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

Get Your FREAK On: Just Your Average Family Freak Show!!!

Last weekend we celebrated some family birthdays, namely Mary and my nephew, Patrick.  Their birthdays are just a few days apart, so we decided a co-birthday party was the right way to go.  Typically, I'm not big on themed anything - rooms, parties, restaurants.  Unless, of course, the theme is Side Show Freaks!  Prepare yourselves for a picture-heavy post!

The genesis of our party was a slide we saw during a Big Retro Slide Show by Charles Phoenix .  The slide featured a mid-century image of a carousel birthday cake.  I was bound and determined to make such a cake and feature it on the blog.  Mary insisted that I wait and save the cake for an actual event, the kind of event where people gather and celebrate a birth by indulging in cake.  A birthday party was born!!!

The cake wasn't exactly like this, but you get the idea.
I almost wish I had seen this photo before we started...I guess I'll
just have to make another carousel cake.

As we mulled over the possibilities for such a party, I decided that a circus theme was just a little too square.  Considering myself rather hep, I tend to shy away from anything hip, I reckoned a side show party (a bit trendy) would allow for a little bit of circus (for the 2-year-old) and a little bit of freak show (for the 19-year-old). 

Before entering the "Big Top," party-goers were stopped for a photo-op 

behind our hand-painted side show posters.

Details of The Tattooed Lady. 

I doubt I'll be getting any offers to appear on LA Ink.

The "Big Top" was the dining room where the centerpiece was the
aforementioned carousel cake.  We hung streamers to recreate the tent ceiling.

A close up of the cake.
I made the carousel canopy from striped fabric and gold ric rac
stretched across a doll's parasol frame that we found at a discount store.
The poles are paper straws that held the birthday candles.

A side show wouldn't be complete without side show performers.
The matriarch and patriarch of our Family Freak Show and
our assortment of human oddities!

The Snake Charmer

The Birthday Boy, a reluctant Strong Man

The Circus Geek

Mr. Tiny,  Circus Geek (or maybe just a regular geek)

The Gypsy Fortune Teller

The Tattooed Lady & The Elephant Man

The Bearded Lady

The Bird Man

A Living Mermaid
(not of the Fiji variety)

The Human Blockhead

Real Siamese Twins

Schlitzie, The Pinhead

Twins of a different Nature

The Big Cat Tamer

Every guest was encouraged to have their fortune told.
After gazing into the crystal ball, and examining their palms, our fortune teller
presented earnest seekers with their fortune in the form of a fortune cookie!

I used my vintage ceramic caddies/valets to serve candy.  Now that's a hungry, hungry hippo!!!

We replaced many of our photos with pictures of our lesser-known family
 members including, The Dog-Face Boy, Alligator Boy, and The Tattooed Lady.

We filled in the nooks and crannies with my collection of carnival chalkware.

My favorite part was the candy table which featured popcorn, peanuts, pretzels,
penny candy, circus peanuts, circus animal cookies, red vines, swirled lollipops,
cotton candy, chocolate, and so much more.

The candy table was presided over by our second birthday cake,
The BEARDED LADY CAKE!!!

The backyard was strung with lights and balloons and set the
stage for hot dogs and lemonade, our Bearded Lady DJ,
and a set by the ultimate freak show, Thee Cormans!

The plan was to have Mary and the Birthday Boy blow out the candles together,
but by this point in the evening, he had given up, so Mary was left to her own devices.
Given her technique, I think we were lucky to have a spittle shield built into the cake!

Like I said, he had given up.
Somewhere in the world there is a stark-naked Strong Man running around. 

Fish out of water - a reclining mermaid

A detail of her be-shelled hair comb.

Who invited the regular folks?!!!
Charles, Jody, and Kevin representing the non-freak faction.
No matter, "Gooble gobble, gooble, gobble, we accept you, one of us!"

There's a joke here that's just dying for a punch line;
So The Elephant Man, a Mermaid, and a Tattooed Lady
walk into a bar....

Would you believe that the geek on the right is a vegetarian, chicken sitter?

I'm pretty sure this was the happiest day of her life!

Love this pic!

No matter where I went, their eyes seemed to follow me!

It just wouldn't be a Mr. Tiny production without a fireside sing-a-long.

We were even treated to some punkin' strummin' by the newly-
bifurcated Siamese Twin, Amber Foxx.

It might not have been "The GREATEST Show on Earth," but it
was a real wing ding and a heck-of-a-lot of fun.

A HUGE Thank you to all in attendance!  I really didn't think anyone was going to get dressed up, but everyone truly outdid themselves with spectacular variety and aplomb!  Can't wait till the side show blows back into town again!

Once again, the well-framed, well-lit, well-composed photographs are courtesy of Jessica Stopnik Photography.  I am hopeless behind a camera (not to mention in front) and I rely on her great skill and talent.

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny