This painting was created for the “1980s Circus” show at the Hive Gallery in Los Angeles.

It’s almost a sequel to my other painting, the Battle of the Drug-Addicted Child Network Stars. I suppose some TV executives thought that having celebrities compete in sports on TV was such a great idea that they should create a show featuring celebrities performing circus acts. Thus, the Circus of Stars was born.

Amazingly, that show ran from 1977 to 1994. Hundreds of stars appeared, including the likes of Scott Baio; Bob Barker; Linda Carter; Carol Channing; Dick Clark; Sammy Davis, Jr.; Vanilla Ice; Leslie Nielsen; Bob Newhart; Vincent Price; Debbie Reynolds; Telly Savalas; William Shatner; Brooke Shields; and Wierd Al Yankovic. All performing circus acts! Linda Evans was knocked down by a tiger and bitten on the boob.

So imagine, if you will, a Circus of the Stars featuring every beloved 1980s movie and TV character that America adored, who we now recognize as racist, sexist, and homophobic... You get the idea. Here is the painting for you.

Acrylic on paper and canvas board. Measures 11” x 14”.