Howard Koslow (1924 - 2016) "The Ring Master" Signed lower left. Acrylic on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 29c Ringmaster stamp issued April 6, 1993. Under the big top the smell of sawdust mingles with the aroma of fresh popcorn as the property men prepare for the main event. Clowns work the eager crowd performing tricks for impatient children and flirting with the women. In the center ring a red-coated gentleman, attired in top hat and black boots, suddenly appears. This is the moment they have all been waiting for: the entrance of the ringmaster on whom the timing of the entire circus depends. "Ladies and Gentlemen..." with these words "The Greatest Show on Earth" begins and the next two hours fly by like minutes. Although it seems to the audience that he is merely an announcer, this impressive figure is actually guiding the movements of a myriad of performers. With one blast of his whistle, the ringmaster can magically transform the activities in all three rings. The excitement mysteriously remains but the players have changed. In addition to guiding the complicated circus performances, the ringmaster is often called upon to act as the "straight man" in a comedy skit. Dan Rice, the famous 19th-century American clown, developed a country-bumpkin character called Pete Jenkins. In his act, the ringmaster announced an equestrian routine had been cancelled. The doltish Jenkins emerged from the crowd crying "fake." Provoked by this outburst, the angry ringmaster challenged the yokel to ride the horse. What followed was a hilarious display of falls and chases that eventually turned into an impressive show of trick riding. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 18 in. Unframed. (B14203)