OpenTube

Ringling Bros. - How to be A CLOWN (Full Video)

MENTAL STUDiOS

924,868 views

(1987) A video I was in when I was 8. Instructors from the Ringling Bros. Circus Clown College demonstrate special make-up techniques used by some of the world's most famous clowns. Also includes juggling instruction. This came out in 1987 and is no longer available for sale except on some reseller sites.

0:00:00 Opening
0:04:10 Book Intro
0:05:12 Acting Like a Clown
0:06:52 Juggling
0:15:52 Balloon Animals
0:25:48 Costumes
0:34:54 Clown Gags
0:48:53 Clown Make-Up
1:13:25 Outro
1:14:33 Credits
1:16:16 Other Videos

Starring: Ron Severini, Ruth Chaddock, Richard Fick, Scott Linker, Tammy Parish, Steve Russell, Steve Smith, Jeffrey Steele, Charles Strachan, Jim Vogelgesang, Frosty Little, Lou Jacobs and Joey Severini.

By: Paul Taublieb, Jerry Bilik, Peter Brown, Don Spielvogel, Patty Matlen, Valerie Marlowe, Bob Carr, Thomas Moore, Bill Hughes, Robb Allen, Jinx Harding, Paul Roman, Andy Dale, Tom Bishop, Cheryl Rose, Ron Severini and Kenneth Feld
-------
MENTAL PRODUCTiONS is an independent film and television production company specializing in comedies. We are dedicated to creating and producing original stories about memorable characters that mix comedy, creativity and quality, all while fully operating on a micro-budget.

Contact: info@MentalProductions.com

Follow Us on:
YouTube: https://www.MentalProductions.com
Store: https://www.MentalStudios.Shop
IMBD: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4564058/?...
Patreon: Patreon: JoeySeverini
Reddit: u/Mental_Studios
Substack: @joeyseverini
Instagram: @MentalProductions & @JoeySeverini
Threads: @MentalProductions & @JoeySeverini
Bluesky: @JoeySeverini.bsky.social
Mental on FB: Facebook: MentalProductionsInc
TONiGHT on FB: Facebook: TONiGHTthemovie
BandCamp: @MentalProductions
ebay: https://www.ebay.com/usr/mentalproduc...
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/MentalStudios/

#howto #RinglingBros #clown #makeup #gags

20 Comments

@elitrask207 5 years ago

It makes me sad that clowning is quickly becoming a lost art in America. I remember as a young boy, all I ever wanted to be was a hobo clown after watching Red Skelton on my grandmother's VHS recordings.

I was shy at school, but when I got home I would spend hours testing various clown makeups, costumes, stunts, and props. I probably drove my parents crazy, but I wanted to be in the traveling circus so bad.

That dream was slowly diminished through a lack of support from parents, teachers, and the few friends I had.

Now, watching this film, I am overwhelmed with nostalgia, and my heart breaks when I learn that Ringling Bros. have shut their doors for good.

To all those clowns out there who work, and have worked to bring joy to millions, thank you!

@DarkWolf-nx3pu 8 years ago

Please don't delete this video. I watch it almost every day.

@izzy22992 13 years ago

when i was 4 my parents rented this for me from the local library, i watched it and rented it so many times they library finally gave it to me. It was from this video that i learned my true meaning was to be a performer and make people laugh. I am now 20 years old and still have the original vhs of this, and i'm a full time performer doing what i learned in this video...making people laugh and smile

@amphionification 6 years ago

When I was a kid, my dad and his friends made my sister and I dress as clowns and crash the local Easter parade. We were given a broom that could be used as an air guitar or as a prop to fake out people. There was horse shit in the street and we would act like we were going to sweep it on people. I remember one year I got separated from my dad and saw a group of pipers in kilts marching, some of them carrying rifles. I immediately put my broom on my shoulder and began marching alongside them. I cherish that memory .

@animanoir 2 years ago

Statistically only Steve-O entered this university.

@pixelthesketch5257 1 year ago

I'm 23 and will be 24 soon. Clowning has recently peaked my interest, as I really like the tacky costumes, over-the-top silly humor, and want to bring joy to people in a world where joy seems to come only here and there. I thought the idea of being a clown though was just for other folk and that there wasn't really a community behind it, but I'm happy I'm actually wrong on that and that there are people who want to do the same and just have fun doing so. People trading smile for smile, laugh for a laugh.

@montecarlo4294 9 years ago

I went to the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1988 when it was the 20 year anniversary of Clown College. They did a special recognition and the man who was head of the college at the time spoke and expressed his appreciation for everyone who supported it. Sadly, Clown College closed in 1997. There will never be another place like it.

@die.3695 6 years ago

I don’t think there exists anything more wholesome

@sts-jaidn 1 year ago

I never wanted to be a clown nor will I ever be, but this video has given me a much bigger appreciation for the art than ever before.

@Yourstrulyxolo 4 months ago

THANK YOU BRO I’m a teenager who wants to be a clown for a side job cause I wanna make people smile and I told my parents about this and my dad said he’s fine with it and that I’d just need to learn a routine or a skit and I’m excited asf !!! (Side note I’m Mexican and my parents who are Mexican always are pushing me to be something realistic but, knowing my dads okay with me wanting to be a clown makes me so happy !! I just started to learn clown make-up it’s just I need to learn to make a rountine :D )

@n.kemper6078 8 years ago (edited)

Thanks for sharing this. I was actually in a clown group, that was trained by a lady that came from Ringling Bros. College. She was an amazing teacher. I loved being a clown and still have my costume, my papers, all my clowning gear, and makeup (although it's a bit dried out) lol. I still feel like part of her still lives inside me. Love to the clowns!
EDIT: Just noticed this was from 1987, I got my training in 1985, in WV. If the lady who came to a small little town in WV, in '85 sees this...You changed a lot of lives, especially mine.

@SandraHersey 12 years ago

Thanks for this. I was taking my 4 year old grandson to see the Ringling Bros circus and he was afraid of the clowns he said. So we watched this before we went and it helped him to see the clowns were not scary. Thank you for posting.

@killjoymcquire6340 9 years ago

I'm really impressed by the amount of technique and details within the skills it takes to be a clown. Like how important it is to not make a giant mouth since that is scary. These bozo's know what they're talking about:)

@devonwalter6053 6 years ago

3:01 “I can’t stand to see anybody unhappy!” I’m the same way! I feel like I focus on other people’s happiness that it’s hard for me to focus on my own happiness.

@websurfer8670 5 years ago

The juggler dude was SICK

@bradyfry8031 1 year ago

To think Lou Jacobs has only been dead for about 32 years, and his wife just passed about 3 years ago. He was certainly an icon of the 20th century.

@punkiefazpie 4 years ago

so sad that the original clown college has been abandoned! i would have loved to attend it.

@VileVisionshaunt 4 years ago

I rented this video a number of times as a child, from my local grocery store of all places. I was always into the ideal of entertainment like this. This video is how I learned to juggle, which I can still do pretty well to this day. This is so nostalgic.

@DVandegrift 6 days ago

55:45 the clown explains why clowns are often considered scary to kids and how not to be a scary clown.

@KathyMcSteen 4 years ago

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video! I almost quit school while working on a masters degree to join the clown college in the early 70s. I regret not following that dream, but now, I live in Venice, Fl, original home of the Clown College, started doing stand-up comedy at age 65 (and still can juggle a little) so now I'm kind of a clown. I firmly believe a world with clowns and circuses is a better planet, indeed.