Clowns, Funny and Not-So-Funny

Last week Larry Harmon, who delighted children for more than a half-century as the beloved character Bozo the Clown died at age 83.


Bozo was famous as the quintessential clown, and the name became a standard term for a stupid person. Who hasn't seen some variation on the famous "No Bozos!" sign?

or,



But clowns aren't always funny. The famous horror film actor Lon Chaney once famously said, "There's nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight." It's true, of course. Some clown makeup and antics can be frightening to a child, or even an adult...consider Pennywise the murderous clown from Stephen King's novel "It" ...


Nowadays you don't have to go to the circus to see unfunny or scary clowns. Fox News is full of them, there are about 435 of them in the House and 50 in the Senate, and there's always Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Jimmy Carter and Al Gore if you need more. I saw lots of them on the Pennsylvania Turnpike yesterday as I drove home from Pittsburgh...they're easy to spot, as they're usually chugging down the left lane of the highway with three miles of frustrated drivers backed up behind them.

Clowns. A fitting topic to start off another work week. Too bad they're running for president, too.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo