In 1979, when Henri Gugelmann debuted his "rat circus" in downtown Bern, he claimed it was the first of its kind in the world. And maybe it was also the last, because I don't know where one would go today to see performing rats.
His trained rats jumped over ropes, ran through burning rings, and crawled along in a "rat race" while Gugelmann, dressed as a clown, directed the show. That sounds like quality entertainment! [Google News: Victoria Advocate, Aug 9, 1979]
Denison's make-up guide (1926) was a catalogue of the various products sold by Denison, but it also offered detailed instructions on how to use their products. Below is their guide for "blacking up" using their Superfine Minstrel Black make-up paint. There were similar how-to's for other ethnic types such as the 'Ghetto Jew,' the Japanese, Irishman, Chinaman, etc. See more images from the catalogue at UVA's online exhibit, Uncle Tom's Cabin & American Culture.
This puzzle appeared in The Strand magazine, December 1903, demonstrating that swastikas and clowns had an affinity for one another even before the Nazis came along. (Technically it's a Sauwastika Clown Puzzle, not a Swastika one.) The answer is below in extended.
If Zu Zu were witnessed offering cookies to a child today, he'd be in the sniperscopes of a SWAT team's rifles faster than a cocaine-covered bank robber.
WU readers are surely familiar with John Wayne Gacy, if only because his middle name is Wayne. Convicted of at least 33 murders. He liked to dress as Pogo the Clown at charity events. Executed in 1994. And (what I didn't know) is that he took up art while in prison. He liked to paint Disney characters, clowns, and skulls.
According to Wikipedia: "Exhibitions of Gacy's artwork have been held since the 1980s and continue to be held. Gacy dismissed criticism that he was permitted to keep money from the sale of his paintings, claiming his artwork was intended 'to bring joy into people's lives'."
A prison guard displaying Gacy's painting (titled "Hi-Ho Hi-Ho")
Do we try to make amends for creating occasional incidents of reader dissatisfaction here at Weird Universe? Of course we do! For all those unamused and/or bored by the "Happy Hunter" post, here's your supplemental dose of excitement for today.
Category: Clowns, Music, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1910's, 1920's, 1930's, Name That List