The STOP CLOWN at Howard Johnson's

Howard Johnson's never really caught on out here in the West the way it was on the East Coast. I remember them as a child with their blue and orange color scheme. I also remember them along turnpikes when we travelled coast to coast.

When I lived outside DC we used to go to a place called Hot Shoppes, or something like that, that as I recall had the same color scheme. We preferred Hot Shoppes food. No idea if they're in business anymore. I'm remembering back to the 1950s.

As far as the clown in this ad, he's probably the least creepy of all I've posted lately. Sure, his eyes are crossed and he's got a really wimpy feather in his hat and now that I think of it he's got a Halloween pumpkin nose...yeah, he's creepy too. But I really like the rendering of the ice cream cone.

As to the salivating dog...really? They needed to draw drips of saliva?


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(SOURCE: Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus Magazine and Daily Review, 1940)

BIG FLOPPY FOOT problems

I gather from this circus magazine that circus performers suffer from a lot of common ailments, especially clowns.

Now we find out that they also have feet that need some soothing care. Johnson’s Foot Soap to the rescue. Mind you this company is still in business. About now I could use some since I go barefoot most of the summer. I’m not a shoe fan. And if I can get away with being barefoot in the winter I do it.


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(SOURCE: Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus Magazine and Daily Review, 1940)

Now, I have one question…what size tub do those clowns with the big floppy feet need? I’m thinking perhaps a horse trough. I could be wrong.

Now, clown…creepy or not? You decide.

WHY IS THIS CLOWN LAUGHING?

I don’t know if this clown is laughing maniacally at the thought of Borvil or at all the typos in this ad. It sort of amazes me that they went to the trouble to be “clever” with the spelling of “gentlmun” hoping to simulate the ringmaster’s call, but then didn’t pay any attention to the truly lousy typesetting. And this isn’t the only ad that has errors. Take a look at yesterdays ad for a really stupid one.


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To see more about Bovril, which is still manufactured in the UK, click here for a fascinating 360 view of some mountain top, but careful because it can get spinnin' pretty darn fast. Make sure you try the rain effect too.

One final thought, the bottle featured in yesterday’s ad for Sunkist looks somewhat similar to the one in today’s ad. Now, yesterday’s was to alleviate the problem of constipation, today’s is just a warm comforting drink. Don’t you wonder if some old tired clown came in after a show and drank too much of the wrong stuff? Could have made the next day’s show pretty darn interestin’!

Now, creepy clown or not? You decide.

A LAXATIVE made for a clown

Nothing relives constipation better than a daily dose of a clown with Marie Antoinette.


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(SOURCE: Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus Magazine and Daily Review, 1940)

Creepy clown or not? You choose.

This is a CLOWN ON A SUGAR RUSH

The look on this clown's face only confirms what I found to be true during elementary school. If you pulled a box of Ludens out of your book bag every kid around you would get the same expression this clown has as their hands came out demanding you share. Ludens and Smith Brother cherry cough drops were all about the sugar. You had to sneak them on the sly if you hoped to have any for yourself.

As far as the al-ka-line...let's just say the author of the little poem should pursue writing less creative. Imagine what was rejected if this is what was chosen.


(SOURCE: Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus Magazine and Daily Review, 1940)

Creepy clown or not creepy clown? You decide.