C24—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 18,1981
BY DEBBIE KOONTZ
LANCASTER Lancaster 4-
H’ers are often called dedicated,
creative, enthusiastic and am
bitious, but in the future they may
oe called a bunch of clowns. That
is, if Nancy Myers, 4-H agent, gets
r.er say m the matter
Known across the county for
initiating numerous new projects
for Lancaster 4-H, Myers has
decided to make her newest
project opportunity for 4-H’ers,
downing
After a county workshop
Tuesday night, a regional
workshop in York County and
much studying on the subject,
Myers has found clowning to be
much more than having fun at a
circus.
Though it may be a far cry from
the normal 4-H project of dairy,
swine, cooking and sewing,
downing is a growing project m
Pennsylvania and one which
demands senous attention.
At a regional 4-H spring fling
workshop in York County,
recently, members of Lebanon
County’s clowning 4-H presented
their side of the clowning trade.
Tuesday night, Mial Hillhouse, a
member of the Professional
Clown’s Club of America, spoke to
interested 4-H’ers on his art.
“Milo,” as Hillhouse is known
professionally, began by telling the
history of clowning and worked his
way up to costumes and makeup
for the modern clown.
All 4-H’ers interested in
clowning should know that
clowning is recognized as a
profession and an art today and
that years of clowning have led to
this status.
The earliest recognized clowns
were court jesters of the Middle
Ages. They performed tricks and
told stones while entertaining
royalty. Their costumes were
usually trimmed with noisy bells.
Harlequin clowns appeared m
the Italian theatre of the 16th
century. Their faces were covered
with black half-masks and tights
covered their legs.
The first clown to wear white
face makeup was the Pierrot. This
clown had big pompoms like huge
buttons on their loose fitting white
tops. Also, their hats usually came
to a point.
Today, the modem clowns fall
into three categories;
The white face clown makes his
“I wonder why everyone is pointing at us," many side benefits. One of which is making
these characters seem to be saying, for to people laugh,
them clowning is a serious 4-H project with
4-H'ers clown around
face with white grease paint as a
base and then adds other bright
colors according to his chosen
character.
The second type of clown is
known as the Auguste He is
usually a clumsy individual who
trips over everything. Charlie
Chaplin is the most famous
Auguste clown. He wears little
makeup.
The third, and perhaps most
famous, is the hobo or tramp This
character is usually sad and lonely
and usually works in audiences
alone This is the only type of clown
which can appear untidy and still
be a hit with the audience
All clowns in the circus are
calley Joey, after Joseph
Grimaldi, the first of the great
V •
/
“Let’s see, there was a
reason I'm at the 4-H
workshop. Was it to talk
about swine or capons
maybe?”
£*
R,-*
MU
S'
modem clowns. Grimaldi first
appeared m the early 1800’s in
London, England.
To be a successful clown, Milo
advised carrying a good supply of
makeup, baby powder and
mirrors. The faces and costumes a
clown can wear are ended only by
the imagination according to Milo.
But being a clown is more than
painting on a face and wearing a
funny costume according to
Barbara O’Neill, Somerset County
4-H agent. Professional clowns
have a strict code of ethics and a
great variety of opportunities to
perform.
Though Milo works for the
Shriner’s Circus in Harrisburg, he
also has performed m hospitals, at
small parties and even at adult
gatherings for just 5 or 6 people.
Andrew Leader speaks to 4-H'ers at their regional 4-H
spring fling in York County. Being a clown is more than just a
funny face to this dedicated clown.
Farm banquets, 4-H meetings, and
society gatherings could be just a
few of the events any clown could
add to his list.
And if you think clowning in
volves just walking around looking
funny, think back to your last
circus. Those clowns didn’t just
stand there did they’ Clowning in
4-H also involves learning to write
skits, making balloon animals,
learning to act, and working with
other clowns.
As a 4-H clown you’ll finally have
the chance to act foolish in front of
people and make them happy with
out them knowing who you are. If
you are interested in clowning for
Lancaster County, call Nancy
Myers at 394-6851, or call the 4-H
agent in your county and get a
clown project started.
Just another face in the crowd
Mial Hillhouse discusses
the art of clowing to in
terested 4-H'ers in Lancaster
County.