What names to give a funny clown. Clowns
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During its existence, a whole galaxy of famous clowns has emerged in Russia, capturing the audience not only in our country, but all over the world. Why not remember the people who devoted their lives to circus art, those who were loved by adults and children. So our list of the most famous, famous and beloved clowns of the USSR and Russia:
1. Mikhail Rumyantsev -Pencil
Photo: www.livemaster.ruMikhail Rumyantsev (stage name - Pencil, 1901 - 1983) is an outstanding Soviet clown, one of the founders of the clownery genre in Russia. People's Artist of the USSR (1969).
Mikhail Nikolaevich Rumyantsev was born on December 10, 1901 in St. Petersburg. Michael's introduction to art began at an art school, but the training did not arouse interest. The working career of the future artist began with drawing posters for the theater, when at the age of 20 he began working in the Tver circus as a poster designer.
In 1925, Rumyantsev moved to Moscow, where he began to draw posters for cinema. The year 1926 became fateful for the young artist, when he saw Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks next to him. Like them, Rumyantsev decided to become an actor. After courses in stage movement in 1926, he entered the school of circus art in the class of eccentric acrobats. In 1930 he successfully graduated from the circus school and began working as a circus artist.
Initially (from 1928 to 1932) Rumyantsev appears in public as Charlie Chaplin, but soon decided to abandon this image.
In 1935 he came to work at the Leningrad circus, from where he was transferred to the Moscow circus. It was at this time that Mikhail Nikolayevich came up with the pseudonym Pencil (Karan d'Ash) and began work on his image. Plain black suit - but baggy; regular shoes - but several sizes larger; almost an ordinary hat, but with a pointed crown. No fake nose or scarlet mouth from ear to ear. From Chaplin, only a small antennae remained, emphasizing the facial capabilities of the face. Pencil is an ordinary person, good-natured, witty, cheerful, resourceful, full of childlike spontaneity, charm and energy. His deliberate awkwardness and awkwardness gave rise to amusing situations.
Photo: www.livemaster.ru The pencil worked like a clown in many circus genres: acrobatics and gymnastics, training, etc. The Scottish Terrier Klyaksa has become a constant companion and "identification mark" of Karandash.
Satire has become one of the main colors of the Pencil's creative palette. The beginning of the satirical direction of work was laid during the Great Patriotic War, when Pencil created a number of numbers exposing the leaders of Nazi Germany. After the end of the war, topical satirical reprises also remained in his repertoire. Coming on tour to a new city, the artist tried to insert the name of some local popular place into his speech.
In the 40-50s, Pencil begins to attract assistants to his performances, among which Yuri Nikulin stood out, as well as Mikhail Shuydin, who later made a magnificent
clown duo.
The clown was so popular that only his performances guaranteed the circus financial success. The cheerful clown conscientiously devoted himself to his work, but outside the arena demanded complete dedication from his assistants.
The pencil became the first Soviet clown whose popularity spread far beyond the borders of the country. He was known and loved in Finland, France, East Germany, Italy, England, Brazil, Uruguay and other countries.
Mikhail Nikolaevich Rumyantsev worked in the circus for 55 years. The last time he appeared in the arena was just 2 weeks before his death.
2. Yuri Nikulin
Yuri Nikulin (1921 - 1997) - Soviet circus artist, film actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1973), Laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR (1970).
Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin was born on December 18, 1921 in the city of Demidov, Smolensk region. The father and mother of the future clown were actors, which must have predetermined the fate of Nikulin.
In 1925 he moved with his parents to Moscow. After graduating from the 10th grade of school in 1939, Yuri Nikulin was drafted into the army. With the rank of private, he fought in two wars: the Finnish (1939 - 1940) and the Great Patriotic War (1941 - 1945), having received military awards. In 1946 Nikulin was demobilized.
After unsuccessful attempts to enter VGIK (All-Union State Institute of Cinematography) and GITIS (State Institute of Theater Arts) Nikulin entered the studio of spoken genres at the Moscow Circus, from which he graduated in 1949.
In the late 1940s, he began performing in a group of clowns led by Karandash at the Moscow State Circus. Then he formed a creative duet with another assistant to the clown of Karandash - Mikhail Shuydin.
Agency "Photo ITAR-TASS". Mikhail Shuydin and Yuri Nikulin The Nikulin-Shuydin duet existed for quite a long time and enjoyed great audience success. The couple toured extensively and quickly gained experience. Their joint work continued until 1981. If Shuidin had the image of a shirt-guy who knows everything, then Nikulin portrayed a lazy and melancholic person. In life, the partners in the arena of relations practically did not support.
The main thing in Nikulin's creative individuality is a crushing sense of humor while completely preserving external equanimity. The costume was built on a funny contrast of short striped trousers and huge boots with a pseudo-elegant tops - a black jacket, white shirt, tie and boater hat.
photo: kommersant.ru A masterfully designed mask (behind the external rudeness and even some stupidity, wisdom and a tender, vulnerable soul appeared) allowed Yuri Nikulin to work in the most difficult genre of clownery - lyric-romantic reprises. On the arena, he was always organic, naive and touching, while he knew how to make the audience laugh like no one else. In the clown image of Nikulin, the distance between the mask and the artist was surprisingly preserved, and this gave the character great depth and versatility.
During his long life in the arena, Yuri Nikulin created many unique reprises, sketches and pantomimes, of which the most memorable and dear for the artist were "Little Pierre", Pipo and the millionaire in the circus performances "Carnival in Cuba" and "Pipe of Peace", Barmaley in New Year's performance for children, etc. One of the most famous genre scenes is the legendary "log".
1981 M. Shuydin, Y. Nikulin and D. Alperov, stage "Log The versatility of his talent allowed Yuri Nikulin to be realized in other genres as well. He has starred in more than forty films, playing both brightly comedic and dramatic and truly tragic roles.
The debut on the big screen took place in 1958. Gaidai's comedies (Operation Y and Shurik's Other Adventures, Prisoner of the Caucasus, The Diamond Hand) brought national love to Nikulin the actor. However, behind his shoulders and many serious paintings - "Andrei Rublev", "They fought for the Motherland", "Scarecrow".
With Lyudmila Gurchenko in the film "20 days without war" The talented clown proved to be a serious and deep dramatic actor. Yuri Nikulin received the title of People's Artist of the USSR and Hero of Socialist Labor. Near the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, there is a monument to the famous clown and his partner.
After Shuydin's death, Yuri Vladimirovich in 1982 headed the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard (now named after Nikulin), where he worked for a total of more than 50 years.
“Every time before entering the arena, I look through the crack of the curtain into the auditorium. I scrutinize the audience, tune in to a meeting with her. How will we be received today? I look to see if there are any acquaintances of mine among the spectators. I love it when friends, relatives, acquaintances artists come to the performances. Then, during work, I try to once again stop near them, say hello, wink, and sometimes shout something to them. It gives me pleasure. "
3. Sunny Clown - Oleg Popov
Oleg Popov is a Soviet clown and actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1969).
Oleg Konstantinovich Popov was born on July 31, 1930 in the village of Vyrubovo, Moscow Region. In 1944, while doing acrobatics, the young man met the students of the circus school. Oleg was so carried away by the circus that he immediately entered the school, receiving in 1950 the specialty "eccentric on a wire". But already in 1951 Popov made his debut as a carpet clown.
photo: 360tv.ru Known to the general public in the image of the "Sun Clown". This cheerful man with a shock of light brown hair wore overly wide pants and a checkered cap. In performances, the clown uses a variety of techniques - acrobatics, juggling, parody, balancing act. Particular attention is paid to entre, which are realized with the help of eccentrics and buffoonery.
Among the most famous reprises of Popov, one can recall "Whistle", "Ray and" Cook ". In his most famous act, the clown tries to catch a ray of sunshine in his bag.
The artist's creativity was not limited only to the theater, he starred on television a lot, participated in the children's TV show "Alarm Clock". Popov even acted in films (more than 10 tapes) and directed circus performances. The famous clown took part in the first tour of the Soviet circus in Western Europe. Performances there brought Popov truly world-wide fame.
photo: ruscircus.ru Popov made a huge contribution to the world formation of new principles of clownery, developed earlier by Pencil - clownery, coming from life, from everyday life, looking for something funny and touching in the surrounding reality.
In 1991, Popov left Russia, for personal reasons, and also unable to accept the collapse of the great Motherland. Lived and worked in Germany, performing under the pseudonym Happy Hans.
© Ruslan Shamukov / TASS Oleg Konstantinovich Popov is a Knight of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, laureate of the International Circus Festival in Warsaw, winner of the Golden Clown prize at the International Festival in Monte Carlo. Many of Popov's reprises were included in the classics of the world circus.
Died suddenly on November 2, 2016 during a tour in Rostov-on-Don at the age of 86. Oleg Popov came to Rostov-on-Don on tour. According to the director of the circus, the artist's heart stopped. The body was found in the hotel room by Popov's wife.
4. Konstantin Berman
photo: imgsrc.ru Konstantin Berman (1914-2000). This Soviet carpet clown appeared in the family of a circus orchestra conductor. It is not surprising that the arena constantly attracted the boy. Since childhood, he participated in pantomimes, mastering other genres of circus art.
The professional career of a clown began at the age of 14, with his brother Nikolai, he staged the act "Acrobats-Vaulters". Until 1936, the couple performed together, using the images of the popular comedy film actors G. Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin.
During the war, Berman acted as a member of the front brigades in the Bryansk - Orel direction of the front .. He became famous for a simple reprise "Dog-Hitler". It described how the clown was embarrassed to call a dog barking at everyone Hitler, because she might be offended. This unpretentious reprise at the front was invariably greeted with friendly soldiers' laughter.
photo: imgsrc.ru In 1956, Berman became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR.
Konstantin Berman created an original mask of an arrogant dandy, wore an absurdly dandy suit. At first he performed as a carpet mime, then switched to colloquial reprises and later performed satirical poetry. skits and clownery on everyday themes and themes of international. politicians.
A versatile circus artist, he was included in the course of the performance, becoming a participant in the numbers. Like an acrobat, he performed somersaults through a car, like a comedian voltigeur, he was a participant in air flights. His first appearance in front of the audience was spectacular - he found himself in the orchestra, conducted it, then simply “walked” into the arena from the height of the orchestral balcony to the frightened sigh of the auditorium.
As soon as Kostya Berman's jokes were heard in Moscow, he was already greeted with applause in Tehran. After a trip to Iran - again native Soviet cities. Tbilisi - Baku - Rostov-on-Don - Riga - Leningrad - Tallinn - Baku - Kazan - Ivanovo, and again Moscow.
Berman's miniatures were in the spirit of the times. They ridiculed slovens, arrogant bosses.
photo: imgsrc.ru The famous clown starred in two tapes, in "The Girl on the Ball" (1966) he played essentially himself, and in 1967 he took part in the film " Air flight ".
5. Leonid Yengibarov
photo: sadalskij.livejournal.com Leonid Yengibarov (1935 - 1972) - circus actor, mime clown. Possessing a unique personality, Leonid Yengibarov created a unique image of a sad jester-philosopher and poet. His reprises did not set as their main goal to squeeze out as much laughter from the viewer as possible, but made him think, reflect.
Leonid Georgievich Yengibarov was born on March 15, 1935 in Moscow. From childhood he fell in love with fairy tales and puppet theater. At school, he began to engage in boxing and even entered the Institute of Physical Education, but he quickly realized that this was not his calling.
In 1959 he graduated from the State School of Circus Art, Department of Clownery. While still a student, Leonid began performing on the stage as a mime. A full-fledged debut took place in 1959 in Novosibirsk.
Already at the school, his creative individuality as a carpet master of pantomime was clearly defined. Unlike most of the clowns of that time, who entertained the audience with a standard set of tricks and jokes, Yengibarov took a completely different path and for the first time began to create poetic clownery on the circus arena.
From the first performances, Yengibarov began to cause conflicting reviews from the public and colleagues in the profession. The audience, which is accustomed to having fun in the circus, and not thinking, was disappointed with such a clown. And many of his colleagues soon began to advise him to change the role of "thinking clown".
Yuri Nikulin recalled:“When I saw him for the first time at the arena, I didn’t like him. I did not understand why there is such a boom around the name of Yengibarov. And three years later, when I saw him again at the arena of the Moscow circus, I was delighted. He had an amazing pause, creating the image of a slightly sad person, and each of his reprises not only amused, amused the viewer, no, it also carried a philosophical meaning. Yengibarov, without uttering a word, spoke with the audience about love and hate, about respect for a person, about the touching heart of a clown, about loneliness and vanity. And he did all this clearly, softly, in an unusual way. "
By 1961, Yengibarov had traveled to many Soviet cities and was a resounding success everywhere. At the same time, a trip abroad took place, to Poland, where the grateful audience also applauded the clown.
In 1964, the artist also gained wide international fame. At the International Clown Competition in Prague, Yengibarov received the first prize - the E. Bass Cup. It was a runaway success for the 29-year-old artist. After this victory, his short stories began to be published. Documentary films are being made about the talented artist, he himself is involved in cinema, collaborating with Parajanov, Shukshin.
The end of the 1960s is considered the most successful period in Yengibarov's creative career. He successfully toured both around the country and abroad (in Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia). In addition to the circus, he performed with "Pantomime Evenings" on the stage, acted in films.
The famous clown at the height of his fame leaves the circus and creates his own theater. Yengibarov together with his constant director Yuri Belov put on the play "The Clown's Quirks". For 240 days of touring the country in 1971-1972, this performance was shown 210 times.
At the beginning of 1972, an incident happened to him that perfectly characterizes the attitude of the common public towards him. Leonid arrived in Yerevan and went to his native circus. At that moment, a performance was already going on there, and, in order not to interfere, Yengibarov quietly walked into the director's box and sat down in the corner. However, one of the actors found out about his presence, and soon the whole team was notified of this. Therefore, each of the artists entering the arena considered it his duty to make a welcoming gesture towards the director's box. This did not hide from the audience, they began to whisper among themselves and more and more often looked in the direction of the box. In the end, the inspector of the arena had no choice but to interrupt the performance and announce to the entire arena: “Dear friends! Today the clown Leonid Yengibarov is present at our show! " No sooner had the echo of these words died down under the arches of the circus, when the whole hall in a single impulse rose from its seats and burst into deafening applause.
The artist was extremely embarrassed by such attention to his person, but he could not do anything about it. He had to get up and walk out of the dark corner into the light. The audience continued to applaud warmly, he tried to calm them down with a movement of his hands, but he, naturally, did not succeed. And then, in gratitude for such love, he came up with a pantomime on the go: he opened his chest with both hands, took out his heart, cut it into thousands of small pieces and threw it to the audience. It was a magnificent sight, worthy of the talent of a wonderful artist.
In July of the same year, Yengibarov arrived in Moscow. That month was marked by unprecedented heat and drought. Peat bogs were burning in the Moscow region, and on some days the air was such that it was impossible to see a person a few meters away. And on one of these days - July 25 - Yengibarov felt bad, and he asked his mother - Antonina Andreevna - to call a doctor. Soon he arrived, diagnosed poisoning, prescribed some medicine and left the house. Soon after his departure, the artist became even worse. Mother again had to call the ambulance. While the doctors were driving, Leonid was in pain and during one of the attacks he suddenly asked his mother: "Give me cold champagne, it will be easier for me!" Apparently he did not know that champagne constricts the vessels. His mother did not know about it either. Leonid drank half a glass and soon died of a heart failure. He was only 37 years old.
The great clown died on July 25, 1972 in a hot summer from a heart attack. When L. Yengibarov was buried, pouring rain began in Moscow. Heaven itself seemed to mourn the loss of this wonderful artist. According to Y. Nikulin, everyone entered the hall of the Central House of Art Workers, where the civil funeral was being held, with wet faces. And thousands came ...
Yengibarov went down in the history of the circus as a representative of the philosophical clown pantomime.
Despite his short life, this man managed to leave a bright mark on art. Mim managed to create a new role - a sad clown, besides, Yengibarov was also a talented writer.
In Paris, having learned about the death of Leonid Yengibarov, Vladimir Vysotsky could not stop his tears, repeating everything:
"This cannot be ... This is not true ..." Vladimir Vysotsky himself (January 25, 1938 - July 25, 1980) survived Leonid Yengibarov by eight years, and left on the same day: July 25. Vysotsky dedicates the following lines to the great clown:
“... Well, he, as if having sunk into the water,
Suddenly in the light, insolently, in two hands
Stole longing from inside pockets
Of our souls dressed in jackets.
Then we laughed stunned,
They clapped, their palms shattered.
He did nothing funny -
He took our grief upon himself "
6. Yuri Kuklachev
Yuri Kuklachev - head and founder of the Cat Theater, People's Artist of the RSFSR.
Yuri Dmitrievich Kuklachev was born on April 12, 1949 in Moscow. Since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a clown. For seven years in a row he tried to enter the circus school, but he was persistently told that he had no talent.
In 1963 he entered the vocational school number 3, and in the evenings he began to study in the folk circus at the House of Culture "Red October".
The first performance of Yuri Kuklachev took place in 1967 in the framework of the All-Union Show of amateur performances, where he was awarded the title of laureate. At the final concert, which took place in the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, specialists drew attention to the young man and invited him to study at the Moscow State School of Circus and Variety Art.
In 1971, Yuri Kuklachev graduated from the Moscow State School of Circus and Variety Arts. Later - the State Institute of Theater Arts, specializing in theater critic.
From 1971 to 1990, Kuklachev was an artist of the Soyuz State Circus. In February 1976, he first appeared in the circus arena with a number in which a domestic cat performed. The rumor about this event instantly spread throughout Moscow, because the cat was considered an animal that could not be trained, and its appearance on the circus arena was a sensation.
The programs “Cats and Clowns” and “The City and the World” created by the artist conquered the audience both in Russia and abroad. Kuklachev toured many countries of the world.
In 1990, Kuklachev opened the world's first private Cat House (Cat House). In 1991-1993, a school of clowns existed at the theater on a voluntary basis.
In 2001, for the creation of this theater, its leader, Yuri Kuklachev, was awarded the Order of the Hope of Nations and the title of Academician of Natural Sciences.
In 2005, the "Kuklachev Cat Theater" received the status of the State Cultural Institution of the city of Moscow.
Yuri Kuklachev's theater tours take place in various parts of the world. The theater is a huge success in Japan, USA, Canada, Finland and China. The theater has won numerous international awards, including a gold cup and the title of "most original theater in the world" during a tour in Paris.
photo: verstov.info In 1977, Yuri Dmitrievich Kuklachev was awarded the honorary title "Honored Artist of the RSFSR", and in 1979 for staging the play "Circus in my baggage" and playing the main role in it - the title "People's Artist of the RSFSR".
Kuklachev is a Chevalier of the Order of Friendship (1995), laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize (1976).
Yuri Kuklachev's talent has been awarded a variety of foreign prizes and awards: "Golden Crown" in Canada (1976) for outstanding achievements in training, for humane treatment of animals and the promotion of this humanism, "Golden Oscar" in Japan (1981), prize "Silver Clown "In Monte Carlo, World Journalists' Cup (1987), title of honorary member of the Association of Clowns of America.
Yuri Kuklachev is extremely popular in France. There a whole chapter is devoted to him in a textbook on the native language for French schoolchildren - "Lessons of Kindness". And the post of San Marino, in recognition of the artist's unique talent, issued a postage stamp dedicated to Kuklachev, who became the second clown on the planet (after Oleg Popov) to receive such an honor.
7. Evgeny Maykhrovsky -May
photo: kp.ru/daily Evgeny Maykhrovsky (stage name Clown May) - clown, trainer. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1987).
Evgeny Bernardovich Maykhrovsky was born on November 12, 1938. His parents, Bernard Vilgelmovich and Antonina Parfentievna Mayhrovsky, were acrobats.
In 1965 he graduated from the circus school and began working in the arena in the youth group "Restless Hearts". In 1971 he began performing in the programs of various circuses as a carpet clown, since 1972 he has been performing under the pseudonym May.
The clown Mai goes to the arena with his trademark exclamation “Oh-oh-oh!”. These exclamations are heard in almost all of his recitals.
In the repertoire of Evgeny Maykhrovsky, along with original reprises, including those with trained animals, there are also complex circus performances.
In the play "Bumbarash" (Perm Circus, 1977), the hero sang songs from the TV movie of the same name, took part in horse chases, flew away from pursuers under the circus dome, fought like a stuntman and an eccentric acrobat. In addition to the main one, Yevgeny Maykhrovsky played several more roles in the play. In 1984, at the Leningrad circus in the children's musical performance "The Joyful Day" based on the story of Anton Chekhov "Kashtanka", he also played almost all the main roles, instantly transforming from a clown.
Evgeny Maykhrovsky is the founder of the May family circus, in which his whole family performs today - his wife Natalya Ivanovna (clown nicknamed Kuku), son Boris - stage name Bobo, daughter Elena - Lulu, granddaughter Natasha - Nyusya.
8. Vyacheslav Polunin
Vyacheslav Polunin was born on 06/12/1950. He was often kicked out of school lessons for being inattentive and constantly making the whole class laugh with his hilarious antics.
In the 2nd or 3rd grade, he first saw the film "The Kid" with Chaplin. But my mother did not let me watch it to the end: the film was on television late in the evening, and she turned off the TV. He cried until morning. And a few months later I was already walking in huge shoes, with a cane, and a Chaplin walk around the school. And then he began to compose all sorts of things and show them. First in the yard to friends, then at regional competitions. Despite the fact that he spent part of the lessons in the schoolyard, he graduated from school and went to Leningrad with the secret hope of entering a theater institute.
Polunin was educated at the Leningrad State Institute of Culture, and then at the variety department of GITIS.
In the 1980s, Vyacheslav created the famous Litsedei theater. He literally blew up the audience with numbers "Asishai", "Nizza" and "Blue Canary". The theater has become very popular. The then "Litsedei" headed by Polunin successfully worked in the field of eccentric comic pantomime. They were invited to large composite concerts and even on television.
Vyacheslav spent all his free time in libraries, where he was seriously engaged in self-education. Even now he spends every free minute with a book. A trip to a bookstore is a whole ritual. There are a huge number of art albums among these books, because painting, sculpture, architecture, design, graphics, caricature are the most important food for his imagination. And this fantasy creates its own pictures on the stage, which have nothing to do with imitation and repetition.
In 1982, Polunin organized a Mime Parade, which brought together more than 800 pantomime artists from all over the country.
In 1985, within the framework of the World Gathering of Youth and Students, a festival was held, in which international clowns also took part. Since then, Polunin has organized many festivals, staged performances, numbers and reprises, trying on a variety of masks.
Since 1988, the clown moves abroad, where he gains worldwide fame. His "Tender Show" is now considered a theatrical classic. Viewers say that Polunin's snow warms their hearts.
The clown's works were awarded the Laurence Olivier Prize in England, awards in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Barcelona. Polunin is an honorary resident of London. The Western press calls him "the best clown in the world."
Despite the "frivolous" occupation, the clown thoroughly approaches his work. Even the craziest and most adventurous show performed by him is actually carefully thought out and weighed. Polunin works a lot and does not know how to rest at all, however, his life is pleasure, on stage and outside it. And most importantly, this person creates a holiday.
On January 24, 2013, Vyacheslav Polunin agreed to become the artistic director of the Bolshoi St. Petersburg State Circus on Fontanka and plans to combine the circus with opera, symphonic art, painting and ballet.
“I was always happy when I made people laugh. He who laughs with a kind laugh infects others with kindness. After such laughter, the atmosphere becomes different: we forget many of life's troubles, inconveniences. " Yury Nikulin
Soviet clowns were considered some of the best on the planet. The circus in the Soviet Union was a separate art form that enjoyed immense popularity. Many clowns are still remembered by those who personally caught them at their first performances. We will talk about the most famous of them in this article.
Among Soviet clowns, one of the most famous is Yuri Nikulin, People's Artist of the USSR, idol of several generations of Soviet lovers of humor and laughter. He was born back in the Smolensk province in 1921. His parents were artists, so the fate of Yuri was largely predetermined.
In 1939, immediately after leaving school, he was drafted into the army. During the Great Patriotic War, he fought near Leningrad. In 1943, he caught pneumonia, lay in the hospital for a long time, after being discharged, he almost immediately received a concussion during one of the air raids on Leningrad.
After the war, he tried to enter VGIK, but he was not accepted, not discovering his acting skills. Therefore, Nikulin went to the clownery studio school, which worked at the capital's circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. This became his haven for several decades.
In 1948, the famous Soviet clown made his debut in a pair with Boris Romanov in a number called "The Model and the Hack", which immediately captivated the audience. For some time he worked as an assistant at Pencil. He met Mikhail Shuydin, with whom he went on tour throughout the country to gain experience in the circus.
Nikulin worked with Pencil for two and a half years, after which he left with Shuydin because of the conflict. Having started performing independently, they made up a duet famous all over the country, although they were completely different in type and character of artists.
Nikulin was one of the most popular among the clowns of the Soviet Union. In his native circus, he worked for half a century, becoming its symbol; now a monument to the famous artist is even erected on Tsvetnoy Boulevard.
At the same time, he simultaneously made a brilliant career in the cinema, playing in the popular comedies "Operation Y" and other adventures of Shurik "," Prisoner of the Caucasus "," The Diamond Hand ".
In the circus, he stopped performing only when he was 60 years old. In 1981, he officially retired from the stage, starting work as the chief director of the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. In 1982 he took over as director of the circus. With this famous Soviet clown, the circus blossomed, a new building was built, which opened in 1989.
Yuri Nikulin was popular not only in big cinema, but also on domestic television. In the 90s, his program was released under the name "White Parrot". She brought together famous and honored artists who told their favorite anecdotes and funny stories from their own careers. The jokes that Yuri Nikulin himself poisoned have always been crowned.
Nikulin died in 1997 at the age of 76 after complications from heart surgery.
Mikhail Shuydin
Mikhail Shuydin is a clown from the Soviet comedy trio. He performed with Nikulin and Pencil, not at all getting lost against the background of his famous stage colleagues. Shuydin was born in the Tula province in 1922. He was an eccentric acrobat.
Like Nikulin, he went through the Great Patriotic War, they were practically the same age. Shuydin took part in the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, distinguished himself in battles in Ukraine, having received the Order of the Red Star. He was even assigned to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, which was later replaced by the command with the Order of the Red Banner.
Immediately after the war, he entered the school of circus art. Together with Nikulin, he worked as an assistant at Pencil. His debut was successful, when the famous Soviet clown portrayed an important director, being himself full and small in stature. His appearance invariably caused laughter in the audience.
Having left with Nikulin from Karandash, they worked together until 1983, almost until the death of a Soviet clown after a long and serious illness at the age of 60. His is a shirt-guy who knows everything and knows how, unlike Nikulin, who played a melancholic inept. These Soviet clowns built their joint work on the contradiction of characters.
It is interesting that in ordinary life Shuydin and Nikulin practically did not communicate with each other. They were very different in character and lifestyle, but as partners on stage they were inimitable. Spectators specially came to the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard to see this amazing pair of artists.
The famous Soviet clown Shuydin shone in satirical sketches and pantomimes "Little Pierre", "Peace Pipe", "Carnival in Cuba", "Roses and Thorns".
Mikhail Rumyantsev
Most people know Mikhail Rumyantsev as Karandasha. This is one of the most famous stage names of the USSR clowns. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1901. Rumyantsev decided to become an artist when he met in Moscow with the legendary actors of American silent films Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.
Rumyantsev goes to stage skills courses, and then to the school of circus art, studies with the chief director of the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard Mark Mestechkin.
In 1928, he began to appear in public in the form of the legendary Charlie Chaplin at the time. After graduating from a circus school, he works in Kazan, Smolensk and Stalingrad. In 1932, one of the most famous Soviet clowns in the future, the list of which he rightfully heads, decides to abandon the image of an overseas artist. In 1935 he began to work in the circus of Leningrad under the pseudonym Karan D'Ash. Gradually, he forms his own unique stage image, is determined with the costume and the program of the performance.
In 1936, he moved to Moscow, where he took on the companions of a small Scotch Terrier named Klyaksa, so the career of the Soviet clown Karandash began. The metropolitan audience was delighted with the new artist.
A unique feature of Pencil was political jokes. For example, during the Brezhnev stagnation, he went on stage with a large string bag stuffed with dummies of scarce products: red caviar, pineapples, raw smoked sausage. Once on stage, he froze in silence in front of the audience. The audience waited impatiently for what the clown would say. After some time, he loudly announced: "I am silent because I have everything. And why are you ?!" At the same time, Rumyantsev himself noted that his stage character never allowed himself anything superfluous.
Throughout his career, he performed not only solo, but was also a clown from the Soviet comedy trio along with Nikulin and Shuydinov. His fame was such that it was believed that by his appearance on the stage, he was able to save any performance. A full hall was guaranteed. The Soviet clown, whose photo can be found in this article, was very conscientious about his work, always demanded complete dedication from all assistants, uniformists, lighting fixtures.
He worked in the circus for almost his entire adult life, for 55 years. The last time he appeared on stage was just two weeks before his death. In March 1983, he was gone. Mikhail Rumyantsev was 81 years old.
Perhaps everyone knows him. Soviet clown Oleg Popov was born in 1930 in the Moscow region. He began his career as an equilibrist, performing on the wire. In 1951, he first appeared on stage as a carpet clown in the Saratov circus, then moved to Riga. He finally settled in this role, working under the leadership of the legendary Pencil in the early 50s.
Soviet clown Popov created the famous image of the Solar Clown. It was not discouraged in any situations, a young boy with a bright shock of straw hair, who appeared on stage in a checkered cap and striped pants. In his performances, he often used a variety of circus techniques: juggling, acrobatics, balancing act, parodies, but the key place in his performances was occupied by entre, which he staged by means of classical buffoonery and eccentrics. Among his most famous numbers are "Whistle", "Cook", "Ray".
Domestic viewers immediately remembered the name of the famous Soviet clown in a checkered cap. He performed not only on stage, often appeared in television programs, for example, in the children's morning program "Alarm Clock", often acted in films, usually in cameo, staged circus performances as a director.
The artist often went on tour in Western Europe, which, as a result, brought him worldwide fame. The Soviet clown in a checkered cap was known in all countries of the world.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Popov went to Germany. In 1991 he settled in the small town of Eglofstein, began performing in his own circus program under the new stage name Happy Hans.
He returned to Russia only in 2015, after spending 24 years in Germany. On June 30, his long-awaited performance took place in the Sochi circus as part of the Master circus festival.
In 2016, the already Russian clown Popov had a tour of Russia planned. His performances were sold out in Saratov. In October, he arrived in Rostov-on-Don, where he planned to perform at least 15 times. After that, he was going to go on tour to Samara and Yekaterinburg.
His acquaintances recall that on November 2 he was cheerful, went to the central market, planned to go fishing to the local river Manych to catch perches. In the evening, he watched TV in the hotel room. At about 23.20 he felt sick, the hotel staff called an ambulance, but the actor could not be saved. As it became known, he fell asleep in his hotel room in a deep armchair and never woke up.
By the decision of his wife and daughter, he was buried in the German Eglofstein, where his family lives. Moreover, according to the will of the artist, he was put in a coffin in a clown costume.
Asishai
Remembering the famous Soviet clowns, whose photos can be found in this article, it is imperative to talk about Vyacheslav Polunin, better known by his stage name Asisyay.
This folk was born in the Oryol region in 1950. He graduated from the Institute of Culture in Leningrad, then graduated from the pop department at GITIS. It was the Soviet clown Asisyai, famous throughout the country, a mime actor, author and director of clown numbers, masks, reprises and performances.
It was he who became the founders of the famous who performed with success throughout the country. "Litsedei" reached the peak of popularity in the 80s. Asishai was the protagonist of this theater. The most popular were the numbers "Asisyay", "Sad Canary", "Nizza".
Since 1989, Polunin initiated a caravan of wandering comedians in Moscow, which, having come from Moscow, with performances passed all over Europe, uniting many stage venues in different countries into a single theatrical space. Since 1989, the "Peace Caravan" festival has been held annually.
It is noteworthy that since 1988 Polunin has lived and worked primarily abroad. In 1993 he gathered a new troupe, with which he staged a dozen premiere performances.
Talking about the principles of his work, Polunin always noted that for him clowning is a new way of seeing the world, this is a special perception of reality, within the framework of which the clown heals the souls of the audience.
Animal trainer and circus artist Vladimir Durov was born in Moscow in 1863. Even in his youth, he dropped out of the military gymnasium, because he was carried away by the circus. He began performing in 1879.
In 1883 he settled in Winkler's circus menagerie in Moscow. He began his artistic career as a strongman, then tried out the role of an illusionist, onomatopoeic, clown, couplet. From 1887 he began to specialize exclusively as a satirist and clown trainer.
He built animal training entirely on the principle of feeding, developing conditioned reflexes in them with the help of encouragement, for each successfully performed trick the animal received a treat. Durov studied the works of Sechenov and Pavlov, basing his training method on scientific achievements.
In his own home in Moscow, he conducted psychological experiments on animals, involving famous psychiatrists and psychologists, for example, Pavlov and Bekhterev. To start earning money, he opened a living corner right in his house, which eventually became known as Durov's Corner. "In it, he gave paid performances along with animals. For example, he came up with a unique famous number called" Mouse Railroad ".
This work was suspended by the October Revolution and the devastation that followed. The doors of "Durov's Corner" opened again in 1919, but not as a private, but as a state theater. Durov himself was allowed to live in his former house, which by that time had been nationalized.
Already in the Soviet Union, Durov continued his experiments on telepathy together with the famous Soviet biophysicist Bernard Kazhinsky. In 1927, already in the status of a Soviet clown, Durov published the book "My Animals", which, over time, was reprinted several times and enjoyed great popularity.
In 1934, Vladimir Durov died at the age of 71. After his death, the business was continued by his daughter Anna, in 1977 "Durov's Corner" passed to her nephew Yuri. Now it is managed by the great-grandson of Vladimir Leonidovich - Yuri Yurievich, continuing the tradition of Soviet and Russian clowns working with animals.
Remembering the names of the clowns of the USSR, whose photos are presented in this article, you must definitely remember about Leonid Yengibarov. who almost throughout his career acted in the form of a "sad clown".
He was born in Moscow in 1935. At the age of 20 he entered the circus school in the department of clownery. Since 1959 he began performing at the arena of the Novosibirsk circus. Then he appeared on the stage of circuses in Tbilisi, Kharkov, Minsk, Voronezh. Gathering full houses in the Soviet Union, he went on a foreign tour to Poland, where he was also expected to be successful.
In 1962, Yengibarov was awarded a medal in Leningrad for the best performance, where he met Roland Bykov and Marcel Marceau. These meetings played an important role in his career; they remained friends with Bykov until the end of their lives.
In 1963, Yengibarov became known as a film actor. He starred in the comedy film by Levon Isahakyan and Henrikh Malyan "The Way to the Arena" - in the title role of Leni the clown, who decides to work in the circus, despite the protests of his parents, who wish him a different future.
A year later, Yengibarov appears in Sergei Parajanov's classic historical melodrama "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors". He plays the role of a dumb shepherd, proving that he is capable of not only humorous, but also tragic roles.
In 1964, the "sad clown" left for Prague, where he won a professional competition. His short stories are also published there for the first time, it turns out that Yengibarov is also a talented writer. In Prague, his daughter Barbara is born, her mother is a Czech journalist and artist, whose name is Yarmila Galamkova.
In 1966, a documentary film dedicated to the artist, "Leonid Yengibarov, Meet!" Was released on Soviet screens.
By the end of the 70s, he toured the entire Soviet Union on tour, most of all he was appreciated by the audience in Kiev, Odessa, Leningrad and Yerevan. In 1971, Yengibarov, in collaboration with his colleague Belov, released a play called "Star Rain". It is shown in the metropolitan stage theater. After Yengibarov left the circus to found his own theater with solo performances filled with clownery, reprises and various stunts. This is how the production of "The Clown's Quirks" appears.
A book of short stories by Yengibarov "First Round" is being published in Yerevan. Then he starred in Tengiz Abuladze's comedy-parable "A necklace for my beloved" in the image of the clown Suguri. In the early 70s, he toured with his theater throughout the country, playing 210 performances in 240 days.
Yengibarov's bright career ended suddenly and tragically. In the summer of 1972, he came to Moscow on vacation. Begins working on a new performance. July was incredibly hot and dry that year. In addition, peat bogs burn near Moscow, on some days in the capital the smog is such that a person cannot be seen from a distance of several meters.
On July 24, Yengibarov returns home after a concert in He feels unwell due to a sore throat that he suffers on his legs. His mother Antonina Andrianovna prepares dinner and leaves to spend the night with her friend. The next morning she discovers that Leonidas has not yet got up.
In the evening he becomes ill, he asks to call an ambulance for him. When the doctors come, the artist gets better, he even begins to give compliments to the nurse. But after another two hours, his condition deteriorates again. The mother calls the ambulance again. Yengibarov asks for a glass of cold champagne, from which his vessels constrict, his condition only worsens. The doctors who arrived for the second time are unable to help him, the clown dies of chronic ischemic heart disease.
According to doctors, the cause was a blood clot, which formed due to the fact that the son returned already sick from the tour and rehearsed performances with sore throat. At the time of his death, Yengibarov was only 37 years old. He was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery.
Many perceived his death as a personal tragedy.
People's Artist of the RSFSR gained fame as a cat trainer. He was born in the Moscow region in 1949. I dreamed of becoming a clown since childhood. But he was not taken to the circus school for seven years in a row.
Finally, in 1963, he entered the vocational school as a printer, but in his place he did not despair. Working in the printing house "Young Guard", in the evenings he takes part in the folk circus at the recreation center "Red October". In 1967 he became a laureate of the amateur art competition.
At the final concert of the competition, circus performers on Tsvetnoy Boulevard notice him, Kuklachev is nevertheless invited to the circus school. In 1971 he became a certified artist of the Union State Circus, where he worked until 1990. His image is a simple-minded, but at the same time a little sly buffoon from the people in a stylized Russian shirt. Initially, he works under the pseudonym Cornflower.
In search of his own zest, Kuklachev decided back in the mid-70s that a cat should appear in his performances. It is believed that they are difficult to train, but Kuklachev manages to work with them successfully. Over time, the troupe of animals began to replenish with more and more tailed artists, this has already made it possible to make several numbers with animals.
It was the numbers with cats that brought Kuklachev all-Union popularity, he was successful on foreign tours.
In 1990, the circus artist received at his disposal the building of the former theater "Call", located on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Soon, on its basis, he opened one of the first private theaters in the country, which eventually received the name "Kuklachev's Cat Theater". It turns out that this is the first cat theater in the world; it immediately becomes famous far beyond the borders of Russia.
In 2005, the theater received state status, and in addition to cats, dogs appeared in reprises.
Now Kuklachev is 69 years old, he continues his work in the cat theater.
Evelina Bledans
The Russian actress of Latvian descent started out as a clown. She was born in Yalta in 1969. She graduated from the acting department of the Institute of Performing Arts in Leningrad.
The first fame came to her in 1999, when she appeared in the "Masks" comic troupe, which produced popular TV shows based on clownery, pantomime and eccentricity. The artists were distinguished by the fact that they worked in the genre of silent films. All projects were invented and implemented by artistic director Georgy Deliev, who himself was one of the artists of the comic troupe.
In the 90s, the famous television series "Masks Show" appeared on the screens; in total, they managed to shoot five seasons, which include almost two hundred episodes.
After that, Evelina Bledans gained fame as a television and film actress.
The clown has become so popular in the Soviet Union that you can often see him outside the circus arena. For example, the Soviet clown toy was in great demand in the USSR, which was considered a special gift for any holiday, and especially for a birthday.
In the humorous program of pop artist Yevgeny Petrosyan, which was popular in the 90s, the clown's toy became a symbol, it can always be seen on the project's splash screen.
The Soviet cartoon about the clown "The Cat and the Clown" also demonstrates how popular these artists were. It was released in 1988, directed by Natalia Golovanova.
The cartoon is shot in the spirit of classic buffoonery, which tells the story of an old clown who spent many years working in the circus. In his lifetime, he has seen a lot, it is already difficult to surprise him with something. But this is succeeded by the magic cat, which is able to transform into all kinds of objects.
This 10-minute cartoon shows a tense and irreconcilable struggle between characters, each with a strong and uncompromising character. On the one hand, there is an elderly clown, and on the other - a cocky, naive and at times frankly rude cat. This unusual piece ends very unexpectedly: the cat at the very end turns into a boy.
Clown 1.
A mentally handicapped person.
Clowns are also called people who do things that make things worse.
We must beware of this clown!
Youth slang
2.1. A circus performer whose main task is to make the visitors laugh.
2. An insecure and notorious person who subconsciously fears judgment and ridicule and therefore pretends that he always wants to make everyone laugh and cheer everyone up. A frivolous person who behaves like a jester in the company. Payas. Show-off.
3. Clone. A person using someone else's name on communication resources (chat, forum, etc.) or registering his own, outwardly indistinguishable from the original (for example, instead of the Russian "a" - the Latin "a") and communicating in this way for the purpose of provocation, wishing create the wrong impression about a person or just to laugh.
1. Oh, Wan, look what clowns!
2. You are a clown, I told you ice cream for children, flowers for baba!
3. Ban the clown!
Youth slang, Common
Dictionary of modern vocabulary, jargon and slang. 2014 .
Synonyms:See what "clown" is in other dictionaries:
clown- See clown ... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and expressions similar in meaning. under. ed. N. Abramova, M .: Russian dictionaries, 1999. clown actor, jester; artist, carpet, gayer, buffon, clown, harlequin, buffoon, baluster, buffoon, eccentric, comedian, farcer ... Synonym dictionary
Clown- Clown. CLOWN (English clown, from the Latin colonus redneck, rude), circus performer, performing humorous numbers, participating in satirical scenes, which use the techniques of eccentricity, grotesque, parody. As a rule, it creates ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
CLOWN- (English clown, from the Latin colonus villager, man). Jester, clown. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov AN, 1910. CLOWN jester, amusing the audience with jokes and pantomimes. Dictionary of foreign words included in ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
clown- a, m. Eng. clown. Vasily Aleksandrovich, a circus clown, or a Burkovski clone: he lets out lights and is not afraid of anyone, he flew on a flying balloon! Remizov Krestovye sisters 23. To clown. Must be tired of clowning, Purishkevich gets up and goes ... ... Historical Dictionary of Russian Gallicisms
clown- CLOWN, buffon, comedian, jester, outdated. gayer, outdated. clown, outdated. buffoonery CLOWN, buffoonery, outdated. gayerstvo razg. CLOWN, buffoon, buffoon, outdated. gaer, outdated. bullshit ... Dictionary-thesaurus of synonyms for Russian speech
CLOWN- (English clown) circus artist, comic character using the techniques of the grotesque and buffoonery. There are clowns: carpet, comedian, etc. Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
CLOWN- CLOWN, clown, husband. (English clown). Circus comedian, clown. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
CLOWN- CLOWN, eh, husband. A circus artist using grotesque and buffoonery techniques. K. carpet. K. comedian. To play a clown | wives clowness [ne], s. | adj. clown, oh, oh. Explanatory dictionary … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
Clown- (English clown) a harlequin of the English scene, akin to Polichinel, German Hanswursty and Spanish Grazioso, appears at the beginning of the 16th century; initially improvised his roles. K. was not present in the tragedy either; Shakespeare often introduces him into his ... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
Clown- ■ Unscrewed since childhood ... Lexicon of common truths
Clown- This term has other meanings, see Clown (disambiguation). Clown ... Wikipedia
Books
- Clown Yak, Hjalmar Bergman, Hjalmar Bergman - the greatest Swedish writer of the XX century. The last of the books written by Bergman, the novel "Clown Yak" - the creative result of the writer, a bitter confession, revealing the tragedy of the situation ... Publisher: Fiction. Moscow, Buy for 140 rubles
- Clown, Hjalmar Bergman, The collection includes detective stories of three famous masters of the genre - E. S. Gardner, K. Brown and Agatha Christie. The heroes of their works are an elderly lawyer Perry Mason, a young police lieutenant Al Wheeler ... Series:
Clowns have been present in our culture for a long time. You can remember at least the kindred jesters who were at court and entertained the nobility. The word "clown" itself appeared at the beginning of the 16th century. Initially, this was the name of a comic character from an English medieval theater. This hero improvised a lot, and his jokes were simple and even rude.
Today the clown is a circus or entertainer, using buffoonery and grotesque. This profession is not as easy as it seems. In addition, clowns work in various genres; no self-respecting circus can do without such people. Who else will make the audience laugh between numbers?
Interestingly, in America, the image of a clown is surprisingly scary. This is due to the numerous works where this image is exhibited as bloodthirsty and cruel (remember at least the Joker). There was even such a mental illness as clownophobia. Speaking of modern clowning, one cannot fail to mention the name of Charlie Chaplin. The comedian has been a source of inspiration for actors in this genre, his image has been copied and used many times.
I must say that the most outstanding clowns realized themselves far beyond the circus, in cinema, theater, while performing a tragic repertoire. The most famous people of this funny, not easy profession will be discussed below.
Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). This English actor is considered the father of modern clowning. It is believed that it was he who became the first clown with a European face. Thanks to Grimaldi, the comic character became the central figure of the English harlequinade. Joseph's father, an Italian, was himself a pantonymist, painter and choreographer in the theater. And my mother performed in the corps de ballet. From the age of two, the boy has been performing on the stage of the theater. Failures in his personal life turned the young Grimaldi's gaze to work. Fame was brought to him by the performance at the Royal Theater of "The Tales of Mother Goose". The actor has become a clear innovator, because his character, Joy the clown, is similar to modern images. The clown was the central character in the numbers, he came up with buffoonery and visual tricks, invariably causing the audience to laugh. The image of a simpleton and a fool dates back to the days of the commedia dell'arte. Grimaldi brought female pantomime to the theater and established the tradition of participating in the performances of the public itself. Playing on stage undermined the clown's health, effectively crippling him. At 50, Grimaldi went broke and lived on a pension and aid from charity performances in his honor. When he died, the newspapers wrote with bitterness that the spirit of pantomime was now lost, because there is simply no equal to the clown in terms of talent.
Jean-Baptiste Oriol (1806-1881). At the beginning of the 19th century, there was still no such image of a clown. Comic equestrian acrobats joked in the arena, there was a mime rider and a clown. This situation changed when the figure of Jean-Baptiste Oriol appeared in the French circus. As a child, he was sent to study in a family of rope dancers. Soon Jean-Baptiste became an independent artist of the regular traveling circus. The career of an artist quickly went uphill, an acrobat rider with comic talents was noticed. In the early 1830s he was invited to join the troupe of Loisse. With her, Oriol began to travel around Europe. The next step was the Paris Olympic Theater-Circus. The debut took place on July 1, 1834. Jean-Baptiste showed himself to be versatile masters - he is a tightrope walker, a juggler and forces. Moreover, he was also a grotesque actor. A strong and powerful body was crowned with a cheerful face, whose grimaces amused the audience. The clown wore a special costume that was a modernized outfit of a medieval jester. But Oriol did not have makeup, he used only general soil. In essence, the work of this clown can be considered carpet-like. He filled in the pauses between performances, parodied the main repertoire. It was Oriol who formed the image of a clown, gave him a light French humor and brought romanticism to the circus. In old age, Oriol began to play in comic scenes, participating in pantomimes.
Grock (1880-1959). The real name of this Swiss is Charles Adrien Wettach. His family was an ordinary peasant, but his father was able to instill in his son a love of the circus. Charles' talent was noticed by the clown Alfrede, who invited the young guy to the troupe of the traveling circus. Having gained experience in it, Charles left his partners and went to France. By that time, the clown had learned to own several musical instruments, knew how to juggle, was an acrobat and a tightrope walker. Only here in the National Swiss Circus in the city of Nîmes, the young artist achieved only a job as a cashier. Charles was able to make friends with the musical eccentric Brik, eventually replacing his partner Brock. The new clown chose the nickname Grock. The debut of the artist at the Swiss National Circus took place on October 1, 1903. The troupe toured a lot. With her, Grock traveled to Spain, Belgium and even South America. In 1911 in Berlin, the clown suffered a fiasco, but the tour in Austria-Hungary and Germany in 1913 was much more successful. Grok began to be called the king of clowns. The tour of Russia was also a triumph. After the end of the war, Grock resumed performances again, having toured even in America. In the early 30s, the clown even made a film about himself, which had no success. After the end of the Second World War, the artist released two more films with his best numbers, and in 1951 he even opened his own circus "Grok". The last appearance on the arena of the famous clown took place in 1954. The mask named after Grock is presented as a prize at the European International Circus Festival of Clowns.
Mikhail Rumyantsev (1901-1983). Clown Pencil is a classic of the Soviet circus. Michael's introduction to art began in art schools, but the training did not arouse interest. The working career of the future artist began with drawing posters for the theater. In 1925, Rumyantsev moved to Moscow, where he began to draw posters for cinema. The year 1926 became fateful for the young artist, when he saw Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks next to him. Like them, Rumyantsev decided to become an actor. After the stage movement courses, there was a school of circus art. From 1928 to 1932, the clown appeared in public as Charlie Chaplin. Since 1935, Rumyantsev began to use his new image of Karan d'Ash. In 1936, the clown works in a Moscow circus, the final point in the formation of his new image was a small scotch terrier. The clown's performances were dynamic, filled with satire on the most pressing problems in society. Coming on tour to a new city, the artist tried to insert the name of some local popular place into his speech. In the 40-50s, Pencil began to involve assistants in his performances, among whom Yuri Nikulin stood out. The clown was so popular that only his performances guaranteed the circus financial success. The cheerful clown conscientiously devoted himself to his work, but outside the arena demanded complete dedication from his assistants. Pencil's career in the circus spans 55 years. The last time he appeared in the arena was just 2 weeks before his death. The artist's work has received numerous awards, he was the Hero of Socialist Labor, People's Artist of Russia and the USSR.
Nook (1908-1998). Under such a pseudonym, the German Georg Spillner became known to the whole world. When he began his working career as a dentist in 1932, no one expected such a sharp turn in his life. But soon Georg gave up this job, becoming a musical clown. Already in 1937, the German Theater in Munich announced him as the most famous clown in Europe. The artist's specialty was his large suitcase and a huge coat, in which various musical instruments were hidden. Nook performed at the most famous concert venues in Europe, but despite his fame he remained a rather modest person. The clown was very musical, playing saxophone, mandolin, flute, clarinet, violin, harmonica. In the 60s, they wrote about him as the most gentle clown of all time. Nuka was often compared to another legend, Grock, but the German had his own unique image. They say that once a certain clown wanted to buy one of his numbers for Nuka, but he refused. After all, his image is all life, with its experience, feelings, success and slaps in the face. For many years, his wife, who played the piano, also appeared on the stage with Georg. In 1991, Germany awarded him the Cross of Merit for his charitable work to his former colleagues. Nook himself said that a stereotype had developed in society according to which a clown should be a sad person in life, and constantly joke on stage. But such an image has nothing to do with him. The clown wrote that it is not necessary to study to obtain such a profession, but hard work is necessary. The artist's secret was simple - everything that was in his performance was personally experienced by Georg.
Konstantin Bergman (1914-2000). This Soviet carpet clown appeared in the family of a circus orchestra conductor. It is not surprising that the arena constantly attracted the boy. Since childhood, he participated in pantomimes, mastering other genres of circus art. The professional career of a clown began at the age of 14, with his brother Nikolai, he staged the act "Acrobats-Vaulters". Until 1936, the couple performed together, using the images of the popular comedy film actors G. Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. During the war, Bergman served in the front-line brigades. The unpretentious reprise "The Dog-Hitler" brought him fame. It described how the clown was embarrassed to call a dog barking at everyone Hitler, because she might be offended. In 1956, Bergman became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR. The clown was able to create an important dandy mask by donning an absurdly dandy costume. The circus artist switched to conversational reprises, discussing not only everyday topics, but even politics. Bergman was a fairly versatile clown, including in other numbers. He jumped over the car like an acrobat, took part in air flights. Bergman toured the country a lot, Iran applauded him. The famous clown starred in two tapes, in "The Girl on the Ball" he played essentially himself.
Leonid Yengibarov (1935-1972). Despite his short life, this man managed to leave a bright mark on art. Mim managed to create a new role - a sad clown, besides, Yengibarov was also a talented writer. From childhood Leonid fell in love with fairy tales and puppet theater. At school, he began to engage in boxing and even entered the Institute of Physical Education, but he quickly realized that this was not his calling. In 1955, Yengibarov entered the Circus School, where he began to study clownery. While still a student, Leonid began performing on the stage as a mime. A full-fledged debut took place in 1959 in Novosibirsk. By 1961, Yengibarov had traveled to many Soviet cities and had resounding success everywhere. At the same time, a trip abroad took place, to Poland, where the grateful audience also applauded the clown. In 1964, at the International Festival in Prague, Yengibarov was recognized as the best clown in the world, and his short stories began to be published. Documentary films are being made about the talented artist, he himself is involved in cinema, collaborating with Parajanov, Shukshin. The famous clown at the height of his fame leaves the circus and creates his own theater. Yengibarov together with his constant director Yuri Belov put on the play "The Clown's Quirks". For 240 days of touring the country in 1971-1972, this performance was shown 210 times. The great clown died in a hot summer from a broken heart. When he was buried, a downpour suddenly fell in Moscow. Heaven itself seemed to mourn the loss of the sad clown. Yengibarov went down in the history of the circus as a representative of the philosophical clown pantomime.
Yuri Nikulin (1921-1997). Most people know Nikulin as a brilliant film actor. But his calling was the circus. The father and mother of the future clown were actors, which must have predetermined the fate of Nikulin. He went through the entire war, receiving military awards. After the end of hostilities, Nikulin tried to enter VGIK and other theatrical institutes. But nowhere he was accepted, since the selection committees could not see the acting talents in the young man. As a result, Nikulin entered the clownery studio at the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The young actor, together with Mikhail Shuydin, began to assist Pencil. The couple toured extensively and quickly gained experience. Since 1950, Nikulin and Shuydin began to work independently. Their joint work continued until 1981. If Shuidin had the image of a shirt-guy who knows everything, then Nikulin portrayed a lazy and melancholic person. In life, the partners in the arena of relations practically did not support. Since 1981, Nikulin became the chief director of his own circus, and from the next year he became the director. The participation of the famous clown in the cinema cannot be ignored. The debut on the big screen took place in 1958. Gaidai's comedies (Operation Y and Shurik's Other Adventures, Prisoner of the Caucasus, The Diamond Hand) brought national love to Nikulin the actor. However, behind his shoulders and many serious paintings - "Andrei Rublev", "They fought for the Motherland", "Scarecrow". The talented clone proved to be a serious and deep dramatic actor. Yuri Nikulin received the title of People's Artist of the USSR and Hero of Socialist Labor. Near the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, there is a monument to the famous clown and his partner.
Marcel Marceau (1923-2007). This French mime actor created a whole school of his art. He was born into a Jewish family in Strasbourg. Marcel became interested in acting after meeting Charlie Chaplin's tapes. Marceau studied at the School of Decorative Arts in Limoges, then at the Sarah Bernhardt Theater, where Etienne Decroux taught him the art of mimicry. During World War II, the aspiring clown fled the country. He took part in the Resistance, and most of his relatives, including his parents, died in Auschwitz. In 1947, Marceau created his most famous image. Clown Bip with a white face, in a striped sweater and a frayed hat, became famous all over the world. At the same time, the clown troupe "Commonwealth of Mimes" was created, which existed for 13 years. The performances of this unusual theater with solo performances have been seen by the best venues in the country. In subsequent years, Marceau performed on his own. Several times he went on tour to the Soviet Union, for the first time this happened in 1961. In one of the scenes, sad Bip, sitting at the table, listened to his interlocutors. Turning to one, the clown made a cheerful expression, and to the other - sad. The remarks alternated and gradually accelerated, forcing the clown to constantly change his mood. Only Marceau could do that. The miniatures with Beep's participation are generally filled with sympathy for the poor fellow. In 1978, the clown created his own Parisian pantomime school. New miniatures and new heroes have appeared in his arsenal. It is said that it was Marcel Marceau who taught him the famous moonwalk. For his contribution to art, the actor received the highest award in France - the Order of the Legion of Honor.
Oleg Popov (born 1930). The famous artist is called the founding father of Soviet clownery. In 1944, while doing acrobatics, the young man met the students of the circus school. Oleg was so fascinated by the circus that he immediately entered the school, receiving the specialty "eccentric on a wire" in 1950. But already in 1951 Popov made his debut as a carpet clown. The artist was able to create an artistic image of the "Sun Clown". This cheerful man with a shock of light brown hair wore overly wide pants and a checkered cap. In performances, the clown uses a variety of techniques - acrobatics, juggling, parody, balancing act. Particular attention is paid to entre, which are realized with the help of eccentrics and buffoonery. Among the most famous reprises of Popov, one can recall "Whistle", "Ray and" Cook ". In his most famous act, the clown tries to catch a ray of sunshine in his bag. The artist's creativity was not limited only to the theater, he starred on television a lot, participated in the children's TV show "Alarm Clock". Popov even acted in films (more than 10 tapes) and directed circus performances. The famous clown took part in the first tour of the Soviet circus in Western Europe. Performances there brought Popov truly world-wide fame. The clown became a laureate of the International Circus Festival in Warsaw, received an Oscar in Brussels, and received the Golden Clown prize at the Monte Carlo Festival. In 1991, Popov left Russia, for personal reasons, and also unable to accept the collapse of the great Motherland. Now he lives and works in Germany, performing under the pseudonym Happy Hans.
Slava Polunin (born 1950). Polunin was educated at the Leningrad State Institute of Culture, and then at the variety department of GITIS. In the 1980s, Vyacheslav created the famous Litsedei theater. He literally blew up the audience with numbers "Asishai", "Nizza" and "Blue Canary". The theater has become very popular. In 1982, Polunin organized a Mime Parade, which brought together more than 800 pantomime artists from all over the country. In 1985, within the framework of the World Gathering of Youth and Students, a festival was held, in which international clowns also took part. Since then, Polunin has organized many festivals, staged performances, numbers and reprises, trying on a variety of masks. Since 1988, the clown moves abroad, where he gains worldwide fame. His "Tender Show" is now considered a theatrical classic. Viewers say that Polunin's snow warms their hearts. The clown's works were awarded the Laurence Olivier Prize in England, awards in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Barcelona. Polunin is an honorary resident of London. The Western press calls him "the best clown in the world." Despite the "frivolous" occupation, the clown thoroughly approaches his work. Even the craziest and most adventurous show performed by him is actually carefully thought out and weighed. Polunin works a lot and does not know how to rest at all, however, his life is pleasure, on stage and outside it. And most importantly, this person creates a holiday.