Hey y’all,
On a recent episode of Monroe Today, my good pal Gilda Stanbery hosted Lee Andrews, just in time for the holiday season. He’s a Monroe County-born and raised in High Falls, who is known for his talent as a professional clown. Y’all heard me right, he’s one of those clowns you see all over the US at local events with the bright red nose, always cheering everyone right up. Now, with the holiday season here, grab yourself a cup of eggnog and some delicious cookies while I tell you more about this local legend.
Early Beginnings in Clowning
You may be thinkin’ to yourself right now about how someone discovers they want to be a clown when they grow up. Lee Andrews shared that as a young boy, he would look forward to watchin’ The Bozo Super Sunday Show on Sunday mornings. At just three years old, he told his dad that he wanted to be a clown just like his friend Bozo. While his family didn’t have a lick of entertainment in their bloodline, they supported his dream once they realized he wasn’t kiddin’ around. From there, his parents started takin’ him to workshops and local conventions to help Lee learn everything he needed to know about the profession of clowning. What really helped teach him the trick of the trade was going to McNair Amusements, as the troupe of clowns there took him in and helped give him a mighty fine beginning to his clown education.
The Academy of Clown Arts
From there, Lee continued with learnin’ just what it means to be a clown. Lee also graduated from Mary Persons High School. As he grew into his craft, Lee met a variety of clown experts includin’ Steve “Peachey Keene” Long, who would forever shape his life. Steve was an integral founder of The Academy of Clown Arts back in 2011, located in Newark, Ohio. Lee became a teacher at the camp and taught there every year until around 2015. At this point, the camp was likely going to have to shut down so Lee decided to take it over with his wife Rebecca Andrews and another gentleman. They moved locations for the camp around but are now officially callin’ the Timberlake Retreat Center in Forsyth its home base.
Where Clown and Santa Professionals Come Together
The Academy of Clown Arts has become a global phenomenon, bringin’ people from all over the world, includin’ places like Germany and Japan! The basis of the camp is an intensive training schedule over the course of a week that’s taught by fellow skilled instructors. Here, professional clowns come to learn how to become the best performers out there through love and support, as Lee shared! This school is also home to The Academy of Christmas Artists, which is a program to help Santa professionals learn their holiday craft! From workshops and lectures to off-site events and more, both schools help professionals to be the best that they can. I don’t know about y’all but I had no idea that Forsyth was an educational center for clowns and Santa professionals! Lee shared that the camp is, “a labor of love, my wife and I don’t take a paycheck, we do it solely because we love the art and want to help people.” It takes a certain type of person to help others in their field solely because they love the industry.
ProKNOWS
Now that’s not all folks because on top of running the camp, Lee has also opened up a shop on the Square in downtown Forsyth, called ProKNOWS. This business was actually started in 1979 by Lee’s good friend and mentor Leon McBryde who was a well-known figure in the clown industry. Leon worked with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus and was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. Along with clowning and startin’ ProKNOWS, which handcrafted the iconic red clown nose you see amongst performers, he also took up bein’ Santa! After his passin’, Lee took over the business Leon’s wife’s blessing, addin’ another excitin’ addition to Lee and his wife’s lives. Today, Lee’s wife Rebecca, handcrafts the noses herself plus makes all of Lee’s costumes, has a full-time job as a nurse practitioner, and is an awesome Mom. Talk about being a talented lady! Lee shared that, “I’m about 10% of the reason I’m successful and she’s 90% of the reason!” when talkin’ about Ms. Rebecca.
The Life of a Performer
Today, Lee stays busy with the clown school, runnin’ ProKNOWS, and does around 600 shows all over the US a year! He has even taken on the role of Santa, where he heads to Miami the week before Thanksgiving and stays until Christmas Day to work corporate events and celebrity parties. During this time, he also flies back and forth to Monroe County to see his family, help with the shop and make house calls as Santa. It’s truly a busy life for a performer like Lee! As for ProKNOWS, Lee and his wife are hopeful that the store will be able to open for customers in the near future. For now, it serves as a workshop for Rebecca to paint the noses and as a storage space for all the products. However, their dream is to open it with normal hours and become a place where clown and Santa professionals can take workshops throughout the year.
Now I don’t want to give away all of this Monroe Today episode. You can give it a listen down below! It’s truly an incredible story about one of Monroe County’s unique residents,Lee Andrews, who has such a love for our community. We are indeed fortunate to have Lee as our community ambassador of joy and hope, mixed in with a little silliness!
‘Til Next Time,
Your Storyteller
