Emmett Kelly, Sr.

by Careful the Clown
(Ohio)

I believe Emmett Kelly Sr. to be the worlds most famous clown. Emmett Kelly performed in the circus and was an artist that used chalk to help tell his stories. Emmett had several clown characters in his career including a whiteface for a period of time. The character that has influenced my own clowning 'persona' is the one Emmett created called "Weary Willie" This sad faced hobo is the clown character that made Emmett Famous.

Emmett published his memoirs in a book titled "Clown" in 1954 and was inducted into the hall of fame in 1989.



I do a little tribute piece at parties where I balance a peacock feather on my nose and begin to juggle... I drop a ball and stoop down and hunt blindly for it while still balancing the feather... when I can find the ball by feel, then I look down and pick up the ball... everyone sees that the feather was stuck on my nose... Emmett did this... I also like how he use to walk around the ring nibbling on a head of cabbage and make love eyes at a "refined" lady in the crowd!

In my eyes Emmett will always be the world's most famous clown.

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