Lexington Hotel

This past weekend we worked at the Lexington Hotel in Stockton, CA. What a beautiful hotel located on the waterfront. We were hired to perform for a grand 1st birthday with an excess of 30 children.

110 West Fremont Street
Stockton CA 95202
Telephone 209-944-1140
Fax 209-466-1095

Our Clown School is about the Kids

Comments From the Kids about Hanna Banana, Go to California Clown School to learn more about her Clown School and to download a Free Face Painting Guide.

Brent's Blog

What we do...

Here is a brief view of what Hanna Banana does when she comes to your party.  

Carson Oaks Community Church - Stockton, CA

What a lesson to me was this, that clothes surely do not make the man! I loved being able to work and be a part of children who saw who and what we are and what we do and I knew that they went home with a truly memorable experience. Many thanks to Carson Oaks Community Church and for all they do in our community! Hanna was excited to be a part of the work to make 200 children happy!

6509 N. Alturas Ave.

Stockton, California 95207

Phone and Fax: (209) 478 - 5866

Lodi Lake - Lodi, CA

Look at the fun we have! The opportunity to celebrate at Lodi Lake was great fun!

O'Connor Woods - Stockton, CA

This last week we were working at O'Connor Woods Convalescent Hospital in Stockton, CA. It was an Employee Appreciation celebration and celebrate we did! It was great to help in the appreciation of those who serve our Senior Citizens. We here at Hanna Banana's also appreciate their hard work!

School Carnival

This past weekend we had the opportunity to work at a school carnival for Saint Catherine's in Martinez, CA. It was incredible to see how excited the children became over our style of face painting and balloon twisting! The joy that we are able to bring children makes my job the best job in the world! 

Saint Catherine's 

609 Melluse St.

Martinez, CA

Recession - Keep Moving Forward

People are struggling financially and consequently, in their families. The movie "Meet the Robinson's" has always touched me. Especially the last ten minutes and this final quote: "Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” KEEP MOVING FORWARD - Walt Disney

Clown work is for the children, it's to make them happy. Walt Disney believed in making children's dreams come true and so do we. Clown School is a way to expand that.

Halloween Face Painting!

Are you looking for ideas for Face Painting this Halloween?? Take a look at this Face Painting Guide!

Click Here

Natural Clowns

There are many of you who are natural clowns! Fred is one of them! Fred, we want you to come to clown school! Contact us!

Clown School

Get the education of a lifetime and have a great part time job! Attend Clown School! With the economy the way it is, attending clown school is helpful in many ways....serve your community by working as a clown; help in your schools; get hired for birthday parties; company picnics and more!

How to Hire a Clown and Not Get Ripped Off

Face Painting

As I ponder my life and start this day, I realize that I think of all children as if they were mine. I have genuine love for all of them. Mine to serve, to love and to protect. There are no dividers or categories with me, I am constantly researching to be sure that all I do in my work with them helps them, nurtures them and protects them as I would my own. 

I just completed a major research project on face painting children and am now trying to spread the result across the world to protect children from the very real hazards that exist if the correct products and procedures are not used. I have contacted health editors of major newspapers to alert the public to this potential problem. My books on face painting will reflect this, as well as provide unique designs that can be safely applied to a child's face. Please view and study this face painting guide. Click Here.

Children

Children bring so much joy! Make all of the memories you can! A great memory and your child's favorite day of the year is their birthday. Sometimes it cant be about the money, it has to be about the people you love.

Validation

Clown work is a great way to offer "validation" to others. Hanna has had this experience of validation numerous times!

Hanna's Start

Stockton Record

Hanna Banana

1982

 

Financial adversity brought Karen Smith and Hanna Banana together.

 Karen’s husband, Gordon, was among the air controllers fired at Stockton Metropolitan Airport two years ago, and he couldn’t find another job.

 “I had to make money,” she says, “I sat down and evaluated what skills I had. I really liked kids and I used to put on programs when I was a Boy Scout leader for four years and when I taught Sunday school.”

 When she decided to become Hanna Banana, party impresario, she set some bard and fast rules for her new enterprise.

 “It was going to be good, clean fun – no offcolor jokes.” The formula paid off. Hanna Banana, a winsome clown with a banana painted on one cheek and a heart on the other, is in constant demand, especially by youth groups and families. 

 “When we go to a family party, we paint everybody’s face,” says Smith. “We have cake-eating contests and bob for apples. It’s old-fashioned fun. We just have a ball.”

On New Year’s Day, Hanna Banana and company entertained 150 members of the Lodi Boys Club. “We painted up the director and bopped him on the head with confetti-filled eggs,” she says “the kids went crazy.”

Smith also portrays several of Comedienne Carol Burnett’s characters.

The Smiths’ offspring – David, 10; Lisa, 5; and Jeremy, 4 – join the act when needed.

Smith’s husband is now a driver with United Parcel Service, but she is having too much fun to give up Hanna Banana. In fact, she now has a trademark on the appealing little character for possible future commercial use.

Terri Ross sums up how she, Powers and Smith, feel about their careers: “We’re dealing in memories. We’re giving people something they won’t ever give forget.”

Clown School Prices!

Have you noticed the prices at California Clown School?? For $1345 I can spend four days at Circus, Circus Reno including my own private room and attend clown school!

Bubbles!

Kids are fascinated by bubbles. Try these ideas from products that are already in your home!

Meet the Clowns

Meet the Clown

Hanna Banana started her clown business in 1981. She is a mom and knew what she wanted from an entertainer for her children. Hanna Banana has been contacted by MTV, PBS, Woman's Day magazine, Parade Magazine and many more. She recently was interviewed on the air by a radio station in the Washington, DC area. She has been called numerous times by Hollywood producers and writers regarding clowns and clowning around. She was featured on Channel 31 in Sacramento, California as one of the 3 clown teachers in the world. She offers a new approach to clowning. She is at the forefront of a revolution in clowning in America. Hanna is a modern clown with a soft gentle approach that promotes peace, understanding and unity among all age groups and all cultural and ethic groups.

Hanna Banana's previous job - Mockumentry done at Clown School

Birthday Party

Having a Corporate Event? Clowns are a great way to keep the children entertained.

Balloon Animals

Want to learn how to twist balloon animals? Visit Hanna Banana and learn how!

Write-Up in Women's Day Magazine

Women's Day Magazine

Start a Home Business with $500 or less

As a Scout leader and Sunday-school teacher, Karen Smith of Stockton, California, enjoyed working with children. When her husband’s union went on strike nine years ago, Karen invested $20 in a clown wig and makeup and became Hanna Banana, a party clown. After her first job – performing at a birthday party for twins- her business spread by word of mouth. She promoted it further through advertisements in shoppers newspapers. She gets additional publicity by giving free performances at libraries.

Karen’s weekends are now booked with parties at $60 and up. That includes the nontoxic face paints she puts on children and small prizes (always safe items that can’t be swallowed). Karen also performs at company picnics for about $100 an hour.

Written by Robin Warshaw
October 2, 1990

We have fun at clown school!

Clown school is for education and for fun, watch us have a spectacular time!

Face Painting Guide

We want you to succeed at face painting. Feel free to view our guide!

*Click here for our Face Painting Guide *