Emmett kelly guitar

Biography of Emmett Kelly

Emmett Leo Kelly, an American clown known as "Sad Willie" or "Weary Willie," gained great popularity in the character of a tramp clown. Circus critics referred to him as the "Clown with a capital C."
Early Life and Career

Emmett Kelly was born on December 9, 1898, in Sedan, Texas. His parents were of Irish descent, as evidenced by his name, which is reminiscent of the famous Irish patriot Robert Emmet. Kelly's father worked as a senior master on the railroad and later retired to a small farm in Kansas.
As a young boy, Kelly planned to dedicate his life to farming, but everything changed when he saw a circus performance in Houston. The spectacle captivated him, and he decided to pursue a career as an artist. At the age of fifteen, Kelly ran away from home and traveled the country, trying various professions. He worked as a clerk's assistant, accompanied trucks, painted signs, and always dreamed of becoming an artist and performing before the public. He studied drawing by copying famous masters' paintings, drawing on every scrap of paper, and dreamed of having his own "artist-momentalist" act. Eventually, he began performing in amateur concerts and rural balls, and his act was well-received by audiences.
While working at a film studio in Kansas City, Emmett created a series of "living drawings" where the silhouette of his future clown character first appeared. This character was a melancholy, lonely hobo who was never happy but never lost his spirit, always ready to start over from scratch. Emmett Kelly spent many years developing this character, refining the costume, makeup, and routines. However, before he debuted as Weary Willie, he performed as an aerial gymnast and a White Clown in a circus tent.
Success and Legacy

After several years of traveling with various circuses, both small and large, Kelly made his debut as Weary Willie in 1935 at the Gagenbeck-Wallas Circus. He later became known as "Sad Willie." The costume of the down-and-out character was gradually pieced together, with every detail carefully thought out and rarely changed. His coat was a gift from a circus giant, and instead of a tie pin, he used a wooden clothespin. His hat, purchased from a second-hand dealer many years ago, had been repainted multiple times but retained its original shape.
Emmett Kelly's comedic talent extended beyond the circus arena. He performed on Broadway in the operetta "Keep off the Grass" and appeared in the film "The Fat Man," directed by Bill Castle. Many American clowns tried to copy Weary Willie's repertoire, but their attempts to imitate his routines with a nut and a hammer were met with silence from the audience. Explaining their failures, Kelly told his colleagues, "To feel confident in the ring, you only need to be yourself. Don't try to imitate others to appear more convincing and respectable. Imitation and copying are forms of deception, and they will eventually backfire. Be honest with others. You will always feel happier and safer if you don't lie. And never rush. My only religion is treating my colleagues the way I want them to treat me. If you follow this golden rule, you will always know that you are doing the right thing."
Emmett Kelly, a brilliant comedic actor, hardly used any circus tricks in his later years. One of his routines, for example, involved him preparing a garden for planting vegetables. However, unbeknownst to him, he ate all the seeds before the ground was ready for planting. According to clowning conventions, the routine may seem trivial, but the audience would laugh uncontrollably watching Kelly's actions.
Emmett Kelly passed away in 1979. In his memory, an award called the "Emmett" was established, which is presented annually for outstanding contributions to the development of circus arts. The award is usually given by Kelly's daughter, Stasia Kelly, and recognizes circus historians, educators, and individuals from various fields of circus arts. During the celebration, photographs and films featuring Emmett Kelly are shown, and his family and close friends share their memories of the artist, while researchers of clowning give presentations about his work.