By Sam Porter
Local legend Emmanuel Pace, also known as ‘Manny the Clown’, has been appointed as the official entertainer for the inaugural Sunshine Collective Market on Saturday, June 28.
The 72-year old Altona Meadows resident will perform magic tricks at the market which is a revival of the former Sunshine produce market on McIntyre Road.
Manny the Clown was a regular entertainer at the old market in Sunshine.
“I used to do balloons and I had a guy doing facepainting and we used to work every weekend,” Manny said, reminiscing.
He started his fire eating career at 19-years old after a colleague at his former workplace dared him to put a box of flaming matches into his mouth.
After developing his fire eating and magic skills, Manny worked at discos and parties as a magician.
“I ate a burning banana as part of the fire eating act… soaked the banana in methylated spirits and then ate it burning… about two to three bites. Then I poured liquid in a goblet, would light it up and then drink burning liquid,” he explained.
“You burn your lips a little bit if you’re not careful but you get used to it…you might get a little blister.”
One night Manny arrived at his performance venue, Inflation on King Street, and realised he’d forgotten to bring a banana.
“I went in the kitchen and said ‘you wouldn’t happen to find a banana around here,’” he said.
The man working in the kitchen was also a magician and gave Manny a banana for the act.
“Then we were friends and then he called me… he said to me I need to be a clown,” said Manny.
Thirty-five years later and he still clowning around.
Manny gave up fire eating two years ago due to health reasons but is still happy to don an orange wig and slather his face in makeup to entertain the crowds, especially children.
The Sunshine Collective Market will be held from 10am to 3pm on Saturday June 28 and will be officially opened by Brimbank mayor Thuy Dang.
“I’m hoping there will be a lot of people,” said Manny.
