2022 Civic Trust Award For 50 years in business
Neal Fehnel was introduced to magic by a fellow classmate when he was in 4th grade at Tracy School in 1968/69. The Ball & Vase Trick was enough to stoke his curiosity which led to many years of fun, astonishment, and entertainment.
Neal started with tricks, buying trick kits from a magic shop in Allentown and performing to anyone who was around to watch. When Palmer Park Mall opened in 1973, they had Magician Chuck Wendley perform on Thursdays through Sundays. Noticing Neal in the audience for many shows, Chuck gave him a magic kit and taught him a few tricks. Chuck also encouraged Neal to contact local magicians, including Frank Scalzo and Charlie Duh. The connections and mentoring not only led to learning more magic, they also taught him a valuable lesson which is to remember you are entertaining NOT tricking people.
He was then introduced to Bernie Maletsky, a balloon sculpture and magician. Bernie inspired Neal with his balloon art and Neal’s attention focused from being a magician to being a clown. The clown environment allows jokes that may be considered offensive – but if they come from a clown, they are funny. Being funny and making people laugh has a direct impact on people being happy and that is his goal. Balloons the Clown was born.
Neal was asked to be the Palmer Township Bicentennial Balloon Man by the Palmer School Booster, Sandy Strausser. Other Palmer Township enthusiasts, Eddie Grube and his daughter Diane, guided Balloons with many connections and landed his involvement in Palmer Township Community Weekend, which continues today. In 1976, he clowned with the Lions All-Star Circus and in 1977, Neal graduated from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College.
Balloons was the poster clown for Proctor & Gamble’s fund raising for “Give Kids the World” in Orlando Florida from 2002 to 2006. In 2017, he made an appearance in the movie “Getting Grace”.
For 50 years, Balloons the Clown has been entertaining young and old alike; driving around our community in his red VW Bug, performing at birthday parties, festivals, school assemblies, holiday shows and more.
The funny part about being a clown is that most of us don’t realize the hard work it really is.
Tonight, we recognize that hard work and congratulate Neal Fehnel, Balloons the Clown, on 50 years of making people happy.
