Clowns are Scary
A singer-songwriter named Aubin Thomas got in touch with me through Twitter, and passed along some old photos of me as a kid; her mother, Robin, used to work for my family back in the early 80s and had a few kicking around. And I hadn’t put anything up in a while, and thought everyone would enjoy seeing me in clownface. The clown in the backseat would be my sister. This particular pic dates from a trip to someplace called “Circusworld” which might’ve been in Florida. I figure I was 8 at the time.
And that is all.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Great pic, Joe.
Do you remember Lynn…Gilchrist, I think her name was? I worked w/ her in Waterville in the late 80s, and she said she’d worked for you guys for a while. She had great things to say.
How is your sister? Don’t hear much about her these days. Hope she’s well.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
that’s adorable. i bet your mom really digs ‘em.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I have a liking for clowns as I collect ‘em. Nothing expensive, though, usually around a buck each. Great image, Joe. And thanks to you, Aubin Thomas.
April 20th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Hey Mighty Joe –
Classic stares…fore & aft. Easy to see where the SuperJoe came from.
Thankx for being so open – refreshing.
April 20th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
That’s awsome!!! LOL
April 20th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
PENNYWISE!!!
That’s all I have to say about clowns.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Dear Abby – My wife has an abnormal fear of all things clowny. I have the movie “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” lined up in my Netflix Instant queue, but she refuses to watch it with me! Any suggestions?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095444/
April 20th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
pretty cool…
April 20th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Clowns CAN be scary, but not these! They’re the cutest clowns I’ve ever seen!
April 20th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Joe-
So — welcome back from the world of twits. (Ummm … I think, no comment; it was probably some Freudian slip.)
Annnnyyway. I was beginning to be certain the last post (“Post-mortem”) was to be some kind of signing-off cue. Glad to see “the rumors of your” blah blah blah blah “most definitely have been exaggerated.”
April 20th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
And on the pics? Wild! Very wild!
April 21st, 2010 at 7:51 am
You could attempt to make this a cooler picture by dumping the “circusworld” story and implying that it was a KISS tribute/imitation gone horribly awry.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:35 am
So now it all comes clear. Obviously YOU were the inspiration for the novel “It!”
April 21st, 2010 at 6:36 pm
You guys look *super* happy!
April 21st, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Thats a really good pic! I like the facial expressions and the make-up too!
Might you have been holding the world’s very first hand held video game in your hands? In the day of “Atari”!
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:53 am
Grasshopper,
Heh – no, I believe I was holding some very old tech: a book.
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Very cute pics..I think I had both those haircuts also…circus world sounds very scary though…
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Joe,
Yes! A book: Thank you!
Clown get me every time!!
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Holy crap!…That’s something you don’t see much anymore…
kids READING!
And together! From the same book!
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Certainly not trying to speak for Joe or about what I don’t know but I imagine reading instead of video games was pretty much a given around Joe’s family.
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
wonder what book they were reading?
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Very cute clowns.
Scary? Look here:
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/821591-evil-clown-hired-for-stalking-threats-and-a-pie-in-the-face
April 24th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Clowns are scary. I knew a woman who did it as a part time job and once I saw her as I entered my local grocery store dressed up just like.. you guessed it a clown. The creepiness was unreal but the weird thing was we both pretended not to know each other. She was sitting right there at the opening door of the store and I think I startled her when I walked in. I looked at her, and she at me, both of us surprised and I went on to do my shopping. Funny thing about that picture above is when I was young I used to read about serial killers out of fascination with them. The Zodiac Killer was the one I read about the most. (Times 17) But as far as that picture is concerned the one clown that scares me the most is the one I read about called John Gacy. I have no idea why I read all those books about serial killers when I was young but Gacy’s story was particularly horrific. Like all serial killers he had a troubled childhood. His father would beat the fuck out of him and he built a small home under the steps of his house where he could be safe. When he grew to become a man he would capture and torture children and then bury them under his house. He was very respected in his community and would dress up like a clown at children’s parties as a side job! He became so well respected in his community that he even drew the acknowledgement of the then US. Presidents wife Rosalynn Carter. When she acknowledged him he had 39 children buried under his home. I would encourage everybody who think clowns are cute to view pictures of Mr. Gacy dressed up like a clown. Clowns are scary. The Bundy books were also awful if that makes anyone feel any better.
April 24th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
The only viewpoint I can understand when it comes to serial killers-or any murders-is the one of the victim’s family members. That’s b/c I was related to someone who was murdered. Two people if you counted my uncle, but nobody will ever be able to prove foul play was involved in his death.
We know he owed money to some people, couldn’t pay it back and lost his life to a mysterious blowing-up of his car a few weeks after telling them. An unusual incident, even for a car accident, to be burned beyond recognition b/c of your car blowing up.
They have really stupid cops in NYC to not even know (or want to?) check the homicide angle.
To me, serial killers are worse than monsters and have no excuse for their behavior.
I know a person who was beaten as a child, and this person became an EMT. Another one works w/ adult mentally disabled people. People who used to be referred to as MRDD (mentally retarded & developmentally disabled).
I have absolutely no sympathy for someone who murders another person, even when the murderer allegedly becomes a Christian right before they send him for his lethal injection.
Ted Bundy said he changed and that he ‘wrote a letter of apology to all the families’ and that he was okay w/ himself.
I don’t think he ever felt NOT okay w/ himself, so how he could be ‘okay now’ is beyond me.
If he sent me a letter of apology, I would have ripped it into small pieces and sent it back to him w/ a note saying ‘That’s what I think of your so-called apology.’
Most people think my opinion is harsh, but I’m speaking from a viewpoint steeped in painful experiences. I seem to have an inability to see it from other viewpoints, b/c I don’t believe there ARE other views after you’ve lost a relative to murder.
April 24th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Neat to see photos from the past, thanks for sharing. Still hate clowns…even kids w/ clown make up is a teeny…yes, I am afraid.
April 24th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Click the link I put up, ThisGirl….I dare you!
(And I wouldn’t hire this guy- I swear!)
April 24th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
I’m truly sorry for your loss Vikki. We have a new serial killer in Florida now who has killed at least 4 hookers in the Daytona Beach area. This person is suspected to possibly live in Canada or up North because he/she kills only in the winter time. Canada has been mentioned a number of times for some reason in the media. This person kills them with as I understand it a gunshot wound to the head, and leaves them “positioned” the same way in the same field. It only takes 3 kills to become a serial killer not the 40 or 50 others have claimed or worse actually killed. This killer has done something only a few serial killers have done in the past and actually taunted the local police! (BTK, Zodiac, Jack the Ripper) Of course the cops do the usual things, telling all the hookers in the area that he/she is out there, telling all the night workers NOT to go buy their drugs and such around that area, swabbing all the local whore mongers, etc. This year it was the worst winter in 35 years and the killer didn’t strike. But for some reason these type’s need a cover, a mask if you will, darkness or a happy face to put on to cloud what they think other people will see in them. Using this mask they can do their dirty work feeling safe in the disguise, aka tricking the prey to get ultimate satisfaction in the kill. When the duty, an uncontrollable urge is over they carry on with their lives just as happy as a clown. The truth really is stranger than fiction.
April 25th, 2010 at 12:04 am
I’m guessing phil17larry33 watched that movie ‘Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield.’
I watched it, b/c I watch movies of true-account murders. But the movie was so far removed from what really happened in Ed Gein’s case it wasn’t worth having watched it. Other than the drop-dead gorgeous sheriff, that is.
The one about the Green River Killer was closer to accurate, but I couldn’t keep watching when the Green River killer actually started begging them not to give him the death penalty. Right after they brought him in on charges, he started whimpering and asking them not to give him capital punishment. I know that part’s true, b/c they made a deal w/ the families that he’d tell of the murders authorities couldn’t prove in exchange for life in prison. The worm.
Well that’s really rich, I thought. He goes and kills more than 20 people and has no f–ing sorrow about it, then WHINES when he thinks HE might get what he gave.
I was genuinely shocked that he had every expectation of a right to live himself. Shocked to the point of not being able to watch any more of it. The actor who played him was another one of those REALLY convincing people.
Like Bronson Pinchot in ‘The Langoliers.’
I watched that four times and never once found a crack in the character.
That amazes me.
The officer in The Green River Killer miniseries was hot too. It must be a perk for cops or something.
My friend is a patrol officer, and he’s really handsome. It just so happens he’s also really married to a wonderful, sweet woman. She’s probably one of the kindest people I know.
My friend worked for LAPD, but he works in Arizona now.
April 25th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Were you guys going to a party? A Halloween bash or a birthday party?
I like your sister. I hope it’s all right to say so, since she’s tagged in a picture so to speak. (I use Facebook a lot)
I follow her on Twitter, b/c I stopped going to church physically, and I’m interested in her ideas of being a Christian. I’m at a point where I’m struggling to understand how certain issues work together w/ my Faith.
I also like other things she says. Stuff about special Olympics and other topics of interest.
I just wish Twitter had a thing where you could tell someone you like their posts even though the person’s not following you.
I’ve put stars by most of her posts, which of course means I find them interesting.
Come to think of it, I’ve put a good number of stars by your Tweets too, especially the one about matches starting fires, but that not stopping you from burning. Referring to people who say ‘there’s a reason for everything.’
April 25th, 2010 at 1:30 am
I didn’t see the Ed Gein movie but I have read about him. Wasn’t he the guy in the Midwest who was loved by the local townsfolk that babysit all the towns kiddies? He actually collected (like all serial killers) parts of his victims bodies in shoe boxes etc. Bundy had issues from early on and put a butcher knife in his Aunts bed at at the age of 5. Of course that little boy denied it at the time but we all know the truth by now. I think I read that about Bundy in ” The Only Living Witness, or The Stranger Beside Me.” I read these books as I said when I was young and they definitely came back to haunt me at a later age in my dreams but that’s the way it is. For some reason the true stories can dig in to your mindset the most because you know they actually happened! “The Ultimate Evil” 1987. I guess I read those books out of curiosity but in the end as they say’ it is what it is.’
April 25th, 2010 at 10:45 am
what the eff happened to this thread? lol
April 25th, 2010 at 11:09 am
@Florida: Near as I can tell, the serial clowns on a hacking spree overran it.
April 25th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Some people like to share very random aspects of their lives that are totally unrelated to anything posted.
My Aunt is a hoarder.
My pup Gypsy just peed on the floor because I was ignoring her while typing this.
April 26th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Those clowns would be scarier if one didn’t have a heart painted on her face.
I thought blog threads were for starting on topic, then going off on a tangent, but I really don’t know for sure. I don’t do any of my own blogs. But I do video logs and I don’t stay on topic then either.
I only stay on topic at work, where it’s absolutely necessary to do things in a formatted way.
I would never go off course when intubating a patient. I follow the instructions to the last detail w/ constant precision.
Speaking of off topic, I have no idea why the computer still doesn’t recognize ‘intubate’ as a valid word. A little red line appears under every variation of that word.
I also met someone who was a clown for a living. She needed ambulatory care, b/c she had an asthma attack. It scared the hell out of the kids she was entertaining when she collapsed and stopped breathing.
She was at a 7-yr. old’s birthday party, and most of the kids were freaking over the incident.
I bet they don’t have a clown at their 8th birthday party.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Was this the same time period when you made your silver screen premiere in Creepshow?
April 27th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Speaking of Creep Show, which I thought was a made for television movie, I’m really upset that I can’t be in a movie.
My friend said no and that it takes a lot of work to be in a film.
I said “Not when you wanna be part of the crowd that walks by. All you have to do is walk past. I’ve known how to walk for a long time”
He STILL said no and it greatly perturbs me. I’ve seen people get jobs in acting just b/c they have money, family or some other type of pull in the business. They’re not any good at acting, but they get the part anyway.
I don’t know why I can’t too, especially if it’s a part that won’t hurt the storyline if I DO make a mistake; which I won’t.
Incidentally, my favorite thing about Bronson Pinchot is he got his work w/out any of those factors present. He had no connections, he got work on talent and a degree in Theatre.
I’m not saying everyone w/ connections are no good.
Some are actually capable and competent, like Melissa Gilbert, who has more connections in the business than I ever knew before reading her book ‘Prairie Tale.’ She’s my favorite established actress; I’ve liked her since 1977.
So I hope nobody takes what I said the wrong way.
April 28th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Vicki,
Your friend is probably skeptical in thinking that if you were cast as an extra…..you might pounce out of line?! Can you see this scene?
Director calls out from his bullhorn………
((MaaaM, UNHAND Mr. PINCHOT’s ANKLES!!!)))
((Maam?! PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DUCT TAPING YOURSELF TO Mr.PINCHOT))) ((Maam?…))
April 28th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Heres a change of topic.
Has anyone here ever burned a book? I did once. Couldnt help it…
We had a hermit (of sorts) in the family. He was 91 y.o. and his
home was bursting at the seams with books.
As I pitched it to help clean his home, I was given several boxes of them. One evening shortly after, My companions and I sat in my cozy home picking thru these treasures.
I reached into the box and pulled out a black covered book.
I spoke the title and everybody dropped what they were looking at.
They said “Ah Wow You can probably get big bucks for THAT!”
I said “Yeah, right I’m sure I can. No..I opened the door of my woostove, and I said “This is for you Anne Franke” and I pitched
MEIN KAMPF by “adolf hitler” into the flames.
They said “I’d have sold it!” I said ” I aint rich by any means but I dont need any hitler dollars.. thank you!”
One man told me that I am just as bad for burning that book.
I argued back saying, “This book isnt flesh and blood!” like the thousands of lives he took. Including probably, the person who
may have been on the verge of curing cancer! and if you want so much to read it, I’m sure it still infects every library.
April 28th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I love the pic. Clowns are scary. And “It” is still one of the scariest books around.
April 30th, 2010 at 6:05 am
This picture would have been taken about two years before Creepshow came out in theaters. That’s the film that got me interested in Stephen King. I would like to commend you and your father for an acting job well done. Have you considered writing a memoir of growing up in the King family? That would be interesting.
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 am
Awesome pic. Really cool he passed it along to you, Joe!
May 6th, 2010 at 8:55 am
I think books about being possessed by the devil are the scariest ones around.
I wasn’t scared reading ‘It’-and I’ve read it 3 times, or tried to-but I was revolted, b/c I have arachnophobia.
I have this terrible fear of spiders, especially after treating so many people bitten by their so-called ‘pets.’
IDK about anyone else but, IMO, ‘pets’ don’t bite you. They may hiss at you-my kitty-but they don’t bite you.
The last spider bite we treated was given by the patient’s ‘pet’ tarantula. It was still attached to her hand when we arrived.
I made Britt disengage it. I can’t stand to even look at tarantulas. They’re mondo gross.
But the patient was astounding. She told us not to hurt her spider and that she thinks he was just scared, which is why she thinks he bit her.
I thought ‘It’s attached to your hand. What do you want us to do, strike up a friendship w/ it?’
And I hate to tell her, but most tarantulas are female. That’s b/c the female EATS the male after they’re done mating.
I cracked up laughing when I first learned that. Some 9-yr. old who kept tarantulas as pets appeared on Oprah Winfrey, and the girl said that’s what tarantulas do after mating.
I’d recently broken up w/ my ex-boyfriend when I saw this show. I wanted to call him and say ‘It could have been worse. I could have EATEN you.’
But about spiders, even the one in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets terrified me. I’m talking about the tiny ones as well as the gigantic one.
No spider should be allowed to be larger than a person’s hand.
May 6th, 2010 at 10:10 am
On Spiders – All Sizes…
Here’s the thing.
Life needs jolts as we age. Up here in the Northeast, as temps rise…crooked legged meat eaters come out to play.
Hopping into the shower, half alert, nothing like joining Mr. Woodspider, peach sized, lurking in the plastic curtain.
Must sound strange to outside madden crowd…roaring water, old pot bellied man shreiking, thumping feet, shreiking more (higher pitched), balance challenged.
Mr. Woodspider, speckled brown and green, bouncing for freedom saying…”What the f–k, what the f–k…run for your life…then wiggling, slightly injured, down the drain.
AAhhhh…nothing like dancing the arachno-tango in the cool morning mist.
May 15th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
His friend who passed along the photo is a her. I saw her Twitter channel and even responded to one of her Tweets, not that she’ll probably ever see it.
IDK if they see it. I just know I never can find it when I look for it on their channel. It appears on mine but not theirs. Since nobody’s ever responded to one of MY tweets, IDK if you get informed when somebody responds to one of your tweets. I don’t know much when it comes to Twitter, which is why I still don’t like it that much.
John Cusack is the exception to the rule. I respond to all KINDS of his tweets, but IDK if he sees them either. I don’t care though, b/c he’s so hilarious. Almost every tweet he makes is terribly amusing.
Anyway, I felt compelled to respond to Aubin’s tweet, b/c it was directly related to Emergency Medicine. She said it didn’t seem like having coffee right after giving blood was a good idea, and I agreed w/ her, then gave my credentials.
Somebody on You Tube got all offended that I’m always giving my credentials, but that’s how they train you. You’re even required to give them if the patient asks for them. Which was a pain in the ass when I first started, b/c nobody trusted me to do a single procedure on them unless I had 10 tons of experience. I always had to wait for them to go unconscious and THEN do it. None of them ever died from my procedures either.
When I was an EKG Technician, this guy got upset when he heard I’d only been giving EKG’s for a few months. I had to tell him I was also an EMT for 10 years before I started doing EKG’s.
His girlfriend thought he was being a big baby about it. She rolled her eyes and said ‘You act like she’s fittin’ to kill you.’
He gave some response and she just rolled her eyes and gave up talking to him.
I had to bite my tongue just to keep from laughing.
June 17th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Ahh CircusWorld…I do remember it well. It was located on Hwy 27 in Haines City Florida. At the time they had the fastest wooden roller coaster on the east coast. It’s now gone the way of Six Gun Territory and is all but a memory. The area is full of shops.
July 8th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
hello….just wondering if i can post anything