THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409230214
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Janelle La Bouve
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
When Tom Kuhr gets dressed for work, he spends more than an hour applying powder and paint.
When he dons his long, royal blue coat trimmed in gold braid, striped red-and-blue pants, blue-and-yellow socks, big, yellow shoes and bright-blue felt hat with a flapped-back brim, he becomes Capt. Kuhr, a pirate and a clown.
Kuhr said the character is an exaggeration of his natural appearance. The makeup only enhances his natural look.
Sometimes Kuhr makes himself up like a leprechaun for the St. Patrick's Day parade or as Santa's elfin helper during the Christmas season.
In April he retired from Civil Service and joined his wife, Kitty, in a full-time clowning business, Sunshine and Co.
There's a lot more to clowning than putting on makeup and throwing on a suit, he said. He said he works constantly to perfect his craft.
``Continual improvement is a key factor no matter whether it's clowning or not,'' he said.
The Kuhrs regularly attend clown conventions, workshops and training sessions to improve their clowning abilities. They work on their skills in mime, acting, walking on stilts, juggling, water spitting, hitting the target when throwing pies, falling down and pyrotechnic demonstrations.
To supplement their income during slow times, the two make bean bags and costumes for other clowns. Kuhr builds some of his own props. In the future he plans to market stage backdrops for other performers.
Kuhn said his interest in clowning began as a child, when he enjoyed dressing up in costume at Halloween. ``It was sort of a natural progression,'' he said.
The best part about clowning, he said, is watching people react to his antics.
``They may be having a bad day, then you wave and they smile,'' he said. ``You get lots of hugs and warm feelings. I enjoy the way it makes you feel, interacting with the kids. If I were rich, I'd be doing it for free.''
Full name: Thomas W. Kuhr
Birthdate: April 10, 1947
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
Pets: ``A ferret, two dogs, two cats, and my son has a gerbil.''
Childhood memories: ``Playing in the high school band and being a Boy Scout and making Eagle Scout.''
Children: Tommy, Mack and Andy
Occupation: ``Sunshine and Co. I work for my wife. She says that's as it should be.''
Hobbies: ``Working in the yard, puttering, building things, playing with magic and computers - just about anything.''
Last book read: ``I'm reading `The Hobbitt' by J.R.R. Tolkien. I've read it hundreds of time. I like Tolkien and science fiction and fantasy.''
Can't resist: ``Eating. I like to eat. I'm partial to soups, stews and casseroles. I like desserts, too.''
Favorite musical group: ``The Eagles. I like all kinds of music.''
Favorite movies: ``The `Star Wars' trilogy.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``Sometimes I can get grumpy, and I don't like that. I don't get grumpy around the children though.''
Greatest accomplishment: ``Raising three nice kids.''
Favorite TV program: ``I try not to spend too much time in front of the TV if I can help it.''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Taco Bell or Dairy Queen
Biggest problem facing Chesapeake: ``Traffic, especially across the Great Bridge drawbridge. And the lack of things for teenagers to do. There's nothing here.''
Favorite way to spend a day: ``Puttering.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
``I enjoy the way it makes you feel, interacting with the kids. If I
were rich, I'd be doing it for free,'' clown Tom Kuhr says.
by CNB