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Background Information: |
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Program History
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Clown Camp® program began as an offspring of evening Continuing Education clown classes. Beginning in 1980, Dr. Richard Snowberg taught evening clown classes to area adults. These classes received some coverage in the Midwest clown newspaper, The Three Ring News. As a result the Continuing Education office began receiving requests from individuals outside of the greater La Crosse area who desired an intensive one-week program that they could attend. At that time, the only summer non-credit offerings were all summer camps. Thus, the name Clown Camp® was born.
Clown Camp® began in 1981 with 35 persons in attendance. Much excitement was generated, because attendees came from as far away as Detroit and Kansas City. The instructors at the first year's program were Warren "Buddy" Boelter, Betty "Pee Wee" Cash, Gene "Cousin Otto" Lee, Bruce "Blinky" Nelson, Richard "Snowflake" Snowberg, and Michael "Bingo" O'Shaughnessy. Participants stayed in the Coate Residence Hall, and all classes were held in the basement of this building. The first camp store was located in the tv lounge. First year participants who will later became staff were Tom Cline, Al Fast, Paul Glaros, David Heim, Kim McRae, and Dorothy Miller. Walkaround competition was held at La Crosse's Valley View Mail. Participants were judged while actually entertaining mall customers.
The university assumed that Clown Camp® would be a 'one time' affair, not an annual event. However at the conclusion of the 1981 program, participants all agreed that they (a) did not want to go home, and (b) definately wanted to return again next year. Thus began the plans to host yet another program in 1982. This program had 50 persons in attendance. In 1983 the enrollment climbed to 80, and in 1984 Clown Camp® attracted over 100 attendees.
During these first early years of the program, there were no other similar programs in existence. The once exception was Ringling Bros. Clown College, which was very restrictive in terms of the number of persons admitted. Furthermore these individuals had to agree to accept a circus contract and travel with the big show, if they met the standards needed for such entertainers.
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Clown education at clown conventions was very minimal. The major conventions, focused on competition, social events, and clown merchandise sales. Three or four lectures were not uncommon at an entire convention in the early 1980's. When clown associations did increase membership exposure to educational sessions they were often commercial in nature, or provided by volunteers willing to teach a class, often in exchange for free or discounted registration. (In many cases this practice is still in place today. That is the reason that the overall quality of lectures can not compare to what is offered at Clown Camp®.
In 1982 Al Fast, Paul Glaros, Jeff McMullen, and Earl Chaney are on staff for the first time. Classes are no longer held in the residence hall, but instead in North Hall. The camp store is also located in this building.
In 1983 David Ginn and Steve Smith are on staff for the first time. The nine-projector slide show is introduced. Clown Alleys, small groups like homerooms, are established. Ruth "Twinkletoes" Winbald, 79 years old, attends for the first time. (At the age of 90, she attended the 15th Anniversary week.) Clown Camp® sponsors the Caribbean Clown Cruise aboard the S.S.Norway. Warren Boelter and Richard Snowberg serve as instructors. Roger Grant works as the Clown Camp® photographer for the first time on the cruise.
1984 saw new instructors Barry DeChant, Leon McBryde, Kim McRae, Bob Gibbons, and Cathy Gibbons on staff for the first time.
In the mid 1980's, when camp enrollments began to skyrocket, with over 300 persons attending in a single week, it was determined to begin offering more than one week of summer programming. Likewise, the university was able to begin increasing the salaries of camp instructors, to a level commensurate with their abilities. In 1986, when Lou Jacobs came to Clown Camp®, he was paid $1000 a day-the most money he had ever earned for a single day's employment.
1985 David Heim, Jay Choutka, Dorothy Miller, and Janet Tucker are on staff for the first time. Clown Camp® is extended to two one-week sessions. During the second week, half of each day is spent in a workshop led by Steve Smith. Clown Camp® staff and participants take part in the June Dairy Days festival in West Salem for the first time.
1986 Owen Anderson, Don and Dee Burda, and Mark Anthony are on staff for the first time. A pre-camp for new clowns is held. Barry DeChant puts on the worse make up he can, and wanders silently into the make up session. He stands by while the rest of the staff tries to tactfully tell him what improvements can be made. In addition to teaching and performing, Mark Anthony carves a basket elephant while participants observe. Don "Bo Dino" Weiss is scheduled to be on staff, but is killed in an auto accident. His widow donates his props, which are auctioned off. The funds raised are used to start the World Clown Association Bo Dino Scholarship.
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The opening session is a demonstration of walkaround gags by Mark Anthony, Al Fast, Kim McRae, Leon McBryde and other staff members. David Ginn playing Mrs. Earl Chaney in a Newlywed sketch wears a pink dress purchased at a thrift store. The dress is donated to the auction, and modeled by Richard Snowberg. Each year it is re-donated, and a different staff member models it. Through the years, thousands of dollars will be raised for charity using the dress. A post-camp seminar featuring David Ginn and a post-camp canoe outing are offered. Following Clown Camp®, the first Laugh-Makers Conference is held at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Bruce Johnson teaches at the college for the first time. The first Clown Camp® on the Road program is held in San Diego, CA hosted by Don Gonzales. The program starts Friday evening and ends Sunday at noon. Richard Snowberg, Leon McBryde, and David Ginn are the instructors.
1987 Jim Howle, Tricia Manuel Bothun, Lou Jacobs, and Michael Polokov are on staff for the first time. Mark Anthony, Lou Jacobs, and Michael Polokov, former RBB&B clowns and future Clown Hall Of Fame Inductees, demonstrate how they apply their make up and tell stories about their experiences from a combined 200 years as clowns. Carlotta Payton, living in Italy, is the first overseas staffer. Leon McBryde and Barry DeChant become Assistant Directors of Clown Camp®. The Wishland Pony Express, a gift granting organization, is organized. A major portion of its initial funding comes from Clown Camp®. In the next seven years over $15,000 will be donated by Clown Camp® participants through auctions, shirt and ID card sales. Clown Camp® staff members Bob Milisch and Richard Snowberg join pediatricians, medical educators. social workers, parents of past recipients, nurses, and activity directors on the board.
1988 Arthur Pedlar, Trevor Pharo, and Andrew Stevens are the first staff members from the United Kingdom. Other first time staff members are Paula Biggio, Terry Davolt, Irene Doll, and Bob Milisch. Mark Anthony and Lou Jacobs are again on staff. Jim Howle unveils the first three portraits in his Red Nose Philosopher series of prints honoring instructors who teach at Clown Camp®. Clown Camp® participants chose the subjects the previous year. The first three honored are Richard Snowberg, Barry DeChant, and Patricia Manuel Bothun. The prints are sold with an accompanying biographical sheet.
1989 Kenny Ahern, Brenda Johnson Ahern, and Huel Speight take a leave from the RBB&B Circus to serve on Clown Camp® staff. Karen Hoyer, Randy Munson, and Peggy Williams are also on staff for the first time. Clown Camp® and the Clown Hall of Fame co-sponsors the International Clown Summit. About 60 clowns from around the world meet at an old Scottish palace for a week to discuss the future of clowning and to participate in community outreach activities. Following the summit, participants spend a week touring Great Britain and perform shows in Edinburgh, Southport, and London. Jim Howle adds Don Burda, Dorothy Miller, and Arthur Pedlar to the Red Nose Philosopher series of prints. |
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1990 This is the tenth program year for Clown Camp®. Bonnie Donaldson, Bruce Johnson, Dale & Marion Landis, Ann Leske, Bill Lozon, Mary Beth Martin, Vince Pagliano, and Nicki Wilson are on staff for the first time. Multiple sessions are held in June, plus an additional week in August. Bruce Johnson premieres his Tramp Tradition Show as part of Clown Hall of Fame night at Clown Camp®. While Barry DeChant reads a voice over narration of historical information, Bruce recreates routines of famous tramp clowns. Slides of illustrations by Bruce Johnson show the clowns appearance. Mark Anthony passes away. A memorial service/celebration of Mark's life is held during the August session of Clown Camp®. At Mark's request, stuffed toys and helium balloons are donated instead of flowers. Following the service, these items are delivered to children in hospitals. Jim Howle adds Jim Howle and Steve Smith to the Red Nose Philosopher series of prints.
1991 Jack Anderson, Tom & Marianne Myers, Jack & Pat Frank, Linda Hulet, Arina Isaacson, Glenn Frosty Little, David Mitchell, Lee Mullally, Marcella Murad and Dena Piraino are on staff for the first time. Four one-week sessions are offered, and twenty-five staff members participate in one or more weeks. Stu Robertshaw, Dr. Humor, founder of the Association for the Humor Impaired, does a presentation each week. Three periods each day are devoted to weeklong courses. Jim Howle adds Bruce Johnson and Irene Doll to the Red Nose Philosopher series of prints.
1992 Brenda Marshall and Jose Rivera are on staff for the first time. Leon McBryde leaves Clown Camp® to pursue his own projects. Irene Doll becomes Assistant Director, along with Barry DeChant. South African clown Piet Norte attends all four weeks. The first participants from New Zealand and Australia attend. Chris Montross, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, attends for the first time. At one of the open mike sessions, she reads a poem she wrote titled Reflections Clown Camp® 1992. At the concluding ceremony she is part of a chorus that sings two songs she composed. One of them is titled "Clowns Are God's People Too" Early morning and evening sessions are devoted to 'Meet ... (a staff member).' These sessions are devoted to a performance or to questions and answers. Jim Howle adds Kenny Ahern to the Red Nose Philosopher series.
1993 Reverend Roly Bain, from England, and Ted "Suds" Sudbrack are on staff for the first time. Clown Camp is expanded to five weeks. Barry DeChant ends his service as Assistant Director. On the return flight, the airline wants to charge Roly Bain more in excess baggage fees for his slack wire rigging then it is worth. He leaves it in storage in the U.S. for performances in this country and replaces it with new apparatus when he arrives home. |
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1994 Duane Lauflin, International President of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians, is on staff. A track system of classes is introduced. Classes in the Otto track are for novice clowns. The Lou track has classes for advanced clowns. The Mark track has a more flexible choice of classes. The last session of the day is a venue course (walkaround, circus, ministry, caring clown, stage, etc.). The venue courses take the place of the alleys. Participants in each venue do an appropriate performance at the end of the week. For example, the walkaround venue students perform at a local mall. During a closing session, Brenda Marshall learns she has been elected President of Clowns of America International.
1995 There are three one-week sessions at the University, of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a clown ministry emphasis week, a fifteenth anniversary reunion week, and a traditional week. The reunion week features over 50 staff members. In addition to appearances by staff and participants at June Dairy Days and the Circus World Museum, staff members perform two public shows benefiting the Wishland Pony Express. The public participates in a massive pie fight billed as the world's largest pie fight. The La Crosse fire department provides a pumper to hose down the participants. Late night sessions called "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" are panel discussions on circus clowning, birthday parties, business, and memories of four Clown Hall of Fame Inductees, Gene Lee, Jim Howle, Steve Smith, and Arthur Pedlar. Roy 'Cookie' Brown is scheduled to be on staff for the reunion week, but is unable to attend for health reasons. During the opening ceremony for the week, Steve Smith pays tribute to Roy Brown. Also, during the opening ceremony, Dorothy Miller and Betty Cash are recognized for being involved in Clown Camp® as staff members or participants every year since the beginning. An Elderhostel version of Clown Camp® is held at the La Crosse campus concurrently with the traditional session. Irene Doll ends her service at Clown Camp to pursue other projects. For the first time, a one-week Clown Camp® session is held off the La Crosse campus. A session is held at Medicine Hat College in Alberta, Canada. Jackie LeClaire is on staff for the first time.
1996 Lee Mullally becomes the Assistant Director of Clown Camp®. Weekend intensive classes are held after the final traditional week. The classes are Character Development, taught by Arina Issacson, Physical Comedy, taught by Kenny Ahern, Prop Construction, taught by Marc Renfro, and Caring Clowning, taught by Richard Snowberg. Participants can select two classes for in-depth study during the weekend. During the weekend, The Greatest Show On Earth is shown while Jackie LeClaire, who appeared in the film, provides a narration about the clowns and stars in the movie. He is also featured on this year's logo for Clown Camp®. An exhibition of Jim Howle's art is shown in connection with Clown Camp® Canada. A scholarship fund, named after Richard Snowberg, is established for people interested in attending Clown Camp® Canada. The Staff On Stage sessions are introduced. Every morning and evening a different staff member performs a demonstration show.
1997 Nola Rae and Carole Johnson are on staff for the first time. In the evening, a prop shop is open where participants can build things they have learned about in classes. Piet Norte supervises the shop. It's Your Face is introduced. For an additional fee, Jim Howle creates a make up design for a participant while being video taped. The participant receives the tape, which also includes a make up demonstration segment. During the second week, Clown Camp® participants and staff perform at the La Crosse Cancer Survivors Celebration. Arthur Pedlar is the featured entertainer on the main stage. Clowns from Japan, England, and America perform a show on the children's stage. Weekend intensive classes are offered again.
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1998 For an additional fee, participants can sign up to spend half of each day studying mime from England's Nola Rae. Mike Bednarek, Rick Struve and Tammy Parish are on staff for the first time. The Open Sesame clown troupe from Japan performs a full evening stage show as a general session. Jim Howle adds Lee Mullally to the Red Nose Philosopher's series of prints. Betty Cash is featured on this year's logo.
1999 Bob and Theresa Gretton are on staff for the first time. Due to construction on the campus, space is available for only one week of Clown Camp® at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. Some of the instructors then leave immediately for Medicine Hat College for Clown Camp® Canada, which is held the following week. At Clown Camp® Canada, Open Sesame performs a full evening stage show that is a tribute to Charlie Chaplin. Don Burda is featured on this year's logo.
2000 The first week of UWL's Clown Camp® is a Caring Clown and Beginners emphasis week. The second week is a traditional Clown Camp®. The third week is the 20th Anniversary Celebration. The Open Sesame clown troupe, from Japan, is on staff in La Crosse for the first time. Gigi, RONE, and Penny perform and teach movement classes. On the night between the Traditional week and the Anniversary Reunion, Clown Camp® and University staff members joins in honoring Richard Snowberg on his retirement from the University. The 20th Anniversary Celebration had an emphasis upon performances. Open Sesame is performing their stage show, a tribute to Charlie Chaplin. The Triton Clowns, another clown troupe from Japan, will perform a water safety clown show in the university's swimming pool. Theme shows will be presented each afternoon and evening. The themes included International Clowns, Musical Clowns, Ladies Night Out, Circus Clowns, Just For Fun, and International Clown Hall of Fame Inductees. For the Improvisation theme show, three teams will receive identical sets of common objects and create an act using them. The number of class sessions is limited during the Reunion Celebration. Each morning, participants choose between two lectures, a jam session (magic, balloons, paper, etc.), and viewing a video of highlights from a previous year. Fun events include a no mirror make up application competition, a ICHOF Inductee look alike competition, a history game show, and a Newlywed Game parody. Following the Newlywed Game, Don Burda goes to the emergency room because he is not feeling well. Doctors diagnose a mild heart attack. He is admitted to the hospital and undergoes a successful by-pass operation during the Reunion week. The last session of Clown Camp® Canada is held in Medicine Hat. Whitney Food Service building undergoes an extensive remodeling, so we eat all meals, and have the camp store in Cartwright Center.
2001 Four one-week programs are proved, with the fourth week being held in late July. The first week has a very restricted enrollment, with registrants taking two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Twenty-eight instructors are presented in this year's brochure. The program is now under the umbrella of the UWL Educational Studies Department. The remodeling in Whitney Center is now complete, and we can have our camp store and eat all meals in this building. This is the first year for the Clown Camp® program to have its own website. We welcome back Don & Dee Burda, who have both have significant health problems during the past year. RONE & Gigi are featured on this year's camp logo.
2002 We see the introduction of the fold-out Clown Camp® brochure for the first time this year. Two program weeks were offered, June 8-14 and June 15-21. The second week had a special program for classroom teachers, Now That's Fun: Injecting Humor in the Curriculum to Maximize Learning. The late programs cause some problems in gaining total access to some of the facilities. RONE & Gigi return from Japan, and Sam Tee, from Malaysia, makes his first appearance as a staff member. John Rhodes makes his first appearance as an instructor. Bonnie Donaldson and Bruce Johnson are featured on this year's logo. All registrants received a CD-ROM, featuring approximately 1000 pictures taken during the summer's programs.
2003 One one program week was offered in La Crosse, as at the completion of this program, we made a fast trip to Scotland, for a weeklong International Clown Summit. Clown Camp® sponsored this, the second such Summit at the Wisconsin in Scotland residence, the Dalkeith Castle. Around 50 persons, from United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Malaysia and Japan took part in this program. Following the completion of this program, 19 of the group continued on with a 16-day vacation cruise. Departing from Dover, England the ship docked in Russia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia. CD's were produced again for all participants, with a separate one for La Crosse campers, and another for those that traveled to Europe.
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2004 This year we introduced a DVD to replace the CD we began distributing to our participants in 2002. Over 1000 images, including five slide shows was included on this multimedia DVD. New staff members this year included John Blair, Pat Jannell, Kathy McGlaughlin, & Mary Lou Stacek. This year's logo features the amusing character of Dave Mitchell's Mr. Magish. Two program weeks we held, with the second week containing a special track in community safety education. This program had a special interest for firefighters, but also was of interest to clowns that do school shows. A special afternoon show in Myrick Park featured local fired department officials and vehicles, EMT's and police officers.
2005 This was the program’s 25th year of existence. Over 340 people turned out for the one-week program in La Crosse. Over 40 Japanese students attended, as well as participants from over 35 different states and Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan and England. Over 50 staff members were in attendance providing over 150 different classes, and multi-talented stage performances each evening in the Graff Main Hall Auditorium. Ten days after concluding the La Crosse program, a five-day Clown Camp Festival was held in Aichi, Japan. Here 61 registrants joined another groups of 60-70 Japanese registrants for several days of instructional classes. Additionally everyone had the opportunity to visit the World Exposition, where performers appeared before thousands of excited visitors.
Clown Camp® instructors have come from all areas of clowning, with the exception of rodeo clowning. Staff members have come from throughout the United States and Canada, as well as England, Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Australia, Malaysia, and Japan.
Increased word of mouth excitement about the program, as well as international advertising resulted in increased enrollment interest from throughout the world. Participants have traveled to La Crosse from all states including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as from Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Denmark, Italy, England, Scotland, China, Singapore, and all Canadian provinces.
The uniqueness of the Clown Camp® experience is caused by (1) an outstanding staff of instructors, (2) daily professional performances, (3) a diverse array of class offerings fitting the needs of both beginners and experienced clown arts enthusiasts, (4) a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow as a clown, and (5) a closeness brought about by all participants eating together and staying in one or two common campus residents facilities. |
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2006 A very successful one-week La Crosse based program was held from June 3-9. Approximately 175 participants came from over 30 states, as well as Malaysia, Canada, India, and Japan. From the latter country there were 27 attendees. Participants selected one of five courses that they attended throughout the week. The course tracks were Basic Clowning, Caring Clowning, Intermediate/Advanced Clowning, Community Safety Education, and Humor & Clowning for Educators. In addition to the course period, there were also three other daily class periods from which to select class offerings. In September Clown Camp held programs in the Orlando, Florida area. A Physical Comedy Workshop, taught by RONE 7 Gigi and a Caring Clown three day instructional program were presented. Over 80 attendees came for these programs. Following the conclusion of this session, 32 clowns and family members journeyed to Tampa, where they set off on a one week Carnival Clown Cruise. |
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2007 saw 206 participants in attendance at the one week La Crosse based program. Attendees arrived from 30 states, as well as Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. Of particular interest in 2007 was the offering of over 40 new classes. At least five different classes were offered each class period. A Junior Joey program, coordinated by Ruth Matteson, was also offered. This was the first year that participants were housed in Reuter Hall, a new facility containing suites, private single rooms, elevators and air conditioning. Following the conclusion of the program, post-camp workshops were offered. These sessions were very attractive, and were attended by 85 participants. The workshop day concluded with a dinner cruise on a paddlewheel boat on the Mississippi River. OJ Anderson was featured on this year’s logo.
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Clown Camp® instructors have come from all areas of clowning, with the exception of rodeo clowning. Staff members have come from throughout the United States and Canada, as well as England, Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Australia, Malaysia, and Japan.
Increased word of mouth excitement about the program, as well as international advertising resulted in increased enrollment interest from throughout the world. Participants have traveled to La Crosse from all states including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as from Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Denmark, Italy, England, Scotland, China, Singapore, and all Canadian provinces.
The uniqueness of the Clown Camp® experience is caused by (1) an outstanding staff of instructors, (2) daily professional performances, (3) a diverse array of class offerings fitting the needs of both beginners and experienced clown arts enthusiasts, (4) a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow as a clown, and (5) a closeness brought about by all participants eating together and staying in one or two common campus residents facilities. |
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