western australia

Just Clowning Around

@JudyEv (382256)

Rockingham, Australia

May 13, 2017 5:42pm CST

We went to a local festival some months ago and enjoyed wandering around the various entertainment stalls that had set up. One of these was the ‘clown stall’. I remember these from when I was very young. Once you’d handed over your hard-earned pennies you were given a number of small, white balls. As the clown’s head swivelled slowly back and forth, these were popped in his mouth. They were guided into a tray at the front and depending on where they ended up, you won a prize. They are popular with parents of young kids as every child wins a prize and when you’re young, winning is great. The size of the win isn’t quite so important. The lady running the stall lives in our nearest city and has been doing this for decades. Showmen usually love their job and many travel round for years being pleasure to kids wherever they set up. I think it is very sad that clowns have been given a bad rap in recent years. I love this photo of Vince’s as it is so colourful.

23 people like this

24 responses

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

14 May 17

Yes, it's a great photo. When we were kids nobody had ever heard of 'clown phobia', had they? They were just men in funny suits who made us laugh.

4 people like this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (502573)

• Italy

14 May 17

@jaboUK Janet, as I told to Judy, I never liked the clowns, and two of my cousins had the same problem.

2 people like this

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

14 May 17

@JudyEv Yes, I remember that - all innocent fun.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

That's true. I remember them running round at the circus with a bucket of 'water' and eventually throwing it all over the audience and it was just small bits of paper.

3 people like this

Show more comments

@franxav (14591)

• India

14 May 17

Once I wore the shoes of a clown. It is not a funny work.

2 people like this

show previous comments

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

They wear very long shoes don't they? I'd be forever tripping over.

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

@spaceseed Some children - and adults - are frightened of clowns. There is even a 'big' word for it - coulrophobia.

1 person likes this

@spaceseed (2843)

• India

14 May 17

I have seen clowns comedy at circus and in front of some big malls and shops.......I could not enjoy may be I was already out from age range which is fascinated by clowns. first time when I saw any clown was 10

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@TiarasOceanView (70020)

• United States

13 May 17

Yes clowns have been given a bad rap ..remember all that Judy. I never liked clowns for some reason though. But I do like the song send in the clowns lol

Think a clown scared me at a circus when I was a child and it stuck with me.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

They can be scary, certainly nowadays when it seems the in thing to have really frightening clown make-up.

1 person likes this

@amadeo (111937)

• United States

14 May 17

I love clowns.I am a clown at times.LOL.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

I think a lot of people are clowns from time to time.

Claudia Kirkland

@CRK109 (14556)

• United States

14 May 17

I remember playing that game as a kid. Hard to win but a lot of fun to try!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

I think they're organised so that no-one wins too much.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May 17

@CRK109 Casinos are a bit like that too aren't they?

1 person likes this

Claudia Kirkland

@CRK109 (14556)

• United States

14 May 17

@JudyEv When I was a child, I had no idea. Today I understand very well that all the games are rigged so that it's almost impossible to win. What a shame.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Kandae11 (57231)

•

13 May 17

It is very colorful, and I would have totally enjoyed playing that game as a kid.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

I was always allowed to have at one go at the game when we went to our agricultural shows.

@youless (114117)

• Guangzhou, China

15 May 17

This is a nice photoshoot and it seems to be an interesting stall. Children may like it much more.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 May 17

It's really bright isn't it? I love it.

1 person likes this

@allen0187 (59830)

• Philippines

14 May 17

We have similar games here in Manila. True, as a child, it isn't important what your prize was, what was important was that you won!

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@allen0187 (59830)

• Philippines

14 May 17

@JudyEv that's nice of you!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

I would usually choose something for my mother.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

15 May 17

I dont like clowns at all - but I do remember these that bopped their heads for us to target a small white ball into the highest score. I never did win

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 May 17

I won a few small things on these when I was young. It was always quite a thrill.

1 person likes this

@teamfreak16 (43618)

• Denver, Colorado

14 May 17

We have the game where you shoot water into the clowns mouth.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

I don't know that one. There is also one where you shoot moving ducks with an airgun. That's pretty popular too.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

@teamfreak16 Sounds fun. I'm glad it's not the clowns that pop.

1 person likes this

@teamfreak16 (43618)

• Denver, Colorado

14 May 17

@JudyEv - As you shoot water into the clowns mouth, it blows up a balloon. First balloon to pop wins.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@thelme55 (79324)

• Germany

14 May 17

That's a beautiful photo. People who usually play as clown is a sad person.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May 17

I remember seeing 'The Greatest Show on Earth' and the clown in that had a tragic past. Some hide behind the make-up I think.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

16 Jan 18

It sounds very interesting Judy.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

17 Jan 18

It was a fun, easy game when I was a child.

1 person likes this

@Alternative4 (449)

•

14 May 17

Last summer some actors dressed up as clowns really made kids happy near the Danube Key. When I was little I could only see them at the Circus. Lovely picture!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May 17

It's a shame they are sometimes seen as sinister now.

• Egypt

14 May 17

I blame Stephen King,he wrecked the image of clowns worldwide . I can understand them being seen as sinister but I can take them or leave them I like the old style entertainment stalls, far nicer than the modern day amusement arcades.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 May 17

I wasn't too sure who started the rot but it's a great shame. 'Sinister' is the right word for some of the images you see now.

@snowy22315 (209017)

• United States

14 May 17

That's neat. when I was a kid we picked ducks out of a pond for prizes..not real ones, just plastic or rubber ones floating in the water..it was exciting..but the prizes were super chintzy..

..even as a kid..I was thinking what is this crap? lol

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

Yes, the prizes were pretty ordinary.

@silvermist (19701)

• India

14 May 17

@JudyEv I like that photo.I do not have fear of clowns.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

They are bright and look happy, don't they?

@xFiacre (14790)

• Ireland

14 May 17

@judyev I'm clown phobic but so long as yours stay in the photo and don't come after me I'll be ok.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

It is strange what freaks different people out.

@andriaperry (118793)

• Anniston, Alabama

14 May 17

I like clowns as well.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

These are lovely and colourful. Maybe they were freshly painted.

@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

14 May 17

Looks like a whole lot of clowning around to me.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

Heads you win!

1 person likes this

@spaceseed (2843)

• India

14 May 17

Ask Vince to photograph few pretty photos of you so that we can see more of your beauty

Oh Clowns pic is also very good.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382256)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 17

I don't think I photograph very well so I try not to appear in too many photos. I'm glad you like the clowns.