|
To Contact Robert:
Phone: 928-204-2123 Ex. 115
Email:
robert@robertshieldsdesign.com
Web Site:
www.robertshieldsdesign.com
Those of us over 40 will fondly remember Shields & Yarnell
and their 1977 hit television show Shields & Yarnell.
Perhaps one of the most unusual hit television variety shows in
history it featured the duet of Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell
as the "Clinkers". A robotic couple engaged in everyday life activities
that suddenly weren't so everyday.
"The
Clinkers"
"The Clinkers go shopping.
Shields & Yarnell have performed on over 400 television shows,
in
Las Vegas (winning 2 successive Entertainer of the Year awards),
on Broadway, with orchestras across the country, and all around the world.
They accompanied Bob Hope
on his landmark visit to China, and made numerous guest appearances on
television shows including
Sonny and Cher where they rose to fame.
At their height, famous fans such as Jackie Gleason, Milton Berle,
George Burns, Jack Lemmon, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Danny Thomas,
Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, and countless others were tuning in
regularly. In fact, it was even said that Elvis’ favorite TV show was
Shields & Yarnell.
Michael Jackson and his family were fascinated by the show and
watched it religiously, with Jackson eventually incorporating Shields’
mechanical routines in the Jackson 5 act. Even Groucho Marx fell
in love with the young mime team, inviting them to his house for
hours on end, and making a rare trip to see them perform in Vegas.
Lorene Yarnell and Robert
Shields
Those of you too young to remember and those of you who
would like to relive some of those great shows will want
to tune in this Thursday, August 21 at 10PM Eastern time.
Look for them on VH-1's new show "I Love the 70's - 1977".
A BUMPY START
Robert Shields and Santa Claus
The youngest of three children, Robert Shields was born and raised
in California. Fading, flunking, and bombing in the system were the
norm until he discovered he was an artist with a unique perspective
on the world. He had an unusual early childhood. He didn't speak
at all until he was four years old, flunked the third grade, and
stuttered until he was seventeen.
He was picked on and humiliated all the way into high school until
he discovered he could go without blinking for an hour and twenty
minutes. He then perfected his unique body control and left for Canada
to join a traveling circus as “Robbie the Robot”. Marcel Marceau
saw Robert working at the Hollywood Wax Museum and was so
impressed with his raw talent he offered Robert a full scholarship
at his school in Paris. His apprenticeship was short-lived as he
felt the need to develop his own style and pry mime loose from
its arty pedestal and put it in the streets.
He chose Union Square, San Francisco as his outdoor stage, and
was soon hailed as San Francisco’s main tourist attraction, along
with the cable cars. Red Skelton visited Shields in Union Square
and said, "There are perhaps 35 great clowns left in the world.
Robert Shields may be the best one there is.”
Robert Shields - Original Street Mime
"ROBERT SHIELDS is the greatest mime
in America." --- MARCEL MARCEAU
mime
n 1: an actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression
[syn: mimer, mummer, pantomimer, pantomimist] 2: a performance using
gestures and body movements without words [syn: pantomime,
dumb show] v : play charades [syn: pantomime]
Pantomime - The telling of a story without words, by means of bodily
movements, gestures, and facial expressions.
Today's Mega Performers owe many of their moves to Robert Shields
who is credited with inventing the robot which inspired performers
such as Michael Jackson and today’s break dancers and poppers.
SEDONA
Moving to Sedona in the late 1980’s brought forth a rush of creativity.
The vivid colors of the natural beauty of the Southwest – glowing
red rocks, drenched sunsets, twinkling night skies – found their way
into his paintbox and designs. A gifted artist meeting people from
all cultures and all walks of life Robert developed a love for native
peoples, their traditions, and their art. His love of storytelling moved
from the stage – telling stories with movement - to his jewelry,
sculptures, and paintings – telling stories with color, form, and
symbols. Sedona also offered a perfect location to base his business,
Robert Shields Design.
One of four Sedona based Robert Shields Designs Retail Art
Stores
Robert Shields Design was founded in 1992. Based in Sedona,
his company currently employs over 40 people among the
administrative offices, production and distribution centers and more.
Robert operates four retail stores located in and around Sedona
and services over 1,000 wholesale customers in several venues
including individual shops, corporate chains, national parks,
vacation resorts, catalog companies, and a home shopping television
channel.
Robert's fountain of creativity and talent matched with a diverse
and dedicated staff ensure fresh and exciting products each year
for you, their valued customer. Today their online catalog contains
several lines including Southwestern and whimsical art - resin
collectibles, and jewelry. Metal sculptures, home décor and garden
gifts also find their way onto these pages, giving buyers an array
of choices and values. When in Sedona, Arizona, shop at one of
his four locations.
It is with great pleasure that, Robert Shields - Artist,
Sculptor,
Actor, Dancer, Writer, Designer, Mime, Performer, Retailer,
Entrepreneur, will be my Special Guest this week.
|
