Clowns are a thing. Now, aren’t they? I don’t remember my first interaction with a clown. I never went to the circus, or fairs, or any such places as a child.
I imagine I probably met my first clown at one of the General Motors Days that we sometimes attended. My father worked for Frigidaire, so we’d go to these events where we ate free hotdogs and slurped down Cokes on the house. I bet there was a clown or two there, blowing up balloons and twisting them into animals and hats.
This comes about because today, July 30, 1930, is the birthday of Oleg Popov. Don’t know Popov? He was a Russian clown and circus artist born in Vyrubovo, Moscow.
He might have been one of the best ever, performing as a clown, mime, tightrope walker, and juggler. A big clown package if you ask me. Most of them just pile into cars and squirt people with seltzer bottles.
Popov won the Gold Clown Award at the 8th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in 1981. It acknowledged him for his long and stellar career. I didn’t know there was such a thing as the coveted Gold Clown Award. I can only imagine what the trophy looks like. There might be all sorts of “clown awards” out there, for all I know. Best Shoes. Brightest Nose. Funniest Hat. Anyway,
As clowns go, he had an illustrious career, touring the world, appearing in movies, and more. He worked throughout his entire life and died in 2016. He suffered a heart attack while on a Clown Tour. Popov stayed here on Earth, making them laugh, for 86 years.
There is a lot to know about clowns. Perhaps the U.S. President, who was the biggest clown, might have been Richard Nixon. During his presidency, International Clown Week was created in 1971. He had it written into American law. It rolls around every year, from August 1st through the 7th, in case you feel like wearing your big floppy shoes.
Clowns have been around for a while. The earliest record of the word “clown” dates from about 1560. But it isn’t easy being a clown. They must follow the Eight Clown Commandments. These rules include the fact that they must “remember that a good clown entertains others by making fun of himself or herself and not at the expense or embarrassment of others.” They also vow not to smoke or drink when in makeup or costume. Uh-Oh. There’s much more to this, such as they are supposed to remove their makeup and change into my street clothes once they are done clowning around.
Currently, there is a clown shortage. I suppose people aren’t willing to commit to the hand buzzer.
We’ve known the likes of Ronald McDonald and Bozo. There was Clarabell. And creepier versions like Pennywise, The Joker, and John Wayne Gacy. Yes. Gacy worked as a clown under the name of “Pogo the Clown.” When he wasn’t working as a serial killer.
Surprisingly, I found that there are more women clowns than men. Female, 61.5%. Male, 38.5%.
Yet, the boy clowns earn more money. Not funny.
So, there we have, the clown. They bring joy and laughter to so many people. Conversely, they terrify others.
And such is life.
It might not be the particular clown that is nice or naughty. But the way in which we see the clown.
And everything else.
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“Send in the clowns.”
— Stephen Sondheim
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“Dare to wear the foolish clown face.”
— Frank Sinatra
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“I think we all have the urge to be a clown, whether we know it or not.”
— Ernest Borgnine
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Make ’em laugh. Or cry. You clowns out there.
