Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:20, 11 August 2005

Revision as of 21:22, 11 August 2005

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The entire session was one long audition for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, as the instructors took note of which students had what they were looking for to fill the positions for the new season's show, which began several weeks after the Clown College session ended. Chosen graduates received a one year contract to travel with "The Greatest Show on Earth," and grads not selected to tour were often given opportunities to perform in other capacities within the Feld Organization, or with other circuses that sought well-trained clowns for their shows.

Two notable national events took place involving RBBB Clown College. The first event was in 1988, when [[CBS]] Television broadcast the "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College: 20th Anniversary" special. This hour long program was hosted by [[Dick Van Dyke]] and it featured a hostcadre of graduatesclown alumni, performing their favorite routines, as well as Mr. Van Dyke, in character as the school custodian "Burford," who was trying to pick up some of the "course material" on the sly.

The second was in 1992, when Ringing created "Smiles Across America," an event done locally in cities and towns across the country to raise awareness of various issues and to help make people happier. Clown College graduates performed such civic duties as visiting hospitals and parks and appeared for photo ops and "meet & greet" with the media and the general public.