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Favourite Clown

by sandman123
21 replies
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Who was your favourite clown of the golden era 50's/60's ?
I was fortunate to be around during the 60's to enjoy some of the greatest clowns and certainly miss some of those 'greats'.

The Clowns
  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Red Skelton. Hands down.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    I third that. Skelton.

    Now if you were talking real clowns and not comedians,I have to put Emmett Kelly


    In the 70s I tried out for,and was rejected,twice for, the Barnum and Bailey Clown College.

    It was just being started back then because all the old clowns were literally dying off and there were none to replace then. The old ones became teachers and they taught a new generation the art.
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    • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
      Red Skelton was a great entertainer, so I'll vote for him.
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    • Profile picture of the author lcombs
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      I third that. Skelton.

      Now if you were talking real clowns and not comedians,I have to put Emmett Kelly

      Emmett Kelly - What's My Line? - YouTube
      I beg to differ.
      Red was a comedic act as several clowns.
      (Although I did like his "Gertrude and Heathcliff jokes. ).



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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      I third that. Skelton.

      Now if you were talking real clowns and not comedians,I have to put Emmett Kelly

      Emmett Kelly - What's My Line? - YouTube

      In the 70s I tried out for,and was rejected,twice for, the Barnum and Bailey Clown College.

      It was just being started back then because all the old clowns were literally dying off and there were none to replace then. The old ones became teachers and they taught a new generation the art.
      I'd still watch TV now and then if they still made shows like What's My Line.

      Sorry about the clown college thing, but if it helps, I think you'd look great with a big, red nose.
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      • Profile picture of the author KimW
        Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

        I'd still watch TV now and then if they still made shows like What's My Line.

        Sorry about the clown college thing, but if it helps, I think you'd look great with a big, red nose.
        I actually have 1 picture of me in clown makeup from those many years past. If I can find it I might surprise you all and post it one day. It is in the same sty;e as Emmett Kelly,ala tramp face.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    AH, I agree Larry,but Red was a real entertainer all the way around. He was one of my idols growing up,
    I also loved Laurel and hardy and The Marx Brothers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    I agree Red Skelton was one of the best. I also like Carol Burnett a lot. There were some pretty big names missing from that list of comedians too . . . like Victor Borge and Buddy Hackett.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    He's asking about clowns, not comedians. I can't picture Borge in face paint and a colored wig.

    If you go to the "close, but not clown" stuff, I'd cast my vote for Gleason as The Poor Soul. His physical acting skills and facial expressions rivaled Kelly's.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Right, the OP was asking about clowns. I agreed with Red Skelton and added I liked Carol Burnett, too.

      The video didn't seem to be strictly about clowns, with Dean Martin and Jack Benny included. I don't remember them in clown attire. I should have entered a paragraph to separate the first part of my comment about clowns; and the second part, where I referred to what I thought were glaring omissions from a list of the best comedians.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Ah. I hadn't watched the video.

    If you start talking about comedians, the board is too big. Any list from that time frame would have to include Sid Caesar, Gracie Allen, and Jerry Lewis, though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    It's a toss up between Dennis Gaskill and Claude Whitacre. Two entirely different styles, same result: immense laughter followed by an ever so slight sense of uneasiness.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Riffle? Dennis doesn't make me uneasy.
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      • Profile picture of the author Isaiahas
        My favourite clown is Red Skelton he was a great American entertainer
        .As well as i have visited your link here in this video all the clown are really very nice
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      Ah. I hadn't watched the video.

      If you start talking about comedians, the board is too big. Any list from that time frame would have to include Sid Caesar, Gracie Allen, and Jerry Lewis, though.
      Yes indeed, they should be included. Jerry was in the video. George and Gracie too. There were sure a lot of great comedians back then. The kind that didn't rely on profanity to be funny, for most of them.


      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      It's a toss up between Dennis Gaskill and Claude Whitacre. Two entirely different styles. Same result: immense laughter followed by an ever so slight sense of uneasiness.
      That slight uneasiness is because deep inside you know my sense of humor is completely absurd, the kind of humor "normal" people don't laugh at, and realizing you might not be normal, even at a subconscious level, doesn't sit well in your gut.


      PS - I don't mind being included with Claude, he has a good sense of humor. He's probably spitting sparks about it though, poor guy.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Which is the point I originally made. Most of those were comedians,not clowns.
    Didn't say most in the video were not great,just that they didn't qualify as a clown.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Another Red Skelton fan here.

    It's sad, the kids who will most likely never know anything about Red Skelton. Just watching a few of his videos took me back in time to a really nice place!
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    • Profile picture of the author KimW
      Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

      Another Red Skelton fan here.

      It's sad, the kids who will most likely never know anything about Red Skelton. Just watching a few of his videos took me back in time to a really nice place!
      Many many many years ago I read every Red Skelton biography I could get my hands on.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I like Red Skelton - but I don't like clowns. At all. They're all Penny-wise to me. I put them right up there with dolls and puppets.
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