Page 37 - Clowning_Around_101

name years later, Sparkie Malarkey Duh Clown. Just a
few weeks after leaving my first experience donning
the nose and my son’s oversized 16 shoes worn

backwards, I heard about a celebration of Emmett
Kelly in Houston, Missouri.
I got into my car, dressed in a consignment-shop,
square dance dress and makeup, along with a
borrowed hat to head to this little village in the Ozark
Mountains. Missouri cattle country is a beautiful
place, with rolling hills and wild flowers everywhere
and also boasts the hometown of Emmett Kelly. Of
course Emmett grew up near the railroad tracks on a
farm with "I would bet" lots of cows! I haven’t checked
that, so don’t quote me. When I arrived to this one-
road, historic town, I parked behind an old-time
pharmacy, Forbes! I sat in my car as I viewed people,
and vendors and a handful of burly clowns standing
right across the street. Every shy bone in my body
went into full gear and as I stepped out of my car with
only one foot, I began to reenter my car with two feet
to drive all the way back home. I was NOT going out
there…too scary….too scary.

Suddenly, one of the male clowns turned and
yelled, "Hey Girl Clown!" (not sure how politically
correct that would have been today, but I was not
offended…I was just shy). I waved and still moved to
get back into my car. But Marcoh would have NONE
of that. He rushed across the street, walked right up
to me and said, "Come on, Girl….we need you!" The
rest is history. Mark Forbes had to be one of the most
energetic, lovely people I have ever met. He was loud
and boisterous and had the most contagious laugh,
a little lisp and a big heart. My friend died way too
young, but he will never be forgotten. Even today, I
park behind his old business and I yell to the heavens,
"MARCOH" and I believe I can actually hear him yell
from heaven, "POLO!"
Marcoh, Rich the Clown, Rufus D. Dufus and some
others pushed me onto a flatbed stage and said, "We
will whisper what we want you to say."

I stuttered, I stammered….I said what they said and
people laughed and laughed…I suppose my naivety
was hilarious. Suddenly, I felt the magic, I felt the
energy that can only come from a group of silly 

worldclown.com 37