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May 1, 1923. Washington, D.C. "Children's Hospital Circus." View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative, Library of Congress.
Definitely not normally scared of clowns. Definitely scared of that one.
I know up until the last 10-30 years clowns were seen as a happy subject for children, but honestly the only thing I can ever hear in my head are the words from Pennywise, "We all float down here!". (Shiver)
It looks like he can't hold up his hand to wave without the clown's help.
I'm not even kidding. There's something wrong with clowns. I wasn't terrified by one as a kid or anything, either. I'm just calling 'em like I see 'em.
[The teeth on this one are especially gruesome. - Dave]
While we might find this clown creepy nowadays, I hope he gave this poor child some happiness. Think of what life must have been like for a bedridden (and possibly terminally ill) child in a 1920's hospital.
Am I the only one who finds this pic a bit creepy? The boy sure doesn't look like he's having fun.
What in the world could be more terrifying to a child than first having to go to the hospital, and then to be accosted by clowns!
"Well little Jimmy, it appears you have appendicitis. We give you a 20% chance that you'll live. To make things better, let's go for a ride in your bed while this creepy man glares at you with his twisted, masked face."
I don't remember which one but I'm sure this evil clown was part of a Stephen King novel.
"Release the child and step away from the bed, you evil clown!!!"
Just as in the novel, the nurses go on smiling and laughing, not seeing the evil clown until it's too late. Why don't the nurse characters ever see the evil clown as soon or as clearly as we do?
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