Clown warning: 22 photos of clowns from Star-Telegram archive that might scare you

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

All the world loves a clown, right? Right?

These clowns entertained (or frightened) Fort Worth crowds at circuses, parades and even Christmas from the 1930s into the 1960s, from the Star-Telegram photo archives.

July 13, 1936: A clown from Billy Rose’s Jumbo building, Fort Worth Frontier Centennial.
July 13, 1936: A clown from Billy Rose’s Jumbo building, Fort Worth Frontier Centennial.
Aug. 15, 1944: Laws of gravity are just something to be broken when Jack Hays gets his ladder to rocking. A veteran of four Recreation Department circuses, he is one of the featured performers in the show that will be presented at the Sycamore Park soft ball field.
Aug. 15, 1944: Laws of gravity are just something to be broken when Jack Hays gets his ladder to rocking. A veteran of four Recreation Department circuses, he is one of the featured performers in the show that will be presented at the Sycamore Park soft ball field.
Aug. 5, 1940: Recreation Department circus. Bob Totten, clown, and “Toughie,” dog, seen performing an act using an umbrella.
Aug. 5, 1940: Recreation Department circus. Bob Totten, clown, and “Toughie,” dog, seen performing an act using an umbrella.
Feb. 3, 1940: A Masquerade Ball is being held at the River Crest Country Club for the benefit of the Day Nursery Association. Attending the party in their creative costume are Mr. K. H. Beall, left, and Mrs. John S. Brown.
Feb. 3, 1940: A Masquerade Ball is being held at the River Crest Country Club for the benefit of the Day Nursery Association. Attending the party in their creative costume are Mr. K. H. Beall, left, and Mrs. John S. Brown.
March 11, 1963: Ebo the Clown leaves the M & O Subway at Leonards Department Store with a baby elephant and two dogs to kick off the Spring Downtown Days free shows between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Fort Worth.
March 11, 1963: Ebo the Clown leaves the M & O Subway at Leonards Department Store with a baby elephant and two dogs to kick off the Spring Downtown Days free shows between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Fort Worth.
Feb. 4, 1942: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show. Harrell C. Ashburn, left, and B. H. Glenn, right, shown with Bobo, the clown.
Feb. 4, 1942: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show. Harrell C. Ashburn, left, and B. H. Glenn, right, shown with Bobo, the clown.
Dec. 23, 1952: Second only to Santa Claus at the All Church Home party given by the Lions Club was Paul Jung, world-famous clown, flanked by Linda Gail Adams, 4, left, and Rita Lemmer, 4.
Dec. 23, 1952: Second only to Santa Claus at the All Church Home party given by the Lions Club was Paul Jung, world-famous clown, flanked by Linda Gail Adams, 4, left, and Rita Lemmer, 4.
Aug. 12, 1952: Recreation Department annual circus. Allene Williams, Barbara Jean Wilson and Lalita Hurd.
Aug. 12, 1952: Recreation Department annual circus. Allene Williams, Barbara Jean Wilson and Lalita Hurd.
May 8, 1958: Clown Jess Langston welcomes Vanessa Vandergriff, daughter of Arlington Mayor and Mrs. Tommy Vandergriff, to Arlington’s Community Fair, which opened a three-day run with approximately 10,000 persons on the grounds at Arlington State College.
May 8, 1958: Clown Jess Langston welcomes Vanessa Vandergriff, daughter of Arlington Mayor and Mrs. Tommy Vandergriff, to Arlington’s Community Fair, which opened a three-day run with approximately 10,000 persons on the grounds at Arlington State College.
Aug. 5, 1952: Recreation Department annual circus. Ralph Cochran, Leslie Burks and Edward Cochran.
Aug. 5, 1952: Recreation Department annual circus. Ralph Cochran, Leslie Burks and Edward Cochran.
May 27, 1939: All state Shriners Association in Fort Worth parade through downtown. Albert Marx, a Houston businessman, dressed as clown.
May 27, 1939: All state Shriners Association in Fort Worth parade through downtown. Albert Marx, a Houston businessman, dressed as clown.

MORE: Halloween photos in Fort Worth over the decades

Dec. 5, 1945: Teamed with Santa Claus again to provide merry moments for struggling Christmas shoppers and the youngsters who accompany them is Paul Jung, circus clown. He is going through one of his many acts for a typical group of children at Leonard Brothers department store.
Dec. 5, 1945: Teamed with Santa Claus again to provide merry moments for struggling Christmas shoppers and the youngsters who accompany them is Paul Jung, circus clown. He is going through one of his many acts for a typical group of children at Leonard Brothers department store.
Aug. 7, 1950: John Martin and Grover Hudson are shown practicing a clown act for the recreation department’s 20th annual circus, held at LaGrave Field.
Aug. 7, 1950: John Martin and Grover Hudson are shown practicing a clown act for the recreation department’s 20th annual circus, held at LaGrave Field.
Aug. 20, 1940: Recreation Department circus. Bob Echols, left, and Dickle Norman stare in the mirror.
Aug. 20, 1940: Recreation Department circus. Bob Echols, left, and Dickle Norman stare in the mirror.
Nov. 22, 1944: Paul Jung, clown from Ringling Brothers Circus, is at Leonard Brothers department store, to add to the merriment of kids and adults in the pre-Christmas holiday season.
Nov. 22, 1944: Paul Jung, clown from Ringling Brothers Circus, is at Leonard Brothers department store, to add to the merriment of kids and adults in the pre-Christmas holiday season.
Aug. 15, 1950: These children were among the hundreds taking part in the Recreation Department’s circus. Left to right, Frances Ferguson, Clifford Meadows and Jimmy Kimbell await their cue for entrance.
Aug. 15, 1950: These children were among the hundreds taking part in the Recreation Department’s circus. Left to right, Frances Ferguson, Clifford Meadows and Jimmy Kimbell await their cue for entrance.
July 30, 1953: One thousand pounds is a lot of weight but the clowns in the recreation department circus prove here they can handle anything. These clowns, of the many in the circus cast, are Mike Hickey, Kenneth Allow and Joseph Turner. The show, open to the public, was held at LaGrave Field.
July 30, 1953: One thousand pounds is a lot of weight but the clowns in the recreation department circus prove here they can handle anything. These clowns, of the many in the circus cast, are Mike Hickey, Kenneth Allow and Joseph Turner. The show, open to the public, was held at LaGrave Field.
Aug. 14, 1945: Two of the clowns who will perform at the Community Circus of the Recreation Department are, left to right, Joe Cameron and Don Quinn. They will be featured in an act with 30 other clowns tumbling out of an automobile.
Aug. 14, 1945: Two of the clowns who will perform at the Community Circus of the Recreation Department are, left to right, Joe Cameron and Don Quinn. They will be featured in an act with 30 other clowns tumbling out of an automobile.
Oct. 17, 1943: Polock Brothers Circus sponsored by Shriners. Shown here are Frank and Bernie Black, a brother act. They’re a pair of pantomimics.
Oct. 17, 1943: Polock Brothers Circus sponsored by Shriners. Shown here are Frank and Bernie Black, a brother act. They’re a pair of pantomimics.
Dec. 5, 1946: The Moslah Shrine Circus season is opening at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth. Laughter is rolling from “Section C” as clown Charlie De Melo made his way into the audience.
Dec. 5, 1946: The Moslah Shrine Circus season is opening at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth. Laughter is rolling from “Section C” as clown Charlie De Melo made his way into the audience.
April 19, 1950: Clown R. R. Edwards, Jr. (in real life owner of an auto store), bobbed his flying saucers before delighted eyes of Sandra Lou Edwards, Linda Kay Smith, and Mary Sue Riley. A parade in Gainsville celebrating the town’s 100th birthday.
April 19, 1950: Clown R. R. Edwards, Jr. (in real life owner of an auto store), bobbed his flying saucers before delighted eyes of Sandra Lou Edwards, Linda Kay Smith, and Mary Sue Riley. A parade in Gainsville celebrating the town’s 100th birthday.
Aug. 14, 1953: 11-month-old Jamelyn Eldredge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Eldredge, can’t believe her eyes as she sees her first circus clown. The clown is Glenn Ray Walker, 12.
Aug. 14, 1953: 11-month-old Jamelyn Eldredge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Eldredge, can’t believe her eyes as she sees her first circus clown. The clown is Glenn Ray Walker, 12.

MORE: Check out these other photo galleries from the Star-Telegram archives: