Page 36 - Clowning_Around_101

The Emmett Kelly Festival,

Houston, Missouri

“My Roots”

Jackie Newton, President of the World Clown Association

Was it almost thirty years ago that I decided to end of the clown week, I was still wondering, "What
show up to a small, in the middle of nowhere town am I really doing?" I will tell you that the wonderful
in southern, Missouri? I believe it was 1994 or maybe Curt Patty "Handy Andy" was instrumental in naming
1995 that I chose to hideaway at the Show-me Clown me. A group of funny, high energy clowns sat around

school nestled at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri to see trying to choose a name for me and wa la…Handy said,
what this "clowning" stuff was all about. I had no "You remind me of a spark plug! You have unending
intentions of becoming a clown, I was simply "hiding energy and are always smiling."
out." It only took about two days to decide that maybe But Spark plug might not be totally appropriate for
this silliness was for me. I met wonderful people and I a girl clown…and suddenly Sparkie was born! I liked
felt like family in such a short time! When I left at the the sound of it and actually added Malarkey to my

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