Clown

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A clown today is one of various types of performer in the circus and rodeo, normally appearing in makeup, costume (typically large footwear, oversized clothing , bright colors and patterns), wig and fun nose, and enacting humorous sketches, usually in the interludes between major presentations. The clown's humor today is basically visual and includes many elements of slapstick.

The word clown comes from words meaning "clot" or "clod" which came also to mean "clumsy fellow", according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Code of non-infringement
3 Types
4 Some famous clowns
5 Some other clowns
6 General
7 See also
8 External links

History

Clowning is a very ancient art form, which appears in some way or other in virtually every culture. An early form of clowns was the court jester, a role that can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Though most jesters suffered from some physical deformity and were often the butt of jokes, they were also the only courtiers who enjoyed free speech, and could speak their minds to the monarch. Usually...

Code of non-infringement

Each individual circus clown has the informal right to a costume and makeup that may not be infringed by other clowns. Despite no enforcement through intellectual property laws, this right is always respected, and even extended to individual routines and acts. All clowns (at least in Britain) have their faces painted onto eggshells and no two eggs can be alike.

Types

There are several different types of clowns, including:

the traditional clown: with white face, e.g. Joey Grimaldi.

the grotesque clown: who uses exaggerated make-up and costumes.

the character clown: who adopts the character of some common type, often a policeman or a hobo. Prime examples of this type of clown are Emmett Kelly and Charlie Chaplin
The rodeo clown has one of the most dangerous jobs in all of show business. He must protect other performers from bucking horses and charging bulls while also entertaining the audience.

Accompanying a circus clown there is often another character known as an 'auguste'. The auguste is often referred to as a clown but, technically, his role is different. The cleverer clown always gets the better of the auguste. The auguste gets the pie in the face, is squirted with water, is knocked down on his backside etc. He is the zaniest and most foolish of the clown's group.

Some famous clowns

Bozo the Clown, franchised clown, played by many local television performers
Buttons, from the 1952 movie The Greatest Show on Earth, played by Jimmy Stewart
Clarabell from the Howdy Doody television program, originally played by Bob Keeshan
Krusty the Klown, from the Simpsons animated series
Slim Pickens, rodeo clown and film actor
Homey the Clown, from the In Living Color television program known for "Homey don't play dat", played by Damon Wayans
J. P. Patches, local television clown who was the inspiration for Krusty the Clown
Emmett Kelly, "sad clown" with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus
Jack, icon for the fast food company, Jack in the Box
Joey Grimaldi
the Ronald McDonald character
Karandasch (Michail Nikolajewitsch Rumjanzew)
Koko the Clown from Max Fleischer's Out of the Inkwell series of cartoons
Grock (Adrian Wettach)
Oleg Popow
Charlie Rivel
Francesco Caroli
Habakuk (Arminio Rothstein)
Die Chicky's

Some other clowns

Jonny Mortensen, from Sweden, a really "nerdy" clown. He is without doubt Karlstad's (in Sweden) most famous "newsclown".
Three peace-seeking clowns were beaten up by police during the protests against the 1981 Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand. The protest movement thereafter added "Send in the Clowns" to its repertoire of songs.

General

Clowns have frequently been portrayed in movies, television, and novels. While clowns are generally believed to delight children, many kids are frightened by their strange appearance and seeming violence. See evil clown.