Arthur Pedlar, famous European clown

ARTHUR PEDLAR (1932 - )

Beginning as a member of the Spider Austin troupe in 1953, English-born Arthur Pedlar appeared at the Parisian Circus Cirque Medrano, including three weeks as comic Buster Keaton's assistant. He appeared for 25 years as a tramp clown, incorporating a unicycle and his musical skills. He then added his absent-minded dotty old auguste named Vercoe. Pedlar's interest in preserving variety arts history led to his portrayals of famous music hall entertainers, transforming characters on stage by changing rubber noses, wigs and costume accessories. He later created Arturo, a classical continental whiteface clown in full sequin costume, who plays straight man to an auguste puppet trumpeter. The president of the England's Motley Clown alley has managed to combine his clowning with a family business of a Southport shopping mall. He was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1992.