Ed Alberian
Encyclopedia
Ed Alberian was a stage and television actor and entertainer who began his career in off-Broadway
and Broadway
productions, and moved into the nascent television industry, where his work was oriented to children's programming and clowning. Alberian played the Clarabell the Clown
for public appearances and on the television show Howdy Doody
appeared as Professor Gusbags., as well characters, such as Doaky the Clown, on Let's Have Fun and The Beachcomber Bill Show. Alberian was frequently asked to do the original live performances of animated or promotional characters. Projects in which he worked include appearances as Bozo
and in the Banana Splits
. He was also the side-kick and chaperone, Sir Clacky Wack, to Sunbeam Bakeries
mascot
Little Miss Sunbeam. In these numerous roles he often often played master of ceremonies
at variety show
s and fundraisers and was introduced to many prominent figures.
Alberian was born Edwin Haig Alberian in New York on January 21, 1920. There he attended New York University
and Columbia University
, where he studied science and chemistry and received a degree in perfumery. He later graduated from Juilliard School
and chose a career as performer. He married and lived in Weehawken, New Jersey
with his wife Marie (née Hekimian) with whom he had two children. Alberian was of Armenian
descent, his family having arrived in the United States as part of the Armenian diaspora. On a private trip to Armenia
he was seen entertaining local children and, in 1988, after some years of semi-retirement, was invited to Soviet Armenia to promote cultural exchange. Mr Alberian died March 31, 1997 and is buried at Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen
.
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions, and moved into the nascent television industry, where his work was oriented to children's programming and clowning. Alberian played the Clarabell the Clown
Clarabell the Clown
Clarabell the Clown was the mute partner of Howdy Doody.Three actors played Clarabell. The first was Bob Keeshan, who later became Captain Kangaroo. Keeshan was succeeded by Robert "Nick" Nicholson, who also played the character of J. Cornelius Cobb on The Howdy Doody Show. Lew Anderson was the...
for public appearances and on the television show Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody is an American children's television program that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on NBC in the United States from 1947 until 1960. It was a pioneer in children's television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows...
appeared as Professor Gusbags., as well characters, such as Doaky the Clown, on Let's Have Fun and The Beachcomber Bill Show. Alberian was frequently asked to do the original live performances of animated or promotional characters. Projects in which he worked include appearances as Bozo
Bozo
Bozo or bozo may refer to:*The Bozo people, a fishing people of the central Niger delta in Mali*The Bozo languages, languages of the Bozo people*Bozo the Clown, a clown character very popular in the United States...
and in the Banana Splits
Banana Splits
The Banana Splits were four comedic animal characters who featured in a late 1960s children's variety show made for television. The costumed hosts of the show were Fleegle , Bingo , Drooper and Snork .The Banana Splits Adventure Hour was an hour-long, packaged television program that featured both...
. He was also the side-kick and chaperone, Sir Clacky Wack, to Sunbeam Bakeries
Sunbeam Bread
Sunbeam Bread is a franchised brand of white bread, rolls, and other baked goods owned by the Quality Bakers of America cooperative. The bread products are produced and distributed by eight regional bakeries located in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania,...
mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
Little Miss Sunbeam. In these numerous roles he often often played master of ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
at variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s and fundraisers and was introduced to many prominent figures.
Alberian was born Edwin Haig Alberian in New York on January 21, 1920. There he attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he studied science and chemistry and received a degree in perfumery. He later graduated from Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and chose a career as performer. He married and lived in Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 12,554.-Geography:Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area...
with his wife Marie (née Hekimian) with whom he had two children. Alberian was of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
descent, his family having arrived in the United States as part of the Armenian diaspora. On a private trip to Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
he was seen entertaining local children and, in 1988, after some years of semi-retirement, was invited to Soviet Armenia to promote cultural exchange. Mr Alberian died March 31, 1997 and is buried at Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen
Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen
Flower Hill Cemetery is located in North Bergen, New Jersey. It is cojoined with Hoboken Cemetery and Machpelah Cemetery.-Notable burials:*Ed Alberian children's television actor and entertainer...
.