Published: May 15, 2008 04:40 pm         

Schwind clowns her way to artisans' recognition

Bev Schwind, aka Patches the Rag Doll Clown, will be the Artisan of the Month at the CACE meeting on June 4. Most people would not think of clowning as an art form, but there is much artistry involved in not only the costumes and makeup, but also in the creation of the varied routines.

“Laughter is a great healer. So long as a patient can laugh, there is hope of life continuing.” Bev Schwind is a strong believer in this tenet. When Schwind lived in Port Clinton, Ohio, she became aware of the need for laughter in the lives of youngsters. She and a friend, Sue, started working as clowns in various churches and schools in northwest Ohio.

Schwind and friend developed their clown personae as Patches and Pockets, the Rag Doll Clowns. Schwind became a blonde pigtailed doll, wearing a patchwork print jumper, and Sue wore the costume of bib overalls with many different sized pockets. She wore a wildly tousled red wig. They worked with the sheriff’s department and the school systems promoting the “Just Say No” program against drug use. Schwind and Sue rapidly developed an increasingly larger “fan club” and, in 1970, they were encouraged to audition for a children’s show on television. Television was still a “toddler” in many homes and there were more than a few children’s shows with a live studio audience, in the Toledo, Ohio, area. Schwind and Sue were hired for an eight week stay to see if they could come up with sufficient material to sustain a longer period of time. Schwind recalls that “television eats a lot of material,” just as the general manager of one of the Cleveland channels warned them. They began to keep a file of successful acts and, 18 years later, when they retired from their clown program, they took all of their material and sold it to school catalogues who still market their work.

Schwind summed up those eighteen years by remarking, “Making people laugh and forget their troubles for a short while is a rewarding experience.” A special highlight was the Emmy Award they won for their show called “Kids Have Rights, Too.”

As Sue and Schwind developed their personae, they enjoyed many unusual experiences. They had dinner with “Captain Kangaroo,” a character developed by Bob Keeshan, who entertained and educated pre-school youngsters across the United States. They visited on the Phil Donahue Show and also met with Jim Hensen of hand puppet fame. The two clowns became honorary ringmasters at a Barnum and Bailey Circus presentation in Toledo. They skated with characters from Disney’s Holiday on Ice at the Toledo Sports Arena, were grand marshals of many parades in northwest Ohio and even entertained at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. “We handed out the awards for the Special Olympics in Ohio for many years. It was one of our favorite events,” recalls Schwind.

Patches and Pockets appeared at women’s retreats and conferences, teaching the importance of laughter. They also made two appearances on the Pat Robinson show. Copies of these two loving clowns are available on DVD and videos to continue entertaining youngsters in their homes. Contact Schwind directly at bevschwind@hotmail.com for a list of available videos.

Since moving to Tennessee 15 years ago, Schwind has performed in the schools as Granny Patch, with a message against drug abuse. She has been a part of the Kids Corner at the Cumberland Playhouse outdoor festival and played the part of the Easter Bunny in Fairfield Glade for ten years.

In recent years, Schwind has turned to writing. She writes a “Patches of Life” column for the Glade Sun. She has written two religion-based books, Shira’s Song and Shira’s Dance. Her third book, which is in the publication process, is a children’s story and promises to be as popular and her first two books. Schwind, with her ready laugh and wonderful smile, brightens the world around her.

Many enthusiastic followers of Patches and Pockets have more than a few grey hairs now, but the memories of their two clown friends still brightens the day. Laughter is funny that way. The memory of joy lingers long after “the curtain closes at the end of the show.”

Come to the CACE meeting on Wednesday, June 4, at 10 a.m., at Crossville City Hall to meet Patches and her alter-ego, Bev Schwind. You will find out about the world of clowning and how it makes this world a better place to live. Stay for the meeting, after the presentation, and learn how Cumberland Artists for Creative Expression (CACE) is planning to make Cumberland County a better place to live by promoting the arts in all the various forms. For more information, you can check their Web site at www.cumberlandart.com.