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lt a - With huge, knarled stubby feet like Rain- down at Brock's last week when a smiling bow the Clown's, buying shoes that fit isn't customer volunteered to help Rainbow find an easy task. But he had lots of friendly help the right fit. Rainbow takes five from a walk along clowns ---- almost as much of a kick as Bob the Palmer Park to talk with this smiling 'Shaw gets from clowning around for people. family. People of all ages get a kick out of swimmers at Palmer Park weren't too sure what to make of Rainbow the Clown at first, but soon warmed up to his magic tricks and friendly disposition. No mat- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July 30, 1985 -- 15 Bob puts on a happy face because... Rainbow's a real Even mega-star Robert Redford might not be known every- where, but Bob Shaw is a celebrity everywhere he goes Actually, it's not Bob who is the celebrity Rainbow the Clown is the guy with the famous face -- Bob Shaw is just the man who wears the make-up. ; As Bob Shaw, the 33 year old Nestleton resi- dent, can walk down Queen Street unnoticed. But as Rainbow the Clown, he is an instant sensation, garnering curious stares, com- ments and friendly hellos from everyone he meets. 'I've had people block traffic to get my atten- tion," he grins, relating the story of the guy who spotted Rainbow driving along in his car, stopped him, and insisted on tak- ing his picture. "People go out of their way to talk to me. And I don't reject anyone." As soon as he dons his Rainbow the Clown out- fit, something he does nearly every day of the week, he acquires celebrity status. but that's par for the course for a professional clown who knows magic. He says he loves public relations, loves promo- tions, and most of all, he loves talking to kids. He's done a little bit of everything in his lifetime, including work- ing at Port Perry's Red and White, Lake Scugog Lumber and assorted factories, but he's never enjoyed anything like his work as a clown. And now he's doing it full-time. TV STAR Bob grew up in Scugog Township but left years ago and eventually A p ot ¥ Ae vo et fi cia ter where he goes, Rainbow is always '"on,"' and has never been caught without a pocketful of balloons or magic. celebrity-type wound up in Victoria, British Columbia. He liv- ed there five years and finally moved back: to Nestleton only three weeks ago. And in three short weeks, Bob has made a name for himself already. He was here a week and had already landed parts in two movie pro- ductions, including a television series called Night Heat, to be shown in the Fall. He plays a psycho balloon seller, a newspaper reporter and a strike breaker and says more parts are coming his way. And although he gets a kick out of acting, clown- ing is his real passion, something he discovered as a hobby a few years ago and developed into a full-time job when he was laid-off more secure employment. As Rainbow the Clown he has done, and will do, birthday parties, stage shows, sidewalk sales or just about any occasion requiring a magical clown. He juggles, makes silk cloths disap- pear, and has a stuffed bird friend named Sun- shine, who disappears on a regular basis, only to return to the stage all a-twitter. "I'm working on a trick now to make him dance on a silk, disap- pear and re-appear in a bird cage at the other end of the stage,' he ex- plains, his face coated thickly with bright make- up. 'It takes about three to six months to perfect a magic routine, depen- ding on how complicated it is." KIDS LOVE CLOWNS Kids, of course, love him, but so do adults. "Oh, they all do," he laughs. Everyone loves a clown, and he senses a real need for people of his profession in this area. Most clowns do their work within the perimeter of Toronto, so Bob is confident he'll be working around here 364 days of the year. "There's only one day I don't work. Christmas,' he points out. 'Only because my wife won't let me." His three daughters, Pamela, 12, Careyann, 10 and Julie, 9, all help their dad in his various endeavours, especially Pamela who is Bob's of- ficial stage assistant. "At first, like anybody, the girls got laughed at and razzed about me be- ing a clown,' he admits "I take it very seriously, though, and so do they They're proud of me and they love it." Being a professional clown isn't all fun and games, however. As Rainbow, Bob has a responsibility to act a certain way around im- pressionable children, to set a good example and be the kind ot clown everyone expects to see. He doesn't, for exam-. ple, drink, smoke or swear and makes it a point never to give children candy or en- courage them to talk to strangers. At the same time, he thoroughly en- joys talking to his young audiences, and often gets them up on stage to help him out. One of the things that surprises him about to- day's kids is their ig- norance when it comes to clapping. NO CLAPPING "Kids are too turned on to television. They don't know how to clap. There's just not as much live entertainment here as there is out in B.C. We need more here." He says he can be sit- ting alone in his living room, watching a good movie or a good comedy, and actually applaud when it's over. He ad- mits part of the reason for this is his own emo- tional sensitivity, but it's a sensitivity that has uplifted children everywhere he goes. "People ask me If clowns cry. Yes, I get emotional. If a child is sick on their birthday, I'll come up to the hospital and do a show," he says. "That inspiration comes from the Shriners. They are my idols. Shriner clowns are the best in the world." Eventually, that's what he'd love to do. Be a Shriner clown, but the competition is fierce. There's a lot of talented clowns in Canada, he says, and he wishes more talented people, no matter what their professions, would stay in Canada, rather than moving south. "It's there! Let's utilize it. We don't use enough of our own talent. And | believe in homegrown talent!' He also believes in what he's doing. For more information about Rainbow the Clown, give Bob Shaw a call at 986-5549 or 579-9300. AUGUST AT THE | LIBRARY AUG. 8 at 7 P.M. GOODNIGHT GANG Stories, films and fun for kids 3 7 years AUG. 14 at 4:30 P.M. FILMS FOR ALL AGES AUG. 22 at 7 P.M. GOODNIGHT GANG STRIKES AGAIN! for ages 3-7 years .. and special programs too! DON'T MISS ANY OF THE FUN More information at the SCUGOG MEMORIAL LIBRARY