Bello the clown pleads for his mini-bike
It was taken from a Manhattan street
Posted: March 31, 2007
The tears of a clown are all too real for 'Bello,' the star of the
Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, which is now at Madison
Square Garden.
Yesterday, someone took his itty-bitty, one-of-a-kind bicycle
and now there's a reward to get it back.
Here's Eyewitness News reporter Stacey Sager.
Whether he's swinging on a 60 foot pole, flirting with the
ladies, going for a ride on the wheel of steel or doing death-defying
stunts at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, all
the world loves this clown. His name is "Bello."
You just have to feel bad for Bello, because his favorite item,
his bitty bike, has now disappeared.
"It's very near and dear to my heart, this bicycle,"
said Bello. It is a part of his act at the circus.
The bike was custom made for Bello in Mexico City nearly 13
years ago and hardly anybody can ride it because it is so tiny.
In fact Bello had to train for six months to learn how.
He keeps it in his trademark suitcase along with some other
things which he had with him at Grand Central Terminal on Friday
for a publicity shoe-shining event with some other clowns. Shortly
after, the bike disappeared.
"I don't think anybody stole the bike. I set it down.
We left," Bello said. "Someone has it and probably
doesn't know where to return it to."
Other New Yorkers not so sure about that, and circus-goers
were sounding suspicious and surprised.
"Probably another clown took it," a man said.
"It's a joke? Is it serious?" one of circus goers,
Andrea Raetzer, couldn't believe. "It's not a joke?!"
And also there was just plain sympathy.
"I feel bad for you Bello, and I hope you get your bike
back," a circus goer, Kimberly Solorzano, said.
The good news is Bello will still perform at the Garden through
April 15th, bike or no bike. After all, he does have many talents
and pretty good perspective, too.
"I didn't lose a family member. I didn't lose a limb,"
said Bello. "The show must go on."
And, at least, he still has his hair.
The circus is offering a thousand dollar reward to help get
Bello's bike back. Anyone with information is asked to call
1-877-606-3052. Article at: abclocal.go.com
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