Emmett Kelly

Emmett Kelly made his name in the American circus as the creator of Weary Willie, a sad tramp clown modeled on Depression-era hobos. Born in Sedan, Kansas, he first worked professionally as a clown with Howe's Great London Circus in 1921, initially in white-face makeup, and later developed the hobo character that became his trademark. He spent fourteen seasons with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey from 1942. His best-known routine involved a spotlight, a balloon, and sawdust. He appeared on Broadway in Keep Off the Grass in 1939. In Hollywood he took a villainous part in The Fat Man (1951), which drew praise for his acting, then appeared in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and Wind Across the Everglades (1958). His 1954 autobiography was Clown, My Life in Tatters and Smiles. Later he performed for fifteen years at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, and honors included induction into the Circus Ring of Fame in 1988.