Bruce Charlie Johnson
Bruce Johnson began performing as Charlie The Juggling Clown in 1974. He combines juggling, magic, chalk talks (trick cartoons), origami, pantomime, puppetry, and audience interaction to create his own performance style. He is particularly known for his rapport with people of all ages and his interaction with audience volunteers. His performances all reveal the heart of a clown. Whether performing for one child or thousands of adults, he strives to always present the best possible clown entertainment.
Charlie is truly a clown for children of all ages, including the grown up kind. Younger children respond to his gentleness. He earns the respect of older children, who have reached the age of skepticism, by demonstrating his skill. Adults in particular enjoy his skill and interaction with children. A common comment after one of his performances is, “I don’t know who enjoyed him the most, the adults or the children.” Charlie frequently entertains audiences composed entirely of adults using strictly clean material.
In 2017, he became a Foley Artist performing live sound effects for recreations of old time radio shows and other shows in the classic radio style.
Bruce has thousands of hours of experience. He toured with circuses for over six seasons, appeared at the Raging Waters amusement park for eleven years, appeared as a street performer at Ports O’ Call for ten years, and has performed at festivals, birthday parties, and on stage.
Bruce is a well respected author. He was a Senior Columnist for the Laugh-Makers Variety Arts Magazine. He has also written columns for The Cross and The Clown, Clowning Around, published by the World Clown Association, and White Tops, published by the Circus Fans Association of America. He has had articles appear in many other variety arts magazines. His “One Man Parade” appeared in the November 2022 issue of The Linking Ring, published by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Bruce is known as a variety arts historian.
In 1990, he introduced his Tramp Tradition show in which he performs his version of routines associated with Tramp clowns, beginning with McIntyre and Heath in 1875, while a narrator provides the historical context and significance of the routines. In 1993, Bruce presented a paper on the history of American clowning at the World Clown Congress in Harnosand, Sweden. (Only four speakers were selected for the congress. Bruce was the only person to both speak and perform at the congress.) He has written extensively on variety arts history. For six years, he wrote and published The Clown In Times, a quarterly journal dedicated to clown history. He was the official World Clown Association Historian from 2009 through 2016. He is currently the Clown Camp Historian.
Bruce’s first book, Comedy Techniques for Entertainers, was published by Visual Magic in 1988. He has written many lecture note pamphlets. In 2005, his Creativity for Entertainers trilogy was published. Comedy Techniques for Variety Artists: Creativity for Enterainers Volume Four was published in 2022. It is a greatly expanded version of his first book. The Creative Process for Variety Artists: Creativity for Entertainers Volume One Second Edition was published in 2024. Again it is a greatly expanded version of the first edition.
In addition to writing his books, he illustrates them with pen and ink drawings.
Bruce’s recognitions include Laugh-Makers Magazine Contributor of the Year, Clown Camp Red Nose Philosopher, Clown Ministry Impact Award, and the World Clown Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an Eagle Scout.
Contact Bruce
You can contact Bruce at clownjuggler@comcast.net
You can follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/brucecharlie.johnson/
Bruce also has a private Facebook group for owners of Comedy Techniques for Variety Artist. He posts examples of comedy techniques. links to recordings of radio shows referred to in the book, and additional exercises. You can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/9038922369467353
To subscribe to Bruce’s Thought for the Week internet newsletter go to https://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=0017aa0wUARcS5Xn5JcQF4xJqNJezBfIaQ5p84sSvQ-o_q3TGhXlxtLvy10-eoBrqkQcxkJPkjd3OJRE8zt31gLGU8ay8VTTxry