Monday, December 9, 2013

December 9th is Weary Willie Day

Emmett "Weary Willie" Kelly was born on December 9, 1898. Ever since he was a little kid, he'd dreamed of joining the circus. In 1933, Emmett Kelly became the clown Weary Willie. He died of a heart attack in 1979, but he is remembered today on Weary Willie Day every year.

Emmett Kelly first created the Weary Willie character in attempt to make some more money, because his wife had become pregnant with a baby. However, he was not able to perform as Weary Willie until 1933 during the Depression because, before then, people thought he just looked like a hobo, not a clown. When everyone started having to dress in shabbier clothes, his sad hobo dress was more acceptable.

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