Clowns

Shrine Clowns are often considered the most visible ambassadors of the Shrine organization. Headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Melha Shrine Clown Unit is very active in parades, charity benefits, festivals, and corporate outings. All Shrine Clowns donate their time and resources as unpaid volunteers. The Melha Shrine Clowns greatest contribution to the welfare of Mankind is to warm a heart with a smile.

Due to an amazing amount of gigs that have come in since opening up again after having such a hard time with Covid we are booked for the rest of the year. We appreciate your interest and continued support of the Melha Shrine Clowns and all we do for Shriners Children’s’ and hope that you will reach out to us in the future so that we can continue to bring smiles to everyone’s’ faces.

As I stumble through this life, help me create more laughter than tears, dispense more happiness than gloom, spread more cheer than despair. Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy and forget at least momentarily all the unpleasantness in their lives, and in my final moment, may I hear You whisper: When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.

— Author Unknown

Richard Zoller and Ed Baker, both Past Potentates of Melha Temple, came up with an idea in 1964.  They announced to the Temple that they would appear as Clowns at the Northeast Field Days in Portland, Maine.  The Temple Guard decided to outfit six Clowns to appear at the same time without the knowledge of Zoller and Baker.

Among those six were Bob Greenberg, Jim Shirley, Keith Phelps and Stanley Rubinstein.  The six Clowns made their appearance in the parade much to the shocked surprise of Zoller and Baker, who were completely unsuspecting.

This planted the seed for the eventual formation of a Melha Clown Unit.  George “Jack” Cobleigh, Zoller, and Baker met at Jack’s house in 1964 to discuss a proposed new unit for Melha Temple – a Clown Unit.

On September 25, 1964, an organizational meeting was held for all those interested in forming a Clown Unit.  Richard C. Zoller, Past Potentate, presided.

Aims and purposes for a Clown Unit were discussed and a By-Laws Committee was appointed.  This was followed by a second organizational meeting on October 9th to discuss the proposed By-Laws and to elect interim officers:  George Cobleigh as President; Carl Nelson, Vice President; Robert Greenberg, Secretary, and Sherman Stewart, Treasurer.  The interim officers were duly elected as regular officers on October 23rd with the titles of President changed to Chief Clown and Vice President to Assistant Chief Clown.

Melha Potentate, Ill. John Baird, appointed Harold Myklebust as “Clown Prince” to direct all Clown activities and to be in general charge of “clowning” while the elected officers conducted unit business.

Chief Clown George Cobleigh began discussions to create an Executive Committee.

Fifteen Clowns marched in the Circus parade in 1965 and the Unit already had its first successful Ladies’ Night earlier that Spring.

In October, Dick Zoller, General Manager of the Shrine Circus, suggested that the Clowns devise acts and present them at the Circus.

The Unit was introduced to big-time show business when it participated in actual performances at the annual Shrine Circus in 1966, when four Clowns appeared at every show during the four-day run of the Karl Wallenda production.  The two acts were developed by Unit members and were so well received by audiences and by Karl Wallenda that the Melha Clown Unit was invited by Wallenda to appear with his Circus in ensuing years.

Wallenda, a famed aerialist, described the Melha Clown Unit’s appearances as the best he had ever witnessed by an amateur group.  The local newspapers acclaimed the local talent as “crowd pleasers, as the audience took them to their hearts.”

Appearances did not end with the Circus.  Local television shows that featured the Melha Clowns included:  “Bozo the Clown,” “The Swabby Show,” and the “Barbara Bernard Show.”  The Clown Unit is one of the most active Units of Melha Temple.  Other than the many Temple functions, the Clowns also appear at many community events and consider one of the highlights of their year to be the Melha Shrine Circus.

One of the awards for which the Clowns are justly proud is the Beth-El Youth Award presented on May 1, 1968.  The award wasgiven for service to the youth of the community.  The Clown Unit was the first group to receive this award—previously it had been given to individuals.  Elliot Richardson, the Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the presentation.

In 1992 the Melha Clowns played host to Clown-a-Rama for the second time during May at Baystate West (now Tower Square).  The event proved to be a huge success.  Gerry Potar was that year’s president of the Northeast Shrine Clown Association and his committee chaired by Edgar Gelinas, did an outstanding job.

The clowns walked away with several trophies at the Clown-a-Rama in Bangor, Maine, in 1993.  At the Shrine Circus that year, Tommy Hanneford, Melha Shrine Circus producer, had his Ringmaster present the Melha Clowns with a plaque after the performance of their skit.

The plaque was inscribed as follows:  “To the Melha Clowns, best Shrine Clowns in all of Shrinedom, Tommy Hanneford, Royal Hanneford Circus, 1993.”

The Clown Unit has been distinguished by having ten Potentates rise from its ranks:  Richard Z. Zoller, John R. Lundgren, Kenneth E. Emery, Gordon J. Smith, Clyde O. Hooper, Jr., W. Douglas Spingler, Russell D. Mitchell, Edgar W. Gelinas, William Faust and Leo Plourde.

The Melha Clown Unit continues to be one of the most active Shrine units. Collectively, the clowns spend over 3,000 hours per year incharitable service to the community.

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