Brian Damage
08-04-2011, 12:51 AM
Ah, August 1. You know what that means. The start of International Clown Week.
In 1970, Congress passed a resolution declaring the first week of August as National Clown Week. (The week went global because "Many clown organizations have an international constituency and over time the National Clown Week has expanded to be International Clown Week, according to Wikipedia.) The bill was sent to President Richard Nixon, and he signed it on Aug. 2, 1971.
Perhaps the week's designation was lurking in Nixon's subconscious when he chose to announce that he would resign on Aug. 8, 1974, a day after the clown festivities wrapped up. It would be so undignified to be forced out of office during Clown Week...
Chuckles the Clown was an often-mentioned, but seldom seen, fictional children's television show host on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970-1977). His character is best known for his off-camera death in the episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust."
Chuckles was known for his popular philosophy in verse: "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."
Chuckles' first on-camera appearance was in the episode "The Snow Must Go On," originally broadcast November 7, 1970. Richard Schaal as Chuckles arrives at TV station WJM the morning after a city election to find the news staff—having lost contact with City Hall during a blizzard—still on the air. Chuckles has the election results in his newspaper, and announces the winner of the mayoral race on the air in clown-character.
In season 3, Chuckles had a brief non-speaking role in the third season episode, titled "Who's in Charge Here?", where he was portrayed by an uncredited extra. In this episode, Chuckles meets with Lou Grant, who has been temporarily promoted to WJM's program manager. Chuckles is seen arriving for the meeting in full clown makeup.
Mark Gordon next played Chuckles in "Son of 'But, Seriously Folks'". Aside from these appearances Chuckles, like Phyllis Lindstrom's husband Lars, existed only off-stage.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa470/BobbiJ1972/Mary%20Tyler%20Moore%20Show/MTM30TheS1RichardSchaalChuckles.jpg
In 1970, Congress passed a resolution declaring the first week of August as National Clown Week. (The week went global because "Many clown organizations have an international constituency and over time the National Clown Week has expanded to be International Clown Week, according to Wikipedia.) The bill was sent to President Richard Nixon, and he signed it on Aug. 2, 1971.
Perhaps the week's designation was lurking in Nixon's subconscious when he chose to announce that he would resign on Aug. 8, 1974, a day after the clown festivities wrapped up. It would be so undignified to be forced out of office during Clown Week...
Chuckles the Clown was an often-mentioned, but seldom seen, fictional children's television show host on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970-1977). His character is best known for his off-camera death in the episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust."
Chuckles was known for his popular philosophy in verse: "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."
Chuckles' first on-camera appearance was in the episode "The Snow Must Go On," originally broadcast November 7, 1970. Richard Schaal as Chuckles arrives at TV station WJM the morning after a city election to find the news staff—having lost contact with City Hall during a blizzard—still on the air. Chuckles has the election results in his newspaper, and announces the winner of the mayoral race on the air in clown-character.
In season 3, Chuckles had a brief non-speaking role in the third season episode, titled "Who's in Charge Here?", where he was portrayed by an uncredited extra. In this episode, Chuckles meets with Lou Grant, who has been temporarily promoted to WJM's program manager. Chuckles is seen arriving for the meeting in full clown makeup.
Mark Gordon next played Chuckles in "Son of 'But, Seriously Folks'". Aside from these appearances Chuckles, like Phyllis Lindstrom's husband Lars, existed only off-stage.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa470/BobbiJ1972/Mary%20Tyler%20Moore%20Show/MTM30TheS1RichardSchaalChuckles.jpg