Names
Poncho and Bubbles collection
IDs
VC000026
http://emuseum.anmm.gov.au/code/emuseum.asp
Descriptions
A collection of approximately 80 items relating to cruising clowns Harold Tanner and Marcelle Rose, who performed as Poncho and Bubbles on Pacific cruises from the 1970s until the 1990s. The collection includes clown suits, accessories and makeup worn by Poncho and Bubbles, toys and props used in their performances, and programs and photographs promoting their work on Sitmar and P&O cruise liners.
In 1976 a scout and agent for Sitmar Cruises saw Poncho and Bubbles, the Tanner and Rose Clowns, performing. He was so impressed that he recommended them as entertainers for the FAIRSKY Christmas/New Year cruise in 1976/1977. Poncho and Bubbles liked to work close to their audience. Their trademark show was to transform themselves from Harold and Marcelle into Poncho and Bubbles while on stage. They would perform this act on nearly every school holiday cruise until the 1990s, when changes to cruise liner operations meant that less money was being spent on entertainers such as clowns. Their last show was on FAIRSTAR in 1995. The Poncho and Bubbles collection is representative of a period when performers like clowns were fashionable entertainment for children on cruise liners. Today Poncho and Bubbles remain one of the longest running clown shows in Australia.
Some material included in this collection may be subject to copyright
By appointment only, please contact ANMM
Parts of this collection are digitised and available on the ANMM web site www.anmm.gov.au
Subjects
1976-1995; Clowns; Cruise ships; Entertaining; Passenger vessels; Performances
Children; Entertainment
Harold Tanner; Marcel Tanner
Performance costumes
Coverage Spatial
New Zealand; Australia; Pacific Ocean
Coverage Temporal
1976
1995
Related Collections
Dates
2012-05-30 23:40