Texas Mid-Cities Clown Alley # 85 Celebrates 30 Years

 30th Anniversary

Alley 85 will be celebrating our 30th Anniversary on August 21, 2007 at SMCC.  We will serve a terrific BBQ dinner catered by Colters BBQ.  The time will be from 6 pm “meet and greet” till???.  Dinner is at 7 pm.  We will have as many of our original member as we can and hope to have all those from the beginning to present.  Please send (e-mail or snail mail) or bring photos to the next Alley 85 meeting.  We will be putting together a photo history for a slide presentation.  Rosalee Perryman (a charter member) is coming!  Please let us know if you are coming for dinner (so we have enough groceries!)

If you have any question, plese feel free to contact us at midcitiesclowns@hotmail.com

 30th AnniversaryAlley 85 will be celebrating our 30th Anniversary on August 21, 2007 at SMCC.  We will serve a terrific BBQ dinner catered by Colters BBQ.  The time will be from 6 pm “meet and greet” till???.  Dinner is at 7 pm.  We will have as many of our original member as we can and hope to have all those from the beginning to present.  Please send (e-mail or snail mail) or bring photos to the next Alley 85 meeting.  We will be putting together a photo history for a slide presentation.  Rosalee Perryman (a charter member) is coming!  Please let us know if you are coming for dinner (so we have enough groceries!)If you have any question, plese feel free to contact Susan Keys aka Dubble Bubble at 972-986-7388. 

Clown Week Mall ShowAlley 85 will promote International Clown week with a  stage show at Town East Mall, August 1st at 1 pm.  If you want to be part of the big show but don’t know the skits (or just don’t remember them), try to come to the June meeting.  The Alley board will review the show for everyone by performing our standard group skits.Even if you can’t make the review, come to the August 1st show anyway.  We’ll find a part for you! 

Calendar of Events

June 29, 7:30 - 9 pm, Mr. Rainbow Lecture, How to be Funny & Character Development. South MacArthur Church of Christ.  Free for members & $5 for non-members.  Refreshments included.

June 30, 9:30 - 2:30, Homeless Games sponsored by the Union Gospel Mission, Riverchon Park, Dallas  Contact Diane Steele 214-637-6117 ext.113

June 30, 11 - 2 pm, Child Safety Day, McDonald’s at Mumford and 635, Dallas.  Contact Julia Kirk at 214-456-4539.

July 4, 9 am -1 pm,  ALLEY FUNDRAISER Irving 4th of July Events, Parade, Face Painting, Balloons & Show.  Come when you can and do what you can.

July 4-7, Society of American Magicians (SAM) National Convention, Adams Mark Hotel, Dallas, www.magicsam.com

August 1 – 7, International Clown Week, Find a way to promote clowning in your community.

August 4, 1 pm, Town East Mall Clown Show,  Come promote National Clown Week with a show at Town East Mall, 2063 Town East Mall, Mesquite

August 10 & 11, TNT, Clowning 4 Christ Clown Train, First Baptist Church, 1801 N. Norwood, Hurst, TX, www.clowntrain.com   NOTE:  THIS EVENT HAS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT DATE

Sept. 26-30,  TCA Convention,  Houston,  Operation Funny Bone, with Randy Munsen, will fix you right up.  www.cheerfulclowns.com

Sept. 29, 8:30, Walk for the Whisper, Baylor Grapevine, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Would like face painting, balloons or walkarounds.  www.dfwovarian.org/walk_for_the_whisper.html 

Spotlight on Linda "Heart Throb" Berman

From the top of her grape jelly purple hair to the tips of her extra-extra large shoes, Heart Throb The Clown vows to never grow up but to always be silly and share laughter and smiles with everyone she meets. Heart Throb and her alter-ego Linda Berman are very excited to be part of Mid Cities Clown Alley #85. A full-time family entertainer in Southern California for many years, Linda moved to the Metroplex late in 2006. She purchased a home in Lake Dallas to experience a slower lifestyle in a small community.  “I’m so excited to be in North Texas where people are so friendly and welcoming. I’m looking forward to sharing my love of clowning, balloons, face painting, storytelling and bubbles with new friends in Texas,” says Linda with twinkle in her eyes.

 “My first experience of the magic of clowning was when my sister and I were in the “Peanut Gallery” on “The Howdy Doody Show” while we were on a family vacation to New York City and we met Clarabell the Clown, and of course Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob.”  “In the late 1970’s, my husband and I were living in Honolulu, Hawaii and my husband became a Shrine Clown. The local Shrine Clowns entertained at events and raised money for the local Shriners’ Hospital. Several times a year, the Shrine Clowns and their wives were invited to the Shriners’ Hospital to interact with the patients and I got to see up close and personal the magic of clowning.” 

“Divorced in 1980, I lived in Phoenix, AZ, and then spent 10 years in San Diego before relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1990. In the mid-1990’s, I met a woman who changed my life. She was a part-time clown who invited me to a class on clowning at Glendale Community College. I realized that I could become a clown and share with lots of people.  I honed my skills at Clown Camp for many years and attended a variety of clown learning workshops and events. At the time I was clowning part-time while earning the bulk of my income as a corporate trainer. In 1998, I decided to take the plunge and devote myself to supporting myself as a family entertainer in Southern California.”

 “At the time, my favorite clowning activity was balloon twisting. I focused on growing my skills as a twister making detailed multi-balloon creations when most people were making one-balloon designs. Of course, I was working with 260s, the balloon most people used.  In early 1998, I discovered the Qualatex 160 balloons and it was “love at first inflate.” Tilly had few colors available of 130’s but they were difficult to work with. The extra length of the 160s made them much more versatile. I started making all my sculptures with 160s and sharing my ideas with other twisters.” 

“At Clown Camp in 1998, I shared my love of 160 twisting and was encouraged by fellow campers to write a “how-to” book. I published Marvelous Miniatures in 1998. At the same time, the Way Cool Gang published their book of 160 designs. Each of the books features different designs.  I was encouraged to keep writing 160 books and I now have a total of six books in my Marvelous Miniatures Series and I’m known as The Miniature Balloon Lady or sometimes The 160 Queen.”  

 “I was introduced to the magic and wonder of soap bubbles at clown camp not knowing that the bubbles would join miniature balloon sculpting as the two major focuses of my clowning career.  I earned my Certified Balloon Artist (CBA) designation and added balloon décor to my offerings. I’ve had the pleasure of lecturing on balloons and/or bubbles at World Clown Association Conventions in Toronto, Canada and Mesa, AZ, the TJAM Balloon Convention in Austin, TX, The Millennium Jam Balloon Convention in Mol, Belgium, the International Balloon Arts Convention in Anaheim, CA, the International Balloon Association Convention in Rosemont, Il and for clown alleys, magic associations and for balloon distributors in many locations across the U.S,” continues Berman. Linda’s entertainment business, Dazzling Events features Linda as Heart Throb,  Dr. RU Smiling, a clown Dr., Dentist or Vet., and non-clown characters Linda the Balloon Lady, cowgirl Round Up Rita, and Luau Linda.  Linda loves entertaining at birthday parties, corporate and community events and specializes in educational school and library programs featuring soap bubbles.  “People of all ages and sizes love bubbles and my bubble show features good clean fun while learning. I’m very excited about bringing bubbles to the Metroplex and working with all the wonderful clowns, balloon twisters and face painters I’ve met through the clown alleys and associations in North Texas. “

 “Neither WCA nor COAI had official clown alleys in Southern California so this is my first time being part of an alley. I’ve also joined the TCA and am looking forward to attending the convention in September, “ Linda adds.  “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! I’m looking forward to getting to know all my fellow alley members,” shares Linda.