The "Basement Magician" Story

Lovell performing at my home

It was an ordinary day.  1981 and my youngest son is turning five years old.  Carol and I have been talking about something special for his birthday, but so far haven't been able to come up with anything. Then, one day earlier this week I was walking through the metal shop at Manheim Township High School where I teach graphic arts and photography and saw my friend and fellow teacher Lovell doing a magic trick for his class who were anxiously waiting for the class to end.  Simple trick but he had their attention which is tough to do with 14 and 15 year old students.  The bell rang and I walked over to him to find out where he learned how to do the trick.  Seems he got a Sneaky Pete Magic Set and a book about Houdini for Christmas when he was in grade school and loved it.  He eventually added his pet parakeet and began doing performances.  That was years ago, but he never lost the love for performing and magic. 

My son Tad, 2nd from left,
and daughter Brynn, far right

 "How about I hire you to do a magic show for my son's birthday party," I asked him.  A week later he was in my basement with my kids and about ten other kids from the neighborhood.  And, as Mr. Funfoolery, he put on a show that even I loved watching.  A very accomplished performer and sleight of hand entertainer.  Wouldn't tell me any of his secrets though.  Lovell entered the Navy after high school and served four years in the Navy, eventually becoming a Navy Seal.  He received The Gallantry Cross and the Navy Good Conduct Medal while in the service and used the GI Bill to get his teaching degree.  But, you could see and feel the excitement in his performance and knew he wouldn't be teaching many years.  Finally gave in to his passion and began a lifetime of fun, creativity, being on stage in front of  audiences and a challenge far beyond his imagination.  Copied that last sentence directly from his website.  He and his wife, who was his assistant, did a couple of other shows for me before I lost track of him.  At the time he had landed a job in Atlantic City at one of the casinos.  Since then he has performed twice at Governor Ridge's Inaugurations and performed for President Bush at the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn.  He has won several awards in the Mummers Parade in the comic division and has his image on a goose egg in The Clown Hall of Fame.  Lovell is an accomplished magician, juggler, clown and puppeteer.  He has performed for many years at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster.  He has also founded the Chuckles Foundation to help disadvantaged children, created over half a million balloon sculptures and holds the World's Record for most balloon sculptures created, has his puzzles displayed in Ripley's Believe It or Not museum and has been known as Chuckles The Clown at the Eden Resort in Lancaster for over 30 years.  One item I read recently about Lovell came from his trip to the White House.  Seems that George and Barbara gave out autographed Easter eggs to the children who participated in the egg roll.  After the event quite a few came over to him and asked him to sign the eggs on the other side.  "In a child's eye, a clown rated close to the president," said Lovell.  I'm proud to say that I knew and worked with this fine gentleman who at one time said, "It brings me great honor to make people laugh and that I can lighten their daily burdens and for a moment bring joy into their life.  Laughter is a cure-all for everything we do in life.  Without a doubt, he made the right move when he gave up teaching years ago for his childhood love of being an entertainer!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Mr. Funfoolery

Lovell as "Chuckles the Clown"

Lovell's Magic Book

Poster from a trip to the White House.