Arts in the Family: A Family of Artists Just Trying to Make a Living in the Wilds of Texas

pages

Monday, August 29, 2011

Circus Memories- New York City, Today Show 2001



One day we were assigned to be part of some quick t.v. spots for the Today Show. Not the whole alley, just a few of us. Bello Nock, one of the nicest people you'll meet anywhere, was in all the spots ans we would help as needed. Pictured above is Bello and Pammy getting ready to make with the funny business but I can't remember what.


The day started very early for this bit of work and ran the length of the Today Show. There were plenty of times when we would just sit and wait. Seated on the ring curb nearest the camera is Francesco Vilares, don't remember the next clown, ringmaster Jonathan Lee Iverson, Larry Clark and Pammy.



That's Bello about to feed Bo the elephant a little snack. Bello once pulled a prank on this obnoxious reporter for a morning show. He convinced her to climb up on Bo's foreleg and sit there. Bo set his leg out for her to sit and as she did Bello gave us a wink. A second later Bo raised his leg while reporter, straddled across it, shrieked and yelled. Bello kept trying to calm her while we were rolling. That whole time her cameraman was on the job capturing the moment for posterity. There was never a dull moment with Bello.


At Winter Quarters I was almost assigned to lead a llama along by a rope for the opening parade of the show. I would have had to do that for a very long time on the tour. Llamas aren't very cooperative and luckily they got somebody else to do it before we left Winter Quarters. Llamas and clowns don't mix.


Francesco was a very nice fellow and a very talented and funny clown. He always seemed to have a smile for you and easy to laugh. He was the kind of person you wish could always work alongside because he loved what he did and it showed, just like Bello.



Pammy is a natural clown. She's most at ease when she's making people laugh and a "publicity" like this was a great way to show off.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...