A History of Clowns & Why They're Scary

How clowns went from circus entertainers to terrifying villains.

Curated byDeenah Vollmer, Hark Editor

8 CLIPS24 MINS

Clip 1 of 8

The Clown in Ancient Times

Jesters have been around since ancient Egypt and China. The trickster archetype is as old as human history itself. American Hysteria host Chelsey Weber-Smith discusses the history and societal roles of the fool on You're Wrong About.

You're Wrong About

3 MINS

Clip 2 of 8

Joseph Grimaldi, the First Whiteface Clown

Joseph Grimaldi pioneered the white makeup and red makeup style we associate with clown today. We’ll hear that history on The Strange and Unusual Podcast with host Alyson Horrocks.

Joseph Grimaldi, the First Whiteface Clown

The Strange and Unusual Podcast

6 MINS

Clip 3 of 8

Bozo the Clown & Ronald McDonald

Only in the 20th century did clowns become entertainers for children. Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant discuss Bozo the Clown and Ronald McDonald On Stuff You Should Know.

Stuff You Should Know

1 MIN

Clip 4 of 8

John Wayne Gacy, the Killer Clown

In the 1960s, we had the world’s most famous killer clown. John Wayne Gacy was a serial killer, a sex offender, and, you guessed it, a clown! On American Hysteria, Chelsey Weber-Smith explains how this murderous clown contributed to clown panic.

American Hysteria

2 MINS

Clip 5 of 8

The Clowns We See But Cannot Find

In the early 1980s, children reported seeing scary clowns that authorities could never find. This led to a term called “Phantom Clown Theory.” On Decoder Ring, Slate’s TV critic Willa Paskin reports on the hysteria around clowns.

Decoder Ring

2 MINS

Clip 6 of 8

The Scary Clown on Screen with 'Poltergeist,' Pennywise & The Joker

Slate’s TV critic Willa Paskin shares the history of clowns in horror movies like 'Poltergeist' and 'The Joker.'

The Scary Clown on Screen with 'Poltergeist,' Pennywise & The Joker

Decoder Ring

2 MINS

Clip 7 of 8

Clowns & the Uncanny Valley Theory

So what is it about clowns exactly that we find scary? Chelsey Weber-Smith explains how the “Uncanny Valley” theory might provide insight into what about the clown aesthetic might be inherently scary to humans. From the podcast You’re Wrong About.

American Hysteria

2 MINS

Clip 8 of 8

The Scary Clown Deindividuated Theory

On The Strange and Unusual Podcast, host Alyson Horrocks posits that the social psychology theory of “Deindividuation” might explain some of the fear around clowns.

The Strange and Unusual Podcast

2 MINS

Curated byDeenah Vollmer

8 CLIPS24 MINS

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A History of Clowns & Why They're Scary

The Clown in Ancient Times

You're Wrong About

Joseph Grimaldi, the First Whiteface Clown

The Strange and Unusual Podcast

Bozo the Clown & Ronald McDonald

Stuff You Should Know

John Wayne Gacy, the Killer Clown

American Hysteria

The Clowns We See But Cannot Find

Decoder Ring

The Scary Clown on Screen with 'Poltergeist,' Pennywise & The Joker

Decoder Ring

Clowns & the Uncanny Valley Theory

American Hysteria

The Scary Clown Deindividuated Theory

The Strange and Unusual Podcast

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