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Clowns. They inspire laughter; they instill anxiety. They are weird and scary; they are charming. They are happy; they are sad and loveable. Affection for them ranges from 'Love Them' to 'Meh' to 'get IT away from me.'
If you have an aversion to clowns, or even stronger emotion, such as the fear of clowns, Coulrophobia, leave now. We'll see you at the next blog when we talk about hat pin stands or copper salad molds.
The rest of you, thank you for sticking with me. Collect yourself some points along the way. Five points for everything I write that you already knew about clowns. Did you know the clown phobia name? Five points! Twenty points earns you a balloon and cotton candy on your way out. Pretend that is true.
None has us has time to chronicle the history of clowns dating back to 2400 b.c. so we won't even begin. Give yourself 5 points if you knew that date.
Do I collect clowns? There are two possible answers of course. Yes, because I seem to collect everything. And no, because I am not into them - yet. Five points for No.
Enough people collect clown dolls, figurines, masks, and such, that I acquire them for the stores when I can. They are hard to find and easy to sell. I have eight stores and over 6000 items. These are my clowns.
Some clown collectors are very specific about which of the three clown categories they gather.
They may specialize in Whiteface, Auguste, or Tramp. Fifteen possible points if you could have identified them.
Whiteface clowns are the aristocrat of the clown community, They are as sophisticated in their attire as a clown can be. Their demeanor is serious, even with their customary painted-on big red mouth and ball size nose. As Whiteface clowns, Bozo the Clown and Ronald McDonald are among the top of the clown food chain. Five points if you get the joke.
With a skull cap or rainbow wig, whiteface clowns are icons of "the greatest show on earth." Take a bow and five points if you have been to a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Clowns with a tan, red, or pick face are known as Auguste. They are the anarchist, the joker, the fool. Often rude or grotesque, they may be the source of clown phobia.
Steven King's IT clown, Pennywise, and Homer Simpson's alter ego, Krusty the Clown, are most recognizable as modern-day Auguste clowns. Five points if you ever had a bad dream about a clown.
If (when?) I begin collecting clowns it will be the Tramp clown. These loveable down-on-their-luck, rail riding, bindle carrying clowns show humanity and humility.
Unlike the mean, foolish, and scary Auguste and the somewhat ignorant and buffoonish Whiteface, Tramps are more representative of real people. People who laugh. People who cry. People who pull themselves up and take another step. Five points if you love Tramp clowns.
Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp", Red Skelton's "Freddy the Freeloader", and Emmett Kelly's "Weary Willie represent the Tramp like no one before or after them. The world needs more Tramps.
If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you
should remember some silly thing I've said or done and
it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your
heart, then my purpose as your clown has been Fulfilled.
Red Skelton
That is Why I Have A Vintage Addiction
Blessings,
Terri
Bonus points if you knew I would sign off that way.
Double bonus points if you click A Vintage Addiction and visit three pages. Thank YOU!
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