Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for May 22, 2017

I always thought clowns were extraterrestrial aliens sent here to traumatize little children.

I’ve only ever seen one evil clown, and he’s currently occupying the White House.

Watch “Killer Clowns from Outer Space”, then come back and comment…

They’re also creepy…

I will miss the circus if there are literally none left. I have seen the occasional regional, one ring traveling circus come through town, though not for a few years. The Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey, 3-ring circus was something special to see. The kind of experience every child should have once. Like the Harlem Globetrotters.

I am going to speak up for clown. I always loved them. Maybe I got to see really good ones. But they always made laugh. I have no memory of being afraid of them ever.

He’s just jealous that they get more attention for hamming it up.

Funny how the sideshows (aka “freak shows”) weren’t enough to finish off the circuses, but a few elephants get mistreated and it’s “take down the tents and sell the cages”. (Yes, animal abuse is bad, but I prefer to believe that those were the exception, not the rule, and that genuinely “modern” circuses treated their performers, human and otherwise, with respect.)

The last show was being streamed LIVE last night and, having not been to the circus in decades, I decided to watch. After two hours, I was bored to tears, although the big cats were fun to watch. Everything else was so “meh”. I guess it is time for retirement. It’s a different world now. This wouldn’t interest most kids today.

if you like Killer Klowns, you should watch “stitches”. it’s a great killer clown movie…

When I was growing up, I always heard people saying to lock your doors because the circus was coming to town.

I knew a clown once.

But he wasn’t one of those John Wayne Gacy clowns.

An unusual enough fellow, though.

Of course, one must consider the company.

I’ve long wondered if fear of clowns might stem from those jack-in-the-box toys. Set a pretty colored box in front of a very small child and turn a crank, playing a funny little tune. Suddenly a brightly colored, not quite human-looking face jumps out at the kid and scares the bejeebers out of her. Scarred for life. <8-O

“Send in the clowns”…Don’t bother, Steph and his crew are here!

I am a professional clown. I bring joy and smiles to all I meet. I feel sorry for those who only have bad memories of clowns or feel the need to put them down. Perhaps one day you will have the privilege of meeting or seeing a true clown and smile.

I think I’ve seen elephants in a zoo, but I have seen them in the circus several times. I figure that future kids will not get to see them except on tv/internet. Is that really better?

Have they tried to have circuses without elephants and lions? Cirque du Soleil and Big Apple circus don’t have them, and personally, I find the human acts – acrobats, jugglers, trapeze artists – far more interesting. And while they may attract some customers, they also repel some customers, and it must cost an enormous amount of money to travel with elephants, tigers, and lions.

Big Apple Circus does use some animals. They have these dog acrobats. One thing that makes it great is that it’s obvious that the dogs are having a blast.

I just saw a show called “Circus 1903” (which was really good). Instead of an elephant, they have this giant puppet elephant that had to be seen to be believed.

And Cirque du Soleil has some VERY interesting “Eye Candy” performing for them…

I once followed the circus for a week just to hang out with the elephants. I was a farm boy, and big animals are fascinating. To watch the big fellows standing, shoulder to shoulder, rocking gently back and forth in rhythm….and then nodding off myself in a sleeping bag. Comforting. For years in my dreams I had an elephant, very powerful. Scary, too.I did marvelous things in my misspent youth. Didn’t we all?

NO, they are not.

Before condemning clowns, please remember how many little ones are traumatized when placed on the lap of a certain Jolly Old Elf.

Clowns were use distract the audience’s attention from any mishap on disaster that may have happened, hence the phrase, “Send in the clowns.” The band would also immediately start playing the “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Pig is obviously not familiar with standard Clown Car Engineering.

I am not an animal!

If there’s one thing I’m against is animals being used in circus acts. Animals entertain us in their own natural way.

xxx

Long ago when I was a reporter for a community newspaper, I did a feature on a circus that came to town. Then they made me up as a clown and put me in the show. It was a blast.

Ooo…so many comments on fear/hatred/scarring caused by clowns. Dare I mention that I am bemused by the fact that most of the clowns you meet are Shriners…?

Jimmy Stewart played a clown in a well-known movie. Therefore, now clown can be evil.

I think Pig may be on to something today. It has certainly become Fashionable in some circles to bash and mistreat clowns as though it were okay to do so.

They are as Pig says almost human, you know!

Just almost..