Jack and Dorothy both inherited the "entertainment gene" from their families. Jack's father was a well known Scottish entertainer, organist and soloist; Jack plays the trombone. Dorothy's mother was the pianist (who played by ear) for all the dance classes; Dorothy has been teaching dancing since the age of 14. Her feet are well trained in several styles of dance: ballet, tap, square, highland and clogging. In fact she is called the grandmother of clogging. Through the square dance movement, she came in contact with clogging, teaching first herself, then Jack, then the two of them taught it across Canada at National Square Dance conventions. In 1995, they were inducted into America's Clogging Hall of Fame with International Clogging Teams from Germany, Holland and other countries of the world. From their first performance together in the army and throughout their marriage, they  have traveled all over doing shows, sometimes with their dance troupe having as many as 60 or 70 dancers, after which they would conduct dance workshops. Jack also joined a barbershop quartet and Dorothy joined the Sweet Adelines. Jack became the director of the Sweet Adelines for 14 years, winning the 1st championship in Michigan. If you can get past their modesty, you will learn they have many more accomplishments than you read here.

Their business partnership stemmed from their love of entertainment. Initially, Jack was a carpenter and cabinet maker for the government. He didn't like his job and wanted to start their own business. Since they were in the dance profession, they knew there were no theatrical supplies and shoes for dancing so with a bit of money and a 3 year "make it or break it" plan, they started McCulloch's dance wear and costume rental store on Labor Day 1962. Jack continued working for the government and Dorothy worked in the store making costumes. One day Jack came home from work to find the store crowded with customers and Dorothy in tears as her sewing machine had broken down. Jack quit his job the next day and never looked back. Jack's carpentry skills of working with measurements and patterns were adapted to material and he does all the costume sewing. Dorothy took business courses by correspondence and looks after the management part of the business.

Clowns often came to McCulloch's store for costumes and supplies so Jack and Dorothy knew there was a lack of supplies in that field of entertainment as well. When discussion of their retirement surfaced, these two entrepreneurs decided to open a new store and  Big Moe's World of Clowns was started in May 1998. Dorothy's two sisters joined with her and Jack putting on a song and dance routine as clowns. They called themselves Eenie (Sylvia), Meenie (Dorothy), Miney (Marlene) and Moe (Jack). When Sylvia died, the group broke up and Dorothy took the clown name Little Moe.

Although Jack and Dorothy are not in clowning directly now, they continue to be very involved in the clown world in many ways. They asked John Goodman "J.R." (one of our members) if he would run some classes for clowns and thus were the precipitators behind our first clown school. They continue to provide the space and materials for other clown classes run by the Clown Alley of London. They travel all over to various conventions and clown schools, etc, selling their clown wares, advising on makeup and products, and sewing excellent costumes. Their purpose is "making clowns look as good as they can.".

The McCulloch's are members of the Clown Alley of London as they wish to help the alley in whatever way they can. They believe that education is a vital component to making a good alley. Dorothy's advice to new clowns is "Be the best in what you're doing." Jack's advice to new clowns is "Listen to Dorothy". Good advice whether you a new clown or not!!

Interviewed and submitted by Judy "GIGI" Carscadden.