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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Where's Bozo When You Need Him |
| 2014-02-17 |
| Send in the clowns — please! As the “Greatest Show on Earth” returns to Brooklyn Thursday, circus folk fear a national clown shortage is on the horizon. There is no shortage of clowns in politics. Membership at the country’s largest trade organizations for the jokesters has plunged over the past decade as declining interest, old age and higher standards among employers align against Krusty, Bozo and their crimson-nosed colleagues. “What’s happening is attrition,” said Clowns of America International President Glen Kohlberger, who added that membership at the Florida-based organization has plummeted since 2006. “The older clowns are passing away.” If a canibal ate a clown would it taste funny? He said he wouldn’t release specific numbers, citing the privacy of the members. If I dressed up in big shoes, a funny costume, ans a big nose I'd want to remain annonymous, too. Membership at the World Clown Association, the country’s largest trade group for clowns, has dropped from about 3,500 to 2,500 since 2004. They all went into politics. “The challenge is getting younger people involved in clowning,” said Association President Deanna (Dee Dee) Hartmier, who said most of her members are over 40. Most youg people these days are already clowns. Kohlberger said that it’s difficult getting younger people who develop an early interest in the many facets of clowning to stick with it on the professional level. “What happens is they go on to high school and college and clowning isn’t cool anymore,” he said. “Clowning is then put on the back burner until their late 40s and early 50s.” When they regress to a younger stage. Cyrus Zavieh, the president of New York Clown Alley, a group that boasts 45 members across the New York area, said clowns can pull in up to $300 for a birthday party — but that’s hardly a financial incentive for many young people. It's also a dangerous job. Would you want to entertain a bunch of crumb crunchers at a party? “American kids these days are thinking about different careers altogether,” said Zavieh, 44, who has worked under the moniker Cido for nearly two decades. “They’re thinking about everything other than clowning.” Sex, lies, and videotape. |
| Posted by:Deacon Blues |
| #6 We're all bozos on this bus /channeling Firesign Theatre |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2014-02-17 21:52 |
| #5 On the positive side; they will have more leg and foot room in that tiny car they always climb out of....... |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2014-02-17 21:34 |
| #4 For me I'm a'thinkin + humming FRANK SINATRA + his great song, not the Bammer. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-02-17 20:20 |
| #3 Where's Bozo When You Need Him - Harry Reid to the courtesy phone. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-02-17 15:29 |
| #2 Besides, clowns are evil. Just the first step on the slippery path to zombie. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2014-02-17 14:48 |
| #1 Where's Bozo When You Need Him? Have you checked 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, believe his been there since January 21, 2009 and is planning to remain at that venue until January 20, 2017. |
| Posted by: Alexus Da Miller 2014-02-17 14:42 |