WEARY WILLIE DAY - December 9

WEARY WILLIE DAY

Weary Willie Day on December 9th recognizes the art of clowning and the impact it has on our lives. This holiday was named for the character made famous by Emmett Kelly, who was born on this day in 1898. 

Weary Willie was a unique character in the art of clowning. Kelly had developed Weary Willy at a time when the white-faced, goofy clown was the norm, and selling the idea for a sad, down-on-his-luck clown did not fit the formula most circuses were seeking. For the time being, Kelly put back on the white face and the brightly colored costume.  

Times and attitudes changed when the country was in the depths of the Great Depression. Downtrodden and world-weary was the face of the nation.  People could identify with Weary Willie like never before. Weary Willie, his frowning, whisker-shadowed face, and his dirty, torn and worn costume, went on to become an American icon. 

His son, Emmett Kelly, Jr. carried on Weary Willie’s persona well into the modern era until his death in 2003, at the age of 83.

HOW TO OBSERVE #WearyWillieDay

Wear some big shoes, pantomime or grab a bunch of people and pile into a tiny car.  Clown college could be just around the corner! While clowning around, stock up on a Pair of our Crazy Socks to entertain folks! Learn more about Weary Willy. Read Clown: My Life in Tatters and Smiles by Emmett Kelly or Emmett Kelly: The Greatest Clown on Earth by Donald McManus. Watch The Clown starring Henry Fonda as Emmett Kelly. Another film about clowns is Grease Paint. The documentary follows a family of clowns for a year. You can find it on Amazon. 

Use #WearyWillieDay to post on social media.

WEARY WILLIE DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar® continues researching this clowning around day.  

Clown FAQ

Q. Who were some famous clowns?
A. Through the generations many clowns gained notoriety. Some names include:

• Bozo the Clown – Created by Alan W. Livingston, Bozo was first portrayed by Pinto Colvig in 1946 for audio recordings. He would later perform as Bozo on television. Since that time, over a hundred people have portrayed Bozo.
• Ronald McDonald – The long-time mascot for the hamburger franchise appeared on television in 1963. Willard Scott (later the weatherman on the Today Show) portrayed the red-haired burger-loving character in the ads.
• Mr. Noodle – Performed by Bill Irwin, the clown appears on episodes of Sesame Street. Bill Irwin has created a variety of clowns during his career.

Q. Is a mime a clown?
A. While a clown wears face paint and sometimes elicits laughter, their art form is not considered a comic style. However, clowning is comedic in more ways than one. From their colorful and oversized costumes to slapstick style, clowning is its own style of performance.

Q. What is a rodeo clown called?
A. There are three types of rodeo clowns. Each has an important role to play during the rodeo.

• Bullfighter – The bullfighter’s main job is to protect the riders.
• Barrelman – This clown jumps in and out of the barrel to distract the bull.
• Comedy clown – The comedy clown’s primary role is to entertain the crowd.