Who is Felix Adler | The King of Clowns
Ranked #19,168 in Entertainment, #233,667 overall
First Clown to Appear on Television
He performed with such famous clowns as Lou Jacobs and Emmett Kelly.
All three circus greats lived and practiced their routines in Sarasota.
Adler's costume took up a lot of space because he buttressed his posterior with a couple of basketballs hitched in place with a custom sling similar to a brassiere. He wore traditional whiteface clown makeup adding a big rhinestone on the tip of his nose.
Often the clown topped his garb with a big jello mold for a hat. Remember, the early days of television and product sponsorship? Adler had ties to Jell-O!
Piglets played integral roles in Adler's clowning. He named each one Amelia after his wife and as the piglets became full fledged pigs, he traded them in for a new piglet whom he promptly named Amelia.
The first clown to appear on television, Adler earned his title "The White House Clown" by performing for three presidents (Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin D. Roosevelt). He and his wife were the first American husband and wife clown team.
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imlsdcc/ / CC BY 2.0
Felix Adler
Frank Bartlet Adler
Born June 17, 1895
Clinton, Iowa USA
Died February 1, 1960
New York, New York USA
The King of Clowns
The White House Clown
Clown Felix Adler feeds Jello to Curly-locks
Strutter's Complete Guide to Clown Makeup
By Jim Roberts
Strutter's Complete Guide to Clown Makeup
Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
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Includes full-color, close-up photos which offer step-by-step directions for applying makeup.
Release Date: 12/31/1969
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More about Felix Adler
The King of Clowns
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- Felix Adler (1895-1960) | Find A Grave
- Felix Adler biography and photos of Adler in full whiteface. Photo of grave marker at Springdale Cemetery in Clinton, Iowa where Each June the town of Clinton, Iowa celebrates "Felix Adler Days". "The Felix Adler Discovery Center", a childrens' museum, has also been established there.
- Felix Adler and Charlie Smith (circa 1920s) | Pat Cashin's CLOWNALLEY.NET: CLOWN ALLEY
- Photo of Felix Adler and Charlie Smith outside the Big Top of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Judging from Felix's wig and painted nose, photo dates from the 1920s or very early 30s.
- Clown Felix Adler Dies in New York | Sarasota Herald-Tribune Feb 2, 1960
- Commenting on the death of Felix Adler last night, Emmett Kelly, world-renowned sad-faced clown said: regret very much to learn of the death ...
- Intenational Clown Hall of Fame - History
- Balloting by the members of the < ahref="http://www.theclownmuseum.org/history.php" target="_blank" >International Clown Hall of Fame (ICHOF) resulted in the election of Red Skelton, Lou Jacobs, Emmett Kelly, Sr., Mark Anthony, Felix Adler, and Otto Griebling. The first inductees were enshrined April 23, 1989.
- Felix Adler | charliethejugglingclown.com
- Frank "Felix" Adler (1895 - 1960) appeared in every performance of the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus%u2122 from 1919-1946.
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- The official recognition and celebration of National Clown Week website
- Clowns and Clowning | CFA Resources
- Even so, the past half-century witnessed the appearance of many exceptional clowns and routines. During your research, check, for example, such whitefaces as Felix Adler, Paul Jung, Bobby Kay, Frosty Little, and Pat Valdo.
- Adler, Felix | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register
- Felix Adler didn't mind at all when people laughed at his huge posterior. It was part of his signature look as the star clown of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. For almost five decades,
Ringling Bros. 2010 Wall Calendar
Ringling Bros. 2010 Wall Calendar
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Release Date: 12/31/1969
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Model of Ringling Bros Circus
Where Felix Adler Performed
Applause for Felix Adler!
Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...
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poddys
Mar 19, 2011 @ 5:26 am | delete
- I had never heard of Felix before, interesting to learn about him. I haven't been to a circus in years either, they seem to lose their attraction as you get older, unless you see a really good circus.
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StephenC
Jan 16, 2011 @ 9:11 am | delete
- Just stopping by! Nice lens. My applause to Felix Adler!
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Felix Adler at Auction
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Devoted to rescuing and housing exotic cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from becoming fur coats, and to educating the public about them.
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The influence of the American Circus colors present-day Sarasota located on the west coast of Florida.
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