George Carl
Encyclopedia
George Carl was a "vaudevillian
" style comic & clown
. Carl was born in Ohio
, and started his comedy
career traveling with a variety of circuses during his teenage years. In time, Carl would become internationally famous as a clown and visual comedian. In his sixties, Johnny Carson
, a fan of Carl's, invited him to appear on The Tonight Show
. His appearance was so well received that he was asked back within weeks for a second appearance which also received raves from viewers.
With hardly any props, except for a microphone and a mic stand, Carl would seemingly accidentally become tangled up in the mic cord, get his thumb stuck in the microphone stand and, through a flurry of silent bits, wind up accomplishing nothing at all in the time spent onstage.
At the age of 79, George Carl made his screen debut in the 1995 film Funny Bones
also starring Jerry Lewis
(it was also the last film Lewis appeared in). He played an old music-hall comedian who never spoke until a scene in which his character explains the reason why performers perform.
Comedians using similar material include Bill Irwin
, Geoff Hoyle
, Barry Lubin
, Chipper Lowell
, and Avner The Eccentric
.
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
" style comic & clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
. Carl was born in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and started his comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
career traveling with a variety of circuses during his teenage years. In time, Carl would become internationally famous as a clown and visual comedian. In his sixties, Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
, a fan of Carl's, invited him to appear on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
. His appearance was so well received that he was asked back within weeks for a second appearance which also received raves from viewers.
With hardly any props, except for a microphone and a mic stand, Carl would seemingly accidentally become tangled up in the mic cord, get his thumb stuck in the microphone stand and, through a flurry of silent bits, wind up accomplishing nothing at all in the time spent onstage.
At the age of 79, George Carl made his screen debut in the 1995 film Funny Bones
Funny Bones
Funny Bones is a 1995 comedy-drama film from Disney's Hollywood Pictures. It was written, directed and produced by Peter Chelsom, co-produced by Simon Fields, and co-written by Peter Flannery. The music score was by John Altman and the cinematography by Eduardo Serra...
also starring Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
(it was also the last film Lewis appeared in). He played an old music-hall comedian who never spoke until a scene in which his character explains the reason why performers perform.
Comedians using similar material include Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin
William Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
, Geoff Hoyle
Geoff Hoyle
Geoff Hoyle is a British performer who originated the role of Zazu in the Broadway theatre production of The Lion King. Hoyle has also performed in vaudeville shows, worked with Bill Irwin in "The Pickle Family Circus", performed with Cirque Du Soleil's Nouvelle Expérience, and performed with the...
, Barry Lubin
Barry Lubin
Barry Lubin, recently inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame, is a physical comedian most familiar to circus audiences as "Grandma", the star of the Big Apple Circus....
, Chipper Lowell
Chipper Lowell
Chipper Lowell is an Award-winning visual and variety comedy comedian who has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Disney Channel, General Hospital, Empty Nest, Show Me The Funny, America's Funniest People, Shades of L.A., The Art of Mime, and the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. His film...
, and Avner The Eccentric
Avner the Eccentric
Avner the Eccentric is an American vaudeville performer, clown, mime, juggler, and sleight of hand magician. He played the title role in the 1985 film The Jewel of the Nile...
.
External links
- Tonight Show performance
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0eAVjaQrUARoyal Command PerformanceRoyal Variety PerformanceThe Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
(1985)] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsauD0nq0gwSmothers BrothersSmothers BrothersThe Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
performance]