At 92, Ernest Borgnine is an American cultural icon. His filmography as an actor runs to nearly 200 films and TV shows, starting with 1951's "China Corsair" and including classics like "From Here to Eternity" and "The Wild Bunch."
But in Milwaukee, Ernie Borgnine's a clown. And I say that with all due respect. As the face of the Great Circus Parade -- along with long-time supporter, the late Ben Barkin -- Borgnine's role as the parade-leading clown at the Circus Parade has created a special bond between the actor and a city in which many of us have grown up with Ernie the clown.
Now that the Parade returns after a five-year break, it's only fitting that Ernest Borgnine be center-stage at the big event which takes place Downtown on Saturday, July 12.
We had the chance to ask Borgnine about the parade, Milwaukee and his role as beloved circus clown ...
OnMilwaukee.com: Are you excited to come back to Milwaukee for the rebirth of the Circus Parade?
Ernest Borgnine: Yes, I am very excited.
OMC: Were you disappointed that it was on hiatus for awhile?
EB: Naturally ... me and several million Milwaukeeans.
OMC: I assume you have a lot of memories of Circus Parades past, but is there a fond memory that stands out?
EB: Yes and I will give them to you in this order:
- I will miss Ben Barkin always! No one could do the kind of job he did for the success of the parade.
- I miss the smell and the fun of the parade itself.
- Jake's.
OMC: What's at the top of your must-do in Milwaukee list?
EB: To visit the Brewers, which is always a fun thing, and I will be throwing out the first ball at Saturday night's game.
OMC: It seems that everyone I talk to outside Milwaukee associates you with your films. But here, everyone thinks of you in terms of the parade. Is it true that everyone loves a clown?
EB: This is why I think that more people should try the clown business ... especially politicians.
OMC: Time doesn't seem to have slowed you down much -- this year alone you were on two episodes of "ER," you've got a recent film and three more in some phase of production. Do you ever think of taking it a little easier?
EB: Yes, that is why I come to Milwaukee (and) the Great Circus Parade.
OMC: Will you keep on clowning around at the Circus Parade as long as you can, too?
EB: Anyone in his right mind who wouldn't like to be a clown must have something missing. I have made more friends being a clown than just being Ernie Borgnine.
I look forward to one of the greatest and most wonderful circus parades in the world!
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
