Ed Alberian

Edwin Haig Alberian (January 21, 1920 – March 31, 1997) was a stage and television actor and entertainer who began his career in off-Broadway and Broadway productions,[1][2] and moved into the nascent television industry, where his work was oriented to children's programming and clowning. Alberian played the Clarabell the Clown for public appearances[3] and on the television show Howdy Doody appeared as Professor Gusbags, as well other characters such as Doaky the Clown, on Let's Have Fun and The Beachcomber Bill Show.[4][5] Alberian was frequently asked to do the original live performances of animated or promotional characters. Projects in which he worked include appearances as Bozo and in The Banana Splits. He was also the side-kick and chaperone, Sir Clacky Wack, to Sunbeam Bakeries mascot Little Miss Sunbeam.[6][7][8] In these numerous roles he often played master of ceremonies at variety shows and fundraisers and was introduced to many prominent figures, including President Truman.[9] In 1958, he copyrighted the persona of Dokey the Clown, which developed through his career.[10][11][12] On a private trip to Armenia he was seen entertaining local children and, in 1988, after some years of semi-retirement, was invited to Soviet Armenia to promote cultural exchange.[13]

Education and personal life

Alberian was born Edwin Haig Alberian in New York on January 21, 1920. Alberian was of Armenian descent, his family having arrived in the United States as part of the Armenian diaspora.[14] He attended New York University and Columbia University,[9] where he studied science and chemistry and received a degree in perfumery. He later graduated from Juilliard School and chose a career as performer.

He married and lived in Weehawken, New Jersey with his wife Marie (née Hekimian) with whom he had two children.[15] Alberian died March 31, 1997[16] and is buried at Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen.[17]

References
  1. "Helen Goes to Troy – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB".
  2. Berger, Meyer (December 3, 1954). "About New York; Minerva Stands in Eternal Salute to Liberty From Brooklyn Cemetery -- Man Goes Places". The New York Times.
  3. "Clarabell the Clown". TV Acres. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  4. "Let's Have Fun / NYC TV New York City Local TV Stars". www.tvparty.com.
  5. www.toonarific.com accessdate = December 10, 2009
  7. "Patty Michaels". www.spectropop.com.
  8. "Shorty Long, Sunbeam Girl on Fall Festival program". The Sunday Courier-Press. Evansville, Indiana.
  9. Shain, Percey (1973). "Clown Broke Family Tradition". Boston Globe.
  10. Office, Library of Congress Copyright (July 27, 1958). "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series" – via Google Books.
  11. "Opera News, Volume 39". Metropolitan Opera Guild. 1974. Many youngsters had their first taste of opera March 25–29 at Bergen Mall , Paramus , N. J. , when Dokey the Clown presented " Funopera Bopera . " Lovable Dokey ( Eddie Alberian ) treated his audience to a mixed bag of circus antics and... {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. "Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Patents". U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. July 28, 1975 – via Google Books.
  13. Parisi, Albert J (May 22, 1988), "Clown to Visit Soviet", New York Times, p. 12, retrieved December 10, 2009
  14. "Collections & Exhibitions". Holocaust and Genocide Studies | College of Liberal Arts.
  15. Stancavish, Don (April 2, 1997), "Edwin Alberian was TV's Clarabell", The Record
  16. VIPatients w/ photo accessdate = December 10, 2009
  17. Passantino, Joseph (October 27, 2013). "Seven cemeteries". Hudson Reporter.
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