Fearless Funnymen: A History of the Rodeo Clown by Gail Hughbanks Woerner (PB)

Author Gail Woerner used her life-long 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 world of the rodeo clown are included -- how the profession began, comedy acts created by the rodeo clowns, the animals they trained so masterfully, the evolution of the profession. Other aspects include bullfighting, development of the barrel, injuries which 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 along with the years of performance. Other information includes honors and awards given these hilarious risk-taking heroes.