European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Stories and photos by Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau it was the weekend for clowning around in Bognor Regis England. Both Young and old from Many different countries flooded the Seaside town for fun and laughs. Red noses wild coloured hair oversized shoes and outlandish costumes were the Normal garb for hundreds who came to spend a few fun filled Days in the town which Bills itself As Clown town. More than 250 clowns from about a dozen countries converged on Bognor Regis for the sixth annual International clowns convention that began March 30 and appropriately ended on april fool s Day. The costumed clowns took part in the various festivities that included a Parade children s parties family shows and even a Church service that combined humor skits and a religious message. The town was also full of giggles. Giggles in Clown terminology Means groups of clowns. But the giggles that rippled through the town also came from the children and adults who enjoyed the Clown antics and magic performed in the streets and in the Regis convention Centre. Inside the Center youngsters lined up for hours to have their faces painted by some of the clowns. One Mother Myra Hartman thought nothing of waiting two hours with her 3-year-old daughter Jenny Lee to have the Little girl s face a transformed. Quot its the Only thing that happens Here All year. The kids love it every year it comes Quot the Bognor Regis resident said. Other mothers had diligently sewn costumes for their tiny tots to Wear on the Day the clowns paraded and performed along the streets of Bognor Regis. Senior citizens Rode their bikes to get a Choice spot along the seafront Parade route. Joyce Goodall was in place an hour before the procession of clowns began Quot i Don t really like clowns with All that makeup on. But this is quite amusing Quot she said. She was there hoping to spot her 6 and 3-year-old granddaughters who were taking part in the Parade. Some of the conventioneers make a career out of clowning while others took time off their jobs that Are As varied As the makeup that is so important to a clowns image. Among them were a policeman prison officer . Government employee University professor and even a minister. While some clowns do duo acts like americans Duane and Syd Vogt . As professor Dinghy and Fussie Gussie others prefer to go Solo. Some prefer to work crowds of kids while a few like Tom Morgan who clowns As Tom fun admitted Quot i hate kids Quot after growling at a few youngsters to pipe Down. A group of clowns known As the holy fools came to provide a bit of humor in the somber area of religion. Among those who took part in the Clown Church service was Sandra Pollerman who goes by the name of nibbles when she a outfitted in a satiny red and White Clown outfit. Pollerman the wife of a systems analyst with the . Navy in London said she Wasny to always keen on the idea of combining two seemingly opposite realms. Quot i thought to say clowns and Jesus in the same breathe was it also took some time for the 47-year-old to overcome a childhood aversion to clowns. As a Young child she d been frightened rather than amused by the antics of a circus Clown act. But now Pollerman finds her clowning ministry and her professional storytelling have positive effects. The two professions give her a Way of presenting problems providing solutions and Tel my stories that reflect survival. Quot clowning can help people get in touch with those parts Thev keep tucked some of the other clowns see their work in a different Light. American Clown Steve Marshall from Brooklyn n.y., was having a great time at his first International Clown convention. Quot every country seems to have its own style of clowning a said the 24-year-old who goes by the name of Woody when in costume. Marshall s Clown act which he produced while working five years for the Ringling Brothers circus combines magic and comedy. Now he works As a freelance Clown in the big Apple performing at company parties restaurants and at childrens hospitals. It s a career he finds very satisfying he said although his accountant father was always sure it was something he would outgrow. Quot clowns Are like a living cartoon which can be a problem Quot he said smiling Quot kids wont think we re real and step on our toes or kick our the russian clowns in their first . Appearance relished the Opportunity to share their talents with the fellow laugh makers. Quot its very interesting that we can show the a bit of level of our clowns to specialists and colleagues of other countries Quot said Sasha Sparinsky a native of Kiev and member of the ukrainian theatre Union. The four member Clown troupe Mim Krichy performed to music composed by Sparinsky during its performances. The russian clowns spoke Only a few words of English but they managed to enjoy the Universal language of laughter. At a civic reception they looked at a brochure about . Clown Camps pointing to a picture of a Clown with Green hair Igor Ivashchenko remarked Quot new wave Clown Quot although most people would think clowning is a real fun sort of Job British policeman Peter Rann said to be a Clown is no laughing matter Quot to make people laugh is a serious thing. You have to study what is really funny Quot said the Portsmouth resident whose Clown name is Rodney tatters. Marshall said Quot it really takes something special. To be a really Good Clown it takes something from the in olde England m a r. Soft Fife clowns took their acts into the streets. Mini win if to Quot a . A if it la of a of Bognor Regis England wants to be known As a lau9hter and fun. Even the town policemen closed around with red balls on their noses. It a Jami Cro Ier Condon gets a ringside seat on the shoulder of african Clown Woody Steve Marshall from i Brooklyn Nev Mork. 71 saturday Aflfe 1990 More than 250 clowns entertained the crowds during the clowns convention in England. Seaside hype funny business is turning out to be big business in Bognor Regis an English Seaside town that is the butt of Many a British comedian s joke. Bognor Regis seems to be a Magnet for Zany events. And to that Dick Coen marketing promotions manager for the Arun District Council says Quot Why not we enjoy the publicity for Bognor situated on the Southern coast Between Brighton and Portsmouth overlooking the English Channel the town of 39,000 boasts that King George v stayed there and bestowed the name of Regis to the town because head taken such a liking to the place. But that Royal distinction Hasni to boosted local businesses and garnered As much publicity As does the annual International clowns convention every March and the annual International Birdman rally in August which brings in All sorts of zanies who try to defy Gravity by jumping off the end of the town s pier. Quot we re competing with every other Seaside town but the Bottom line is what a in it for us. And what s in it for us is publicity Quot said Coen. In a cunning marketing scheme the town is actually capitalizing on its reputation As England s Quot music Hall joke Quot rather then spending time and Money to promote a different reputation. A it s part of an image we carefully Foster said the mustachioed Coen a native of Ireland. A it s a bit of self mockery but we Don t care. If others Are laughing so what we can afford it. We re laughing All the Way to the the amount of Money that pours into local Cash registers during the Clown convention alone is some 750,000 pounds or about to .25 million Coen said. That a not a bad return on the 25,000 pounds Arun District Council spends to promote the event establishments like pubs and restaurants increase their daily business by 150 percent White other endeavours note 50 percent More business than Normal during the three Days clowns irom All Over converge on the town Coen said average turnout during the recent conventions has been 150,000 people. This year about 250 clowns from All Over Britain the United states and several other countries including the soviet Union came Lor a weekend of clowning while crowds of Young and old got caught up in the carnival like atmosphere some of the postmen put on Clown costumes to deliver the mail while the police did their serious work of keeping Law and order with red foam balls attached to their noses. When the convention was first held in 1984, Coen and members of the Arun District Council went into the venture a bit less sure of their marketing strategy Quot we were scared out of our wits that the town would reject it but they took the clowns to their he said Bognor Regis is Well suited to Host the influx of clowns because of a self contained Holiday Center nearby Bullins soul coast world which can accommodate 6,000 visitors. Clowns townspeople businessmen and women and Council officials Are already talking about next year s convention to be held March 12 to 17, which is expected to bring in Between 600 and 700 clowns. The majority of the clowns Wilt be americans who belong to the iwo major clowning groups in the and if March seems like too Long of a wait for the unusual there s always the 10th annual International Bird rally coming up aug 12. A g j the stars and stripes a a a Page 15
