Emmett Kelly Jr. has passed away (83) - Famous Hobo Clown

[The Straight Story]

Emmett Kelly Jr., 83; followed in father's large footsteps as circus clown
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
December 2, 2006

Emmett Kelly Jr., 83, son of one of the nation's most famous hobo clowns who followed his father into a career under the big top, died Wednesday of complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home in Tombstone, Ariz., according to his daughter, CherryAnn Kelly-Knapp.

Born Nov. 13, 1923, in Dyersburg, Tenn., Kelly spent much of his childhood around the circus industry.

His father, Emmett Kelly Sr., created the character of Weary Willie the tramp clown, and his mother, Eva Mae Kelly, was a trapeze artist.

At 18, the younger Kelly enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent three years in the Pacific. After World War II, he worked as a railroad brakeman.

In 1960, with the makeup and blessing of his father, Kelly made his clown debut at the Circus Festival in Peru, Ind.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-passings2dec02,1,2294159.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

[xchrom]

1. farewell, sir.

clowning is one of the most difficult performance arts.

you did well.

[Javaman]

3. Yes, it is. I tried out for Ringling brothers twice. Made it to final call backs

on the second try, but alas, didn't make the final cut. No loss, just a really fun experience.

Now there would be a fun show I would watch. Instead of american idol, American Clown or Clowning with the stars or Circus of clowns, etc.

Anyway, farewell to a very talented man. :)

and yes, even though I tried to be a clown, they still scare me.

[xchrom]

5. now that's interesting -- kudos to you!

[jpgray]

2. On the clown continuum Gacy -> Skelton he ranks pretty highly

:D

[trof]

4. I loved his 'sweeping up the spotlight' bit.

The grip would focus the spot on the floor and, as Willie swept around the edges, he'd make it smaller and smaller until it just disappeared.

[mondo obscurius]

6. Rest in Peace

In memorium...

“JESTER, n. An officer formerly attached to a king's household, whose business it was to amuse the court by ludicrous actions and utterances, the absurdity being attested by his motley costume. The king himself being attired with dignity, it took the world some centuries to discover that his own conduct and decrees were sufficiently ridiculous for the amusement not only of his court but of all mankind. The jester was commonly called a fool, but the poets and romancers have ever delighted to represent him as a singularly wise and witty person. In the circus of to-day the melancholy ghost of the court fool effects the dejection of humbler audiences with the same jests wherewith in life he gloomed the marble hall, panged the patrician sense of humor and tapped the tank of royal tears."
-Ambrose Bierce

“I had a friend who was a clown. When he died, all his friends went to the funeral in one car.”
~Stephen Wright

“I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments.”
-Jim Morrison

“Dare to wear the foolish clown face.”
-Frank Sinatra

"I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.”
-Charlie Chaplin

"...to be noble might then come to mean: to entertain follies."
-Nietzsche

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."
-William Shakespeare

“It is meat and drink to me to see a clown.”
-William Shakespeare


"Goodnight sweet prince."