As he stepped into the long, shiny trailer, Bert Davis, a.k.a. the Coppertown Clown, throws a coat over his colourful shirt, his face paint still perfectly in place despite the rain and snow he's endured over the last few hours.
In his 36 years as a rodeo clown, 52-year-old Davis has seen it all. From rain to sleet to sunshine, he has one goal in mind: entertain the crowd.
"I've performed in 41 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces and Australia," said Davis, sitting on a small set of stairs that leads to the bedroom for he, his wife Fran, and three of the 14 dogs they travel with as part of Davis's act. "After 36 years, I've fulfilled most of my dreams."
Davis grew up in Oakdale, Calif., where he saw his first rodeo at six years old. He said the fun and the dangers of being a rodeo clown appealed to him, leading to his first rodeo gig as a bullfighter rodeo clown in 1974 at the age of 16, the youngest on the rodeo circuit.
From there, Davis said he learned from what he called the best in the business, including such famous clowns as the late Jimmy 'Jungle' Anderson and Wilbur Plaugher, who Davis said taught him a vital lesson about being a successful rodeo clown.
"He said, 'The only thing I will tell you is that you need to work with animals or kids and people will love you,'" said Davis.
Currently, Davis performs as the Coppertown Clown from Copperopolis, Calif., where he once lived for a portion of his adult life. His dogs are known as the Muttley Crew, and 10 of the 14 perform with Davis during intermissions between events at rodeos. The whole group travels together in their 34-foot trailer, visiting various locations through the year to perform.
Kid who wanted to do good
Davis said he prepares for the show two hours beforehand, getting dressed while his wife gets the dogs out and fed. An hour before the show he puts on his grease-paint makeup, creating a white-cheeked, red-faced clown. Aside from the dogs, making fun of himself is the best way to entertain others, he said.
"I pick on myself, being the fat, old man," he said. "I also try to catch up on local stuff and incorporate that into my act."
For Davis, the Coppertown Clown is a version of himself that never grew up. His clown persona is a kid who wasn't good at sports, but great at making people laugh at him, he said.
"He's a kid that always wanted to do good. I can make people laugh and enjoy themselves."
The dogs in his act are shelter, stray and abandoned animals that he has picked up during his travels, saving a total of 24 dogs in 15 years. Aside from the 14 that travel with him, he has three more puppies being trained to bring into the act. Fran said the dogs are well trained, as it's the only way they can manage 10 dogs in the arena without worry.
"Our kids are so good. They know where they go, they know what to do, everything," said Fran.
"They're our friends, our family, my co-workers," added Davis. "It's just such a routine, that we just do it."
Welcome addition
Jim Oscroft, chairman of the rodeo committee for the St. Albert Kinsmen, said the Rainmaker's usual clown recommended Davis. The committee decided to hire him after seeing his resume and some clips of his work on YouTube. Oscroft added he liked the addition of the dogs to the act, and enjoyed watching his act in person over the rodeo weekend.
"He's a great, welcome addition," said Oscroft. "I could tell he would be a great feature for our rodeo."
Davis and his dogs may also be featured on the reality television show America's Got Talent, which Davis said they tried out for a few weeks ago. He couldn't say if they made it beyond the audition process for the show, but added that regardless of how the show turns out, he and the Muttley Crew will keep going on with their rodeo show and hopes he can come back in a year to entertain the crowds in St. Albert again.
"I love doing what I do," he said. "I've enjoyed my life."
To view photos of Davis working with his dogs, see page 28.
