21/06/2024
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Leon McBryde passed away on June 18, 2024. He played an important role in the early development of Clown Camp and was a much-loved and respected Staff member.
A graduate of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he had toured with the circus before becoming one of the show’s advance clowns. Leon considered Mark Anthony and Michael “Coco” Polokov to be his mentors. He said that he learned the heart of the clown from Mark and the craft of the clown from Michael. After leaving the circus, Leon created a shopping center show called Buttons Clown Alley. Mark Anthony and Jim Howle toured as part of the Buttons Clown Alley cast.
Leon joined the Clown Camp staff in June 1984, which was 40 years ago this week.
Leon played a key role in establishing the Clown Camp on the Road weekend programs. In 1986, he was on the staff of the first two programs in San Diego, CA, and Chicago, Illinois. He was on staff for the majority of the early Clown Camp on the Road programs.
Due to his friendship with these clowns, Leon was instrumental in helping Richard Snowberg add Mark Anthony to the Clown Camp staff in 1986 and Michael Polokov, Lou Jacobs, and Jim Howle to the staff in 1987.
Leon McBryde and Barry DeChant were hired as Clown Camp Assistant Directors in 1987. They were the first to serve in those positions. Barry’s assignment was working with the instructors. Leon became the “Dean of Students,” assisting participants in solving problems they encountered.
Family was important to Leon. He was worried that if something happened to him, his wife Linda would be unable to support their two sons. He wanted to start a business for her that would provide family income. Linda was an artist. Leon had heard about a British collection of goose eggs depicting clown makeup designs. So, he started the Department of Clown Registry in the United States. Linda would preserve a clown’s makeup design on a goose egg. The person registering their design could purchase a duplicate egg that Linda would create for them. In 1987, Linda displayed her entire egg collection at Clown Camp. Her collection was displayed at Clown Camp several more times. Linda also designed a limited-edition set of children’s furniture. The round table was painted like a sunburst circus wagon. The chairs had box seats and a solid back and depicted Leon McBryde, Don Burda, and Richard Snowberg.
Leon tried to find a need and meet it. He knew that clowns needed a nose, so he began ProNose. Clowns could purchase premade noses, or Leon would create a custom nose that fit their actual nose exactly. When the number of people with latex allergies increased, Leon developed a latex-free nose. He taught clown nose-making classes at Clown Camp. He knew that many people wanted large clown shoes, so he began selling them.
Leon felt that makeup companies did not pay enough attention to the needs of clowns. He worked with a makeup company to develop his own line of products known as ProFace. He realized that different colors of makeup provide varying degrees of sunblock. Flesh colors provided the least protection from the sun, so he developed an Auguste base that contained sunblock. That was particularly useful for clowns who performed outside for many hours at fairs, festivals, and amusement parks. He developed a greaseless makeup remover that was better for your skin.
Leon eventually developed a full-size mannequin head with realistic plastic skin for face painters to use while practicing their art.
After retiring from clowning and becoming a Santa with a real beard, Leon began producing accessories for the top-of-the-line Santa wardrobe.
At Clown Camp, Leon excelled at being on the panel for Video Review sessions that were offered during the early years. Three staff members observed a participant's performance, and then the participant watched the recording while the staff members critiqued the act. Leon was able to gently suggest improvements that greatly improved the participant's act.
Leon served several times on panels of staff members discussing their circus experience. Instead of bragging about what he had accomplished, he would tell stories about clowns that he had appeared with. For example, he said that Otto Griebling had lost his voice due to throat cancer before Leon joined the circus. When they arrived in a new arena, Otto would take Leon off to the side and point at the ceiling. Not sure what he was supposed to be looking for, Leon would look up and say, “That’s nice, Otto.” Then, in one arena, Otto pointed upwards and shook his head no. He took off his putty nose and threw it up so that it stuck to the ceiling. What Otto had been pointing to in the other arenas was a glob of nose putty stuck to the ceiling, proving that he had performed there previously.
Special Clown Camp memories were always made when Leon and Earl Chaney performed the "Busy Bee" sketch for Clown Campers over the years. The audience was always filled with laughter and tears of joy.
Leon told one story every time he talked about Mark Anthony. He would say, “Everyone was in a hurry to get out of makeup and costume because we had been invited to a party after the show. A little boy was standing next to the bandstand. As I was going through the performer’s curtain, I looked back. Everyone had ignored the boy except for Mark Anthony. Mark was kneeling, talking to the boy. I learned about the heart of the clown from Mark.”
Leon’s last year on Clown Camp staff was in 1991. He then began his own clown education program, Advanced Studies, and was involved in conventions and other training opportunities for clowns. After he began portraying Santa, he taught at Santa conventions.
He was often referred to as a gentle giant. He spent a lot of time encouraging other clowns to strive for their potential. His great joy while he was performing spread to other entertainers and his audience.
Leon McBryde was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame and into the Santa Hall of Fame.
We are grateful to Leon for his many contributions to Clown Camp and to the Campers. RIP Leon.
Written by Bruce “Charlie” Johnson
