Your Clown and Silent Comedy News Bulletin

A few items of timely clown and silent comedy news have accrued, so I’ve bundled them into this handy bulletin:

It’s that time again! Since last year’s was such a resounding success, applications are now being accepted for the second session of Glen Heroy’s Coney Island Clown Skool. Get all the info here.

Wednesday, June 4, 7:30pm: The Silent Clowns Film Series is showing Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman at Cobble Hill Cinema in Brooklyn. Tickets and info here.

Saturday, June 7, 7pm: Catch Polish clown Piotr Sikora’s silent one man show Furiozo: Man Looking for Trouble. It promises “Police chases, petty theft, drugs and longing for the greatest thrill of all: true love. A disturbing yet absurdly funny portrait of toxic masculinity.” I have it on very good authority that the show is excellent. It’s playing at Bohemian National Hall, 321 E 73rd Street as part of the Rehearsal for Truth Festival. More information here.

Fans of the early silent comedy team of Pokes and Jabs rejoice! Rob Stone of Split Reel has just released Pokes and Jabs: 12 Comedy Shorts, available in both Blue-Ray and DVD formats. Rob wrote the books Pokes and Jabs: The Before, During and After of the Vim Pictures Corporation and The Pokes and Jabs Picture Book, as well as the extremely useful Laurel or Hardy: The Solo Films of Stan Laurel and Oliver “Babe” Hardy. With Steve Massa he co-wrote Victor Moore and His Klever Komedies and its companion The Klever Komedies Picture Book, as well as these two terrific brand new volumes:

Lonesome Luke’s Lively Life: Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd and the Rolin Film Co. and Lonesome Luke’s Picture Book. “Lonesome Luke” was of course Harold Lloyd’s first comedy character, and he made quite a large number of these comedies before discovering his famous “glasses” character. Your pathway to all of the Split Reel products is here.

Meanwhile, Ben Model, Massa’s partner in the Silent Clowns Film Series has his own highly anticipated book coming out, The Silent Film Universe, pub date June 17. More information, including how to order.

To celebrate the launch of the book Ben will be screening (and no doubt accompanying) Lloyd’s The Freshman (which turns 100 years old this year) at the Cinema Arts Center in Huntington, Long Island. He’ll be signing and selling books, to be sure. Get tix to the screening and book event here.