Hickory's Clown Alley Newsletter 1 December 2000

As 2000 draws to an end, I reflect upon the year. Even though the Y2K bug was "no big deal" (thanks to the help of intelligent and dedicated programmers who turned allot of hype into nothing), our world remains a boiling cauldron of problems. An IBM sales person I used to work with had a very good saying, "There are no such things as problems, only opportunities for solution." We have plenty of opportunity.

On a personal note, 2000 has been very good to me. My work (unfortunately not clowning) has taken me to Japan, Singapore, Brazil, England and most recently India. I dined with people who barely spoke my language, and yet I felt comfortable at their table. I have recognized how blessed America is, and yet, I have looked into the eyes of beggars who are more at peace with life than many of us.

My family, my faith and my church keep me strong. I cannot help but feel that all of this globe trotting is preparing me for something, that somehow God is instilling in me knowledge and experience and passions that will have a use in the future.

But all this travel has not been without some costs. The most obvious is the impact it had on the "Virtual Convention". Of the eight weeks in August and September, the time when I planned on putting together the convention pages and lining up the instructors, I spent 2 weeks in London, 1 week in Florida, 2 weeks in India and another week in day trips. Those two weeks between trips were spent recovering, or preparing for the next trip. The result, the convention was limited to makeup competition. For that I apologize to you, and make this offer. Anybody who joined Hickory's Clown Alley for the purpose of educational seminars during the convention will have their dues refunded. Simply drop me an e-mail at hickory@webclowns.com and I will send you a refund. You will also notice that this is the first newsletter in a very long time. Again, travel has taken its toll.

I would like to announce the winners of the makeup competition:

Auguste: 1st Place - "C.C.", Alberta, Canada 2nd Place - Sugar, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 3rd Place - Pappagallo, New York City, New York

Whiteface (2 entries) 1st Place - Binky, Deluth, Minnesota 2nd Place - Kenosis, Auckland, New Zealand

Hobo (1 entry) 1st Place - Bonkers, Arlington, Texas

GREAT NEWS!! J. T. "Bubba" Sikes is sponsoring a contest through the alley home page. Stop on by and learn how you might win a cool prize. I'd tell you what it is, but I want you to see it for yourselves - hee hee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Mail Bag ~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Send your e-mails to hickory@webclowns.com 

From: JFrobe@aol.com 

Hickory, Check out http://www.expage.com/binxter a question and answer format with Binx the Cosmic Clown. 

I liked it Wack-oh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: PlumPatchPIA@cs.com 

I know this is an ususual request but I am in need of assistance and thought perhaps you could help me. I am desperately trying to find a place or a person or a store that might be interested in buying some of my Emmitt Kelly clowns or a beautiful picture of Lou and Knuckle Head memorabelia in a nice frame. I have searched the internet to no avail and thought perhaps you could at least instruct me as to where I could begin to look. Thank you so much for any assistance you can offer. 

Jamie Plum {:O)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: Firefly2050@aol.com 

Real Name..: Michael Bucci 
Stage Name.: None Yet, Just Getting Started 
Email Addr.: Firefly2050@aol.com 
Clown Type.: Unsure, may be Augaste 
Clown Org..: Not yet Clown Alley: Not Yet, Need to find a local one 
WWW Address: n/a 
Message....: Need help bad. I have only no one clown. I was introduced at a Childerns Ministry Conference. Her stage name is Flower, but she lives in Texas and I live in Mississippi. I am looking to purchase some books to educate myself, but know I will need more help. I do not have the means to travel much right now. So this limits my learning to my home area right now. Any E-Mail or Internet assistance I can get will greatly help me. I am really excited about learning the art of clowning, both for secular and ministry work. Thanks !!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: CaptainVisual@aol.com http://www.captainvisual.com/

Hi, Friends! You get to be among the first folks to get a glimpse of my new web site! I have some exciting new products (books and videos) that are available with more coming soon. Hoopla and I are planning a fun one day convention that is coming in October. All the information about this Super Saturday is also on the site. Check it out! Please forward this to all of your Clown and Magician friends and please add me to your mailing lists. Thanks a Ton! Captain Visual

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: Ocomedy@aol.com 

Greetings,

The web site to the upcoming Comedifest 2001 (formally the Northwest Comedifest) is up and running.

Take a look and sign up early and save. http://www.comedifest.com/ 

Angel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: Bill Coleman <stretch@stiltwalker.com> 

Greetings! I read in the Rocky Mountain News where a gift basket business owner rode an office elevator for four hours to make her first sale. She pretended to be making a delivery to the 7th floor, and handed out business cards to those who were interested.

Sounds like a neat idea for balloon deliveries, clowns, buskers, elves, you name it. Especially good for : April Fool's Day, (April 1,2001) or National Clown week (August, 2001)

Pile a few or many clowns into an elevator and "go for a ride"! Or for the Christmas holidays how about elves riding an elevator? Make some balloon creations and "make a delivery"! Hey magicians and caricature artists, how about it?! Puppeteers! Just think of the possibilities!

Please forward this to those you think might be interested. Thank you.

Walking tall and stretching imaginations!

Bill 'Stretch' Coleman http://Stiltwalker.com/  NEW and exciting Photos to be posted this week! High 5's, dancing and hat stealing a specialty! Large scale, close up, interactive street theater with 18 foot tall giant dancing StretchPuppets!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: "Ardith Richter" <edardy1950@hotmail.com> 

Hi Hickory, Holly the Holiday Clown here, from Tallahassee Fl...Here's a really good FYI, Circus Circus in Vegas over the internet will send you really neat clown pins from thier clowns for prizes, for thanks you's to other clowns. Don't have the www. but if you run Circus Circus it will come up. Thanks for the neat information. 

Holly the Holiday Clown(Ardy Richter)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: "Neil Brady" <neilb@freenetname.co.uk> 

My name is Emma and I resently lost my Grandma in a fatal road accident, I stumbled upon your site whilst looking for a trick she used to do involving a piece of paper she used to tear up to reveal a cross and the words hell, I have trawled the net looking for this but to no avail. She must have shown me a thousand times but somehow I cannot remember. I dearly want to pass this "trick" if I can call it that on to my son I know she would have wanted that.

What my Grandmother did was start off with a piece of A4 paper and she would talk about two men travelling to Heaven one who had a ticket and one who did'nt.The one who did would give some of his ticket to the one that did'nt at this she would tear of some of the paper. This happened several times when finally the two men arrived at Heaven and had to produce their tickets. She unfolded what was left of the paper and if was in the shape of a cross. The bits of paper she had torn off when placed down spelt Hell I cannot remenber how she folded of tore the paper to be able to do this.

If you can help I would appreciate your help if you can't I thank you for your time

Thank you again for your time

Emma

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: Ted Turner

You may want to pass this around to people you care about. It may save them a big headache.

******** DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 ***********

This one is being distributed all over the US and could be heading here. This is pretty scary- especially given the way they try to get you to call. Be sure you read this & pass it on to all your friends & family so they don't get scammed!

MAJOR SCAM: Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of Scam Busters! because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly - can easily cost you $24,100 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it.

This scam has been identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a lot of money. There are lots of different permutations of this scam.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager, which asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason you're asked to call varies it can be to receive information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone has been arrested, died, to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls.

If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be charged more than $24,100.00.

WHY IT WORKS: The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas). The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900 numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S. regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and warned of charges and rates involved when you call a "pay-per-call" number. There is also no requirement that the company provide a time period during which you may terminate the call without being charged.

Further, whereas many U.S. phones have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds of charges, 900 number blocking will not prevent calls to the 809 area code. We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are asked to call a number with an 809 area code that you don't recognize, investigate further and/or disregard the message. Be wary of email or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number. It's important to prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying to fight the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both our local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.

Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam so they don't get ripped off. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: FuddiDuddy@aol.com 

GREETINGS FROM MASTERCRAFT PUPPETS.

Our NEW web site is up!!! :0) You can check it out at www.mastercraftpuppets.com  or www.mcpuppets.com.  The NEW web site contains much more than the catalog; more pictures, more puppets, many things previously not available to our web site shoppers. As time allows, you will find books, scripts, other puppet and clowning material...all kinds of fun stuff on the site. The site has SECURE ordering or your can print out the order and send it by mail or just call us to order. We try to make it easy! Book mark the site so you can come back often.

To those of you who have visited our store in the Engler Block Mall in Branson MO, we have enjoyed our personal contact with you VERY MUCH . Our decision to close the store December 31, 2000 has not been an easy one. We believe we can best serve you through our web site, our puppetry classes and our travels to clown, church and teacher conventions and festivals.

Being free from the store we have time for other things. We would welcome an invitation to come to your church, school, clown alley or other group to help you with your puppetry skills. Simply go to the CONTACT US link on the web page and let us know how we can help you! We will send you complete details.

We encourage you to continue to make maximum use of your puppetry skills for the entertainment and enlightenment of all those around you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: "sheila salazar" <razalas46@hotmail.com> 

I am getting married in Feb or March in KY and would like to find a clown in that area who would walk me to the alter. My boyfriend has been teasing me for months about this clown named Clerence who is the jokster and cause of everything funny in our relationship. Id love to "find" Clerence and have him surprise my family and boy friend especially by prancing me down the aisle. Please let me know if you can help me in my search. I have family there in KY but I didnt want them to know about it either ... and ... I can pay!!! Thank You Hickory, I love your site, Ive sent cards out, one, of course to my boyfriend, lovely site!! Thanks again and please ... help! 

Sheila Salazar, (I am not teasing and by the way Im in my 40's)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: "Ronny Skog" <RonnySkog@world-online.no> 

Just a short note to let you all know that the clown forum (http://forum.clowningaround.com)  is back online again. Casual Forums did recently close down their business, so the clown message board has been down for a few weeks while moving to a new server.

See you at the clown forum, Bump a Nose!

Bimbo, the Clown http://www.klovn.no/  epost@klovn.no 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

From: "James and Nancie Rosson" <jnrosson@brightok.net> 

Hello, my name is Josh Walsh and I own a site called Christian Games. At my site you can download
any kind of Christian game you can think of. We have the largest list of games on the net. But my main
reason for Christian Games is to share the love of Jesus Christ. I noticed that your site is also sharing
Jesus with the world. Maybe we can help each other by putting links to each others site on our own
sites. Please add my site to your site, and e-mail me @ speck_image@yahoo.com so I can do the same
for you. Thank you for doing it for Christ. God bless!

http://www.christiangames.zzn.com or http://www.homestead.com/jczone/games.html 

In His Grip,

Josh

************* New Events In the Registry ************ 

Select EVENTS from the home page to find out more info or to add your Event to the list

FEB 16, 2001 to FEB 18, 2001 Show Me Clowns for Jesus...National Convention Lake of the Ozarks (Windermere Convention Center), MO USA

JUL 29-30, 2001 to JUL 1-2, 2001 Quest for Excellence Brampton, Ontario Canada

JAN 15, 2001 to JAN 19, 2001 Exploring the world of a clown Cardiff, Wales Great Britian UK

APR 24, 2001 to APR 29, 2001 Fun in the Sun Lake Buena Vista, FL USA

************* New Alleys In the Registry ************ 

Select ALLEYS from the home page to find out more info or to add your Clown Alley to the list

Jubilee Jesters COAI Virginia Beach, VA USA

ASSORTED NUTZ MACA,PONY,COAI YUONGSTOWN, OHIO UNITED STATES

Pikes Peak Squeakers Colorado Springs, Colorada USA

dooby's clown;brotherhood for the uplift of god's poeple,inc atlanta, ga

KAPO"S GANG,INC. Mid-Atlantic Clown Associtation Riverside, New Jersey USA

************* New Clowns In the Registry ************

The following clowns were added to the Registry since the last newsletter

bonzo, (123fairbother cresernt) england

Pokey, (bozo@bright.net) Celina,Oh.

Rosie, (pc_cropper@yahoo.com) northwestern IL

J.B. CLOWN, (DBROWN1959@AOL.COM) BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS

Carlietheclown, (Carlietheclow80@hotmail.com) Pearcy, AR

Flutter-bye, (wmaybery@erols.com) Virginia Beach, VA

HiBeam and LoBeam, (raroger@airmail.net) Corsicana, TX

Harry the Clown, (estler@hotmail.com) Arlington, Texas

Rayito, (jocajojo@coqui.net) Sabana Grande PR

Trudy & Noble, (clowns@trudyandnoble.com) Rome, GA.

reggie, (reggy@bellatlantic.net) nj

Putt-Putt The Clown-Gloryland Clown Ministry, (ctllcb@ctcn.net) West Liberty, Ohio

Faithfully Grace, (FGCLOWN@juno.com) Newark,Ohio 43055

Magi, (clownsj@excite.com) Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Grog, ()

ROSE HAWLEY, (HAWLEYRB@SIMFLLEX.COM) LUCAMA NC

Renaldo, (Renaldo'swonderland@Belgom.be) Belgium

Grandma Pockets, (grandma_pockets@seeclowns.com) Anamosa, Iowa

Rusty Jones, (rusty_jones@seeclowns.com) Marion, Iowa

Rainbow Annie, (rainbow_annie@seeclowns.com) Morley, Iowa

Vale-A-Bility, (valeability@seeclowns.com) Springville, Iowa

Abbey, (Abbey1212@aol.com) Stow, Ohio

Sebastian the clown, () Finland

SonBeam, (sonbeam@home.com) Midlothian, VA

Candy, (funyface@interlog.com) Richmond Hill Ontario

Patches the Clown, (randymanstartrekmail.com) Tecumseh Okla.

"OBO", (obo@peoplepc.com) CORTLAND,OHIO

Colors, (colors_n_company@yahoo.com) Utah

Daisy Maisy and Lil snowball, (sdr2257@yahoo.com) Richmond, Va

A #1 Pom Pom the Clown, (taysgirl@syix.com) CaLiFoRnIa!

Twist, (3Js.com&prodigy.net) Lynnwood WA

Eclipse, (fiskars2001@yahoo.com) Logan, NM

Top, (yoyoguy69@hotmail.com) Lawton,OK

Feather, (katejoy@liveinjoy.com) Dublin, (Bucks Co.), PA

Smiley Smith, (sscandb@go.com) Tallahassee, FL

Maggie Muffin, (capt-clown@sympatico.ca) Ontario

Pokey, (PokeyTheClown@Aol.Com) Western NC

Bunny, (bqinhiscare@netscape.net) New Castle, PA

Rooty T. Toot, (lapiercy@occ.edu) Joplin, Missouri

Jack Daly, (jdd@vidmon.com) New York

Margherito, (clown@margherito.com)

IMAGON, (irmaruiz1@hotmail.com) CHICAGO AREA

Fluffennutter, (airinhouse@aol.com) Pennslyvania USA

Bobbles, (tririver@home.com) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

trixy, (steele634@yahoo.com) bristol, ct

Scooter, (amazingscooter@onebox.com) Maryland

"Giggles" the Clown , (cindygiggles27@hotmail.com) Buffalo, NY

Jellybean, (smadade@dashlink.com) Lampasas, TX

Smutty the fire clown, (toddnlynn@msn.com) Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Yellowpockets, (Yellowpockets@Juno.com) Methuen,Ma

spanky, ()

Lovey, (lvforeman@yahoo.com) St. Paul, Indiana

Blaze, (rkuhne@juno.com) Liberty Fire Dept. SC

Abby London, (abby@abbylondon.com) Philadelphia, PA

2 TALL, (ridgillrl@dot.state.sc.us) GREENVILLE, SC

Patch, (clownpatch@aol.com) Taylors, SC

Buttons, (2buttons@mwissp.net) Scranton PA

Krazi Dazi, (Dollymmc@aol.com) GA

Shleppy, (overo77@hotmail.com) Calgary

Beauregard the clown, (godsclown@webtv.net) warrenville sc

GLIK THE PEDICAB CLOWN, (bks22@altavista.com) TX

noxie, (wmaxton@aol.com) cincinnati, ohio

Cubbie, (cubbie@tds.net) Kingsland, GA

"Belle" and "Na-Na', (maggie@ktis.net) Bellflower, Mo.

Star * Z, (starz@westbranchvalley.com) Montgomery, PA

skiddles, (swift@hemc.net) habersham GA

Giggles, (Giggles B Clown@aol.com) North Babylon NY

BYE BOW, (rjp_eaglewings@yahoo.com) Arabi, Louisiana

Kris-Tee, (Mommymomster@aol.com) Schenectady, New York

saphia, (toniclarke@ntlworld.com) england

SHA SHA...THE SINGING CLOWN, (SHASHATHECLOWN@AOL) NEW YORK

Tuffi-Cakes, (stbednar 2fais.net) LaGrange Tx

Ralph the Clown, (ralphtheclown@mindspring.com) Atlanta, Georgia

The World's Fastest Clown, (mike@worldsfastestclown.com) Palm Bay, Florida

dooby the clown, () atlanta,ga

KEGO, (garylowens@hotmail.com) Mobile, Alabama

PUKO, () CANADA

Glady Ola, (mmorley@dellnet.com) Fremont IN

Talachito, (talachito@yahoo.com) Mexico, City

Buttons, (buttonstclown@yahoo.com) Hartsvill, Pa.

Chappy the Fire Clown, (firedowser@hotmail.com) Ft. Worth Texas

Beauregard and Sparkle, (godsclown@webtv.net) Aiken, SC

Brad Byers, (mustacheclown@yahoo.com) Bettendorf, Iowa

BINX, (a_nrawding@hotmail.com) FRANKFURT, GERMANY

ANNIE THE CLOWN, (Z109@aol.com) BALTIMORE MD

Chuckles, (clownaroundtown@hotmail.com) Singapore

Sveive, (sveive@online.no) Sykkylven, Norway

Hallie Lewya, (allenjacky@aol.com or Hallie Lewya@aol.com) Dumas Texas

Chappy the Fire Clown, (firedowser@excite.com) Ft Worth Tx

Mumbles, (jimknot@pmt.org) Rupert Idaho

Nellie Jubilee, (kmarshbanks@juno.com) Greenville S.C.

Skeeter/ Shiney Day Ministries, (jfrazie@carolina.rr.com) Belmont, NC

ZAMAR/SIR-LAUGHS-ALOT/HOWOOD-U- PRAISE, (davidcarey@knowlogy.net) CHARLESTON S.C.

Sheriff Yeller, (tycobob@usa.net) DeLand, Florida

gazou, (mamzellebibi@hotmail.com) rimouski,quebec

Jeanebean, (jeanebean3@yahoo.com) Texas

Dr. Giggles, (malkiv@dark-haven.net) Collinsville, IL

Dottie the Clown, (rrandaj2@earthlink.net) San Jose, CA

chalkie the clown, (chalkietheclown@cwcom.net) walsall west midlands u.k

kb the clown, (kdds58@email.msn.com) in maryland

Haswell the BEVERLYHILLS Clown, (dmhaswell@cs.com) Beverly Hills

Ms Bubbles, (lambchop@noln.com) Pennsylvania

Joe "DUH" Clown, (joe@joeduhclown.com) Central Florida

Starlena, (evonjt@yahoo.com) Belleville, Illinois

Julian the Juggler, (julian@circusunlimited.com) Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK

POPPIE, (POPPIE1@HOTMAIL.COM) N. CENTRAL WV

Hickory, (GADGHABRIAL@aol.com) 86 St. James Street London SW1

Ubi the Clown, (ubitheclown@hotmail.com) Oak Harbor, WA

Cleo the Cowboy Clown for Christ, (Pgeraldine@hotmail.com) Phoenix, Arizona

Jerbo, (wolcott89@aol.com) Iowa and Arizona(winter)

Festus, (prordoclwn@usa.com) Fort Worth, Texas

RICKO', (firemarshal@clds.com) Hinesville, Ga

Yippie, (Yippie4fun) Charlotte NC

Metro, (flamtamr@islc.net) Burton S.C.

Duffy, (ninamike@home.com) Virginia

Sparkles, (ninamike@home.com) Virginia

Clutsy, (degen.maryana@zfree.co.nz) Tauranga, New Zealand

carrots the clown, (john.roberts@latrobe.edu.au) Melbourne Australia

NOODLES THE CLOWN, (Jonw@coolmail.net) TORONTO CANADA

Ber Ber Believes, (Berberbelieves@yaoo.com) houston,Texas

dusty bottoms, (dustybottoms12@hotmail.com) lincoln ca

Joy, (JoyTClown@aol.com) Los Angeles CA

"Clowns of Color", (JoyTClown@aol.com) Los Angeles CA

Dreamer, (Dreamer4Him@aol.com) Sioux City,IA

Curly Sue, (sweetbeebsb@yahoo.com) Louisiana

Freckles the Clown, (FrecklesThClown@aol.com) New Philadelphia, Ohio

Cloorey Clown, (b.harris@as_if.com) Kentucky

Tinkerbell, (droooooopy@yahoo.com) Pennsylvania

trixie, (cindy1948@yahoo.com) pompano bch fla

YELLOW POCKETS, (YELLOWPOCKETS@jUNO.COM) METHUEN, MA

Bonkers, (twbonkers@yahoo.com) Mt. vernon, IL.

Remember to always have fun with your clown so that others can have fun watching you have fun with your clown!

Please E-mail Hickory for any questions or comments This page is copyright 1998 - 2007 © by Hickory Publications, Latham, NY

Page was last changed on 03/16/08 09:14:08 AM