Creepy Clown of the Day

Those eyes...
If you dare look into them, your soul becomes HIS forever!

Ain't nothin' but a clown dog!

I absolutely LOVE dogs, so I thought it would be fun to see what some of them were up to out 'n' about the internets. Here's a bunch I found just "clowning around"...

Yikes! I'm not JOKING,
this one is scary!

        Won't you laugh for
sweet Snuggles?

"Do you like my rrrruffles?"

"I really need a drink!"

I've heard of the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat,
but THIS is ridiculous!




~ All photos via Google Images ~

On the Dark Side: A clown's notice of departure

Hello, friends! I must inform you that, today, the tent is dark. But not in the traditional way. No, the tent is definitely open for business. Er, uh, SHOW BUSINESS, that is! And we certainly have something to show you. It's just that what we have to show you is a bit on the darker side of things, especially compared to our usual fare. But remember, this is Pop Circus. Even dark things seem lighter here, somehow... That having been said, I also want to strongly preface this next presentation with the fact that NO ONE here at the circus finds the subject of suicide to be funny. This is simply an experiment in absurdity. I mean, who takes the time to write out their suicide note AND illustrate it rebus-style?! As far as I know, only one very sad clown named Happy.


Just click on each page to enlarge...

Freak Show Friday: Richard Simmons

Where DOES one start with Richard Simmons? Hmm. I know, I'll just be blatantly honest. Okay, here you go... The man absolutely frightens me! I've NEVER liked his WAY over-the-top prancing about, or his iconic shorty-shorts and fancy tanks. And just his overall faggy presence gives me the creeps. I know that last statement must seem pretty harsh, if not a little confusing, coming from another gay man and all, but you must understand my viewpoint.

I'm well aware of what an incredible motivator he has been for lots and lots of overweight people for years, and that really is great, but at the same time I feel quite strongly that his mincing, prancing, and screaming only perpetuates gay stereotypes. And I can NOT stand anything or anyone that perpetuates gay stereotypes, especially when it's SO up in your face like Richard's antics are! When he's "on", of course.



Here, Mr. Simmons is covered in poof balls. Just

in case there were any lingering doubts...




























Please, don't get me wrong. I don't hate the man, I just can't stomach him! There IS a difference, you know. But it can be a fine line at times.




Now, THIS is just tutu much!



"You are clear for take-off."

So, there you have it - another Freak Show Friday AND my brutally honest opinion about a famous old queen who so desperately needs your attention!

P.S. - I'll try and be a little nicer to my next subject. Maybe, if I can...

My BIG 40th BIRTHDAY circus celebration!

August 22nd, 2010 is a date that won't soon be forgotten (not by me, anyway). My dear mother-in-law, aunt-in-law (?), and husband all threw a fantastic circus-themed 40th birthday party for me that just about blew my socks off! They thought of everything, and they did it all perfectly. The food, the decorations, the cake, the music (circus band, natch)... It was all totally wonderful! Even the pinata (yes, I had a pinata for my adult 40th b-day party) was incredibly circus-y.

An intimate gathering of 15, everyone was either close family or friends. A good, fun time was had by all, and people kept saying how impressed they were by everything.





I was told this is the latest and greatest
pinata available on the market, today... Well,
of course. Would I rate anything less??







Here's a good shot of some fun party favors: Barnum's
Animal Crackers, various noisemakers, and peanuts
(masquerading as popcorn).







This was my wonderful birthday cake! It not only
looked festive, it was delicious, too!







"Smile, you're on Candid Camera!"
This is my good friend, Matt, amused by something, as
other party guests march into the kitchen to get their
fair share of lunch.







Being that I was the piggy, err, I mean guest of honor,
I was given the first spot in line for grub. And, boy, was
it good grub! Barbara and Wanda really know how
to prepare a tasty spread!







Okay... How cute is this??







Many colorful circus posters, like
this one, were hung up as decorations
throughout.







My bff, Lisa, and me.
F.Y.I. - In case you happen to be
familiar with the blog, Atomic Tea
Party, you might find it interesting
to know this is the same Lisa who
hosts that wonderfully kitsch soiree.







Me, my mom, and my husband... ready to eat!







Gift time!
I absolutely dug all of my gifts, but
some did stand out from the rest. Like
this one, for example. It's a vintage,
Fisher-Price cow named, "Bossy Bell",
and both her tail wags and bell rings
when you roll/pull her across the floor.







Meanwhile, back in the kitchen...
It looks like Wanda and Barbara are finally getting
to fill up a few plates of their own. Thank goodness!
I'd swear I didn't see either one of them sitting down
during the party, they were so busy being such
excellent hosts.







Pinata time!
Here, my mother-in-law, Barbara, is blindfolding me
so I can take the first few "whacks!"







"Alright... Now, what?"
I swear, I wasn't really that clueless.
But it sure looks like I was, huh?







Many tried before him, but only he knew the sweet
taste of victory! Yep, that's my husband bangin' the
bejesus (and all the goodies) out of my beautiful birthday
pinata... Oh, well. Someone had to do it!




The birthday photo gallery could go on, and on, and on... but I think I've tortured you long enough, now. Thanks, if you managed to stick it out this far! Also, "Thank you, again!" to Mom, Aunt Wanda, and Tommy for all of your hard work and dedication which made the difference between a regular old party and a fantastically fabulous 40th! I love you all!



~ Birthday Clown via Google Images. All photos property of Anthony See. ~

Freak Show Friday: Fashion Faux Pas SPECIAL!

Come one, come all, ladies and gentlemen! The time is nigh, once again, for freaky fun. Only, this time we have filthy displays of freakishly shameful fashion on offer for your ridicule and amusement! Shall we begin?






Johnny Weir(d)

Okay, what is with that hair?!
It looks like a tiny friend of
Johnny's might just pop out
of it, as if it were one of those
BIG, cheesy birthday cakes...
"Thurpriiithe!"

Lady outfit + lady shoes = Go home.







Snooki

I don't even know where to begin
with this troll! Did I just type that
outloud? Oops. But, seriously, look
at what is happening all over this
bloppy excuse for a reality "star".
And WHO, I wonder, told our darling
Snooks that her sausage legs looked
good squeezed into those atrocious,
mismatched* knee-highs?

*I know that it's "a look", but on her, I'd
rather not!







Ke$ha

"Woo-hoo! I'm so fun and fancy
free! I do whatever I want, wear
whatever I want... I don't even
take a shower unless I'm feelin'
it, y'know?"

Um, yeah, we know. We can smell
you from here.







A.J. McLean

Help me out, here...
Is that really the aging former
Backstreet Boy, or is it just
Strawberry Shortcake on a
REALLY BAD day? The adorable
stockings are throwing me off.







Rihanna

Now, she MUST have been
auditioning for the clown act,
here, at Pop Circus, right?
All she would've needed was
a little bit of face paint and a
big red nose!




That's all for now, folks. "Short and sweet, in and out... Leave em' wantin' more!" Somebody said that at some point, somewhere. Don't ask me who, though. See, that's how I leave you wanting more. Good, eh?

Have a terrific weekend, everyone! I'm sure you all deserve it!


~ All photos via Google Images ~

My Baby Box: Yo-Yo Clown Doll

I'm digging through that old, dusty box again... The big cardboard one, with my baby toys in it. What did you think I meant?!

Anyway, today I'm sharing with you a doll that my grandmother (on my dad's side) made for me. It's what I believe is called a Yo-Yo Clown doll. See how the body is made of different pieces of fabric circles? Those are called yo-yos, and they're typically made out of unused fabric scraps.

I love this thing! And I also love picturing my grandmother Hazel creating this wonderful doll at home in her trailer park, in Hemet, California. For those who may not know, Hemet is largely like an old-folks community. At least, it used to be when I was a kid. Or did it only seem that way from my perspective? I can remember being fascinated with my grandparent's elderly neighbors, mainly because they were ALL elderly! And I enjoyed going for walks around the park with my grandma Hazel, especially so I could see all of the interesting little landscaping decorations people had out in front of their trailers. You know, like garden gnomes, squirrels, gazing balls or cactus gardens. Some even had all of that! We couldn't walk fast enough to get to those...

I can also remember being perplexed by the large Shuffleboard patio area that was right next to the swimming pool. I don't think that I ever saw anyone playing, so it remained a mystery. Speaking of the swimming pool, I always enjoyed getting to go in there during our Summer visits, but not just for the refreshing dip. I was also amused by the old bathing beauties in their skirted one-piece suits and rubber swim caps!

Boy, did I veer off course!
Let's get back to the clown doll, shall we?

Here are just a few "artsy" shots that I took, trying to create a certain mood:






Photo by Anthony at Pop Circus






Photo by Anthony at Pop Circus





That's it for this episode of 'My Baby Box'.
Stay tuned, I have more to share with you!



~All photos by Anthony at Pop Circus~

Happy Halloween!

I'm sure we all remember sitting in class, back in elementary school, working away on some arts 'n' crafts project that involved colored construction paper, glue (or rubber cement), tape and safety-scissors because of some forthcoming holiday, such as Halloween. That "Cat Boy" up there sure knew how to use the tape! And you can tell he's proud of his creation! I miss those simple times. Yes, I can still sit and work on an art project at home on a weekend afternoon, and I occasionally do, but it's not the same. As an adult you'll never again have that sense of total freedom to create, or the young mind that was virtually uninhibited by the types of thoughts we now have as adults, like paying for rent/mortgage, bills, groceries, etc. Being a kid certainly had its perks! It's too bad we didn't know how good we had it, back then. Seems like most of us just couldn't wait to grow up... and do grown-up things.

I know that's why I was sooo excited when I became old enough to start going Trick 'r Treating without my parents! Nothing personal against them, of course. It was just that new taste of freedom, if only for one night a year, that I found very exciting! And I think that it plays a big part in the development of children's independence. Yes, times are different now, and a lot of neighborhoods are not as safe as they once were. However, I do think that lots of modern day parents over-react by not allowing their kids to go out unchaperoned, even if they are technically old enough. And it's not like the kid is going to want to go out totally alone, anyway... He or she is more than likely going to want to join some of their other friends, and then see what sort of havoc they can wreak! Good-natured havoc, I'm sure.


Please enjoy my gallery of Halloween treats, below. They're just some of my favorites from a book of collected vintage holiday images put together by Editor/Art Director Jim Heimann, and published by Taschen.







"Sshh! I'm a very, very quiet little
mouse... Could I trouble you for, maybe,
one small piece of candied cheese?"







"Billy, you know that bitch Jane is
talking shit behind your back to that
new boy, right?! All the while, she's
sitting there "innocently" cutting out
her paper bats..."

"Well, Dick, I guess it just means
this pumpkin won't be the only
thing that I'll be carving today."







"Yes, that's right. I've been a baaad
skunk! Don't you want to spank
me? You do want to spank the baaad
little skunk, don't you? Sure you do!
Now, come lift my tail and I'll
give you a good reason to spank me..."







(Alright, they're in the kitchen, so we
know that the butcher knife
can't be too far away...)







"So long, everyone! Thanks for stopping
by! Have a safe and
spooky Halloween! And
remember to always inspect your kid's
candy before you eat it, parents!"




Gee, I think J.P. (Jaunty Punkin) pretty much wrapped everything up for me! So my job is done here. For now, anyway...
Bwa, ha, ha, ha, ha!


~All images taken from Jim Heimann's book, 'Halloween: Vintage Holiday Graphics', published by Taschen~

It's Christmas in July at Santa's Village!

I guess that I should have titled this post, 'It WAS Christmas in July at Santa's Village!' because it is, sadly, no longer there amongst the pines of Skyforest, California. Well, technically, it does still exist. Only, it hasn't been open since 1998 and what's left is falling into total ruins! The parking lot IS being used for a lumber yard, however. I wonder what they call that, Paul Bunyan's Village? It really is heartbreaking that after 43 years of bringing the enchantment of Santa Claus and the wonder of Christmas to life, it all just ended. Closed for business. Will return at... never o'clock! They just walked away and left it sitting there, discarded like some old worn-out shoe. It somehow seems even more depressing that it wasn't torn down, but was instead left for vandals and the elements to slowly devour.

Having been to Santa's Village only twice, once as a child and another as an adult, I am especially grateful for those memories now. The park's Grand Opening took place Memorial Day weekend in 1955, only 6 weeks before Walt opened the gates to Disneyland. But I didn't come along until the 1970s. I can just imagine how fresh and magnificent it all must've looked in the '50s... Still, I thought it was pretty great my first time. I know that somewhere there are old snap shots of me on many of the Christmas-themed rides, and I'm pretty sure that there's at least one shot of me screaming through tears while seated on Santa's lap. I WAS loving absolutely everything, EXCEPT that jolly old elf!

I can remember, as a little boy, thinking the place seemed truly magical. It looked alive with color, and the surrounding mountain air felt charged with an exciting sense of "anything-is-possible". I mean, I was frolicking around the place where Santa LIVED, after all! With all of his elves and reindeer, no less! Not to mention it looked as if you were in a fairytale, what with the storybook architecture of shops and houses populating the village. Also, those gigantic patterned mushrooms... WOW! I don't know how such a park would be perceived by the seemingly jaded young children of today, but back then, it certainly made an impression on me. Quite a happy one, too!





"Well, missy, you've got two choices. You can either hang
out with Blitzen, by that North Pole... Or you can reach
into these velvet pants and visit my SOUTH Pole!"






A couple of elves on their way back from the parking lot,
having just "caned" someone for not buying a souvenir.






This was the Whirling Christmas Tree ride. You hopped
into a giant ornament, and away you went!




Here are just a few random facts about Santa's Village in Skyforest, California:

• The park was created on 15 acres of wooded land.



• It cost $1 million to build.



• In 1955, Children 11 yrs. & under got in FREE, Juniors 11 to 18 yrs. paid 40 cents, and Adults paid $1.00 (Federal Tax included)



• At first, the park was open 364 days a year, and CLOSED on Christmas Day.



• Glenn Holland, the park's creator, insisted that in order to help sustain the theme and illusion of a Christmas fantasy land, money was never to be exchanged inside the park at any of the shops or eateries. Instead, a small passport ticket was used to keep track of the guest's expenses, then checked out and paid for at the end of the visit in the exit shop. He felt strongly that children's belief in the myth was paramount.



• When the park closed in 1998, all movable goods were sold at public auction. Today, the pastel-colored toadstools, Santa's sleigh, giant candy canes and a clock with months instead of numbers decorate homes and stores all around the mountainous area.

Elves communing with precious 'Bim the Burro'. He only
LOOKED harmless...






The Good Witch's Bakery. This was where nice little
children got cookies & donuts, but the ill-behaved ones
got stuffed into an oven! Guess she wasn't always so
"good", after all.






I don't remember seeing any scary clowns. They
probably caused that cute boy to eventually
become a serial killer!






Doesn't this just look like the ideal toy & doll shop?!
Well, this was where you bought 'em...






...but this was where Santa's helpers made 'em! It's
the Mill Wheel Toy Workshop.






"Tickets! Get your tickets here!" Eager children line
up for a ride on Santa's Magic Train.






I don't remember seeing this Jack
Pumpkinhead, either. But I do know
that if I had, I would've RUN the
other way!




I'm afraid that my follow-up to this post won't be as fun. In fact, it will be a bit sad as I'll be sharing a few examples of this park's slow deterioration into obscurity. But until that smack of reality, I hope you continue to enjoy this nostalgic look back at a true pop culture classic!


{All images via alamedainfo.com}