guess you could say the rest is 

history, with the best chapter written in 

Richmond. 

When I say things came together at the 

last minute, I do mean last minute. I didn’t 

make the decision to compete until March. 

In January, I had back surgery and wasn’t 

certain I would attend the convention, 

much less be able to practice and prepare 

for competitions. 

It wasn’t until the day I was looking 

for clothing for the Gloucester Daffodil 

Festival Parade that I decided to compete. 

The song “I Believe I Can Fly” started 

playing over the store’s sound system. That 

was the song my best friend and clown 

partner, Regina “Girl Friend” Onley, had 

planned to use in her next competition 

skit. Every time I hear the song I think 

of her. I took that as her way of telling 

me to go for it. Then, 

when I was looking for 

a new pair of clown 

socks for my Crazy 

Cat Lady character, 

I found a pair with 

the description 

“moxie.” Moxie 

was the clown 

name of a recently departed 

friend and member of the Quackpots, 

Teresa Brewer. 

Sanders 

“Crazy Cat Lady” 

Once the decision was made to compete, 

I also decided I wanted to use as many 

of Peachey Keene’s props as I could and 

only wear my Crazy Cat Lady costume. 

Talk about self-imposed stress! It did help 

that I introduced The Crazy Cat Lady 

for the first time four years ago. It was an 

idea my husband, Tim “Sawdust” Laynor, 

suggested to me. Of all the characters I 

have done, she is the one people seem to 

relate to the most. And yes, we do 

own cats: Casey, Caroline, and 

Charlie – all rescues. I also 

knew I didn’t have time to 

teach myself new balloons, 

so I went with my favorites. 

Once I decide on a skit 

I normally contact my 

studio guy, Steve 

Scheffler, and have 

him record the 

background music 

or voices. I waited 

too late to do that 

this year so, even 

though I was 

talking on the 

phone during my 

single skit, I went with a skit in which I 

did all the talking. 

Just days before the convention, John 

“Kris Krunch” Kral and I decided to do 

a group skit. We didn’t practice, simply 

discussed the script and even changed 

the dialog just before we stepped on stage. 

Anyone who knows me, knows doing 

something like that is way out of my 

comfort zone. Our group paradeability 

entry was last minute as well; John was just 

about to leave for the convention when we 

came up with an idea. He played his roles 

perfectly! I cannot thank him enough for 

being my convention husband and group 

skit and group parade partner. 

The only competition I devoted daily 

practice time to was my face painting 

entries. Of course, painting them at home 

is entirely different from painting them 

in competition. Talk about nervous! I was 

thrilled to have Barbara “Sweet Thang” 

Cox and Melanie “Bubbles” Bell for my 

models. 

I was almost speechless when Walt Lee 

announced I had won. I knew I had gotten 

seven top three awards but also knew the 

award was based on points earned and 

not placements. What made winning in 

Richmond so special was that so many 

longtime friends from my first alley, Alley 

#3, were at the convention, clowns who 

have known me since I began clowning. 

Best of all, my first clown class instructor, 

Flossie Bruce, was there. 

Ann “Tuttles” Sanders, aka “The Crazy 

Cat Lady,” is a charter member and 

current Secretary of Kolonial Klowns 

of Williamsburg Alley #357. Other 

than Best in Clown, she earned the 

Excellence in Clowning 

Award in 2003, was the 

2007 COAI Clown of the 

Year, and received the 

Lifetime Achievement 

Award in 2014. TNC 



PHOTOS BY MERILYN BARRETT 

Awards were presented in seventeen 

categories during the 33rd Annual COAI 

Convention in Richmond, Virginia. 

Recipients were recognized at the banquet 

on Saturday, April 7, held at the Doubletree 

by Hilton Hotel. 

Gloria Sterrett 

Nicholas Reed 


Frank Bunton 

Jennifer Galvez 

COAI COMPETITION SCORING 

Awards are made for the top ten contestants in 

each category; however, scoring does not always 

result in awards for all ten positions. 

In categories with five or fewer competitors, 

placement is based on percentile achievements. 

Contestants may also tie for placement. 


Keith Karas 

Huang Sheng Yu 

Patti Gaudreau 


Ying-Chen Tseng 

Connie Morrow 

Tom King 

Lucas Acosta 

Laurie Heelein 


Cynthia Uible-Bryson 

Plan to compete 

in 2019! 

Roger Latham 

Jorge Adorno 

Review the Competition Rules 

under the Convention tab at 

www.coai.org. 


Ann Sanders 

Cheng-Lun Peng 

Tse Nok Man 


www.mycoai.com 

Register today for the 

2019 COAI Convention 

in Las Vegas, Nevada! 

Contestants who are sixty-five years of age or 

older may elect to be judged in the Senior Division 

rather than other makeup and costume categories. All 

types of clowns will be judged in this category using the 

criteria set for the various types of clowns. Contestants 

who elect to be judged in the Senior Division may only 

enter one category. 


Marie Beck 

Gus Lamond 


Ann Sanders 


Roger Latham Janet Herkert Jorge Adorno 


James Donoughe Huang Sheng Yu Laurie Heelein 

Patti Gaudreau Judy Johnson Tonya Widder 


Richmo 


nd, VA 

PHOTO BY MERILYN BARRETT 


Balloon Dog Café 

Ann Sanders and John Kral 

Hair Special Sale 

Judy Johnson, Tonya Widder, and Desiree Seibl 

Lunch 

Nicholas Reed and Richard Smith 

Blow Up 

Patti Gaudreau and Charlene Link 

Bus Stop 

Ying-Chen Tseng, Tse Nok Man, Chen-Lun Peng, 

and Huang Sheng Yu 

Master Chikukngunya 

Julio Capacetti, Jorge Adorno, and Lucas Acosta 


Phone Call 

Ann Sanders and John Kral 

Roadside Assistance 

Nicholas Reed and Richard Smith 

SSHHH! 

Patti Gaudreau and Charlene Link 

YoYo World 

Julio Capacetti, Jorge Adorno, and Lucas Acosta 

Where’s a Bandaid??? 

Cathy Truden and Georgia Henry 


Chia-chiao Lin 

Nicholas Reed 

Chen-Lun Peng 

Tonya Widder 


Roger Latham 

Keith Karas 

Ann Sanders 

James Donoughe 

Tse Nok Man 

Judy Johnson 


cheek 

Judy Johnson 

Ann Sanders 

Desiree Seibl 

Jim Donoughe 

Connie Morrow 

Patti Gaudreau 


full face 

Desiree Seibl 

Ann Sanders 

Jim Donoughe 

Judy Johnson 

Connie Morrow 




Judy Johnson 

Ann Sanders 



Jim Donoughe 

Tom King 

Connie Morrow 

John Sullivan 






Judy Johnson 

Jim Donoughe 

Ann Sanders 

Tom King 

Connie Morrow 

John Sullivan 


Judy Johnson 




Ann Sanders 

Connie Morrow 


Jim Donoughe 

Tom King 


Performance 


John Kral 

Sara Kreutz 

Keith Karas 

Tom King 

Tse Nok Man 


HOW-TO 

Baby 

By Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell 

1. 2. 3. 4. 

1. Inflate a Carmel 360 about half way. Form a 6-inch loop and roll the knot through the loop. 

2. Make two, 1-inch pinch twists below the loop. 

3. Make a 2-inch pinch twist below the previous two. 

4. Twist two very soft 2.5-inch bubbles and twist them together. Deflate and discard the remaining balloon. 

Center the 2-inch pinch twist between the two bubbles. Add artwork! 

Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell is an award-winning balloon artist from the Portland, Oregon, area. You may 

reach her by e-mail at oddballoon@gmail.com. 

Snapshots 

Check off box number one on my Bucket List: Meet Carol Burnett! My dream 

came true on December 17, 2017, when I got to go back stage, meet her, and shake 

her hand. I had made her a dozen long-stem red noses. She gasped and laughed 

when she saw them. I don’t think anyone’s ever given her that before! 

—Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 




HOW-TO 

Clown 

Character Tools: 

Emotions 

Aurora “Bebop” Krause 

As a clown, our emotions play an important 

part in our character and audience 

interactions. Certainly our costume, 

props, and routines are a constant visible 

part of our clowning. However, it’s adding 

our emotions to any situation that makes us 

believable. Once we’re in clown, we should 

see the ordinary as extraordinary; the simpler 

the action or situation, the more complicated 

we should make it; the comedy is in 

this process. 

When we’re in clown, we’ve traded in the comfort level of being our human selves for 

what should be the comfort level of our clown’s world, one that is childlike and playful. 

It’s now our emotions, with some comedy antics, that will see us through our audience 

interactions. Everyone, especially children, are watching our facial expressions, body 

movement, actions, and reactions. These 

are all antics that should invite our audience 

to enter our clown’s world. 

Know your character’s personality and 

learn to work with the emotions that 

make positive connections when interacting 

with audiences. For instance, if 

you’re tense and lack confidence in your 

approach, you will fail in making this 

connection. Instead, relax. Be childlike 

and curious. Look to your audience for 

direction. We don’t have to try to be 

funny; the comedy comes from our own 

emotions regarding any situation. It’s 

how our character sees and interprets 

the world around him that should engage 

our audience. The clown’s complicated 

approach to a simple situation or 

resolution is where we add character and 

comedy antics. Does your selected clown 

type, costume, and make-up design matter? 

Yes, they do, but only to the extent 

that they add to your character’s personality. 

TNC 

Visit bebop at www.bebopsworld.com. 


HOW-TO 

Get Ready For The 4 th 

Can clowns be patriotic and still be funny? 

Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel 

Dress the Part 

If you are a clown with pink hair and 

a purple costume, you might think it unreasonable 

to change over to an entirely 

red-white-and-blue costume for just one 

parade a year. But there are other ways to 

show your national pride on the Fourth 

of July and other patriotic holidays, 

such as Memorial Day, Flag Day, and 

Veterans’ Day. 

Why not add a star-spangled Uncle 

Sam top hat or a fun, sparkly headband? 

It’s okay if it doesn’t match the rest of 

your wardrobe. It is a fun accent piece 

sure to get attention, and the holiday 

trumps fashion. An easy accessory to add 

is a pair of red-white-blue striped stockings. 

Show them off to your audience: 

“What do you think of my new socks? I 

put them in the washer with my flag— 

and look what happened! 

Respect for the Flag 

After showing your socks, or whatever 

else your parade bit might be, use it as a 

teaching moment if the time seems right. 

You can say: “That’s silly, isn’t it? But we 

do need to treat the flag, the symbol of 

our country, with respect. We never let it 

touch the ground; we fold it in a special 

way and we always stand and take off our 

hats when it comes by in the parade!” 

Hmm, does it all sound a bit too serious 

for a clown? Don’t worry; we are 

multifaceted, magical creatures. If you 

love this country, that is part of your 

clown, too. Showing respect for the 

American flag won’t cause you to break 

character. If your patriotism is important 

to you, it is more than appropriate to 

wave Old Glory! 

Patriotic Ideas for Line Work 

Are you a balloon twister? Learn how 

to make a star and add it to your regular 

balloon hat. Be sure to stock up on red, 

white, and blue balloons, and keep them 

cool. 

Are you doing a parade or walkarounds? 

Get some stars to give out. You 

know what I mean: those cheap, gold 

foil stickers that teachers put on graded 

homework. 

Are you having a booth at a carnival 

or event? If you are a face painter, this is 

a great time to use the Patriotic Prisma 

BlendSet with a sponge or a big, flatedge 

brush. It’s so handy to just have 

one cake, instead of needing to dip into 

three separate pots. Add a quick spritz 

of spray-on glitter to make your design 

sparkle! Look on Pinterest for some 

star-spangled face paint designs. 

In Performance 

Are you doing a stage show about the 

United States? Need something to add 

to your routine? Nothing could be more 

appropriate or easy than the “Mismade 

Flag.” It is a simple and fun silks routine 

you can do with a change bag or a change 

tube. It is easy to master and involves 

mixing up the colors of Old Glory until 

you finally get it correct. Include this 

classic trick in your show during July, to 

be sure, and in shows for Boy Scouts and 

Girl Scouts at any time of the year. 

At the end of the routine, you can 

get the kids to recite the Pledge of 

Allegiance. If the kids don’t know it, 

that’s another teaching moment. Recite 

it for them and tell them to ask their 

parents about it. 

Work Your Magic 

As clowns, we can wedge into tight 

places of a child’s mind where no one 

else can fit. Parents and teachers are 

always pelting children with important 

life lessons, and it’s natural for a kid to 

ignore them. We capture their attention 

with our magical presence, then—for a 

brief moment—we have the chance to 

teach them something. Make sure you 

always have some wise words to impart 

during those rare moments. We clowns 

can make an impact if we but take the 

opportunities presented to us. TNC 

Tricia Manuel is known as “Pricilla 

Mooseburger” and “Miss Moose.” She is a 

longtime member of COAI. She has been operating 

Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp and 

Pricilla Mooseburger Originals since 1989. 

More clown educational articles can be found 

at her blog: www.mooseburger.com. 


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The Little Black 

Clown Book 

By Keith “Bobalouie” Karas 

have been earnestly studying and 

I practicing the art of clowning for the 

past fifteen years. By my calculation, my 

participation at conventions, workshops, 

and formal schooling adds up to about 

twenty-five weeks of wonderful (and 

sometimes expensive) learning opportunities. 

I cherish the investments I’ve 

made in my training. These venues have 

allowed me to learn, grow, and experience 

success as both a performer and 

competitor. I have also found time to 

share a cup of coffee, breakfast or lunch, 

or simply chat in the dealers’ room with 

my fellow clown artists, and have discovered 

much learning takes place outside 

the classroom. 

But my time with these fellow clowns 

and esteemed lecturers has been limited. 

I may only renew an acquaintance I 

made at a convention once a year. I may 

have seen a particular clown or heard a 

noted lecturer only once in these past 

fifteen years. So, I’d like to share with 

you a little secret which has allowed me 

to capitalize on my investment with the 

clowns and lecturers I’ve met at conventions 

and workshops. This little secret 

allows me to experience their friendship, 

wit, and wisdom over and over again. 

How I Do It 

Consider all the notes you have taken 

on those little complimentary notepads 

left on the hotel nightstands, typically 

printed with the name of the hotel where 

we are staying, sometimes paired with a 

complimentary pen, which is usually out 

of ink. Sometimes, we forget to take the 

notepad, which results in writing notes 

on napkins, the backs of our nametags, 

the backs of our hands, or asking fellow 

conventioneers if they would share some 

pages from their spiral notebooks. 

Also try and remember all the hilarious 

wit and wisdom you’ve heard from 

professional lecturing clowns such as JT 

Sikes, Joe Barney, Norm Barnhart, Dave 

Risely, Leon McBryde, Bob Abdou, 

Dave Hill, Chagy, Randy Christensen, 

Dave Bartlett, Pricilla Mooseburger, or 

a host of other funny folks. Ever wish 

you could just remember what so-andso 

famous clown said at a convention 

that was so brilliant? There is one surefire, 

low-tech way to capture these wonderful 

hints, tips, tricks, shortcuts, and 

one-liners. 

The Little Black Clown Book 

In the show Happy Days, the character 

Fonzie kept a little black book listing 

girlfriends he could call on at any minute. 

In the book, Clown Alley, Bill Ballantine 

recalls a time when he offered Master 

Clown Lou Jacobs a ride to his house 

in Sarasota. During the ride, Bill asked 

Lou about suitable gags for the then 

brand-new Clown College. Lou pulled 

out a well-worn, pocket-sized book and 

said, “They’re all in here—every gag we 

need—every one of ’em … and props, 

too. Fifty years of ideas.” 

I was privileged to be a guest clown in 

the Kelly-Miller Circus in 2013, and I 

got to have some one-on-one time with 

Ryan Combs, one half of the performing 

team Steve and Ryan. Steve and Ryan 

have been likened to a live version of a 

cartoon, as their makeup, clown gags, 

props, and sound effects seem straight 

out of Road Runner or Bugs Bunny. In 

between acts in the ring, Ryan and I sat 

down on the grass behind one of the 

trailers and discussed the creative side 

of clowning. Ryan asked me questions 

about my particular brand of clowning 

and how our alley was progressing. After 

a few minutes, he invited me into his 

trailer and showed me his gag file, a large 

binder containing colored sketches, concepts 

of potential gags, and lists of props 

and materials. Ryan said he and Steve 

always story board their ideas for ring 

gags, much like a cartoon artist would, 

which allow them to see the who, what, 

when, and where of their act. Ryan then 

asked if I had a gag file. 

I was caught off guard and sheepishly 

replied I did not. “Keeping a gag file allows 

you to recall things which worked 

and what didn’t work,” he said. “You really 

need to write things down. It also 

allows you to share ideas with your alley 

mates, especially about props for parades, 

etc. You should seriously think about 

starting one.” I sensed Ryan was serious. 

Perhaps he also sensed I was serious 

about my clowning and about the future 

of our alley. I was president at the time. 

I resolved then and there to keep a gag 

file. However, Ryan and I are different 

clowns, so I had to tailor my gag file to 

meet mine and my alley’s needs. 

What I ended up with was what I 

call “my little black book.” I went to 


Wal Mart and purchased a small, black, 

three-by-five leather notebook. It has 

about a hundred pages in it and comes 

with a stretch strap to keep the cover 

closed. It fits nicely into a jacket, shirt, 

or pants pocket. I think it costs about 

five dollars. On the inside cover I wrote 

my name and my clown name. On the 

pages which followed, I transcribed all 

the lecture notes which had been written 

on those scrap papers I had saved. I tried 

to date them as best I could. I also put 

my thoughts about clowning in the little 

black book, especially about my favorite 

props, my clown character, Bobalouie, 

and my development as a performer. I 

find it important to date my thoughts 

and musings, as it allows me to reread 

them and see how much I have grown. 

I also recorded my first memory of a 

clown in this little black book (it was in 

1968 at the Baltimore Civic Center). I 

put my favorite quotes from Grock, Red 

Skelton, Tex Avery (the creative genius 

behind Looney Tunes). I placed the date 

I learned to juggle three clubs, my participation 

in parades and circuses, what 

lessons I learned from an event, anything 

I could think of. 

When I visited a special clown performance 

called “Laughter for the Left 

Behind,” given in honor of the late 

clown Pat Cashin, I was able to get Bill 

Irwin, Greg DeSanto, Tiffany Riley, 

Dick Monday, and a host of other notable 

performers to autograph my book. 

Somehow, their signatures authenticate 

my clowning. Maybe this sounds corny, 

but I derive confidence from just having 

their stamp of approval in my book. 

Over the past five years, I have taken 

this small, black leather book to every 

learning opportunity and recorded 

things which were important to me: tidbits, 

words of advice, funny things said. I 

always date the page and list the lecturer 

and topic being covered. Afterward, I ask 

the lecturer to sign the top of the page. I 

find the lecturers seem flattered when I 

ask them to sign my book. 

Now you may be saying, “I didn’t take 

notes. I don’t know what I did with the 

notes I wrote. I am not good at taking 

notes.” Don’t worry. You don’t need to 

write down everything the lecturer said. 

Listen, learn, and laugh, and if something 

resonates, write it down. Remember, you 

are not being graded on your ability to 

take notes. If you forget something when 

you are writing, ask for it to be repeated. 

If that seems too out of place at the time 

or is going to detract from the presentation, 

perhaps you could visit with the 

lecturer after the presentation in the 

hallway or the dealers’ room. 

So, I have fifteen years of tips, tricks, 

development, and growth in my little 

black book. I attended the COAI 

Convention in Richmond, Virginia, and 

finished my book. I have shared this book 

with my clown friends, and they seem to 

enjoy thumbing through the pages to see 

what people said at a lecture and how I 

progressed through my clowning. I guess 

it is kind of like my clown diary. It is a 

well-worn, snapshot of my clown career 

which I carry with me to every clown 

gathering. It provides encouragement, 

sound professional advice, and brings 

back fond memories of the lessons I 

learned in my clown journey. My fifteen 

years of experience is strengthened by 

the memories captured in this book. 

What happens when my little black 

book is completely full? Hey, I already 

have another three-by-five leather notebook 

ready to capture my next fifteen 

years. Another five dollars well spent. 

I hope this article has inspired you to 

start a little black book or something 

similar to record your clown development. 

If we ever meet, ask to see my 

book. I will gladly share it with you, and 

I might just ask to record a great piece of 

advice I learned from you, then ask for 

your autograph. TNC 

Keith Karas is a graduate of the Red 

Skelton Clown School and the American 

Clown Academy. He is a member of COAI, 

WCA, MACA, and Free State Clown Alley 

#30. When not clowning, Keith serves as the 

Director of Human Resources for the Little 

Sisters of the Poor, Baltimore Province. 

CLOWN 

CALENDAR 

June 10–15, 2018 

Clown Camp 

La Crosse, Wisconsin 

www.regonline.com/clowncamp 

July 4–7, 2018 

International Brotherhood of Magicians 

Grand Rapids, Michigan 

www.magician.org 

July 24–29, 2018 

Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp 

Buffalo, Minnesota 

www.mooseburger.com/moosecamp 

August 13–17, 2018 

American Clown Academy 

Forsyth, Georgia 

www.aca18.com 

August 22–25, 2018 

KIDabra Conference 

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 

www.kidabra.org/register-kidabra-tn-b 

September 5–8, 2018 

Southeast Clown Association Convention 

Tampa, Florida 

www.southeastclowns.com 

September 11–December 7, 2018 

Circus Center Clown 

Conservatory First Term 

San Francisco, California 

www.circuscenter.org/clown 

October 3–7, 2018 

MCA Forty-Fifth Annual Round-Up 

LaPorte, Indiana 

www.midwestclownassociation.org 

November 2–4, 2018 

Daytona Festival of Magic 

Daytona Beach, Florida 

www.daytonamagic.com 

November 11–15, 2018 

Family Variety Entertainers Convention 

Las Vegas, Nevada 

www.faveconvention.com 

November 15–17, 2018 

Toby’s Clown School 

Lake Placid, Florida 

863-465-2920 

www.tobysclownfoundation.org. 

GH 

Send event information to 

thenewcalliope@gmail.com with 

Clown Calendar in the subject line. 


NEWS 

z LAST 

WALK-AROUND 

l 

Donna “Mother Goose” Krewson 

Recently, the COAI Headquarters Office was notified that 

Donna Krewson, 73, of Sherwood, Oregon, died in her sleep 

on January 27, 2018, after dealing with many health issues and 

complications. 

Donna spent most of her life in the small, rural town of 

Sherwood, Oregon, just outside of Portland. She loved drama 

and theater as a young girl, which transferred well into the 

clown world. Her interest in clowning started when she was approached in a fabric store 

in Tigard by one of our local clowns, Mary Pat McCoy. Mary had noticed this colorful 

lady purchasing fabric and observed that she would be a wonderful clown. The rest is 

history. 

Donna took some beginning classes from Gerry Ackley, founder of Rose City Clowns, 

and furthered her education with Angel Ocasio and COAI regional conventions. Her 

first character was called Matilda. She was fun, festive, and enjoyed parades. As time 

went on, her love for 

educational agriculture 

sprouted into developing 

Mother Goose, which 

was her primary character 

from that point on. 

She performed and ran 

fun, interactive agricultural 

magic shows and hands-on experiences 

such as butter making, cow milking, 

and growing plants at many fairs and 

festivals all over the West Coast. She also 

performed as an adorable Mrs. Claus in 

stage shows that shared the fun of giving 

at Christmas. 

Donna never forgot her roots and made 

time for the Sherwood Festival in her 

home town, where she was honored one 

year. She was also a talented costumier and 

made some of the most beautiful costumes 

for herself and performers in the area. 

She will be missed dearly. After her 

death, the clown and Santa Claus community 

of Portland, as well as magicians, fair 

and festival workers, family, and friends 

gathered to celebrate her life and legacy. 

Submitted by Trudi “Nellie” Sang. TNC 

EXPERIENCE MICHIGAN MAGIC IN 

G R A N D R A P I D S 

Minutes from the Airport • Close-up & Stage Contests • Exclusive lineup of Dealers & Lecturers 

Evening Shows July 5–7 at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre 


Shows produced by Michael Finney

New Hampshire: The Granite 

State Clowns Alley #190. Fourth 

of July Parade, left to right: Alan 

Flagg, Barbara Foristall, Victoria 

Levesque, Pam Bridge, Janet 

Diver, Nancy Frankel, Kristi Parker 

and a little friend who wanted to 

join in. 

New Hampshire: The Granite State 

Clowns Alley #190. Front row, left to 

right: Nancy Frankel and Pam Bridge. 

Back row, left to right: Cassandra 

Jillson, Mary Parker, Janet Diver, Victoria 

Levesque, Kristi Parker, and Barbara 

Foristall. 

Minnesota: ClownCare Club 

Alley #226. Front row, left to 

right: Laureen “Hard Lucky” 

Hess, Jan “Sassy” Margotto, 

and Sue “Stitches” Keller. 

Back row, left to right: 

Sharon “Toots” Nelson, Judy 

“Flowers” Warren, and Lynn 

“Taadaa” Smith. 

Williamsburg: Kolonial Klowns Alley #357. Front row, left 

to right: Tim “Sawdust” Laynor, President; Courtney “Dally 

Harris; Evelyn “Giggles” Smith, Chaplin. Back row, left to 

right: Jeremy “Dilly” Manning; Kathy “Sparkles” McPherson; 

Harold “Ducky” Wood; Ann “Tuttles” Sanders, Secretary; 

Jerry “Dr. Dufus” Dodson, Vice President. All the foam props 

were featured as a tribute to Steven “Peachey Keene” Long. 

Idaho Gem Jesters Alley #313. Front row left to right: Julie 

“Pinky Wink” Elliott, Chancellor “Fillup the Clown” Andrade, 

and Liam “Truffle” Wright. Back row, left to right: Wanda “Miss 

Bee Havin” Jennings, Robert “Pop Tart” Franklin, Ranaye 

“Sapphire” Marsh, Carolyn, “Huggles” Neely, Midge “Mis 

‘Chief” Martenson, Valerie “Tootsie Ann” Cole, and Mary Ann 

“Twinkie” Kojis. 


NEWS 

Welcome, 

NEW MEMBERS! 

Lucas “Lucking” Acosta, PR 

Morgan “Buttons” Bell, NC 

Matthew Bell, NC 

Melanie “Bubbles” Bell, NC 

Donna Broder, NJ 

Louise “LuLu” Carnesale, FL 

Sherrie “Smiggens” Chrysler, MI 

Mary Rita “Rose E Day” Emmerick, NE 

Myrle “Hey-U The Clown” Francis, MA 

Dottie Godolphin, TN 

Joshua “JJ” Gwyn, NC 

Jessica “Cupcake” Gwyn, NC 

Terry “Hambone” Hamilton, OH 

Georgia “Joy” Henry, NY 

Shaheeda Hill, MI 

Monique “Sweeetz” Holland, MD 

Shirley “Squirrely” Hurst, TN 

David Johnson, NV 

Riley “Chuckles” Kane, MN 

CLOWNS OF AMERICA 

INTERNATIONAL 

Annual Membership 

Individual Members—$40 

Seniors (65+)—$30 

Junior Joey—$30 

Family Membership—$20 

Our Good Ch 

Lifetime Membership—$1,000 

E-Membership—$30 

Our Good Cheer List 

International E-Membership—$20 

$20 of the COAI membership includes 

a one-year subscription to The 

New Calliope magazine. Subscriptions 

are not a benefit of the family 

memberships. (Only the Individual 

Membership in the household receives 

The New Calliope.) 

Send membership dues to: 

Clowns of America International, Inc. 

Post Office Box 122 • 

Eustis, FL 32727 

Make all checks payable to COAI. 

Join or renew by calling 

352-357-1676 or visit www.coai.org 

Please take a moment 

to spread a few words 

of good cheer with a 

card or note to one of 

these members. 

Ruth “Sweet Sue” Hoppe 

337 N. Woodland Dr Apt B1 

North English, IA 52316 

Miriam “Senorita Soto” Kleinberger 

2 Maple Lane North 

Loudonville, NY 12211 

Paul “Daddy-O” Kleinberger 

919 Slate Hill Road 

Sharon Springs, NY 13459 

O 

Alene “Rufflez” Kraus, PA 

Janet Lenox, NV 

Rosann “Rosie” Levy, IN 

Tiffany “Tiko” MacFerrin, AZ 

Brian “Grandpop Bubbles” Maloney, PA 

Marley “Miss Crazy Hair” McLaughlin, ID 

Cheng-Lun “King King” Peng, China 

Stacey “Tender Heart” Pulliam, PA 

Victor “Ruffee” Ruff, IA 

Robin Schepler, NY 

Sherry Shields, VA 

Luis “Kewii” Vergara, MA 

TOBY'S CLOWN 

SCHOOL 

SINCE 1993. 

Schedule: 

November 15, 16, 17, 

2018 

February 15,16, 17, 2019 

863-465-2920 

Or visit us online 

www.tobysclownfoundation.org. 

Kathy “Noodles” Gurak 

18 Park Avenue 

Garfield, NJ 07026 

Good Cheer Chairperson: 

Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke 

crissy@mizdaisyentertainment.com. 

863-221-4183 

A big thank you to 

Georgia Morris 

and 

Camille Federoff 

for gifting memberships! 


SHOW A FOLDER WITH A COLORFUL 

PICTURE of a farm house and barnyard. 

Open it up, and YIKES! The farmer is still 

asleep, the alarm clock is broken, and the cranky old 

rooster is nowhere to be found! All of the other farm 

animals are waiting to be fed, but the farmer is 

snoozing away, and the rooster will have to come 

back to wake him up. 

What happened to the rooster? Show the animal 

cards—cow, lamb, duck, pig, dog, and the rooster—all 

in bright colors on heavy-duty, glossy cards. 

The rooster decides to take a day off and vanishes 

completely! Will he come back? Yes! When the 

Samuel Patrick Smith 

On Stage! 

rooster pops out from behind the farmhouse folder, 

unknown to you, it’s the famous look-don’t-see 

formula in living color! The kids will be wild with 

delight as the rooster peeks over the top, hides 

again, and peeps out from side to side. 

We guarantee it’s everything it’s quacked up to be. 

There’ll be no beef about it, and the kids will howl 

with glee. You never sausage a trick because we 

made it just for ewe! It’s something to crow about! 

• Hilarious kidshow 

comedy! 

• Beautiful artwork 

by Selina 

Frederick! 

• Full color, highly 

visible cards 

measure 

• 8 x 10½ inches! $45 

Bringing Out the Better Performer in You 

Learn formulas for becoming an outstanding performer, based on the advice 

and techniques of some of the finest entertainers in magic. This book helps you 

profit from their experience. This book will help you capitalize on your strengths 

and develop your latent talents. 

Only $45 

A terrific educational effect which promotes 

reading and creates hysteria among 

children! 

The performer shows a folder with a picture 

of a library on the front. Inside the “library” 

are books, a table and lamp for reading, and... 

and... and...oops—no Bob the Book Worm! 

Maybe he’s hiding behind some books. 

Meantime, the folder is laid aside, and the 

performer shows five giant cards depicting 

different kinds of books and stories you 

can find at the library—fairy tales, history, 

adventure, geography, how-to books, and— 

wait!—here he is!—Bob the Book Worm! 

But Bob is a tricky fellow, and before you 

know it, he has disappeared and his card 

is completely blank! Where is he? The kids 

guess, you guess, but nobody can find him 

until he makes his surprise reappearance 

which leaves children hoarse and gasping 

as you and Bob the Book Worm take a bow.

Calliope_may-jun-lo

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