Emmett Leo Kelly (December 9, 1898 – March 28, 1979) was an American circus performer, who created the clown character "Weary Willie", based on the hobos of the Great Depression in the 1930s. Emmett Leo Kelly was born in Sedan, Kansas on December 9, 1898. His father, Thomas, was a section foreman for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad.

Sep 7, 2011 · Visually, the happy hobo/sad tramp was based on the American hobo riding the rails, wiping the soot away from the mouth & eyes to create the typical tramp look. Famous tramp & hobo clowns include Don Burda’s Homer , Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp , Emmett Kelly’s Weary Willy , Red Skelton’s Freddy the Freeloader ,

May 2, 2017 · Emmett Leo Kelly was a circus performer and one of the greatest American circus clowns of the 20th century. He created the character “Weary Willie,” the sad hobo clown, dressed in tattered clothes.

Emmett Leo Kelly (December 9, 1898 – March 28, 1979) was an American circus performer, who created the clown figure “Weary Willie,” based on the hobos of the Great Depression in the 1930s. According to Charles W. Carey, Jr.: Kelly’s creation of Weary Willie revolutionized professional clowning and made him the country’s most familiar ...

So-called tramp or hobo clowns first appeared in vaudeville and circuses in the late 19th century but had faded by 1917. However, during the Great Depression, hobo clowns made a comeback, as so many people could relate to being down on their luck.

Nov 16, 2011 · Emmett Kelly Sr., the most well-known of the tramp clowns of the circus. His character, Weary Willy, was the perpetual underdog, who never gave up – and, because of it, occasionally won. He was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1989.

May 12, 2016 · TRAMP/HOBO CLOWN (Definition from ISCA) “The TRAMP/HOBO character is the only true North American clown. This character grew out of the tramps/hobos who rode the freight trains across the country looking for work. Although the TRAMP and HOBO clown is considered a single category, each is unique.

Dec 6, 2018 · According to Wikipedia, a hobo is a migrant, often impoverished, worker. A tramp will work only when forced to and a bum doesn’t work at all. Emmett Kelly, Sr. was one of the most well-known clowns of the circus.

Mar 4, 2020 · Emmett Kelly, Jr. is part of our American culture. He will always be remembered as the most popular clown ever and as the hobo who glorified a romantic period in American history. Originally, “Hoe Boys” were itinerant farm workers who traveled from farm to farm by riding the rails in search of work.

Emmett Kelly (born December 9, 1898, Sedan, Kansas, U.S.—died March 28, 1979, Sarasota, Florida) was one of the great American circus clowns, best known for his role as Weary Willie, a mournful tramp dressed in tattered clothes and made up with a …