Ed Alberian
{{Short description|American actor (1920–1997)}}
{{infobox person
| name = Ed Alberian
| birth_name= Edward Haig Alberian
| birth_place= New York, United States
| birth_date= January 21, 1920
| death_date = March 31, 1997 (aged 77)
| education = New York University, Columbia University, Juilliard School
| occupation = Actor
}}
Edwin Haig Alberian (January 21, 1920{{spaced ndash}}March 31, 1997) was an American stage and television actor and entertainer who began his career in off-Broadway and Broadway productions,{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=1416|title=Helen Goes to Troy – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB|access-date=2009-12-11|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142718/http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=1416|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Meyer |date=December 3, 1954 |title=About New York; Minerva Stands in Eternal Salute to Liberty From Brooklyn Cemetery -- Man Goes Places |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/03/archives/about-new-york-minerva-stands-in-eternal-salute-to-liberty-from.html?sq=Stem%27s%2520Alberian&scp=1&st=cse |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182638/https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/03/archives/about-new-york-minerva-stands-in-eternal-salute-to-liberty-from.html?sq=Stem%27s%2520Alberian&scp=1&st=cse |url-status=live }} and moved into the nascent television industry, where his work was oriented to children's programming and clowning.
Career
Alberian played the Clarabell the Clown for public appearances{{cite web|url=http://www.tvacres.com/clowns_clarabell.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204201951/http://www.tvacres.com/clowns_clarabell.htm|archive-date=2013-02-04|title=Clarabell the Clown|website=TV Acres|access-date=2009-12-11|url-status=live}} and on the television show Howdy Doody appeared as Professor Gusbags, as well other characters such as Doaky the Clown, on Let's Have Fun and The Beachcomber Bill Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvparty.com/lostny2justfun2.html|title=Let's Have Fun / NYC TV New York City Local TV Stars|website=www.tvparty.com|access-date=2009-12-11|archive-date=2009-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129235016/http://www.tvparty.com/lostny2justfun2.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.toonarific.com/show.php?show_id=7956 |title=www.toonarific.com |access-date=December 10, 2009 |archive-date=August 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810174908/https://www.toonarific.com/show.php?show_id=7956 |url-status=dead }} Alberian was frequently asked to do the original live performances of animated or promotional characters. Projects in which he worked include appearances as Bozo and in The Banana Splits. He was also the side-kick and chaperone, Sir Clacky Wack, to Sunbeam Bakeries mascot Little Miss Sunbeam.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/373429520217?_ul=BY |title=Image of Clown and Little Miss Sunbeam |access-date=2021-07-29 |archive-date=2021-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729214140/https://www.ebay.com/itm/373429520217?_ul=BY |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.spectropop.com/PattyMichaels/|title=Patty Michaels|website=www.spectropop.com|access-date=2009-12-10|archive-date=2011-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609213825/http://www.spectropop.com/PattyMichaels/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title = Shorty Long, Sunbeam Girl on Fall Festival program |newspaper = The Sunday Courier-Press |place= Evansville, Indiana |date = |access-date = }} In these numerous roles he often played master of ceremonies at variety shows and fundraisers and was introduced to many prominent figures, including President Truman.{{cite news |last = Shain |first = Percey |title = Clown Broke Family Tradition |work = Boston Globe |date = 1973}} In 1958, he copyrighted the persona of Dokey the Clown, which developed through his career.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wjQhAQAAIAAJ&q=Dokey+the+clown+alberian|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series|first=Library of Congress Copyright|last=Office|date=July 27, 1958|via=Google Books}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Opera News|title = Opera News, Volume 39 |publisher = Metropolitan Opera Guild |year = 1974 |quote = Many youngsters had their first taste of opera March 25–29 at Bergen Mall, Paramus, N. J., when Dokey the Clown presented " Funopera Bopera . " Lovable Dokey ( Eddie Alberian ) treated his audience to a mixed bag of circus antics and...}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mtKu0vQ0DrQC&q=Dokey+alberian&pg=PT1|title=Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Patents|date=July 28, 1975|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office|via=Google Books}} On a private trip to Armenia he was seen entertaining local children and, in 1988, after some years of semi-retirement, was invited to Soviet Armenia to promote cultural exchange.{{Citation |last=Parisi |first=Albert J |title=Clown to Visit Soviet |date=May 22, 1988 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/22/nyregion/clown-takes-act-to-soviet.html |work=New York Times |page=12 |access-date=December 10, 2009 |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525092250/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/22/nyregion/clown-takes-act-to-soviet.html |url-status=live }}
Education and personal life
Alberian was born Edwin Haig Alberian in New York on January 21, 1920. Alberian was of Armenian descent, his family having arrived in the United States as part of the Armenian diaspora.{{cite web|url=https://cla.umn.edu/chgs/collections-exhibitions|title=Collections & Exhibitions|website=Holocaust and Genocide Studies | College of Liberal Arts|access-date=2021-07-27|archive-date=2015-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506142816/http://www.chgs.umn.edu/museum/memorials/Majdanek/|url-status=live}} He attended New York University and Columbia University, where he studied science and chemistry and received a degree in perfumery. He later graduated from Juilliard School and chose a career as performer.
He married and lived in Weehawken, New Jersey with his wife Marie (née Hekimian) with whom he had two children.{{Citation |last=Stancavish |first=Don |title=Edwin Alberian was TV's Clarabell |date=April 2, 1997 |work=The Record}} Alberian died March 31, 1997[http://www.vipatients.com/patient_info_new.php?type=print&patient_id=7021 VIPatients w/ photo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717210221/http://www.vipatients.com/patient_info_new.php?type=print&patient_id=7021 |date=2011-07-17 }} accessdate = December 10, 2009 and is buried at Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen.{{cite web|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2013/10/27/seven-cemeteries/|title=Seven cemeteries|first=Joseph|last=Passantino|work=Hudson Reporter|date=October 27, 2013|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607012411/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2013/10/27/seven-cemeteries/|url-status=live}}
References
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Category:Television personalities from New York City
Category:American people of Armenian descent
Category:Juilliard School alumni
Category:People from Weehawken, New Jersey
Category:New York University alumni
Category:Columbia University alumni
Category:Male actors from New York City
Category:Male actors from New Jersey
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:Burials at Flower Hill Cemetery (North Bergen, New Jersey)