Museum Metadata Exchange

Names

Name PrimaryPoncho and Bubbles collection

IDs

ID LocalVC000026

ID Urihttp://emuseum.anmm.gov.au/code/emuseum.asp

Descriptions

Brief DescriptionA 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.

SignificanceIn 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.

RightsSome material included in this collection may be subject to copyright

AccessBy appointment only, please contact ANMM

NoteParts of this collection are digitised and available on the ANMM web site www.anmm.gov.au

Subjects

local1976-1995; Clowns; Cruise ships; Entertaining; Passenger vessels; Performances

scotChildren; Entertainment

person_orgHarold Tanner; Marcel Tanner

pontPerformance costumes

Coverage Spatial

TextNew Zealand; Australia; Pacific Ocean

Coverage Temporal

From1976

To1995

Related Collections

Dates

Date Record Updated2012-05-30 23:40