Patof

Patof is a character in the highly successful Canadian children's television series Patofville. He was portrayed by actor-comedian Jacques Desrosiers.

Children's TV shows

In January 1972, the clown Patof made his appearance in the series Le Cirque du Capitaine on the French-language Quebec television station CFTM-TV Channel 10. He hosted three different series: Patofville, Patof raconte and Patof voyage.^[1]

Patof told jokes and stories characterized by puns He often ended his numbers by exclaiming: "On m'applaudit!!!" (applaud me!!!).

He had a successful recording career during the seventies. Songs like Patof Blou (1972), Patof le roi des clowns (1972), Patofville (1973), L'éléphant Tic-Tac (1973), La plus belle poupée du monde (1973), Bienvenue dans ma bottine (1974), Gros minou (1975) and Bonjour Patof (1975) are among his greatest hits.

Patof participated in the Shriners Circus in 1973 and 1974 at the Montreal Forum.

He recorded an English single called "The King of Clowns" for his English speaking friends.^[1]

Some of the adventures of Patof were released as recordings and comic strips: Patof en Russie, Patof chez les esquimaux, Patof chez les coupeurs de têtes, Patof dans la baleine, Patof chez les petits hommes verts, Patof chez les cowboys, Patof raconte, Patof découvre un ovni, Patof en Chine and Patof chez les dinosaures.

The Legend of Patof

His name is Patof, Gregor Patof. He was born in Bobruisk in the vast steppe of Belarus. Patof's father was a clown and his mother, a clown's wife. They both worked for the Great Moscow circus. Little Patof lost his father at the age of 6 and his mother few years after, reportedly died of laughter after seeing a bearded woman.^[2]

Now an orphan without his father and mother, he stayed for a moment in the circus. But in this environment, everything reminded him his parent and that is why he made the decision to go away to be able to forget. However, he did not wish to change climate and that is why he chooses to come to Montreal in Canada, a city as cold as Moscow.^[2]

He was lucky to meet "Capitaine Bonhomme" who, always ready to help, supplies him a little of work of clown on the television. He rapidly became the youngsters' idol. With his many personal appearances – without pay – in hospitals, orphanages and parochial centers, etc. he easily and rapidly became an idol for all young Quebecers and even for youngsters living outside our boundaries.^[3]

Besides being a clown, Patof is also the mayor of Patofville, a young and fancy city filled with surprises for young and old alike. With his many friends and co-citizens Boulik, Polpon, Itof, he makes sure Quebec keeps its reputation of being a unique Province as far as Joie de Vivre is concerned.

Characters

Patof

Gregor Patof is a Russian clown and the central character of Patofville, of whom he is also the mayor. He appears for the first time in the television series "Le cirque du capitaine". His costume is constituted by red pants and a tweed fitted coat with collar and matched cuffs. He wears enormous red shoes, named also "tatanes". In Patofville, he lives in a big yellow bootee.

At the same time as his functions of mayor, he is also the director of the Patof Circus.

Polpon

Mister Polpon is the Police and Fireman Chief of Patofville. He's a key character in the series, because he is the best friend and confidant of Patof. He lives in a huge teapot, which is also a prison.

Itof

General Itof is a Russian spy who has for mission to return Patof in Moscow. Inventor, imitator and a practical joker, he is also a master in the art of disguise. He wears cossack's traditional costume as well as a surprising mustache, which seems to transforms according to its humors. In Patofville, he lives in a huge pumpkin.

Boulik

Boulik (Boulik Scavanovitch of its real name) is the faithful dog of Patof. He is a speaking dog stemming from the famous Toutousavanski race. He becomes crazy when he sees a cat...

Minor characters

• Patof Circus members. The Patof Circus is composed of the fortune-teller Madam Sauratout, the acrobats "Les Fabuleux Risquetout", the giant Pandemur, the elastic man Sétir, the two dwarfs Fromage and Chocolat, the tamer Mister Desfauves, the mahouts and elephant trainers "Pachy et Derme", as well as the ringmaster Turira.
• Patof Circus animals. Among the main attractions of the circus, we count the performing horses Macaron and Macaroni, Bananof the gorilla and Tic-Tac the elephant.
• Amikwan
• Fafouin
• Madeleine
• Midas
• Monsieur Qui
• Monsieur Tranquille
• Uncle Tom
• Tut-Tut

Filmography

Television Series

• 1972-1973 Le cirque du Capitaine
• 1973-1976 Patofville
• 1975-1976 Patof raconte
• 1976-1977 Patof voyage

DVD

• 2011 Bonjour Patof (Musicor Produits Spéciaux)

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilations

Collaborations and performances as guest star

Charts

Meritas hit parade chart

At Meritas chart, which was the most reliable chart list in Quebec at the beginning of the 70s, Patof Blou reached #1 during two weeks on September 16, 1972^[5][6] and Patof le roi des clowns reached #7 on December 30, 1972. Jacques Desrosiers received two golden records^[7] for these two singles.

Reconstituted chart^[4]

Songs

Title / Date / Best rank / Weeks on chart

• 1972 Patof Blou / 1972-07-01 / #1 / 16 weeks on chart
• 1972 Patof le roi des clowns / 1972-10-21 / #2 / 22 weeks on chart
• 1973 Oh! Les enfants / 1973-04-07 / #14 / 5 weeks on chart
• 1973 Patofville / 1973-09-01 / #15 / 19 weeks on chart
• 1974 Bonjour les enfants / 1974-01-12 / #15 / 11 weeks on chart
• 1974 Bienvenue dans ma bottine / 1974-11-16 / #31 / 1 week on chart

Albums

Title / Date / Best rank / Weeks on Top 30

• 1972 Patof en Russie / 1972-09-23 / #5 / 7 weeks in Top 30
• 1972 Patof dans la baleine / 1972-12
• 1972 Patof chez les petits hommes verts / 1972-12
• 1972 Patof chez les cowboys / 1972-12
• 1973 Patof chante 10 chansons pour tous les enfants du monde / 1973-05
• 1974 Patofville – Patof chante pour toi / 1974-03
• 1974 Bienvenue dans ma bottine / 1974-12
• 1975 Patof le roi des clowns / 1975-04
• 1975 Amikwan – Koi koi ayaho / 1975-04
• 1980 Nestor et Patof – Pour tous / 1980-05

Bibliography

• 1972 Patof raconte, Éditions de l'Homme
• 1972 Patofun, Éditions de l'Homme
• 1972 Cuisinons avec Patof, Éditions de l'Homme
• 1973 Patof découvre un ovni, Éditions Mirabel
• 1974 Patof en Chine, Éditions Mirabel
• 1976 Patof chez les dinosaures, Éditions Mirabel
• 2009 Une journée à Patofville, Éditions Les Intouchables (Non-Canon)
• 2009 Patof à la rescousse de la forêt, Éditions Les Intouchables (Non-Canon)
• 2009 Patof et le monstre du lac, Éditions Les Intouchables (Non-Canon)

References

External links

• French Blog about Patof and Jacques Desrosiers