Who is Emmett Kelly? Do you know? Who is Bozo? Any idea? Of course not. How about (good luck) Clarabell? Have you ever been called or called someone a BOZO? Do you read Stephen King?
Clowns. I am talking clowns. Terrifying monsters to some. Lovable buffoons to others. Let's discuss.
My first clown was Clarabell on the Howdy Doody Show. I have most certainly aged myself with that admission, however, he is the first of his ilk I can recall setting eyes upon. Once his 1950's stretch with Cowboy Bob, the string puppet Howdy Doody, the Peanut Gallery, wig and rubber nose came off, his TV career took off. He was Bob Keeshan better know for decades as Captain Kangaroo. Nothing to be afraid of. As a child, I rather enjoyed the funny looking man. Of course, now seeing the Kinescope of Clarabell I wonder why I wasn't petrified of that alien looking clown.
The other clown from my youth was Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's eminent Emmett Kelly. He was the ultimate sad sack clown and featured circus performer. His face was plastered everywhere (It was a face that looks like he was plastered everywhere as well.) appearing on lunch boxes and on up to billboards and coast to coast appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. (I know I have international readers and wish to explain the singularly US television references from the 1950's and 1960's, however, I think you will get the idea as we proceed.) He was the prototypical USA circus clown and loved from shore to shore. He was so loved that lots of young folks wanted to work in the profession. Barnum (with the opportunistic bent that would have made P.T. proud) and Bailey opened a clown college at their Florida H.Q. in hopes of turning out future Big Top, Three Ring stars. Nothing threatening from a sad clown always being taken advantage of in the end.
Now Bozo (and I don't mean you personally) was created in 1946 and appeared on TV in 1949. Your friendly weatherman, Willard Scott did a stint portraying the clown from 1959-62. Chicago's Bozo's Circus premiered in 1960 and was eventually syndicated. Bozo television shows were also produced in Mexico, Greece, Australia, Brasil, and Thailand. I always thought his wild red hair was dangerous to others standing close by and his white painted face appeared as a wide-eyed grimace. Not a real fan since it showed a lurking potential for EVIL!
Who does Ronald McDonald remind you of? YES! YES! Bozo! Of course, now Ronald has orange hair, a happier face and a haircut (or wig bob). His orange top now has been permed. His happy face simply hides the fact that he fattens up little kids addicting them with fun toys, greasy, fatty, fastfoods and, I believe he is in cahoots with the witch of Hansel and Gretel fame.
I was always weirded (weirded...i before e except after c...right?) out by the European clowns. Ever seen one? White pinhead caps adorn white painted faces atop bodies dressed in bright, frilly costumes covering both rotund or lanky comically slapping each other around the center ring. I have a former classmate in college who honed his miming skills on the streets of Denver eventually touring with the Cirque du Soleil, making films for Disney and his own Broadway show as a mute "clown". David has never been the traditional painted face clown. He performs in silence and his pantomime features intense physical slapstick feats. He lives in France, I believe, and still performs across the continent. He is more European in his style. He always was a clown stranded in the theater department.
Stephen King did the most damage to the tradition with his novel, It. The original mini-series starring Tim Curry as the entity creeped me out so bad I stopped looking at gutter drains for several months (and I had read the book first). How many kids were allowed to see that show? It could easily have scared and scarred them for life regarding clowns!
My favorite evil clowns came from a fantastic, over the top 1980's movie called Killer Klowns From Outer Space. The circus comes to town (a flying saucer disguised as a big top tent), alien clowns shoot people with cotton candy guns and drink their liquefied remains! What a hoot! But again any small child being exposed these "klowns" could certainly develop a fear of clowns as well as cotton candy!When I was a child you wanted a clown to be the feature at your birthday party or a pony ride...my kids would have liked a Ninja Turtle or Barbie to show up. My youngest would have loved Barney as a surprise guest. I shudder to think what children today expect on their birthday. I am sure party planners are in demand for fulfilling birthday fete wishes!
I was happy with a cake, a couple of presents and candles to blow out. Having a party was a bonus, but could lead to social complications.
Comedy has changed over the years. What people find funny today appears mean-spirited and lowbrow. Don't misunderstand, slapstick and Burlesque humor are also called lowbrow, but that refers to the class of folks to whom they appealed. Clowns are passe'...a thing of the past as is the circus. No one will be left to mourn their end.
With all the clowns in Washington DC, I too have become afraid of them. Their grip on what governs us and our kid's futures has them in danger of being shot with cotton candy guns.
So, I believe fearing clowns to be healthy.
Just remember, sometimes it's the ones not in whiteface who are the scariest.
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