I love clowns. I do. When I was a young lad, I dreamed of going to Clown College. Happy clowns and sad ones; slapstick and mimes; harlequins and tramps. I love them all. Well, almost. I didn’t like Pennywise. In this strange new world in which we find ourselves living, we occasionally encounter clowns that are wicked, or downright evil. I’m not going to talk about them, though.
Clowns are meant to make us happy. They entertain us with their physical comedy. As a child of the 50s and 60s, I grew up with Bozo, The World’s Most Famous Clown and his cartoon show. Emmett Kelly’s Weary Willie was a sad, forlorn figure while Red Skelton’s Freddie the Freeloader brought more humor to the character.
What about you? Do you love clowns or are you one of those poor unfortunates who suffers from coulrophobia?

Red Skelton as Freddie the Freeloader

Emmett Kelly as Weary Willie

About Ol' Big Jim
Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history.
Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute.
No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership.
Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing.
When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection.
Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations.
His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
When my father became too old to get around much, he took up painting. His favorite was clowns, with Emmett Kelly being king of course. I have dad’s painting in my living room – so to answer your question – yes, I like clowns.
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Emmett Kelly was a favorite of my Grandparents and their daughter, my Mother. Naturally, he’s at the top of my list, too! Thanks a million for stopping by and saying a few words.
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A clown and a suitcase…Here’s a post where I am giving my personal definition of a clown as well as analyzing from what material the clown’s suitcase could be made, how it could be and what the clown could have put inside the suitcase.
How could you define a clown and his/her suitcase…? I’m curious to learn! https://thedramagames.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/a-clown-and-a-suitcase/#more-239
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