Robert Dunn
aka Onionhead
Clown From Da Hood
Thank you
Thank you to our dedicated Roustabouts (Donors & Volunteers) who made this exhibition possible.
LeVan Hogh
UniverSoul Circus
Megan Williams Gallagher
Northstar Cafe, San Francisco
The UNCLE JUNIOR PROJECT is a community driven digital exhibit dedicated to celebrating and sharing the inspiring stories of African American circus performers.
This exhibit was made possible by our Roustabouts. This is our community of passionate and named after the title given to people who would set up and tear down circus tents.
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Beginnings…
I hired a clown for my daughter’s birthday…
and he wasn’t very good. So the next year…
I was the clown.
I pulled my wig off and a little girl said…
THAT’S AN ONIONHEAD!
People started laughing, and I loved it.
That’s how ONIONHEAD the CLOWN was born.
Robert started performing as a clown at kids parties.
He taught himself tricks of the trade along the way.
I used to paint my face, and makeup would be running everywhere.
Then I met an older clown who taught me how to powder my face so makeup wouldn’t run.
Each One Teach One.
That’s how it is in the clown world.
Exaggerating Reality
The whole thing about being a clown is to make things BIGGER THAN LIFE.
To exaggerate things.
All my clown characters are from people I saw growing up as a child.
The security guard – the badge makes him think he’s the biggest thing in the world.
Big Mabel
The Clown Playa
The “bum” wiping your window.
Inspirations
Charlie Chaplin
I think he was the greatest clown every. People are still copying his stuff today.
Bozo The Clown
He was the first clown most of us at the time had ever heard of.
Amos & Andy
Black clowns that were an inspiration to me.
RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS
AT 56 YEARS OLD
Robert Dunn applied to work as a clown for UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS.
The nation’s only African-American owned circus company.
He was repeatedly turned down.
“I had a lot of friends tell me you can’t do it…
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM…
ONLY YOU CAN STOP YOUR DREAM”
–Robert Dunn, aka Onionhead
Onionhead was eventually hired as a cook for Universoul Circus.
I got $300 for the whole 6-7 weeks.
But that doesn’t matter – I had a passion for getting in to the circus.
THE BIG BREAK
After 5 years of working odd jobs at the circus, Onionhead was given a shot at the big top.
The excitement…
The love in the audience…
The action…
It was like a dream come true to step into the ring.
I was 56 when I started.
That’s when most people are beginning to retire…
Now I’m into my 13th year here.
What Makes A Clown A Clown?
It’s the feeling you have inside…
the laughter, the joy…
the children whose faces light up when they see you.
When people mention Onionhead years from today…
I want to be known for loving the children, the people, and the audience under the big top.
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