Fearless Funnymen: The History of the Rodeo Clown - Paperback

by Gail Hughbanks Woerner (Author), Gail Gandolfi (Illustrator)

Author Gail Woerner used her lifelong association with the rodeo world to research and write a history of this paradoxical profession that requires a laugh-getter dressed in baggy britches and wearing a clown face to put his life in jeopardy to protect cowboys from the dangerous Brahma bulls, and sometimes death. All aspects of the rodeo clown world are included -- how the profession began, the comedy acts created by rodeo clowns, the animals they trained so masterfully, and the evolution of the profession. Other aspects include bullfighting, development of the barrel, injuries that are a part of the job, frustrations in organizing, a cowboy clown's role in the world of rodeo, how sponsors changed the profession, how specialized the bullfighter has become, and today's fearless funnymen. Information has been gathered from hundreds of rodeo clowns, bullfighters, and barrelmen, plus interviews with wives, sons and daughters, friends, and co-workers. Included are more than 700 rodeo clowns, their hometowns, and the years of performance. Other information includes honors and awards given to these hilarious risk-taking heroes.