Some thread of Clown history relates the word ‘clown’ to a ‘clod’. A clod can be a lump of clay or dirt. A clod can be a country bumpkin. That is a person from the rural areas. Jim Nabors, the clown who was a singer, acted in two fine ‘clown’ TV shows: Mayberry R.F.D.; and, Gomer Pyle. Jim was ‘Gomer Pyle’.
CORNBALL CLOWNS is honor and focus on two fantastic corny clowns. Peggy Ryan, and Leon Errol. Peggy was an exceptional ‘triple-threat’ i.e. a Musical Theatre performer who could equally: Act; Dance; Sing. And she like some was a ‘quadruple-threat’ as she was also actually a clown.
Leon Errol was born in Sydney, Australia. He began to study Medicine at Sydney University. However he wrote, acted, and directed a University Revue (which is its own genre of ‘clown’). From that he stopped studying Medicine and began to work as a touring actor. One with a flair and knowledge of clown/comedy. Soon he moved to the USA and worked in the then thriving Vaudeville circuit. That led to him being a headliner (top comedian) in The Zeigfield Follies in NYC. Until he moved fulltime in films.
As match made in heaven, Errol and Ryan made several films together.
And certainly one could call those films ‘corny’ i.e. sweet, innocent, charming, and precious entertainment between two world wars shared in time with The Great Depression. The Public needed light entertainment, comedy, and musicals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Ryan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Errol
The film below Babes On Swing Street is certainly corny. It is definitely worth it just to see Peggy Ryan’s work – as a Quadriple Threat. Leon Errol plays his usual high status character who is none the less a bumbling and cunny larrikin.
Both Ryan and Errol excel in “comic stage business” i.e. funny business as often as they can. As with Errol’s other films, single short shots are set up so that he can craft a single gag. Ryan too excelled in “comic stage business”. Errol or Ryan could clown with the mere twist of a word or a sound; as well as with comic looks and reactions in abundance by each of them.
Photo below is Quadriple Threat June Preisser in the 1940 film Strike Up The Band.
The 1944 film is BABES ON SWING STREET. Another Quadriple Threat is June Preisser. Here is a mini-bio of Preisser. Mini-Bio of June Preisser.
June Preisser: “Best known at MGM for giving young Judy Garland competition over the attentions of Mickey Rooney in a couple of their famous let’s-put-on-a-show musical films, this dimpled blonde cream puff was first and foremost an acrobatic dancer and contortionist. June Preisser was born in New Orleans in 1920, one of six children. Her outstanding physical agility was noticed early in the game and a vaudeville act was formed with one of her other sisters, Cherry, that showcased their amazing skills. Appearing everywhere from New Orleans to New York City, the sisters even reached the famous music halls of Paris, Berlin and London where they once performed for King George. In the mid-1930s they caught the eye of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. who put them in his Follies shows in both 1934 and 1936. June and Cherry also appeared in the musical “You Never Know” on Broadway at the Winter Garden. With adorable kewpie-doll looks, curly locks and a sweet, cooing voice, it was the petite June, and not Cherry, who was snatched up by MGM for films. Toying with young Rooney in both Babes in Arms (1939) and Strike Up the Band (1940), she commonly played pretty girls of privilege who initially seemed to have everything that Garland lacked in attracting a boy. In the latter film, she was featured in the “Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-de-Ay” number. Somehow the producers always found room for her unusual pretzel-like tumbling skills. In addition, she appeared in a couple of Rooney’s “Andy Hardy” pictures. In 1942, June married a radio announcer and writer and bore him a son, Ricky. She also returned to Broadway that year in the musical “Count Me In.” By the late 40s, however, she had been demoted to the “B” ranks, co-starring with Freddie Stewart in the “Teen Agers” musical series of mild but energetic bobbysoxer films over at Monogram Pictures. In her late-20s, June was still playing peppy school girls. The series of eight films included Junior Prom (1946), Sarge Goes to College (1947) and Campus Sleuth (1948). June’s film career fell away after this and, following a stint in “Annie Get Your Gun” at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, retired from the business. Following a bitter divorce, she briefly opened a chain of dancing and acrobatics schools in California and when that folded, moved with her son to Florida and for a time worked in a stationery store. Not much was heard of her until September 19, 1984, when it was learned she and her son had been tragically killed in a car accident. She was 66.
– IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / ”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Preisser
BABES ON SWING STREET full movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCahfYk_40
Here is a blog/essay that features Leon Errol: “How the Authentic Lineage of Clown Works” https://iraseid.com/how-the-authentic-lineage-of-clown-works/
CORNBALL CLOWNS – Peggy Ryan – is blog/essay #104.
www.iraseid.com –