Fearless Funnymen: The History of the Rodeo Clown

Author Gail Woerner used her lifelong association with the rodeo world to research and write a history of this paradoxical profession that requires a laugh-getter dressed in baggy britches and wearing a clown face to put his life in jeopardy to protect cowboys from the dangerous Brahma bulls, and sometimes death. All aspects of the rodeo clown world are included -- how the profession began, the comedy acts created by rodeo clowns, the animals they trained so masterfully, and the evolution of the profession. Other aspects include bullfighting, development of the barrel, injuries that are a part of the job, frustrations in organizing, a cowboy clown's role in the world of rodeo, how sponsors changed the profession, how specialized the bullfighter has become, and today's fearless funnymen. Information has been gathered from hundreds of rodeo clowns, bullfighters, and barrelmen, plus interviews with wives, sons and daughters, friends, and co-workers. Included are more than 700 rodeo clowns, their hometowns, and the years of performance. Other information includes honors and awards given to these hilarious risk-taking heroes.

Author BioGail Woerner was born and raised on a ranch in northeastern Colorado and worked with cattle and broke horses with her grandfather. She has written several books on the history of rodeo, a children's book on rodeo and numerous articles in various western-related magazines and periodicals including magazines in France, Canada and Australia. She also reviews other writer's books several times a year, and continually answers questions about rodeo from e-mail queries from around the globe.Gail is the Chairman of the Rodeo Clown Reunion which is held at various rodeos across the nation and generally has forty retired laugh-getters, bullfighters and barrelmen attend. They don their familiar make-up and costumes and sign autographs and entertain the fans. She also writes a newsletter to numerous retired rodeo clowns and their widows monthly.