Biography of Dime & Connie Wilson, tramp and circus clowns respectively, who performed in a variety of American circuses in the 20th century
Gilbert “Dime” Wilson (Oct. 3 1913 – July 24 1990)
The Wilson family have been in the circus business for many generations. Dime was born on the Elmer Jones 2-Car Show circus train as it passed near Detroit, Mi. As a young man, he performed with his father, Gil. In his early years Dime did trapeze, trampoline and animal acts before developing his clown character. Originally a whiteface clown, around 1940 he transitioned to his famous hobo clown character, where he spent the bulk of his career.
He worked on many of the nation’s shows including:Mighty Haag, Polack Bros., Gentry-Patterson, Sells-Floto, Sparks, Barnett, Wallace, Barney, Christy, Hoxie Bros., Clyde Beatty, Rudy Bros. For 30 years he presented a table rock act.
Constance Arlene (Doile) Wilson (Nov., 1920 – Jul. 31, 1997)
Connie Doile began her circus career as an aerialist on her uncle’s circus. Connie continued her aerial artisty until after a bad fall, her husband Dime convinced her to keep her feet on the ground. That is when she became Dime’s “white face“clown partner “Willie”.
Timeline
- 1913 – Dime was born on the Elmer Jones 2-Car Show circus train
- 1929 – performing at a whiteface clown with the Sells-Floto Circus, age 16
- 1931 approximately – Gil Wilson and his son Dime performing as clowns
- 1939 – Dime Wilson performing as a whiteface clown
- 1939 – Dime and Connie meet while performing at the Seal Brothers circus
- 1940 – on New Years Eve, Dime and Connie marry
- 1940’s-50’s – working at various times for Hamid-Shrine, Clyde Beatty circuses
- 1940 (roughly) – Dime changed from a whiteface to a hobo clown
- 1942 – Polack Brothers Shrine Circus
- 1946 – Dime performing in the Clown Band from The Sparks Circus
- 1949 – Appearing with the Polack Brothers Shrine Circus
- 1950’s – Dime and Connie Wilson did their “Balloon Circus” come-in on the Shrine circuit for many years
- 1950’s – Appearing with the Hamid-Morton Ballet & Clown Alley
- March 25, 1974 – DIME WILSON is the producing clown on Hamid-Worton Circus
- October 8-12, 1965 – appearing with the Hamid Shrine Circus in Boston
- 1976-77 – Appearing with the Hamid-Morton circus
- 1978 – Appearing with the Hella Temple Shrine Circus.
- 1979 – Hamid-Morton Circus
- 1990 – Dime passes away
- 1997 – Connie passes away
- 2010 – The Dime Wilson Family is inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame
“He clowned for a lifetime while helping raise a half-dozen future circus stars. Paired with his wife, Connie, who was one of the first performing female clowns, the couple amused audiences on more than 30 shows over half a century while also bringing five talented daughters and a son into the circus world. All of the offspring, Penny, Trudy, Joanne, Linda, Donna and Dime, Jr. pursued circus careers and became notable performers, specializing in clowning, aerial and animal acts.”
Bibliography