#ringling clowns

[clownery-blog]

[isawken]

this photo of famed circus clown lou jacobs smoking a cigarette down to the butt while holding a tiny performing dog. smash that like button

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

ca. 1901, [portrait of two Ringling Brothers’ circus clowns]

via the Wisconsin Historical Society, Circus and Rodeo Photographs Collection

* * * *

“Self-proclaimed kings are often seen as jesters.” ― Tamerlan Kuzgov

[tilbageidanmark]

Ringling Brothers Clown Collage, 1997.

[frank-o-meter]

Circus Poster: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus / The Greatest Show on Earth (1943). Poster depicting Felix Adler the clown

[fraznik]

Everyone, meet Little David!

I found this lovely gentleman at the local goodwill today! 2003 David Larible doll for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, he’s even got his instruments!! Amazing find, I recently messaged a friend here on Tumblr for a very similar doll, only to find this colorful guy a week later! I’ve added a photo below(not mine) of the same doll in the original packaging. So exciting!

[cato-of-blamesociety]

My first Offical feature:

👋🏾🌍❤️‍🩹

[naptimeclown]

Watching the greatest showman for the second time ever just so I can make myself mad enough to motivate me to clean

[goobersplat]

1980s Clown Plush Lot Ringling Bros Dakin Circus Clowns

[heartfullofleeches]

Clown Doll Reader with a few different Yans (Lab Monster, Murder Clowns, Crime Boss, Bodyguard and Co-Host)

"Introducing the new Cloudy Acres Talking Clown Doll! Equipped with over a hundred phrases - this extra soft, extra cuddly plush will be all yours for ages of fun, friendship, and when you're in need of a big hug. Cherry scented!"

Lab Monster

The recording pauses. Beady eyes swift to anger center on the doll held in spindly limbs, a medium for the entity's rage found in the stitched smile. Its dripping jowls nuzzle and nip at the soft fabric skin; slinder talons yanking the toy's plastic cord.

"Are you having a good day? Mine's spectacular, cause I'm with you!"

The creature croons, raising its pitch to match the toy's bubbly air. "Youuu." It sinks its face into the doll's plush body, chirping and cooing with glee. Its coarse tongue tears at the doll's mouth stitching at it drags the slippery muscle back up to its lips, screwing into the fabric. The onlookers immediately look away, turning to face each other.

"I still don't see the reason we enable it so much. It's speech recognition has improved greatly, but this attachment to this television host could be a crutch in the future."

"Its hostility levels have greatly decreased since this introduction to the outside world. We only have one caretaker out on medical leave now rather than four in a body bag."

"True, but I still think we should cut these ties eventually."

"We really shouldn't have this discussion on free dress day. I can clearly see the signed shirt you're wearing."

Murder Clowns

The group of technicolor fiends crowd around their leader with their own mini idols in arms as said ringling pulls the string on their doll and holds it in the air.

"Smile!"

Cheers and hollers rivaling crowds twenty times their number break out within the group; the screams of those beside them as infectionous as the little clown's happy jingle and rebounding off each other. One of the clown's holding the truck driver at the back corner of the vehicle lightly smacks the back of his head - tears flowing anew.

"That means you too."

-

Crime Boss

The tired store clerk rubs sleep from their eyes as they look up at the imposing figure. "Please- we haven't unloaded the shipment of those dolls yes. I'm sure you're child can wait until tomorrow morning..."

The boss nods at their on hand lackey. Without hesitation, they pull the gun from their holster and point it at his face. "I'm sure others can wait, but I have a meeting at dawn and I'd like to take what's mine before those greasy brats damage the whole stock so if you would be so kind - hand over the fucking keys."

Bodyguard and Co-Host

"Dont look so down. Lemme kiss everything better! Mwah, mwah."

Your bodyguard pushes the doll out of their face, swallowing the urge to your co-star in their puckered lips no matter how hard it fights to the surface. Mini you's were strapped to them everywhere the eye could see. From their hoodie pockets to their arms and atop their head - your co-star happily showed off their collect and used them to tease your poor guard.

"Look at this one. Limited edition, and they glow in the dark. Not supposed to come out unless next year! Such a cutie aren't they?"

"I don't care. Leave me alone." Your bodyguard pushes past your co-star who juggles the plushies and uses their body as a cushion before they hit the ground. Your guard speed walks away, glancing around every corner with each turn. Alone in your dressing room, they pull a doll from their pocket and tug its wire.

"I love you!"

They flush, smiling from ear to ear.

[clownery-blog]

I cant believe i forgot but

HAPPY CLOWN WEEK!!!!!

You guys!!!!

[isawken]

in 1883 in the first recorded rodeo takes place in pecos, texas. in 2001 rob smets attends the PBR world finals in jeans and a sports jersey bearing sponsor logos. in 1568 the gelosi acting company coalesces in italy to perform the hot new style of live improv entertainment. in 1780 joseph grimaldi makes his stage debut at 2 years old at london’s famed drury lane. in the many, many years before any white person ever laid eyes on it, a man in what you’d now call northern arizona paints his body in black and white stripes and puts corn husks in his hair. in 1557 ivan the terrible is pallbearer to a man who walked naked in the streets of moscow. in 2017 the ringling bro’s circus announces its last show, 146 years after the titular brothers first formed it. all of these moments (and more!) have lived in my head rolling around like marbles for years now and im so happy to now have the proper method to infect your mind as well:

History of Fools is a hobby project of mine i've been working on for over a year now! part essay series, part half-assed podcast, part descent into madness, this little diddy is the culmination of years' worth of highly specific insanity. i have 4 half hour-ish essays/episodes out now reviewing the histories of:

Jesters! Commedia Dell'arte! Sacred Clowns and Holy Fools! and my personal favorite (seriously if you listen to or read any please choose this one) Rodeo Clowns!

I have more episodes planned to get into clowns proper, hoping to come out in 2024. but until then please take a read or a listen and let me know what you think!

CLICK HERE FOR FOOLS!

[butterfwiesndinorawrs]

🎪❤️🤍🎪❤️🤍🎪❤️🤍🎪❤️🤍🎪❤️🤍🎪

I wents to da circus a while back! It was such an awesome show. My favowite character was Jr. da clown.. I gots his stuffie! Da show followed him travellings all over da world n each performer in da circus was in a different place! There was daredevil riders in a giant ball, men in giant double wheels day went all da way to da tippy top of da circus tent, and 6 people on motorbikes in a single ball!!!! 🤯 Dey had performers hanging from ribbons n doing epic tricks.. dey had dancers n acrobats n trained doggos showing off their skills! It was an amazing show n I was on da edge of my seats! Speaking of seats, my fwend n I had a front row seat n somehow ended up hasing da section to ourselves.. da amount of times Jr. da clown looked right at me during da show mades me feels so specials! On a side note I went to my first circus last year n it was a Ringling Bros Circus... it was a great show too but dis one was better!!! If yous ever gets to see Garden Bros Nuclear Circus yous will not very disappointed!!! 😁🎪🤡👏❤️

[henk-heijmans]

Ringling Circus clown Emmett Kelly in a bubble bath - by Joseph Janney Steinmetz (1905 - 1985), American

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Famous circus clown Emmett Kelly tries to hit an apple held by Brooklyn Dodger president Walter O’Malley with a loaf of Italian bread. They were at the New York Press Photographers’ Association dinner at Mama Leone’s restaurant on January 28, 1957. O’Malley announced that he had signed Kelly to “ease the tension at Ebbets Field.” (Rumors of desertion to LA?) Kelly had been with the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus for 36 years before retiring the previous spring due to a union dispute.

Photo: Marty Lederhandler for the AP

[keepcalmandcarriefischer]

So we need to talk about something.

Clowns.

Okay. So. Clowns are a "thing" right now and I have seen the word clown used more times than I have in the last year. Most of the time it's folks calling each other clowns. Sometimes in the form of referencing clownish behavior and then saying "that's like you." And most of the time that clownish behavior references the clown schtick seen at the old timey circus.

So I have a question.

When was the last time you saw a legit clown routine? Pies to the face? Seltzer water cans? 30 clowns getting out of a small car? A flower that shoots water?

I mean in person or in media. This routine is one that is WELL KNOWN. Known well enough to be referenced without context. Well enough to be part of memes. Understood easily by any age group.

So when was the last time you saw this act performed? In a cartoon when you were a kid 20 years ago? When Ringling came to town a decade back?

Personally, I only ever saw the real clown experience once. I was maybe 10 years old and a big circus came to Portland. They did the works. All the best stuff. Played the hits.

Before that and since then, my understanding of clowns was purely from cartoons and parades where you would see maybe 3 clowns and the best you could hope for is a nose honk and a wave.

So what about you? You also have an intimate understanding of clowns behavior. When was the last time you ever actually saw it?

(am I just fishing for a thousand note post with 40 different reblog chains full of clown stories? ... maaaaybe.... But who doesn't want to read a bunch of clown experience stories?)