A Celebration of 20 Years of Just Clowning Around

Charles Kraus, better known to children as Charles the Clown, is celebrating 20 years of performing for audiences in the Los Angeles area. Over the years, the West Los Angeles resident has appeared at recreation centers, department stores, hospitals and birthday parties in his big shoes, striped tie, checked trousers and painted face.

As a youth, Kraus worked as a junior magician and entertained children and their families. In 1970, he arrived in Los Angeles and got into the clowning business.

“I’ve always had a way with interacting with children,” he said. “With the help of my wife, whose background is in childhood education, I learned the formal techniques and polished them.”

Although he performs many routines, he is often asked to perform his drug prevention program. “Drug abuse is a serious topic, but I like to do it in an entertaining way,” he said.

A typical day for Kraus might include performances in Pacific Palisades, Watts and Westwood. Kraus uses puppets to guide children through the show and conveys prevention tips and information about drugs.

This last year, Kraus made a video for A & M video. “I like to perform anywhere, and I’ve gotten a good feeling from doing the shows for people,” he said. “And I wanted to preserve it on videotape.”

Lee Rosenblum has been named director of the Western Region of Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles. The region covers the beach communities west of the San Diego Freeway and includes Brentwood, Malibu and Marina del Rey.

Rosenblum will supervise the United Jewish Fund, education and community programs. He previously served as assistant director of the Jewish Federation Council’s San Fernando Valley Region.

A graduate of UCLA, he has a master’s degree in social work from USC and a master’s in Jewish communal service from Hebrew Union College.

Daniel Huberman of West Los Angeles tied for first place in the national Yediat Israel Contest.

More than 3,000 students participated in the Department of Education and Culture of the World Zionist Organization’s contest. Students were tested on their knowledge of Israel’s politics, history, geography and culture.

Huberman is a sixth-grade student at Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles.

Pacific Palisades resident Curtis Baer was installed as president of the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Jan. 23.

Baer, a graduate of USC, has been involved with the Family YMCA for more than 30 years as a member of the advisory board and the board of directors.

He is also a member of the board of directors of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce and was founder and president of the L.A. West Trojan Club and past president of the Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades.

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