The Auguste Clown.

About 120 years ago in a circus somewhere in Berlin a young acrobat, Tom Belling was banned from the circus for a month because of his endless practical jokes on fellow performers. Tom had a hard time dealing with his punishment and missed the sounds and noises of the circus ring.
He found an old wig, put on an oversized coat back to front and slipped on a pair of way oversized shoes.
He slipped into the tent sure that nobody would see or recognise him. He wso much enjoyed the show that he didn't notice somebody standing next to him. It was the circus boss who laughed at him and (playfully) slapped Tom on his back. In an desperate effort to try to get away from the circus owner, Tom stumble over the ring curb abd fell into the ring. The audience thought it's all part of the show. They roared with laughter at Tom's desperate attempt at "escaping" and shouted "auguste, auguste" which is a German slang word or nick name for a clumsy clod. The audience enjoyed the fun so much that it became an act which Tom thereafter performed night after night. It is generally known and accepted that Tom Belling was the first version of the Auguste clown.

To this date the Auguste is a very popular and loved clown in circusses and other venues of clowning all over the world.
Auguste clowns are known for their colorful and mostly "outlandish" and oversized suits, a neck tie that is too long or too short or an oversized or undersized bow tie. The term "normal" doesn't exsists in the Auguste's wardrobe. Bright colored wigs, bulbeous plastic or rubber red nose and oversized shoes complete the outfit.
Wigs comes in different styles such as bald, straight hair, curly hair and others and sometimes the Auguste might wear a skull cap to simulate baldness.

In most cases white, red, flesh tone and black would be the colors used in an Auguste's make-up. The areas around and above the eyes are usually white as is the area around the mouth. (Also known as the muzzle area) Red (or sometimes black) is used on the lower lip and sometimes in each corner of the mouth. Redish cheeks or red spots on the cheeks and a red nose. Black liner is generally used to highlight the white areas, the white areas functions the same way as would a spotlight be when shined on the face.

Generally the August is not as intelligent as the Whiteface but he finds his way around problems in a playful or surprisingly different way or approach. Most of the times their approach towards a problem would be the wrong way around with a surprisingly, and not allways predictable, yet unexpected solution.

Over the years the Auguste clown has seen some changes. The typical European Auguste has more natural flesh colored make-up and not such an outlandishly colorful costume as it's American brother/sister clown. But even in the America's there is a seemingly and noticeable change towards the more European style of Auguste. This is almost a more "natural appearance" than the sometimes almost extreme appearance from Auguste's from years gone by.
Even wigs are done away with and your own hair is used in this more "modern" version of the Auguste.
There is however still not a definate name for this style, there's still some consensus to be reach, but this style of Auguste is sometimes refered to as European style of Auguste, or for those Americans that can't deal with that term rather refer to it as Auguste lite.

Whatever you want to name them, Auguste's in general are much loveable characters and almost allways spells "LAUGHTER" in capital letters.
My clowncharacter BUBBELS is a typical example of the older and more American version of the Auguste. I very much love this Auguste character of mine and it has been part of me for over 22 years and I will never stop doing him
My other character, UNCLE SCRAPPY perhaps can also been seen as an European Auguste and I have indeed received such complimants from both American and British clowns while I was performing as Uncle Scrappy in America during 2005 and 2008. When I get to discuss the character clown I will probably refer to Uncle Scrappy again.

So don't go to far away from the South African Clown Forum because you still have to see what the tramp/hobo/bum clowns AND the character clowns are up to.