Biography
Gary F. Mooney was born August 11, 1959 in Rochester, NY.
As a child Gary studied music, theater and circus performance art, as in juggling, unicycle, stage and close-up magic. While in Jr. high school he performed in the Eastman School of Music Opera Under the Stars production of “Most Happy Fella” in the supporting singing role of Clem.
In the six years of Jr./Sr. high school Gary studied vocal technique under his mentor Patricia Fleming (Alexander), while also taking piano, guitar and music theory classes at the Hochstein School of Music.
Music education, theater and fine arts were Gary’s majors at Nazareth College of Rochester before switching to a program of Audio Visual Technology and Media Communications at Monroe Community College, where he earned his Associates Degree.
An active producer of Community Access Television, Gary F. Mooney video recorded public meetings of the Rochester City Council and Monroe County Legislature for broadcast on the local cable system. Gary hosted a call-in talk-show that he called “The Herb Iitch Box.”
Working as A/V Specialist for a suburban school system, Gary was in charge of maintaining the High School stage facility with 32 flyrails, sound system and lighting relays. Gary operated this theater’s systems with the aid of student volunteers. Gary also coordinated stage use for community groups such as Pittsford Musicals, and assisted these independent producers while they were using school facilities.
In 1988, Gary literally ran away and joined the circus — having received an offer to be advance clown for the ”Franzen Brothers’ Circus” and, later, “The Allen C. Hill Great American Circus.” As Advance Clown, Gary travelled to diverse small cities and towns throughout the eastern United States of America, averaging a 60 mile jump each day, seven (7) days a week. Gary performed an assembly program in schools, hospitals, retail centers, radio and TV stations promoting his travelling circus sponsor. This program included magic, music and juggling.
Buffalo, NY; Niagara Falls, NY; Salt Lake City Utah… that’s where Gary tried his hand at retail entrepreneurship. However, his street-performing skills always seemed to pay the bills.
Gary currently holds a commercial drivers’ license (class A) and has driven medical van, school bus and tractor-trailer for nationally known companies. “It’s an honest living.”
