✅ SOLVED Can You Name this Famous Clown?

[diggummup]

Help! I have an H.A. Atwell Photo of this clown in a large lot of old Ringling Brothers photos that I recently found at a hoarder's warehouse sale. I am trying to put a name to him. I see this poster everywhere online bit for the life of me I cannot figure out who the actual clown is. One note- Clown face make up is unique so no two clowns will ever have the same face make up. Here is the original thread (photo shown in 1st pic)-
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/garage-sale-finds/481125-ringling-brothers-photos-1940-s.html

And here is the poster I am referring to that shows the same clown in my photo-

 

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[bill_wabo]

His clown name was Frosty, real name was Glen Little, boss Clown for Barnum and Bailey Circus and also Ringling Brothers Circus. You can Google him.

 

[diggummup]

Thanks. It's close but it's not him. He was too young at the time this photo was taken. It's a 1942 photo and he would have only been about 17 at the time this particular photo was taken, 20 when the poster was made in '45, but he served in WW2 and didn't become a clown until after the war. He didn't start with Ringling Bros. until 1968.

 

[Mackaydon]

Bill, I don't remember "Frosty" wearing 'lipstick' on his upper lip.
Don.....

 

[Mackaydon]

dig,
No doubt youcan get your answer here: [email protected]
but I will keep 'digging' (sorry).
Don....

 

[Mackaydon]

My money is on Bill Bailey.
Don,.

 

[diggummup]

My money is on Bill Bailey.
Don,.

Thanks, I'll check out the clown museum link. Bill Bailey was the guy who made the poster. There are several different posters with his name on them that do not have clowns on them. Here is one- Flying Tiger Antiques Online Store: Original Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Poster with Rhino

 

[Mackaydon]

Bill Bailey was also a clown who worked for the B&B Circus.His name was S.W. (Bill) Bailey. He may have also been the illustrator for the poster.
Don....

 

[bill_wabo]

Ok I'll search some more. I tought Frosty started earlier, you're right.

 

[diggummup]

Bill Bailey was also a clown who worked for the B&B Circus.His name was S.W. (Bill) Bailey. He may have also been the illustrator for the poster.
Don....

I just read that he may have also been a clown. I found a photo of a clown by the name of Bill Bailey but the face make up is different. http://clownalley.blogspot.com/2006_07_23_archive.html

The illustration in the poster depicts a real clown, the same clown as I have in my other thread. Here is the photo of him, It's a 10x12 from H.A. Atwell Studios Chicago-

 

[Bramblefind]

The ClownAlley blog has your photo in this composite identified as clown Felix Adler. He also comments on it:

Pat Cashin's CLOWNALLEY.NET: CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling, 1942

Some of the members of the 1942 Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Although it's a great picture, I wonder why Ringling continued to use a photo of Felix Adler that looks nothing at all like Felix's well known face?

 

[diggummup]

The ClownAlley blog has your photo in this composite identified as clown Felix Adler. He also comments on it:

Pat Cashin's CLOWNALLEY.NET: CLOWN ALLEY: Ringling, 1942

Some of the members of the 1942 Clown Alley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Although it's a great picture, I wonder why Ringling continued to use a photo of Felix Adler that looks nothing at all like Felix's well known face?

Thanks for that. I think that's an error. It's the only place on the web that refer's to him as Felix Adler. Looks like a newspaper clipping too. A clown will always wear the same make up. Especially a famous clown such as Felix Adler in the middle of his career. I'm not convinced yet.

 

[Bramblefind]

You are not alone! But I just found this which may help -- see the comments:

Buckles Blog: Ringling Barnum FELIX ADLER TIPPING HAT(1956)

Ron Henon said...Not
Felix Adler.

28 May, 2011 23:23
Roger Smith said...
I can see where Ron disagrees with the makeup as Felix. It isn't his familiar whiteface, with the big white teeth, the diamond in the nose, and the small crown on the skullcap, signifying he was King of the clowns. This is another example of the show wanting "second" makeups for advertising, and this was Adler's. Remember, Paul Jerome had his tramp makeup and a whiteface seen, for example, during the '57 season. Lou Jacobs did variations of his makeup as well, when asked, and one was a masterful whiteface used extensively by the show, still never detracting from the fact that it was Lou Jacobs.

29 May, 2011 15:16
Mike Naughton said...
I was told that this was Felix's makeup prior to his famous "two teeth" trademark.
Jackie LeClaire can share some more details because his father and Felix were partners in vaudeville.
I will get in touch with Jackie to alert him to this thread.

29 May, 2011 16:30
Ole Whitey said...
I once got Felix to autograph this poster for me and a number of years later we played Clinton, Iowa, with Beatty-Cole and I went to the cemetery and visited Felix' grave.

29 May, 2011 22:33
Chris Berry said...
There were a series of photos of Felix Adler in this alternate makeup used in programs and publicity material during the 1930s and 40s. Although it isn't the traditional grotesque makeup we are accustomed to - it is him and he is repeatedly identified by name in a wide variety of uses. This poster first appeared in the mid-1940s and was used through 1956.

30 May, 2011 06:24

 

[mojjax]

I am scared of clowns - I went to RBBBC - 1972 - I avoid them now - I was 12 back then . LOL

 

[Anduril]

Interesting post. Thanks.
And - looks like you got some good answers, which always amazes me here!!

This is as good a place as any to just mention that clowns really creep me out.
Not sure why?

I do know when I was "much" younger (maybe 4 or 5?), Mom had a picture of a clown on the wall that I could see from my bed.
Maybe that's the root cause..?
Of course, might also be the "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" movie!
...not into horror flicks either.

I can barely watch Tosh 2.0 when people do idiotic things and injure themselves.

 

[cw0909]

just a side note, when i lived in davenport ia., i went to the
The Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, up in clinton
with a friend and her kids
The Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center - About Us

 

[diggummup]

You are not alone! But I just found this which may help

Yes! Thank you. This is what I was looking for. I learned many new things today and more than I ever wanted to know about clowns. Love it!


For the record, I don't remember ever having a fear of clowns, I never really liked them one or the other. I was more interested in the side shows and games of chance as a kid whenever the circus came to town.

 

[tamrock]

Most clowns creep me out, though I did stay at the "Clown Motel" for a night in Tonopah Nevada once. That I'll never do again. Only clowns I ever liked was Bozo and Red Skelton

Can you name this famous clown ??

 

[SkaBa]

Most clowns creep me out, though I did stay at the "Clown Motel" for a night in Tonopah Nevada once. That I'll never do again. Only clowns I ever liked was Bozo and Red Skelton

Can you name this famous clown ??

Yikes, J.W.G.