Types Of Clowns
by Bruce "Charlie" Johnson
The major clown organizations recognize three types of
clowns for their competitions. They are Whiteface, Auguste, and
Tramp. For costume competition, they include a fourth category, character
clown. There are also other types of clowns not accepted in competition.
Whiteface
A Whiteface Clown covers all their flesh with either make
up or clothing. They start by covering their face and neck with a coating
of clown white greasepaint. Then they add features to that. Some
people divide Whiteface Clowns into three subgroups. The Neat Whiteface
paints small features using red or black, and wears carefully color coordinated
clothing. The Grotesque, or Comedy, Whiteface paints large features with a
variety of colors, and wears outlandish clothing. In clown competitions in
America, a European Whiteface clown paints delicate features, uses a skull cap
to appear bald, and wears elaborate glitzy costumes. In Europe, a true
European Whiteface clown accents their ears with red, uses their own hair or a
black wig, and wears a specific style of spangled costume.
During most of the twentieth century, the whiteface clown
was the "straightman," either trying to get a task down correctly or
being a clever rogue pulling tricks on their partners.
Auguste
The Auguste clown wears white around their eyes and mouth,
and covers the rest of their exposed skin with a flesh colored greasepaint
base. They generally use a large imitation nose. They may paint
their lower lip red or black, and frequently have exaggerated eyebrows.
They may wear a colorful wig, or a bald top wig with a fringe of hair around the
sides. Their costume usually has very bright colors, and is frequently too
large.
During most of the twentieth century, the Auguste clown
was a stupid and clumsy character. The Auguste either couldn't figure out
how to get anything right, or they were the victim of pranks pulled by the
Whiteface clown. Clowning is a creative art form that constantly
evolves. By the end of the century the Auguste clown has evolved to the
point where it is sometimes interchangeable with the Whiteface clown in
actions. For competition, however, a strict adherence to the character's
"traditional" role is necessary.
Tramp
The Tramp clown was inspired by homeless people late in
the nineteenth century. A Tramp clown paints white around their mouth, and
may also paint white near their eyes. They paint an artificial beard using
greasepaint. Their clothing is either patched or tattered.
A Tramp clown can be happy or sad. During the early twentieth century there was more variation within the Tramp clown then any other
type. There were singing Tramps, juggling Tramps, Tramp magicians, silent
Tramps, Tramp monologists, skating Tramps, Tramp artists, and even Tramp
pianists.
The best known examples of this type of clown are Emmett
Kelly and Red Skelton as Freddy the Freeloader.
Character
The Character category of clown exists only in clown
competitions. In make up competition, there is often a category for those
whose costume depicts a specific occupation, hobby, or easily identifiable
individual. Their make up can be Whiteface, Auguste, or Tramp style.
In reality, costume does not determine character type. The clown's
personality is their character. A clown can be a cop, baseball player,
doctor, and a boxer at different times without changing character as long as
their personality doesn't change.
Auguste Lite aka European Auguste
In America, a naturalistic style of make up is becoming increasingly popular.
It was originally called European Auguste, although that title is not entirely
accurate. Clowns of America, International has started using the term
Auguste Lite for this variation. They have added an Auguste Lite category
to their make up competitions. It is similar
to the style of make up used by Auguste clowns early in the twentieth century
and the style developed by clowns in the Soviet Union. It is used most
often either in theatrical settings or by hospital clowns. This character
often is portrayed as either an average person trying to cope with everyday
problems or as an innocent discovering the world for the first time.
The best known examples of this style of clown are Bill
Irwin, working in theaters and as Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street, and
Loonette on TV's Big Comfy Couch.
Clown Mime
Some clowns combine the art of mime with clowning.
Often they wear a mime style make up which ends at the jaw line, leaving their
neck uncovered. (Some clowns view this as an amateurish style of make up,
and refer to it as dirty neck clowning. If you use this make up style, you
create the expectation that you will perform mime illusions.)
The best known Clown Mimes are Marcel Marcau, appearing as
his clown character Bip, and Nola Rae.
Rodeo Clown
Rodeo performance is a very specialized branch of
clowning. Some rodeo clowns use Tramp or Auguste style make up.
There is also a very distinct style of rodeo make up based on geometric shapes
instead of the performer's natural features. There are two types of rodeo
clowns, the barrel clown and the bullfighter.
The barrel clown uses a large padded metal barrel as a home base in the
center of the arena. They may lure the bull into attacking the barrel, and
then brace themselves curled up inside to survive the impact. Tramp clown
Jasbo Fulkerson was the original barrel clown.
A bullfighter clown will
often wear a skirt made from taking out the inseam of a pair of jeans and then
sewing the two halves together. This skirt is held up by one
suspender. The purpose of the bullfighter skirt is to be able to slip out
of it quickly if a bull hooks the material. Most rodeo clowns have
protective pads hidden under their costume. They also wear track shoes
with cleats.
Rodeo clowns have the very serious job of protecting
cowboys during the bull riding contest. The best rodeo clowns are also all
around entertainers. They help fill breaks in the action and perform
featured acts. Many rodeo clowns use trained animals in their act.
Ice Skating Clown
Another clown specialty is providing comedy in ice skating
shows. These clowns may use Auguste, Tramp, or Auguste Lite make up
designs. They combine traditional clown routines with outstanding
technical skating skill.
The most famous figure skating clowns were Frick and Frack.
Kurt Browning is currently continuing the tradition of ice skating clowns.
Caring Clowns
Clowns who specialize in visiting hospitals and nursing
homes are known as caring clowns. They are adept at one-on-one entertainment,
and may use close up magic, puppets, juggling, and music. Two well known
programs of caring clowns is the Big Apple Clown Care Unit™ and Clowns For
Children's (co-sponsored by the International Clown Hall of Fame).
Other Venues
You are likely to find clowns any place there is an
audience. Auto Thrill Shows had their own clowns. (Jackie LeClaire
is perhaps the best known auto thrill show clown.) The Indianapolis Clowns
was a professional baseball team combining traditional circus clown acts with
baseball. Al Schacht and Max Patkin were famous baseball clowns. The
Harlem Globetrotters feature a Clown Prince of Basketball in their games.
(Goose Ausbie, Meadowlark Lemon, and Geese Tatum were their most famous
clowns.) Some clowns specialize in appearing in churches using their
skills as a teaching tool.
Multicultural Clowns
Most cultures have had their own type of clown
character. For example, the Mudhead clowns of the Hopi tribes wore a mask
over their head and painted their body. These clowns play an important
role in the life of their tribes. For more on clowns of various cultures
click below.
Multicultural Clowns