A hobbyist newsletter for cat men, clown, and thimble enthusiasts OCT/NOV/DEC 2010 Publication independently designed and produced by Juliane Chung Printed in House. Baltimore, MD. US $16.95
CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE issue #21
INTRO NO.21 honoring issue
This issue goes out to all cat
It’s the cats that are phe-
by crazy cat ladies, to all thimblers
manship, but in who they
men who are constantly overshadowed
who spend tireless hours counting and perfecting their collections, and to selfless clowns who are misunderstood.
We here at Cat/Clown/Thimble
appreciate your passions. We support
you and feel so moved by your work that
we are behooved to publish you each
and every month. We are very proud to announce yet another issue of Cat/ Clown/Thimble has been sponsored
by the Israeli Thimblers Collective. We are also very excited to announce
two budding talents to the Cat/Clown/
nomenal, not just in showare. Philosophers don’t want to be from the mainstream.
People who make the world, think differently. That’s why I like cats. Cats are inde-
pendent. They don’t belong to anyone. They follow me
because they know that I am with them. And they do that because we have a bond together.
Lepore
Tonight, like every night, it’s
Ambassador.” Both have been tire-
all I need in life, to sit among
Thimble
roster-
Dominique
AKA “The Catman,” and “The Clown
lessly practicing their trades and have announced their debues this month.
We hope you enjoy and spread
the word about Cat/Clown/Thimble. It’s readers like you, that make this possible!
just me and my cats. This is my pack of philosophers
with a bottle of Beaujolais. -GUNTHER GEBEL WILLIAMS : 1972
CAT MEN
CONTENT
Yurii Kuklachev Dominique Lepore (aka “The Catman”) Gunther Gebel-Williams
USUALS 7-8 9-10 13-14
Intro Content Our Fave Thimbles
1 3 22
THIMBLERS Thimble Collectors Int’l Sue Gowen Donna Decator
17-20 25-28 29-30
THE CATMAN 9-10
CLOWNS Ambassadors Charlie Lolli Debue of “The Ambassador Clown” AMBASSADORS 35-36
35-36 35 36-38 40
THIMBLE COLLECTORS INTERNATIONAL 17-20
ISSUE NO.21
DEDICATED TO THE GREAT GUNTHER GEBLE-WILLIAMS (September 12, 1934 - July 19, 2001)
6 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
Kuklachev The Catman Geble-Williams
CAT MEN
7 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
KUKLACHEV
Today one may find it difficult to meet a person with a better grasp of cats’ habits than this clown and trainer. It was Yuri Kuklachev who pioneered the introduction of these pets as circus artists and founded the world’s single Cats Theatre. Yuri Kuklachev is a professional artist, a master of various circus skills. Besides, he writes stories about his four-footed friends. And everything done by him is done very well indeed. In Japan Kuklachev was awarded “Golden Oscar”, in Washington he was elected an honorary member of the US clowns’ association, in Canada he won a “Golden Crown” special prize for training. In Monte-Carlo he became a laureate of the World Contest of Circus Artists.
Cat Man Why the cats, and not, say, the tigers? K: I did not intend to become a trainer. At the time when I was entering the circus school I dreamt of clownery. By the way, I made seven attempts of entering the school: I was politely given to understand that I had no talent. But in the long run I managed to squeeze in. After graduation from school I worked for a few years with a gilly, traveling around the Ukraine. One may say the cats entered my life by sheer chance. Once I saw a little helpless grey kitten in a park, and took the squeaking softling to my place. “Kut’ka” lived in my make-up room, loved to play the ball, slept in clown’s wig. It was Kut’ka who became my first partner on the circus arena. Our act was as follows: I came out with a large Puss-Puss candy, spoke out a few words, opened it and a kitten jumped out of it. With the tail perked up it stepped out loftily on the arena. How do you train your artists? By stick or carrot? K: No, I never use a stick, as cats are so touchy. No use beating them: they’d just purse the ears or run away. And then they’d sure spite the offender. You see, cats cannot feign, they always show their emotions honestly. It would not be correct to say that I train the cats. I look narrowly at them, try to grasp what they are fond of doing and fix it
with the help of certain techniques. You are sure to have seen them working during the performance, jumping, climbing, pushing the pram and even playing up to the clowns on the stage. You know everything about cats. Is there anything they can surprise you with? K: Cats always surprise. With them I discover again and again something new for myself. The Cat is a real friend. One cannot cheat a cat, it can have a deeper insight of a man than we can imagine. Cats unfailingly evaluate what kind of energy a person emits – kind or evil. I am sure they are mysterious creatures, they possess inexplicable qualities which man has not yet finished studying. One can try to get along with them. And then, they turn out to be clever and affectionate and spiritualized. And do you understand the cats’ language? K: Of course, I do. I can really understand the miaowing, whereas my wife, Lena, who works with me, can even talk to the cats.
What kind of family do you come from? K: From a common one. My father was a blacksmith, then a driver, my mother was a worker. But I had been dreaming to work at a circus since my very childhood, and, in the end, I realized my dream. How did your theatre start up? K: Ten years ago I was fired from the circus. I walked along the street and pondered over my bitter fate. And suddenly an idea came to my mind: why not to create my own cats’ theatre? I took my project to Moscow Council, and I was amazed to find support there and was allocated the premises of the former “Prizyv” cinema theatre at 25, Kutuzovsky Prospect. Now, there are 120 cats and 6 dogs in the theatre. How long does it take you to prepare an act? K: It varies. Sometimes, an hour, two or three, sometimes – a month, a year, or even longer. Once, I was on a tour in England under a contract. Just on the eve of our departure it turned out that I cannot travel with the cats – for quarantine reasons. So, we had to catch homeless cats right there in the streets. And we had to do it very cautiously, indeed. Well, home cats are supplied with special magnetic chips in England. We were subjected to several checks by the “green society” representatives: on whether we had stolen the home cats. Fortunately, everything turned out well. You don’t confuse your cats, do you? K: Normally, not. But there are two cats, Kath and Kil’ka, who look so very much alike that one cannot tell one from the other at a glance. Are your artists sensitive toward each other’s creative success? K: Cats, like other animals, are quite
jealous. For instance, when I enter their cage, they all run to me chasing each other. You just pat one first, and the others pounce at it, fighting. And I take my “artists” home in turn. When I train several cats at a time for one act, I never show the doubles to one another. Otherwise, it ends up in “showdowns”, depressions. Once, a very gifted cat saw me rehearsing his act with the other cat. It got offended and ran away. And here is another example. I had a very kind dog, Peenya, who was friendly with another dog, Pet’ka. Having seen me putting on Pet’ka his artistic dress and letting him out on the arena, Peenya ambushed his friend, tore the pants on him and gave him a dusting. I’d dub it a creative personality’s jealousy. You are likely to have experienced a lot of fun, aren’t you? K: Well, yes, there were a lot of hoodlum artists. One dog called Crocodile had a bad habit of nibbling at anything in his way. So, one day we set out with the Crocodile on a tour to the States. Before check-out time we were allowed to keep animals at the hotel. Crocodile was normally locked in a tiled bathroom. So, once a tile under wash basin went loose, Crocodile caught the scent of glue, licked it; he liked it so much he got carried away and gnawed a huge opening through the wall. When I came back, he was running in the adjacent hotel room. Would you say that your pets’ temper gets worse with time? K: Certainly. But we work with any. With the exception of cowed animals which may be found in our country only. One can also find them in Israel, where homeless cats are rather scary. - How many cat species are there? K: As far as I know, there are 36 cat species in the world registered by the special international cat lovers’ fed-
eration. According to statistics available, there are about forty million cats in the world. By the way, my favourite writer Ernest Hemingway used to keep 150 cats at home. I’ve read somewhere that your cats are afraid of mice. K: Indeed, my cats are “intelligent” in this respect. They perform well, but when it comes to rats and mice… Once on a tour, I opened a box with food and saw mice there. Then I placed our largest cat Nikita Barabul’kin in the box. On seeing the mice, he got so scared that he leapt out and hid in the corner. So I released Kesha for a fight. The cat was so surprised his eyes went bulging out and he… started playing his paw with them. Then the mice got together and attacked the cat. Kesha was humiliated into inglorious retreat… How did it happen that many years ago pseudo-Kuklachevs performed under your name? And here now, please do write about it, though I don’t feel like remembering about it. A few years ago I staged a programme for my students; I gave them my cats so that they could appear on their own with a Clown Lozhkin posters. Shortly, some gossip came to my ears that my students goofed off on a tour and put up my posters since Clown Lozhkin’s performances were not popular among the public. Then I suggested that the guys tendered their resignations. They did resign, but how! They trained their doubler-cats for my stunts, retained three of my “artists” with them and performed in my makeup, with my acts using my name. Of course, it damaged our prestige: Kuklachev is allegedly sending his brother to goof off for himself… In order to stop it Public Prosecutor’s office had to be involved. Are you a demanding chief? K: If I am not strict, we will also be
downgraded to hockey-pokey, but we cannot afford it and have to uphold the trade mark. During the years of work at the Cats Theatre I had to part with many employees. For different reasons – the work at the theatre is a huge, hard labour; the great physical and mental strain. Did you think of leaving the country? K: We are often invited abroad. We went on tours around practically the whole world. Shortly we are going to travel to Japan where the film “How to train cats” about our theatre will be shot. By the way, the Japanese have promised to pay good money for the film, and I dream of building a Cat’s Temple in Moscow. It will combine a museum and an exhibition. I’ve got its blueprint already. As to my permanent residence, I have made up my mind long ago that we are required by our children here, in Russia. The cats are said to cure their owners’ even serious ailments. Do feel it yourself? I agree with it absolutely. None of my family members has health complaints. In general, I dream of creative longevity, so I practice the Buteiko system and keep to the diet, I have even lost thirty kilos lately. Do your children follow your steps? I always wanted my children to grow independent, creative persons. My eldest son, Dima, works with cats at my theatre. My daughter Katya studies at the Arts Academy. The younger son, Volodya, dedicated himself to ballet, studies at the choreographic academy. My wife, Lena, as I said earlier, works as a clown at our theatre. -Do you have an unrealized dream? I do. I want some time to come out on the grand circus arena, to feel the odour of circus wings. I do hope my dream will come true.
9 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
THE CATMAN His full name is Dominique Le Fort, but the world knows him simply as Dominique the Catman. Dominique is among the best of those weirdly wonderful street performers who enchant crowds of locals and tourists swarming onto Mallory Square, Key West, every late afternoon. His common goal: to ritually celebrate the Setting of the Sun, a gala Key West event.
Every evening for the few hours before and after sunset, Key West’s Mallory Square is the place to be. Always chaotic and vibrant, the square and surrounding piers are brimming with giddy green-flash seekers, mojito-happy tourists and resident street performers-the fellow who swallows knives, the guy who dresses his golden retriever in ladies’ underwear, the bagpiper soulfully playing “Amazing Grace” to another pink sky. It is here amid the pushy jewelry vendors, tightrope walkers and setting sun where a certain Catman does a certain cat show.
cism, satire, absurdity, craziness, love. All this stuff in a comedy act with the cats.” “I wanted to be an actor because I didn’t want to live only one life. . . But the paradox is, I end up playing myself. “
Ah, the cats. There is Oscar-part jungle cat-who has a mellow attitude and unusually long legs. Cosette, a tailess You can hear his high-pitched laugh from afar, before you see the hoops of fire or the cats, before you actually try to decipher Manx cat, is the most affectionate. Sara, the eldest, is apparently a “Bitah” -she’s the thick French accent. His signature cackle rises up from a the “most jealous kitty,” Dominique swarm of spectators, and there in the center of the circle, with says. Moon, the youngest, is a perfecit cat ... tionist. Chopin, George and Mandarin Comfortably perched on his shoulder and a grin spread across all come from the same litter, which Dominique rescued in 1998 during Hurhis face, is Dominique Lefort, the Catman-shaggy-haired, ricane Georges. Chopin is the smartest whiskered and wiry, almost cat-like himself. It’s just after 8:15 on a Wednesday night and Dominique is already on his second and Mandarin the shyest. George is a bit feisty like her namesake, writer show. and feminist George Sand. “I have no favorites because they1l get jealous,” Though the sun has set and the crowd is not as large as the Dominique says. normal 150-person audience, it’s showtime, and Dominique is on. He screams and cackles and mimes and dances with After another evening out on Mallory, in his seven cats for 30 minutes straight. Oscar leaps from one the quiet of his Southard Street apartred cloth-covered platform to another. Cosette, exactly on ment, an exhausted Dominique explains cue, unlocks her cage and struts out to the elaborate setup of platforms, metal wires and stools that Dominique designed and I how he came to be the Catman. He sips his wine and talks, surrounded by built himself. Once there, she flies through a tiny metal ring antique mirrors, French posters, stacks from platform to stool to platform again. of Georges Brassens’ CDs and Thomas Paine books on philosophy. For the grand finale, George, Mandarin and Chopin walk the tightrope, gracefully hurling their little bodies through a flaming Born in Brittany and growing up in the hoop and landing, perfectly balanced, on the other end of the suburbs of Paris, Dominique found inspirope. The cats perform flawlessly guided by only a gesture or shriek from Dominique and coaxed along with generous bribes ration in playwrights Samuel Beckett’s and Luigi Pirandello’s theater of the of chicken gizzards. absurd as well as old Charlie Chaplin And all the while Dominique is there to carry the show with flail- and Buster Keaton films and Mack Sennett comedies. As soon as he could, ing arms and a ridiculous script, including a barrage of absurd he pursued his love of acting, studying phrases such as “Stay where you ARRRRE!” and “Hurry up, improvisation, modern dance and even take your time.” His seeming lunacy is a result of “too many mime at the Lecock School in Paris in sunsets,” he says. There are other Dominique sayings, too, surprisingly poetic: “I am perfectly in harmony with myself,” he the mid-1960s. “At first I wanted to be an actor because I didn’t want to live says while petting Cosette after a job well done. only one life,” he says. “I wanted to live plenty of lives. But the paradox is, I’m In 1984, Dominique-actor, mime, entertainer and occasional not an actor. . . I end up playing myself.” philosopher-came to Mallory Square with cat, Marlene, in tow. It was during his phase as “Roudoudou What started as a one-man, one-cat clown show gradually turned into a seven -cat act featuring hoops of fire, nonsensical the Clown” when Dominique first introphrases and affectionate nudges. Today, Dominique describes duced Chaton-his daughter Vanessa’s cat-into his act. “When she was five, his cat show as a miniplay, containing all the key elements of Vanessa wanted a cat. So I bought her a drama: “It touches everything. It’s absurd, of course, but not a cat, and she was pulling his tail all the that absurd. There are plenty of meanings. It’s got romantitime. So the cat came to me for proteccism, satire, absurdity, craziness, love. All this stuff in a com-
tion. He was following me everywhere, and I said, ‘Chaton, maybe I should train you and put you in the show?’ I gave him five minutes and no problem. He liked to do it. He was very happy.” Now after nearly 25 years as a Mallory Square entertainer, Dominique and his cats are legendary. He’s done his act in almost every major U.S. city, including Chicago, San Francisco and New York. In fact, the show’s financial success has allowed Dominique’s daughter to get not one, but two master’s degrees-one in nuclear physics from Cornell and one in art history from The Art Institute of Chicago. Like any good performer, Dominique has devoted fans. Andy and Karen Kinbacher have been coming to Key West every year since 1990 to see Dominique and his Flying Housecats. “At first when you hear him, you think he’s crazy,” Karen says. “But when you get to talking with him, you realize he’s a really down- to-earth, lovely person. And he’s just phenomenal with the cats.” A modest Dominique will tell you otherwise. It’s the cats, he says, that are phenomenal-not just in showmanship, but in who they are. He even compares them to the great thinkers of the world. “Philosophers don’t want to be from the mainstream,” Dominique says over a bottle of Beaujolais one night. “People who make the world think differently. That’s why I like cats. Cats are independent. “[The cats] follow me because they know that I am with them.” They don’t belong to anyone.” Dominique continues, “They follow me because they know that I am with them. And they do that because we have a bond together.” The cats are sprawled in every corner of the living room as he says this-across the sofa, curled underneath chairs, in little nooks and crannies throughout the apartment they share together. And Dominique sits contently among them. Tonight, like every night, it’s just him and his pack of philosophers...
THE LION CAGE IS
EMPTY
13 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
GUNTHER GEBEL-WILLIAMS (September 12, 1934 - July 19, 2001) You would think it’d be easy to avoid elephant poo on the mean streets of New York. I beg to differ. It was April 1989, and there I was with the golden god of the circus, the biggest star of “The Greatest Show on Earth” — legendary animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Willliams. What does it take to thrill ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages? This hulking blonde man in a spangled vest would wave his hand and magically coax a snarling, 500-pound Bengal tiger to leap on to the back of an elephant. I was a cub reporter for Pacifica Radio back then, there to report on Gebel-Williams preparing for his last shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden — where he had appeared more times than Bruce Springsteen or any other entertainer.
There was a tradition when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to New York. The animals would arrive by train, then paraded from Queens to Manhattan, through the Midtown Tunnel. I was a 24-year-old kid, with a microphone in one hand, rushing to interview a circus superstar. I immediately recognized him from the circus posters and the American Express commercial with a leopard draped over his shoulders, asking in a thick German accent, “Do you know me?” Then, abruptly, I suffered my first professional lesson in abject humility. I was brought to my knees by a giant mound of elephant dung. “I don’t think you need to ask any questions,” Gebel-Williams said to me, smirking. “You’ve had your lesson in circus life.”
It was time for me to recover. “I bet you see that all the time,” I said. “It’s an occupational hazard for you, I suppose.” “No,” he said, signaling that chitchat time was over. It was time to go, and he never really did like doing interviews. Dozens of workers lined up the elephants, llamas and other beasts. He was the wild kingdom’s traffic cop. He grabbed one elephant by the collar. The handlers and other creatures fell into line. It was part routine, part magic. Gunther Gebel-Willliams had a parade of animals at his command. Through the Queens train yards and into the tunnel to Manhattan, marched the parade. The trumpeting of the pachyderms reverberated like car horns. Gebel-Williams says the elephants sound happy. I jogged alongside Gebel-Williams, keeping a microphone under his chin when I could. I stepped in manure of all sorts. But once you’ve stepped in elephant waste, everything else is anticlimactic. I should have worn my old Adidas, but so what?
“I can’t do this forever, it is time to go on.” It was a storied career. This man broke the mold of lion tamers who subdued jungle cats with a whip and a chair. For three decades, he delighted circus-goers, sticking his head in a lion’s mouth, making tigers dance and jump through hoops of fire. He performed more than twelve thousand shows, got nicked and bruised a few times, but never missed an appearance. In the days after World War Two, his mother joined the Circus Williams as a seamstress, and he began performing as an acrobat at 12. By 1968, he was so good, Ringling Bros.’ owner Irvin Feld acquired the German circus primarily to get its animal trainer. He was an immediate smash, setting all sorts of milestones. He had such great understanding of the animals he was able to get natural
enemies — tigers, horses and an elephant — to perform together in one steel cage. On the day I met him, back in 1989, he saw himself retiring, moving behind the scenes at Ringling Bros., and that’s essentially what he did. He performed occasionally, last stepping into the center ring for a show in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Sept. 27, 1998, when he filled in for his son, Mark Oliver. Last July, Gebel-Williams underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. His wife, Sigrid, said he realized something was wrong when he lost his peripheral vision during a training session with two tigers. He felt dizzy and weak and walked into one of them. He died at his Venice, Fla., home of cancer Thursday. He was sixty six years old. It’s hard to make sense of life and death. A good obituary is hard to find, even for someone who brought so much joy. I think once again to the very first words Gunther Gebel-Williams ever said to me, when he was giving me that lesson in humility. Those seem to sum it up best: “I don’t think you need to ask any questions … You’ve had your lesson in circus life.” May Gunther GebelWilliams rest in peace.
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16 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
Collectors Int’l
THIMBLERS
Sue Gowen Donna Decattur
17 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
ENTER THE REALM
17th Biennial Thimble Collectors International Convention August 23, 2010 Cincinnati, Ohio Redrabbit When my friend Cole told me she was attending a thimble convention, I begged her to come along. My friend, Cole Imperi is creative director at Doth Brands and curator of Simplicity Embellished. Her blog, Simplicity Embellished is about writing letters, home & garden and more. Do you know what a thimble is? A thimble is a small, usually metal, cap used to protect the tip of your finger while sewing. It helps you push the needle through the fabric. They are one of the most basic of sewing tools and have been in use for centuries. The earliest known thimble was found at Pompeii—that’s how old they are. So, needless to say, there’s quite a bit of history behind them.
Now, I’m not a thimble collector. Before last week, I owned one thimble. It’s a little sterling silver thimble with a cat on the outside. Lucerne made it for me when I was about 13. This week? I not only have 18 thimbles, but I also have a display rack. And I’m pretty sure you can call me a collector. Oh, and if you are at all concerned about my cool factor, I honestly have no idea what this does to it. If I was collecting albums played at high school proms held in the 1980s, you could pat me on my back and call me a hipster. But I’m pretty sure identifying yourself as a thimble collector negates you from any social category. Anyhoo, the convention was actually quite fascinating. It took place at the Hilton in downtown Cincinnati (one of my favorite buildings in the city) and I left each day exhausted.
Last week I attended the 17th Biennial Thimble Collectors International Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. I attended as the the You know, with any uncommon interest, it’s sometimes hard to find guest of Lucerne Wulf, a noted and well-established thimble maker. others who enjoy it too. The main rooms at the convention were She is one of just a handful of these artisans left and is in her 80s. filled with people who were incredibly knowledgeable about thim-
Most of the attendees were older women. However, I was surprised at the number of men there. Most of the men were husbands and I assumed they just came along with their wives. Not a single man I spoke to was there because of his spouse—they were there of their own accord and interest. One man I spoke to was actually responsible for his wife’s collecting as he introduced her to that. The youngest person there was 15 and the oldest people were in their 80s. There were people there from Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, England and 33 states. This was a BFD to say the least.
bles. NONE DID! I was shocked! (I collect and write with fountain pens, hence why I was interested.)
I also made some friends at the convention. A new friend in Australia gifted me a thimble with a kangaroo on top. In fact, I was exhausted from all the talking. Everyone there was so friendly and made a point to come meet me. And understandably so; they probably don’t get many 25 year On Friday, I attended the ‘Sales Mall’ old women at these events from 9am-11am. This is where all the so I probably stuck out a bit. vendors set up tables and sold their wares. When I showed up that morn- So, after having digested ing, I first just walked around to all the this unique experience, it tables. I was expecting to only see thim- has inspired me to get more bles but there were all kinds of antiques involved with the things I’m and vintage items like needle cases, interested in and collect. vintage promotional needle books, old And wouldn’t you know it, corporate trading cards, antique sewing accessories and more. I spoke with Cincinnati has a lot a lot of the vendors and asked lots of to offer here. There’s a questions. I found that there were colfountain pen convenlectors who specialized in collecting tion coming up soon similar themes of thimbles. The most popular themes were political thimbles, and a stamp collecting advertising thimbles, religious thimbles, club meets monthly animal thimbles, thimbles made out of here in town too. odd materials, and precious thimbles made out of gold and silver. Prices start- I’ll be attending those ed at about $1 and went up from there. events and I’m looking forward to meeting people At the auction they had a thimble who have similar interests.
that went for more than $1,000.
And it’s crazy, but I really adore the thimbles I’ve got. Each of them have a unique history behind them and story.
After browsing all the tables, I went back to purchase a few. I managed to find a few from Jerusalem with Jewish stuff on them, like a Star of David and a Hamsa Hand. I asked about 15 vendors if they Happy Collecting! had any fountain pen related thim-
THIMBLE COLLECTORS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, 2010
THIMBLE COLLECTORS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, 2010
THIMBLE COLLECTORS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, 2010
22 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
OUR FAVES
AMERICANA Olga Made in Russia, 2005
GRAIN Heather Made in Scotland, 2010
SMILEY SAM Artone Brand Made in England, 1988
BJS Betrams South Africa, 1918
THIMBLE RING Thimbler John Made in USA, 2010
14CT GOLD & RUBIES Legacy Thimbles England, 1973
BLOODY HAMERSHAM Harmer Sculptures Made in England, 1999
MR. CAUDLE Royal Worcester Made in England, 1976
TOM O’SHANTER Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
EISENHOWER Victoria China Made in England, 1952
LINCOLN Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
TOMMY TRADDLES Harmer Sculptures Made in England, 1999
SMOKES Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
IVORY Chinese Made in China, 1800s
YING-YANG Choonchal District Made in Korea, 2008
CHURCHILL Victoria China Made in England, 1952
GOOD KING WENCESLES Harmer Sculptures Made in England, 1999
ZEBRA Kunurrura Made in Austrailia, 1997
JOHN WAYNE James Allen Australia, 1920
FLAMBE Sally Hansen USA, 2010
ROSY Olga Made in Russia, 2005
WACKFORD SQUEERS Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
COCO Francesca Brand Made in England, 1980
ALBERT Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
BLUE PERSIAN Victoria China Made in England, 1952
MR. BUMBLE Harmer Sculptures Made in England, 1999
MARLEY’S GHOST Harmer Sculptures Made in England, 1999
BOJANGLES Francesca Brand Made in England, 1980
MRS. CAUDLE Royal Worcester Made in England, 1976
OTHELLO Sutherland China Made in China, 1980
EISENHOWER Victoria China Made in England, 1952
OLIVER TWIST Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
WINKIE Francesca Brand Made in England, 1980
BOJANGLES Francesca Brand Made in England, 1980
WHOOPIE Francesca Brand Made in England, 1980
SPARKLES Francesca Brand Made in England, 1980
HUMPHREY BOGART Artone Brand Made in England, 1988
POPE JOHN PAUL II Straffordshire Fine Ceramics Made in England, 1983
SIAMESE CHOCOLATE POINT Victoria China Made in England, 1952
JOHN WAYNE Artone Brand Made in England, 1988
SAD SAM Artone Brand Made in England, 1988
SALLY BRASS Perennis Brand Made in England, 1983
25
How did you get into thimble collecting?
CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
My husband, Mike, used to buy me pieces of china. One day he bought me a Jasperware blue Wedgwood thimble and I put it aside with my other pieces of Wedgwood. Later, one of his aunts left us a silver thimble, and then my daughter got a christening thimble, and it just flew from there. I don’t sew, so I don’t why.
You can’t collect in a vacuum, so I looked for a society to join. I lived in South Africa at that time, and Jenny Scharff had just started her South African Thimble Collectors Club. That was 25 years ago, and the passion has never ceased.
Cat Man
How many thimbles do you have in your collection?
By American standards, my collection is quite small. I have about 2,500 thimbles, but they don’t take up a lot of space. I always collected postcards when I traveled, but then I started looking for thimbles instead. I dabble in lots of little things, but since 1984, my passion has been thimbles.
Where do the majority of your thimbles come from?
The biggest part of my collection is Australian thimbles. Once I got to Australia, I read an article on Australian thimbles, and because it was all new to me, I started to try to find them. It was a way of getting to know my new country. I try to get one from each manufacturer. I wrote a book, Thimbles of Australia, and I started collecting a lot more Australian thimbles once I began writing because I knew what to look for. The book came out in 1988 and 11 years later, there’s still nothing really new on the topic. I never set out to write a book, but I just didn’t know how else to keep the passion going.
INTERVIEW WITH THIMBLER
SUE GOWEN
Australian thimble aficionado Sue Gowan talks about her passion for sewing thimbles, from hand-painted Royal Worcesters to plastic ones. She discusses the history of thimble making, the various materials used, the different design styles employed, and their collectibility. Sue can be contacted via her website, Thimbleselect of Australia , which is a member of our Hall of Fame.
Thimble collectors are amazing people and they share enormously. Are you a member of any thimble collecting groups?
My other big thing is joining local groups. Once I left the club in South Africa, I joined the Australian equivalent. In the meantime, I joined the really big international group, Thimble Collectors International, which is based in the States. I’ve been a member of that for over 20 years now. You get wonderful
AUSTRIAN ANIMAL THIMBLES, 1890
bulletins and that’s how you learn. I also belong to the club in the U.K., which is where I’ve met most of my thimble friends. They come and stay with me and I go and stay with them. We talk the same language when it comes to thimbles. Other than Australian thimbles, what other ones interest you?
In addition to Australian thimbles, my other big passions are English Victorian silver thimbles and the hand-painted Royal Worcester thimbles. The phenomenal detail of the early hand-painted Royal Worcester thimbles makes them a fine art commodity and the prices keep going higher and higher. You don’t even need a magnifying glass to see the detail on them. It’s just so amazing. They stopped painting them in 1986.
How can you tell if a thimble is valuable? What are some tricks of the trade?
Getting familiar with the backmarks and hallmarks leads to a wider interest. I’ve always known how to read a hallmark, which can tell you whether a thimble is made of Sterling silver and who the maker is. Then you start to see patterns emerging of all the different kinds of thimbles from that maker, and how different makers copied each
JAMES FENTON IS KNOWN FOR HIS BLACKBERRY DESIGNS, 1921
other. I suppose it’s just that never-ending quest. You’re always looking for just one more. There are early plastic thimbles, too, and they were all a cream color because they were trying to replicate bone and ivory. Those were made during the 19th century and into the 20th. They’re becoming scarce now. There are also thimbles made out of something called ivorine, which is a creamy color, too. What about sterling thimbles?
I know a lot of people won’t collect Sterling silver if it’s got a hole in it, but thimbles were made to be used, so what’s the point of a sewing tool that was never used? Silver is very soft, so with any kind of hard use—and I’m especially talking about the Victorian thimbles—it’s too soft, especially if it’s the same person using it because you tend to press on the same place every time, so you’d put a hole in it. Every time you use it after that, the tip of the needle would prick or hurt your finger, so that thimble is then useless to you, but you could swap with someone else because she will never find that same hole. We all sew differently. If you look at the tip of your fingers, they’re not round, but thimbles were always made in a perfect circle because they’re machine made. So if you take a thimble that has been used, you’ll see it goes to what we call “out of round”— it’s become a finger shape. This is again that whole history of sewing and the women handing down their tools from mother to daughter and grandmother to granddaughter. In the 19th century, women were sewing all the time. It wasn’t a necessity—they did it for recreation. There was beautiful embroidery. So thimbles are tools.
Why were German and Austrian thimble makers so successful?
You have to have what everybody is looking for. People want something decorative, but it still has to be practical. I suppose it’s just like anything, the bigger the company, the more they turn out, the more they take the market. The smaller companies were squeezed out; family businesses died out. World War II changed so much. Before World War II, people were generally still making most of their clothing themselves, but off-the-rack clothing came in after World War II, so there wasn’t the need to sew as much. You could pick up a plastic thimble and you didn’t have to pay $20. A plastic one would do for the kind of sewing you needed. Sterling thimbles had a different purpose in prim-and-proper Victorian times. Back then, you could not just go out with a girl without a chaperone. The thimble became a part of dating. If a young A VERY RARE EARLY PICTORIAL VICTORIAN S/S THIMBLE SHOWING THE MENAI BRIDGE
HALLMARKED WITH 6 FOR SIZE, MAKER’S MARK “CH”, ASSAY MARKS FOR CHESTER, DESIGN KNOWN AS ‘SHELL’ , 1893
man offered a girl a gift of a silver thimble and she accepted it, he knew that his feelings were reciprocated. If he gave her a utilitarian, base-metal thimble, he was expecting her to be a housewife, but if he gave her a beautiful jeweled gold thimble, he was expecting her to be the lady of the manor. In England, did they ever make thimbles out of bone or porcelain, or was it mainly silver?
Up until 1900, everything was made of metal. They had to be strong and sturdy to use, so if they were making for the everyday market, they would’ve been making them out of brass or steel (iron is too harsh). If they used Sterling, it had to be pure 925 Sterling silver. Anything other than metals was after the 20th century.You can divide the 19th century into three parts thimble-wise. Up until about 1820, everything was in ivory, beautiful and old. The mother of pearl thimbles came from France. They were called Palais Royal, and to own a thimble made out of that, you needed a very deep pocket. They were also made out of tortoise shell, but we’re talking about the high end, the Rolls Royce of thimbles.
What about more recent thimble trends?
I think there’s a big divide between thimbles made before and after 1970. That’s when people started to seriously collect thimbles. In the late 1970s, china manufacturers got on the bandwagon and started producing china thimbles. They’re not practical. You can’t use them because if you drop it, it’ll break. It’s for the collectibles market. The heyday of china thimbles was the 1980s. Every cup manufacturer who made anything out of china started to make thimbles—Royal Worcester, Wedgwood, Spode, Royal Doulton. Then of course Lady Diana married Prince Charles, and I think there were a minimum of 50 different manufacturers all over the world who made thimbles for that occasion. When the Queen turned 80, there were probably three thimbles issued for that. It’s just supply and demand. So these are some of the trends that I’ve seen. I think Sutherland still makes china thimbles in England today, but there are very few companies now. In this century, they just can’t turn a profit. Initially, they would make 10,000 of a particular china thimble. Now you’re lucky if they make a run of 50. It’s just changing demand.
Is there anything else you would like to say about collecting
You would not become a collector of anything if there is not a collector inside you. There are only two types in the world: you’re either a collector or you’re not. There’s no half collector or half noncollector. We’ve all got our own silly things. Mine happened to be thimbles.
MARIBETH KEANE & JESSICA LEWIS, 2010
29 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
Thimbler
THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER: DONNA DECATOR What started as a hobby 22 years ago, may land a local woman in Guinness Book of World Records. Australian thimble aficionado Sue Gowan talks about her passion for sewing thimbles, from hand-painted Royal Worcesters to plastic ones. She discusses the history of thimble making, the various materials used, the different design styles employed, and their collectibility. Sue can be contacted via her website, Thimbleselect of Australia , which is a member of our Hall of Fame. With more than 4,930 assorted thimbles on display in the basement of her home at 706 Lyles St. in Kentwood, Donna Decator hopes to soon be recognized as having the largest thimble collection in the world. The longtime Kentwood resident recently petitioned Guinness World Records and, pending witness statements and an accurate final count, hopes to soon add her name to the pages of the prestigious record book.
“I really do love thimbles,” Decator said. “I’m very excited and can hardly wait to hear from the Guinness Book officials.” The longtime collector may be in luck, as the latest edition of the book doesn’t include a documented largest thimble collection record. “We don’t have a current record for ‘largest thimble collection,’” said Jamie Panas, press and marketing assistant with Guinness World Records. “We have gotten a few proposals, but nothing has ever been carried out by claimants.” It all started during a 1986 trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on hunt for collectibles, when Decator found a shiny thimble dressed in black and gold trim and fell in love with it. From that point on, the she has been searching high and low for new thimbles to add to her collection. “I initially started collecting them because I was curious what they were made of,” she said. “They were all so pretty and I get so excited when I get one.
“I write them all down on an index to keep track of them.” Decator, who has lived in Kentwood for more than 20 years, recently retired from Ranir LLC and now has more time to devote to her collection. Her inventory of the sewing tools
You’ll love Israel from the first
“Shalom.”
includes several depicting various presidents of the United States, months of the year, Princess Diana, salt and pepper shakers, Avon ladies, Walt Disney characters, and a manger scene. Despite the wide selection of rare and unique thimbles, Decator said,
I have never really been interested in sewing and don’t really have one particular favorite. “I’ve sewn a little bit to patch the kids’ clothes, but other than that, I’m not really a sewer,” she said. “I don’t have any favorites; I like them all equally. I’ve got so many I just can’t pick one out as a favorite.” Donna’s daughter, Heather Decator, said her mother is definitely obsessed with thimbles.
“My mother is totally obsessed with those dang thimbles.” “She’s counted them like a million times,” she said. “Whenever she sees them she wants them and whenever anyone in the family sees one we don’t think she has, we try to get them for her.” To continually add to her collection, Decator saves all her loose change in a jar. Once the jar accumulates high enough, she begins seeking new thimbles to add to her inventory. As her collection grows, she acknowledges finding new thimbles has become more and more difficult. “I’ve been looking in magazines and haven’t found one thimble I don’t have,” she said. “I really want one from Decatur, Michigan, but when we went down there, we couldn’t find one.” But Decator said she is always willing to check out new thimbles to see if they might boost her collection. “If anyone has any thimbles they don’t want, I would love to buy them,” she said. “I would love to add them to my record collection.”
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32 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
CLOWNS Ambassador Clowning Uncle Baby Lil’ LolliBele The Ambassador Clown
33 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
AMBASSADOR CLOWNING The world is losing its sense of humor and a mighty army of clowns is forming, Bearing their weapons of silly stethoscopes, bubbles, balloons and nonsense. What are they doing on the battle fields, in the hospitals, in remote villages of the world? All around the world clowns are emerging to serve the wounded human spirit. By some estimates there are 25,000 clowns in the USA alone! So where is this mighty army of clowns? Organizing clowns is like herding cats. Don’t try to get us to line up in a single line to be counted. Our very existence depends on our resourceful intuition and our tricksters’ tales. We don’t march in formation waving banners or shouting slogans in front of TV cameras. We fly with the Red Cross to disaster areas, perform in remote villages in foreign countries, dance with the police, hold hands, listen to the tearful and pass out cheer. And in our spare time we go to the nursing homes, homeless shelters, relief centers, hospices, wherever there is a need for heart. Exposed to all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, we may trip and fall, but we always pick ourselves up only to forget we have fallen at all. We live in the moment with our hearts open.
From left to right: Photo1: Patch Adams (the one with the duck hat) arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan as part of a patchwork for peace sponsor by the City of Rome with 10 tons of medical supplies and 21 international clowns. (Photos by Gerald Tooth, Australian Broadcasting Corp. Background Briefing) Photo2: South African Joy Karkeek connecting with an Afghan Woman. Photo3: Patch took over the firemen’s inspection with Warner Gehner and his puppet (far left) also in the line up. Photo4: Bart Marcy “Dooey” from Tucson plays with kitchen staff.
35 CAT / CLOWN / THIMBLE
UNCLE BABY Meet Charlie Lubin. At 10 years old his mother took him to clown class. Charlie walked into Arina Isaacson’s clown class in San Francisco. Charlie is 27 years old now and still clowning around, sharing his very special smile and cheer. Charlie is a young man with Down’s Syndrome. That first day when his mother called Arina, she said “Well he’s a little different, but your sign said ‘Clown Class, Everyone Welcome!” Arina didn’t realize how special Charlie is and the mother certainly didn’t know how special Arina is. Mrs. Lubin waited that first day outside the “Circus A La Mode” clown school with trepidation. Charlie has been sent out of other schools because of his “special needs.” Not so with Arina.
“Everyone is a little different. That’s what makes the world such an interesting place.” I hope Charlie knows how special his heart is. Nonjudging, fully in the present, and when his heart opens, that unconditional love is so very penetrating. When Charlie smiles, you must smile. When Charlie laughs, you cannot help yourself, you laugh. What we clowns work so hard at doing, Charlie does because he is special. He does not grasp the concept of reflective thinking, Reactive thoughts do not block his way. Motives do not hinder his path. He is just Charlie --
“Uncle Baby” to all of us. Charlie has five nieces, so he is the Uncle. He also did a performance piece at the clown school with a baby (doll). He was sitting on a park bench with a crying baby. (Someone off stage was doing the crying). When he picked the baby up, she would start to cry and when he put it down the baby would stop.
In the frustration of trying to quiet the baby another clown came out and sat on the bench next to him and started to sing a lullaby. Uncle Charlie put his head on the clown’s shoulder and went to sleep. So that’s how he became Uncle Baby.
His signature act is his apple juggling-- and when he drops an apple, he exclaims “Apples Sauce” to the delight of all. It is his courage and glee that delight all who have the privilege to be entertained by him.
Fantasy is my specialty, making the kids disappear from where they are, by assuming they and you are some place else. I learned this the very first time I went as Little Lolli to Children Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Little Lolli is only five. She’s just a baby, so that’s why she doesn’t have a full size nose yet. She’s got just this little heart nose. You’ve got to start with heart. For some reason on that first day I decided to wear a red jewel heart glued to the tip of my nose. It turned out that the jewel picks up fluorescent light and it looks like a light.
LIL' LOLLIBELE Clown JACKIE GARNER’S Little LolliBelle is a Wwee tot of a clown with a big imagination and an even bigger heart. Presently Jackie lives in Durham, North Carolina, but she started her clown career in Texas 12 years ago. She lectures and give workshops nationwide and is one of the Artists chosen for COAI’s Clowns in Residence Program .
What happened next, I realized later, I couldn’t do as Jackie Garner, but only as Little Lolli, the clown. I learned what it means to be in that character and stay in that character totally.
If you are called to go to the hospital, your clown can take over and your clown can do it.
Coming around that corner into the room, I see a four-year-old boy in what looks like a giant high chair. It has steel rods on the side and at the top there is a band around his head. His head is bolted to this chair [the boy was in traction]. He cannot move. I didn’t know what it was, all I see is this child trapped in this thing. His knuckles were white with trying to get out. The doctors were trying to hold him in this thing. As I said I let go of Jackie and I let Lolli handle it (which is letting go and letting God). I’m not trying to push my beliefs on That first day Little Lolli did people, but I believe in that with all my a magic show for the kids heart. I truly believe that is the only way who were strong enough you can do this work without “losing it.” to leave their rooms. The children that I saw looked So Lolli in character [I wish you could a little tired. It was the first hear Lolli’s character voice] makes direct time that saw a child with eye contact with Daniel. “Oh, my goodno hair from the Chemo, ness it’s a Prince,” she exclaims! The boy and just so weak and tired. looked to Lolli like he was sitting on a After the show I went down throne with a crown on. “Your highness the hall accompanied by the Prince,” Lolli said as elegantly as Lolli the Child Life Worker. She could. She knelt in front of him, took his goes into this room and I hand and kissed it. Holding his hand she can hear the child moan- continued “Oh, you’ve got a great castle ing and crying “No, I want here, I’ve never seen so many rooms.” The down, no, I want down.” I nurse comes in, “Is this your slave. Does can’t see him yet, so I have she have to do everything you tell her?” At no clue as to what is going that time we could still make balloons in on. I hear, “Do you want the hospital, so I made him a sword. “I’m to see a clown?” A little making you this sword because you are boy’s voice answers tear- a prince. This is for dragon slaying. And fully “O.K.” And then he if someone says ‘What are you doing,’ said again “I want down.” you say, ‘I’m keeping all the dragons
LOLLI CONT. you say ‘Well, then I’m doing a great job!” Lolli bowed before him and handed him the sword over her arm. Everything was done kneeling and bowing ‘cause the clown plays the total fool who does not know the child’s medical situation. This child is hearing the clown’s imagination and what she thinks the situation is. Lolli went on “Is this your mother? Oh, your highness the Queen” and she kneels down “Is this your dad? Oh, King!” But Lolli starts calling King the dog! “Here king! Here king! (whistle) Come here boy! Eh? Ah, Oh, excuse me Dad,” and with a long bow “Your highness the King.” By this time the child is laughing and getting very caught up in this little fantasy world that the clown believes is the truth. From Jackie Garner’s book on Clown Ministry: Warning, there will be times you will want to cry. I always wait and do this once the visit is over. Often this will be in my car on my way home. They aren’t always tears of sorrow for all of the pain I’ve seen. They are usually tears of joy, for all of the smiles I’ve helped to give that day. Like the Clowns’ Prayer says ‘ “If you can stop the paint and suffering for just a little while . . . ” These are the true tears of a Clown. May God Bless you and give you courage to try this form of clowning.
or that well except that it was something that I was called to do. I get up to Pediatric ICU and as soon as the elevator doors open you can hear crying and moaning cause these kids don’t like being there and they’re hurting. Now ICU is normally glassed rooms, because they have to be able to see everything. You can see all the children in their beds. You haven’t been called to see them, but all those children are watching you. So I go into a little boy’s room - his name was Vincent. He is four and a half years old. And again you could hear moaning. I come around the corner and again in character voice “Hello” The doctor says, “You must be Lolli!” “Yes, and who is this handsome boy” The doctor introduces “This is Vincent.” Lolli continues “Are you married? Are you engaged to anyone?” He doesn’t say anything, he is just looking at me, but his eyes are smiling. He’s not scared of me after all he’s four and one-half. The doctor says “Lolli, do you mind if we bring in a rocking chair - would you like to sit in a rocking chair and hold Vincent?” Lolli answered “Sure would” So, they brought in this beautiful white rocking chair. And again I can be seen by all the other children all around me from their beds. They lay a pad across my lap and they lay Vincent in my arms, and he is so close.
His eyes immediately go to my jeweled heart nose. He’s checking I was packing to go to a convention out my hair, my face and all the when I got a call from hospital I’d never been to. I don’t know how they found bright colors. out about Lolli. They said “We have a little boy in ICU could you come as fast as you can.” I had already packed my costume, but when I heard ICU, I had Lolli clowned up and at that hospital in 30 minutes. I had never and never since put on my makeup that fast.
And Mama is looking right over my left shoulder and Daddy’s looking right over my right shoulder, so we are all close. “Lolli loves you, Vincent.” I can tell he wants to touch my nose. The secret to nose touching is this: take
their hand, and hold one finger (so you The doctor comes over and takes Vinare in control of their hand) and you cent from my arms and the mother and bring their hand to touch your nose. father go with him and I’m thinking, I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to run. But I don’t care what kind of nose it is I look up at all those kids around me. they are going to want to touch it They don’t know what just happened. They are watching my every move. I and you don’t want them to pull am the clown. I am not Jackie Garner off your clown nose. dressed as LolliBelle - I am Lolli to them. I am the only clown they may ever see. “This is little Lolli’s laugh button.” And So I wave “Hello” in Lollis character I take his finger and push my nose and voice, but I’m thinking I’ve got to get out laugh. “Tee hee, Little Lolli loves you, of here, I go out the door and there is a Vincent.” Mama’s over the left shoulchild right there. “Hello, Lolli loves you.” der saying “I love you, baby” and DadI’m thinking if I can just get to the elevady says “It’s O.K. son, Daddy’s here.” tor, I can let this out. I’m half way down the hall and I can see the elevator button. About 30 minutes goes by - just quiet “Hello, Hi” waving to the other children. time of giggles and nose pushing. In that time I knew this child like my own. We Inside me, the mother I am, is made a connection that no one could ever separate. Yet, he had not said one word to screaming. But these kids don’t me. All of a sudden, Vincent pushes my see this. It does not show on my nose again and he giggles all the way to face, because I am Little Lolli the his toes. Just giggles. Not one tear. There clown. was no pain. This is what happens, something magical happens when a clown Jacker Garner can not do this. God has is there with a child in a one-on-one. a part in this, something greater has control of this for you when you do He just had the sweetest smile in his this with all your heart and you want eyes and face. And each time I would to help the kids. He’s going to help you say “Little Lolli loves you, Vincent,” and do it. That’s the only way you are going Mama and Daddy would say “I’m here, to get through it. I’m not a great perI love you.” This time I pushed my nose son. I’m not superwoman. I just have and giggled and said “I love you.” He to let go and let Him help me handle it. took a breath and spoke, “I love you, Wollie.” I wanted to change my name So, I’m almost to the elevator, and here to Wollie, right there. Then he said “I come Vincent’s Dad. “Clown, wait!” love you, Mommy. I love you, Daddy.” Tears are running down his face and he is And with this, his eyes went up to my reaching into his pocket. “What do I owe eyes and my nose. “You want to push you?” I answer softly “Nothing, what do my nose again.” So I took his little finger I owe you!” And I leaned over and whisand pushed my nose. As I said “Little pered into his ear. “There are children Lolli loves you, Vincent,” he takes in the watching and I have to stay in clown chardeepest breath, his smile broadens and acter.” And as I go to the elevator I wave. his eyes are glistening. Then he breathes “I love you, Daddy. Bye! Bye!” I push the out his last breath. He dies in Lolli’s arms. button and I see the down light
flashing, but here comes the mother crying. “Lolli, please I need to see you.” I answer in character “O.K. Mom.” And I think that was the longest walk I ever made in my life - back down the hall towards the mother. When I get there, Mom just falls into my arms - and she is sobbing into my costume - and I can feel her tears go past my hair and down my neck. “Lolli, he never got to go to Disney World, my baby never even got to see the circus and all of that. Oh, did you notice the way he went, there was no pain. He was smiling, he was giggling.” And Lolli whispered in her ear, “I know, Mom. He’s going to be fine. You’re going to see him someday and you’re going to take up just were you left off. But other children are watching Lolli. I love you and from one mommy to another I do understand. Thank you for letting me be a part of this.” She looked up, “We will never forget you, Lolli.” Daddy comes out and they walk back down the hall. And there I am trying to get back to the elevator, again, in character waving to the children “Hello, Hi Little Lolli love you.” The children for all they knew, the child fell asleep in my arms. The elevator door opens and sure enough there was a mom with two kids. “Hello” And I’m thinking soon I’ll be outside and I can let go. And the lobby was full of kids, and the parking lot looked like Disney World. “Hello How ya doing” I get on the freeway and everyone is driving by waving at the clown - “Oh look there is a clown. Hello, Clown” I’m thinking, God find me a dirt road please! And I found one right after I asked for it. I drove down that road and there wasn’t a soul on the road and I was able to let go and cry. These to me are the true tears of a clown. When you are touched by something and you realize that you are being used to touch and offer healing. Be it death or whatever, you never know what you are going to be asked to do.
Don’t be afraid. Trust me, if asked to go do that you will the strength in the world, not everyone is asked to go
you are have all because do that.
You’ll love Israel from the first
“Shalom.”
ISRAEL NO ONE BELONGS HERE MORE THAN YOU
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He is ready to come out of hiding and expose himself to the public and make his writings available in booklets and bookmarks.
For the last 14 years “The Ambassador Clown” has been in deep thought, writing and rewriting. “The Ambassador Clown” is ready to unveil the truth in newspapers, on radio or television, at schools, churches, businesses, clubs, organizations, parties, and celebrations. He’ll intrigue and entertain crowds of all ages! The ambassador is available for book signings too. He brings important subjects to his writings and the bargaining table. He represents others who have a difficult time speaking for themselves. He wants to helop improve relationships, make alternative suggetions, he is honest and fair. The ambassador clown supports natural health and wellness. His inituitive message is a reminder of how signicicant we are and the importance of taking better care of ourselves. Professional resume: GI Technician, Duke Raleigh Hospital “The Ambassador Clown,” as he calls himself has recently announced his debue. He has stepped onto the campaign trail, trying to create a job position in Washington D.C. “The Ambassador Clown” is knocking down doors trying to become our country’s first ambassador clown with an office at the federal building. A serious clown that means business. Breaking down complicated subjects, giving all little things greater meaning is his initiative. Mediator, peacemaker, and mentor to future ambassadors. He represents children of our future, encourages teenagers to communicate more effectively, and guides adults to healthier lifestyles. He looks forward to meeting you on the compaign trail.
DEBUT
Holistic Health Practitioner / Massage and Bodywork Therapist, Mesa Institute Child Development & Adult Psychology, Orange Coast College Costa Mesa Operating Room Technician, Los Angeles Trade Technical College Assistant Rehabilitation Specialist for Developmentally Disabled Adults Association for Retarded Citizens, Syracuse, NY Non-Invasive Cardiology / EKG Technicianm, Santa Monica, CA Courtesty Award, Alpha Beta Supermarket Poetry Workshops, Poetry Publishing Professional Baseball Umpire, Baseball Clowning Big Brother Association, Orange County CA Table Tennis and Sports Awards, Los Alamitos, CA
Clown
Traffic School Instructor, LA Goodwill Ambassador, Senior Olympics Syracuse, NY
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