Leaders at the Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center were stunned on Wednesday evening, when the episode of the History Channel’s “American Pickers” television show did not include a segment on native Clintonian Frank “Felix the Clown” Adler. ‘Read more’ for statement provided by the Discovery Center.’
The episode of the show carrying the story of the late Felix and his famous circus career will now air on Wednesday, February 17, at 8 p.m., according to Sarah Lind, executive director of the children’s museum.
“After the end of the show last night, I immediately went to my computer and emailed the production company in New York City that produces the show to ask what had happened,” said Lind.
“We had previously been told our segment would air yesterday (February 10). So I wanted to find out what went wrong.”
Lind said she had a reply from the associate producer with whom she has been in contact, by 10 a.m. Thursday morning.
“Punctuated with three exclamation points was the phrase ‘A million apologies,'” Lind said. “Apparently there was a miscommunication by the (History Channel) network in it’s dealings with the production company, and the date was listed incorrectly.
“We have been assured the show on February 17, will be the episode that includes the story of Felix Adler.”
Felix Adler was a famous clown with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 to 1959, and today is the namesake of Clinton’s Children’s Discovery Center children’s museum.
Tim Dolan, Clinton resident and great-nephew of Adler, will appear on the “American Pickers” show next week, and will be seen examining and appraising a pair of vintage clown shoes. He was filmed in August of last year, when he was invited to the American Pickers business in LeClaire. There he spoke with Danielle, an American Pickers employee and show celebrity.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Dolan. “The crew was very professional and made me feel totally at ease.” Dolan spent an afternoon in LeClaire, working with the six-person television production crew out of New York.
“I am not allowed to reveal (before the show airs) what I concluded about the antique clown shoes, but what I can say is that we all had a super time and I got to share many wonderful family stories about (great-uncle) Felix and his great circus career.”
Dolan is the son of Audrey Adler Dolan, the recently deceased niece of Felix Adler. She along with her sisters Marjorie Adler Strunk, also recently deceased, and Theo Adler Smith, who still lives in Clinton, started the local children’s museum as a living tribute to their uncle. Frank “Felix” Adler was born in Clinton in 1895, and began professionally with the circus right after serving in the Army in World War I. He went on to receive national notoriety and fame and was known for never missing a performance in 28 straight years. Adler died in New York City, in 1960, from complications of a surgery.
Tim Dolan became the family caretaker of Felix’s costume and performance pieces early on. He also pays tribute to his great uncle by periodically dressing in a replica costume and make up, styled exactly after Felix’s signature look. Dolan has even allowed one set of original costume pieces and artifacts to be on long-term loan at the Children’s Discovery Center.
According to Sarah Lind, executive director of the Children’s Discovery Center, it was this awareness of Tim’s extensive knowledge that made the connection to the American Pickers.
“We were contacted last spring, by the company in New York, that produces “American Pickers,”” Lind said.
“We were told the show’s stars, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, had bought or ‘picked’ a pair of antique clown shoes from a collector in Ohio. They had been told the gigantic leather shoes used to belong to the famous clown Felix Adler. The production company was calling us to verify the claim.”
Lind said the Children’s Discovery Center staff immediately called Dolan. Not only would he be interested in such a find, they thought, but he would know how to authenticate the claim. The Children’s Discovery Center was also asked to submit photos of Felix and of the children’s museum building for possible inclusion in the show.
Lind said the episode of the television show depicting the purchase of the shoes was aired in September.
“We are very proud to have been a part of sharing this Clinton history,” said Lind. “Felix was an icon of his era, and it’s a great story to tell.”
