Rouens. After a 70-year career, clown Teddy puts his life up for auction
By Thierry Chion
Published on
Clown Teddy’s classical and burlesque musical instruments will be auctioned at Rouen (Seine Maritime)Friday March 18, 2022, by master Madeleine Guéry.
many treasures
Teddy, alias Gérard Cottard, was born in Rouen. He is now 93 years old and lives on the Atlantic coast, pampered by his daughter Annie. For a long time, he lived with his family in a residence on Chemin de Clères in Mont-Saint-Aignan (Seine Maritime). An apartment, Ali Baba’s cave, filled with treasures, souvenirs, posters, dozens of musical instruments, track costumes, oversized shoes. More than 70 years of career in the greatest circuses of France and Europe and on television on the famous star trail.
Clown rather than doctor
Teddy, a traditional Auguste clown, started out as a dissipated child at the age of 12, seduced by Cirque performances at Boulingrin. His merchant parents intended him for medicine… In 1946, he was a student of the great international white clown, Géo Footitt, eldest son of the great Footitt et Chocolat team. The Footitt and Teddy duo will last 5 years.
In 1955, he teamed up with the white clown Billy, for 20 years of a spectacular international career. In 1975, he was welcomed into the Fratellini dynasty. His new duo “Teddy and Partner”, musical parodists with Pierl’y and Monsieur Loyal, will be a huge success. Laughter guaranteed! He will collect prizes in festivals and under the most beautiful tents. He will host many variety galas and Christmas trees. You have surely met him one day!
Every morning, he meditated on the 15 commandments of the clown. The first: to your job, you will devote yourself only. The third: dust you will eat behind the scenes a lot. The fifth: all your money you will spend to buy instruments. The seventh: in front of the public, happy you will be, even if you have trouble. Finally the fifteenth: your talent we will talk about after your death…. But not before!
“A clown is like good wine”
He explained to explain his longevity in the profession: “A clown is not afraid of aging, it’s like good wine… the older he is, the better he is. »
Teddy, diminutive of Edouard, “keeper of happiness”. Bursts of laughter and tenderness too!
Teddy was particularly careful with his equipment. The ten classical instruments in cases, the brass instruments, the burlesque instruments (bells, pans, musical saw…), the shoes, the wig… Everything is shiny and in perfect condition. Fans who have already seen the lots on Interenchères asked in advance.
The next sale, with 400 lots, also includes other musical instruments and many vinyls (Johnny, jazz, rock).
Hôtel des Carmes sales, 20, rue Croix de Fer in Rouen, at 2 p.m., Friday March 18, 2022.
To live : Interencheres.com.
From our correspondent André Morelle
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