Buck Out and About

Buck Dillwater and his buddy, Peanut, doing an evening's entertainment for the holidays.

I've been street performing along Houston Street here in San Antonio with my marionettes ans will continue to the end of 2014. I'd never done street performing before so it's been quite a learning experience. With any luck and a little bit of work I'll continue doing it in 2015.

From Way Back When- Guest Clown RBBBC Feb. 14, 1993

Steve Copeland found this little gem from my Ringling past. It's a news piece from 1993 about a reporter who was a guest clown on the Ringling Red Unit. Rik Gern made him up and Chad Miller and Benny Schulz worked him into the "Doctor Gag". You can see a fragment of our "Come-In routine as well. I'm somewhere in there. Memories.

Slapstick Theatre- Christmas with Baby Huey- (1957)

Sunday Morning Matinee- Star Wars Childhood Immunization PSA (197 )

A Little Something I Drew...

There's nothing better than two old friends chit chatting the afternoon away. I made this pencil drawing over the weekend. If you're interested in buying it drop me a line here at this blog. Thanks!

Dying Girl Asks for Christmas Cards

 

This poor little child is very sick and this might be her last Christmas. Here name is Addie. Below is a link with the story and her mailing address. Thanks.

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/strangers-send-greeting-cards-dying-utah-girl-celebrate/story?id=27339532

Slapstick Theatre- Popeye's Mistletoe (1955)

John Denver and the Muppets- Peace Carol

Sunday Morning Matinee- Father Christmas (1991)

Luna Brothers Circus

The hardest working family in show biz!

Circus magic!

Impressive!

Amazing!

We got to see the Luna Brothers Circus recently. It was a good show. They made a very generous. and tempting offer

Wow!

 I love the circus!

Set Pieces Painted

Table and benches are painted and ready for the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet rehearsals for "Snow White".

October Sky # 1

I had to take this beautiful photo while I was out and about one early morning this week.

The Dwarf's Table is Finished!

...Now I have to sand and paint it! Doh! Tomorrow will also see the start of the evil queen's throne and a couple of platforms. Teamwork at Rancho Ramirez ! 

Snow White Set Pieces

This is the table to be used for by the Seven Dwarfs for the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet production of Snow White. The table should be finished by tomorrow!

Snow White Needs Your Help!

 

Hi everyone!. San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet  is presenting a brand new ballet and needs your help!

Through Indiegogo, they're hoping to raise funds to help cover the expenses for this wonderful  production which includes live musicians. Please help support the arts today by going to the posted link and make a contribution. It doesn't have to be a huge amount. Every little bit helps! Remember: It take a village to raise the arts! 

Thanks you for your help!

The link : https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bringing-snow-to-san-antonio-snow-white-that-is

Rest in Peace Jan Hooks (April 23, 1957- October 9, 2014)

We lost another funny soul.

  sweeney sisters christmas! from amy susanne on Vimeo.

Huevos Rancheros Gala and Silent Auction

Making dragons this past Saturday morning at the 17th Annual Huevos Rancheros Gala and Silent Auction at the Guadalupe Plaza.

Slapstick Theatre- Halloween with the Addams Family (1977)

Sunday Morning Matinee- A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Snow White

There will be a fund raiser for the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet at Morgan's Wonderland. Meet the cast of the upcoming S.A. Met's production of "Snow White" that day.  And of course, don't forget to get your tickets for "Snow White" running November 15 and 16. Pammy and I are building props for the show and she'll be playing the part of the evil queen disguised as the old hag. It's going to be a great performance by our favorite ballet company.

Buck at the Book Fair

L to R: Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Carolyn Flores, myself, Tandy Gutierrez and Xaxier Garza.

Late last month I helped out at the Southwest Texas Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Book Fair held at the San Pedro Barnes and Noble. My contribution was a clown demo which was a lot of fun to do. Posted above is a pic with myself as Buck Dillwater: Doofus Extraordinaire and some of the guest writers and illustrators.

Carpa Garcia Wiki Link

 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpa_Garcia

El Vato Suave

  Rodolfo Garcia a.k.a. "Don Fito: El Vato Suave" of La Carpa Garcia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Carpa Garcia

SaySi's production of "La Carpa Garcia" , the true story of a tent show from San Antonio, Texas,had another successful run this past weekend with sold out shows for the entire weekend! Once again I had the honor and pleasure of playing the role of the elderly Rodolfo Garcia a.k.a. El Vato Suave: Don Fito, featured clown of the Carpa Garcia.

 La Carpa Garcia was family owned Mexican American circus/ theatre show that traveled across the southwest during the first half of the 20th century. It's a little known piece of San Antonio's history that thankfully is being preserved and shared with San Antonians. 

Photo Courtesy of SaySi.

Rest In Peace Joan Rivers June 8, 1933- September 4, 2014

Mini Mural Project

This past summer I was one of several artists selected to participate in San Anto Cultural Arts "Mini Mural Project". We designed and painted a mural on a special fabric and when completed would be permanently placed on a wall. My mural depicted iconic masked Mexican wrestler Mil Mascaras on a postage stamp. 

Carpa Garcia Play

Last years production of "La Carpa Garcia".

I've been rehearsing at SaySi for their production of "La Carpa Garcia", an original SaySi play based on the true story of the Carpa Garcia of San Antonio, Texas.

 In it, I play the part of the elderly Rodolfo Garcia, who was the clown character "Don Fito" on the show. I played the role last year and am very happy to have been invited to do it again. 

My wife and I are also both helping put together a silhouette sequence in the play. I've given some clown instruction/direction to the young man playing the youthful version of Don Fito. I provided some bits to get him started on a routine he'll be developing for the play. The play opens September 26th.

For more info on the history of La Carpa Garcia got the link below.

 http://users.marshall.edu/~brooks/la-carpa-garcia-photos.htm

Clowning Demo

Photo courtesy of Southwest Texas Chapter of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Hey, kids! We'll be at the San Pedro Barnes and Noble September 20th for a clowning demo as part of the Book Fair benefiting the Southwest Texas chapter of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. 

Authors Marjorie Brody, Carolyn Dee Flores, Xavier Garcia, Geraldine Guadagno, Miranda Koerner, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, and Lupe Ruiz-Flores will also be there, as will award-winning illustrator Akiko White, who will provide an interactive cakelustration.

Lots of fun for everyone! Hope to see you there!

Happy Labor Day

Rest In Peace Robin Williams (1951-2014)

Texas Observer Interview Link

 

Jen Reel (L) filming our gag for the Texas Observer. Photo Credit:Cliff Edward

Here's a link to an interview of Pammy by Jen Reel of the Texas Observer conducted prior to the start of our Summer Circus Camp at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The camp this summer ran for five weeks from June 9th to July 18th .

http://www.texasobserver.org/direct-quote-all-the-world-loves-a-clown/

Texas Observer Interview

Memorial Day

Slapstick Theatre- Star Wars Catina Band Auditions (2014)

Sunday Morning Matinee- Bunraku: The Ancient Art of Japanese Puppetry

R2D2 and C3PO No Smoking PSA (1982 )

Continuing the festivities for "May The Fourth Be With You", "Revenge of the Sixth", etc. I offer this PSA circa 1982 featuring our favorite droids. Enjoy!

Slapstick Theatre- Hardware Wars (1978)

May the Fourth be with you!

Sunday Morning Matinee- Star Wars Episodes IV, V and VI Bloopers

A Change of Pace

Well, it's been some time since I worked at Seaworld but the opportunity came again recently. Starting today (and for the next two Saturdays) I'll be clowning it up for the masses meeting and greeting and doing a pre-show with Ben Schave from Austin. I'll post photos as soon as I can. Happy Saturday to all!

Mini-Mural Progress

Step one

Step two

Step three

Step four

Step five

Here's some pics of the work done thus far for the mini-mural project sponsored by San Anto Cultural Arts. Here's the link to their site.

http://www.sananto.org/

Slapstick Theatre- Big Bang Theory Season 6 Bloopers

Sunday Morning Matinee- Wright Brothers Flight (1903)

It's Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day from Doc Edwards: Aquifer Explorer and his pal Karston, the Texas Blind Salamander!

Slapstick Theatre- Super Chicken: The Easter Bunny (196?)

Sunday Morning Matinee- Thank You Easter Bunny! (197?)

Happy Birthday Little Tramp

Charlie Chaplin would have been 125 years old today.

Circus Memories-RBBBC Bello and Bo Tour 2001: Float

She's a beauty! The parade floats for any Ringling show are really wonderful set pieces. The one pictured above actually, if memory serves me well, carried the contortionists who performed on the floats in all three rings. Pretty nice stage to work on.

A Little Something...

An brush and ink version of a watercolor illustration I started over the weekend.

Sunday Morning Matinee- The New Adventures of Wonder Woman Intro

Circus Dreams

Thinking circus thoughts tonight..Goodnight. Sweet dreams.

Doc Ed At Woodlawn Elementary School

What a nice looking school!

I spent a very enjoyable day as my alter-ego Doc Edwards: Aquifer Explorer, at Woodlawn Elementary School where I presented six shows for grades K through 5th.

April Sky #1

Another beautiful Texas sky.

Sunday Morning Matinee- Vietnamese Water Puppets

Just About Ready To Start

I've got the fabric primed and ready to begin the mural!

Sunday Morning Matinee- 9/11 Operation Yellow Ribbon (Gander New Foundland)

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Mini-Mural Project is a Comin'!

Arriba Arte Studios submitted several sketches for the San Anto Cultural Arts Mini-Mural Mural Project. And the winner is.... the Mil Mascaras postage stamp! The mural will measure 10'x10' and it'll be painted over the course of the next few weeks. It's a pretty neat idea because the painting will be done on a type of fabric that will be permanently placed on a wall upon the mural's completion. Today I order the paints and then-it's fun time!

Sunday Morning Matinee- The Night the World Exploded (1957)

R.I.P. Harold Ramis (1944-2014)

Slapstick Theatre- Far Out Space Nuts Theme Song (1975)

Saturday Night Doodles

Saturday night was full of fun and adventure yet again! And I have to say I'm really glad MeTv has Wonder Woman as part of the lineup. I'd forgotten what a fun show it was. And it's makes me wish they'd still produce super hero t.v. shows I would feel comfortable watching with my kids. It's a great way to introduce them to the genre just like the old Batman from the 1960's has done. Thank goodness for retro-t.v.!

Sunday Morning Matinee- TMNT Documentary: Drawing a Ninja Turtle by Peter Laird

Somethin' Fun for Spring Break

If you'd like to try something different and fun for Spring Break sign up for our "Spring Break Circus Camp" at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center March 10-14. It's going to be a fun week of trying your hand at physical comedy and basic, circus skills such as juggling balancing, hat moves and more. Classes will be held at the historic Guadalupe Theatre at 1300 Guadalupe St. . Go to the link below to register online or call 210-271-3151.

http://www.guadalupeculturalarts.org/spring-break-circus-camp/

Advanced Studies 1993

Back in the summer of 1993 I spent a very wonderful week immersed in clowning in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  Advanced Studies II in the Performance Art of Clowning was organized by two well known and beloved masters of circus clowning: Glenn "Frosty" Little and Leon "Buttons" McBryde, both of whom were veterans of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. The week-long session covered many aspects of clowning for most any level of clown performer and is where I got my first taste of circus clowning in a class taught by Frosty Little. He taught a group of us a construction gag involving chair falls, board hits and pratfalls that was so much fun. That was a fun week. Click on any of the images for a bigger image.

Sunday Morning Matinee- Superman: The Movie- Making Superman

Too Cool!

I recently joined the Society of Book Writers and Illustrators and am so glad I did!

Slapstick Theatre- Star Trek: The Voyage Home Blooper Reel (1986)

Sunday Morning Matinee- Star Trek TOS Promos (1966)

Spock is Vulcanian!

January Sky #1

I took this a few nights ago. It was such a pretty sight. 

Coming Soon: Clown Camp

Pammy and I will be teaching clown classes at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center the week of March 10th (Spring Break). More info coming soon!