This is a list of notable clowns. Pinto Colvig - American clown who later became famous as the voice of Goofy. Daniel Rice (1823–1901) – American clown of the 19th century and principal inspiration for Uncle Sam. George Carl – American clown who performed mainly in Europe. Johann Ludwig Jacob Lou Jacobs (1903–1992) – American Master Clown.

Oct 29, 2010 · Most Native American tribes had some type of clown character. These clowns played an important role in the social and religious life of the tribe, and in some cases were believed to be able to cure certain diseases. Clowns who performed as court jesters were given great freedom of speech.

Dec 23, 2011 · More people attended the circus in the nineteenth-century than any other contemporary amusement. Circuses grew in number—from a handful of itinerant shows to nearly 100—and in size—from troupes of a dozen people in 1830 to an industry that employed thousands in 1920.

Mar 4, 2025 · In 19th-century one-ring circuses, clowns often entertained audiences with songs and long monologues, in which they sometimes offered words of wisdom on politics and current events or quoted Shakespeare; one such clown was the popular American Dan Rice, who was

Fred Payne became known for portraying Harlequin, and Harry became famous as Clown in the Harlequinade that followed Victorian pantomimes. Together, the brothers appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan 's first collaboration, Thespis, in 1871. Gilbert made references to the brothers in two of his Bab Ballads.

Based on my experience as a circus clown and a historian of performance, I have identified six eras that illustrate how clowns have been central to the circus—from their initial anarchic appeal, which gave way to late-nineteenth-century stereotypes that mushroomed in the twentieth century.

Sep 21, 2018 · For this new blog series we will visit the different eras of clown history, from the Egyptian Empire to the modern day. Exploring the ways clowning has changed and morphed into what we see, and how clowning was perceived during a time long ago.

Yes, clowns did exist in the 1800s. Clowning has a long history and can be traced back centuries. In the 19th century, clowns were popular entertainers in circuses, theaters, and vaudeville shows. They were known for their exaggerated costumes, painted faces, and comedic performances.

Sep 11, 2023 · From their adult-themed antics in medieval times to the rise of frightening and even murderous clowns in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, clowns have taken on a darker side as well, inspiring what has been called clown phobia.

Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable figures appear to be of Queen Victoria.