Albert Alter (top) performing with Skeeter Reece in 1991

Albert "Clem" Alter (born 1947 or 1948[1]) is an American clown, noted for his work as a hospital clown.[2][3][4] He is also a mime.[5]

Alter was raised in Greeneville, Tennessee,[6] and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1969. During the Vietnam War, he was a conscientious objector, and worked with the Catholic Relief Services in Vietnam 1971–1973.[7] He worked as a chemical engineer until 1977, saying later that there was more to life than making money for a million-dollar corporation, and in 1981 he graduated from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.[3][1] Since 1985, he has been teaching with Young Audiences of Oregon, an organization that promotes arts in education.[6][8]

He toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, took part in establishing a clown college in Tokyo, and has performed and taught internationally.[9][10] In 1994, Alter was the opening act together with Skeeter Reece (as "Alter and Reece") at a Britt Music Festival with the Smothers Brothers.[11] Alter and Reece also worked as hospital clowns together,[3] and Alter has performed at hospitals like the Doernbecher Children's Hospital, the Floating Hospital for Children and Randall Children's Hospital.[12][10][4] In 1991, he said that

One day I was showing [a child cancer patient] a magic trick, the "cut and restore" rope trick, and her doctor walked into the room. She started shouting at the doctor, "Get out of here! I'm learning magic!" The Doctor just looked at me and then he looked at her and said, "I'll be back." I saw the doctor later in the hall and I started to apologize, but he stopped me and said, "No, No, you are exactly what she needs.[4]

In the 90s, he was part of the BoZoArtZ musical group, and was the northwest regional vice president of Clowns of America International.[13][9] As of 2016, he lives in Portland, Oregon.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 Campillo, Linda (June 7, 1990). "Portland mime, 42, takes his clowning seriously". The Oregonian.
  2. ↑ Frimoth, Bud (2006). Bring in the clowns : a metaphor for ministry. Enumclaw, WA: Pleasant Word, a division of Winepress Publishing. pp. 39–56. ISBN 9781414107721.
  3. 1 2 3 O'Scannlain, Kevin (August 5, 1992). "ALUMS ACT LIKE CLOWNS AT REUNION". The Oregonian.
  4. 1 2 3 "Albert Alter a.k.a. "Clem"" (PDF). Hospital Clown Newsletter. April 2009. ISSN 1096-5335. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Fall 2018" (PDF). Maryhill Museum of Art. 2018. p. 11.
  6. ↑ Nagy, John (May 25, 2016). "Some Notre Dame Dreams Really Come True". Notre Dame Magazine. University of Notre Dame. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Our Organization". Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington. August 16, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "First Beaux Arts,now BoZoArtZ". Wisconsin State Journal. April 25, 1997. p. 51.
  9. 1 2 3 "Making Laughter". Notre Dame Magazine. University of Notre Dame. 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ Twitchell, Cleve (June 19, 1994). "Brothers fill night with Yo-ful noise". Mail Tribune.
  11. ↑ "Laughter the best medicine". Syracuse Herald-Journal. October 24, 1982.
  12. ↑ Stover, Ed (October 21, 1999). "Send In the Clowns: Not Everyone Has What It Takes". Yakima Herald-Republic – via proquest. ProQuest 372082093. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
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