send in the clowns

 I grew up knowing 2 clowns.

first there was Rollins the Clown. I recall few details of him. somehow my parents met him. we'd visit he & his wife in their small & messy house. they seemd old to me then. my major memory of that place were the plaster pieces they made. one that hung on the wall was the head of what mite've been a Persian prince. I remember being quite taken by his turban. I don't think we ever bought one. now I wish we had. I'm pretty sure I never saw him in his clown persona & can't be certain he ever made a living as one.  years later I askd Dad abt Rollins' clownness & he was unable to recall details.

then there was a neighbor named Tom Redockovich. he workd at Bendix. I doubt he was ever a professional clown but he'd appear at local events. I took this of him at a party in our backyard in the summer of 1958.

the biggest clown encounter of my life was when I was in high school. I took part in a Cleveland Press interview of the legendary Emmet Kelly. he may have been America's most famous clown. as Weary Willie he personified the role of "sad clown." I still have this photo he signd for me that day.

these memories are the result of an unexpectd happening yesterday. after a film screening I stoppd in Sherman's to get a piece for cake to bring home. & there was Harpo the Clown.  he appears in parades & other valley events. apparently he's a graduate of "clown college" at Ringley Brothers. Frank Sinatra paintd him & Snake Jagger has used his image for art pieces. he appeard in a film calld "A Thousand Cuts" (with a cameo by my friend Viga Dean).