Signs of the Times: Circus Liquor

When did it become cool to be afraid of clowns?  Doesn't it seem like EVERYONE these days says that they are "deathly afraid" of clowns? All a clown wants to do is make you laugh.  They are solely motivated by bringing what may only be a fleeting moment of merriment into the dull and otherwise dreary lives of the masses.  I guess the obvious answer as to when they became the archetypal object of fear is when that miniseries "It" was released.  I was one of the few brilliant people who refused to watch that movie (I'm already cursed with a panic-stricken, overactive imagination, and the last thing I need is demon, flesh-eating clowns populating my nightmares).  Thusly,  clowns don't scare me a bit.  In fact, there is nothing more that I love than a 32-foot, neon, clown and one of the only places to find a 32-foot, neon clown, of which I am aware (if there is another please let me know), is at Circus Liquor in North Hollywood!

The world-famous Circus Liquor clown on the corner of Burbank Blvd. and Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood, CA

You see, that drum beating clown with the exed-out eyes, devilish eyebrows, and sinister smile isn't scary at all.  Isn't it worth facing your fears to qualify for "discount cigarettes?"

Of course, we were there at the most opportune time to get a sun-drenched view of the Circus Liquor clown, but night time is when he really comes alive.  I don't mean that figuratively; I'm pretty sure that he actually does come alive to terrorize the unsuspecting, clown-fearing residents of the San Fernando Valley!!!

Circus Liquor by night
(source)

Come to think of it, the nightmare sequence from Pee Wee's Big Adventure predates "It" by a solid five years. Y'all should have been scared of clowns for a lot longer than you have been!

 

Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985).

Circus Liquor
5600 Vineland Ave.
North Hollywood, CA
(818)769-1500

circusliquor.com


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Circus Do-Nuts

If you saw our recent post, Get Your FREAK On: Just Your Average Family Freak Show, you'll know that we are method party-givers.  We trained at The Party-Givers' Studio and we are dedicated to doing thorough research to hone our technique.  When it's party time, we live it, we breathe it, and we NEVER break character!  It was only obvious, necessary even, that we search out local haunts that would get us into a circus "headspace." 

Now that's a great sign!

The circus, as a theme, is rife with possibilities.  Imagine (sometimes it helps to close your eyes) a donut shop with a trapeze artist, a clown, a balloon-animal artist, an elephant, and a ferris wheel.  Now imagine a donut shop with a faux-mansard roof painted in the red & white stripes of a big-top circus tent and the complete and utter absence of a trapeze artist, clown, elephant, or ferris wheel.  The latter describes Circus Do-Nuts.  That might sound like a little bit of a dig, but given the exciting potential, the management at Circus Do-Nuts doesn't allow the theme become fully-realized. 

Don't you kind of want to paint the chef's hat with a rainbow
afro and turn the man wearing the striped pants and See's Candy
 dress into a clown?  A circus clown.

Let it be said that I actually think Circus Do-Nuts is cool.  While it is definitely not the greatest donut show on earth, we truly appreciate any outlet of fried delicacies that maintains a charm and character that is so lacking in contemporary establishments of its kind.

The good bones are there including molded fiberglass chairs,
sherbet-colored formica....

...and checkerboard linoleum.

And then there's the donuts!

Are you getting tired of hearing me say that donuts (and practically everything else worth eating) are not on Mr. Tiny's current eating plan?  You are?  Well, trust me, not nearly as tired as Mr. Tiny is of not eating this delicious stuff!

My favorite part was the novelty toy vending
machine in the back corner of the shop.

Don't make fun of her...it only took her about
fourteen tries to put the quarters in.
Sometimes working a machine that is intended
for children can be really hard.

"Poo!"

We decided on the gag set - two whoopie cushions and a rubber spider.

If you're ever out and about in Torrance, be sure to check out Circus Do-Nuts.  It may not be the only place to buy donuts, lottery tickets, ice cream bars, and whoopie cushions, but for our money, it is the best circus-themed establishment in Torrance, CA at which to do so!

Circus Do-Nuts
1500 W Carson St
Torrance, CA
(310)320-7604


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny