‘Weary Willy’ had Fayette connections
Emmett Kelly, who became famous worldwide as "Weary Willie," the sad-faced clown, had his beginnings in a small Kansas town. But there is a local connection, too.
Born in Sedan, Kan., on Dec. 9, 1898, Emmett was called “Tater” in his youth, alluding to his Irish heritage. His father, for whom he was named, was a section foreman for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, and owned the house in which Emmett Jr. saw the first light of day.
In his biography, “Clown,” published in 1954, Emmett wrote of his youth, and the road that led him to the center ring of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Emmett’s father, Emmett Kelly Sr., was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to America at the age of 22, working first as a hod carrier in New York City. When Emmett Sr. made the decision to head west to Nebraska, where the railroad was hiring, the Indians were still agitating.
He was 40 years old when he married Emmett’s mother, 18-year-old Miss Schimick, of Bohemian descent. The couple was parents of two children, Emmett and Sylvia.
Emmett Jr. was nearly 15 when his father quit the railroad and moved his family to Texas County, Mo., where he bought a farm.
One day, while Emmett was working in the field drilling wheat, something happened that changed his life. The “Mighty Hoag” circus passed by the field in which he was working. This was the first circus the boy had ever seen, and the colorful wagons and exotic animals stunned him.
That night, after chores, Emmett rode his bike to town and saw his first show ever – never once guessing that one day he would be a performer with this very circus.
At age 18, Emmett packed his suitcase and headed for Kansas City. It would be here that “Weary Willie” was born on a drawing board. Emmett worked at various jobs, including the Western Show Property Exchange, making the toy prizes given away in circus midways.
He landed his first circus job with the Frisco Exposition Show, a circus that traveled in 40 cars. Emmett’s artistic ability came in handy, and he was to draw caricatures while dressed as a clown. He also practiced with the trapeze on the side.
Most of the clown impersonations in those days were white-faced clowns. In the meantime, Emmett had been working on a tramp clown personality. The boss clown of the circus did not like the tramp impersonation, saying that it looked dirty, and he would not allow Emmett to appear in the ring as a tramp clown.
Emmett courted and married Eva Moore, who, along with her sister Mitzi, was a double-trapeze performer. The young couple choreographed a trapeze act and became known as the "Aerial Kellys." Two sons were born of their marriage, Emmett Jr. and Tommy.
While Emmett was pursuing his career, his sister, Sylvia, married and moved to Mulberry Grove. When their father suffered a stroke while shucking corn, the elder Kelly sold the Texas County, Mo., farm and moved with his wife to Mulberry Grove, buying 70 acres north of town.
Emmett and Eva wintered with his parents for several years following the birth of their sons. Emmett Jr. spent months at a time with his grandparents, while his parents were on the road.
Emmett and Eva divorced in 1935, dividing the children – Tommy going with his mother, who later remarried. Emmett Jr. remained in Mulberry Grove with his grandparents.
In 1942, Emmett was hired by Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, a job he would keep until 1956. It was while working for Ringling Brothers that he began to experiment with the “Weary Willie” character. At a resale shop one day, he picked up his first prop for “Willie,” the hat that is now in a museum.
Emmett began to think about branching out, and Broadway beckoned. One of his efforts was in the show, “Keep Off The Grass.” During his stint on Broadway, he performed with greats such as Ray Bolger, Jane Froman, Jimmy Durante and Jackie Gleason.
His first movie part was in Selznick’s “The Fat Man,” a drama, where “the clown did it.” Emmett was unhappy about playing the part of the clown in this particular movie.
From here, he was offered a part in Cecil B. DeMille’s “Greatest Show On Earth,” with Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart, Betty Hutton and Dorothy Lamour. “Weary Willie” played himself, and although he was a major character in the movie, he had no lines.
One of the stunts Kelly came up with was sweeping up the spotlight, where Willie, using a broom, slowly sweeps the light into a pile and throws it away, a skit Carol Burnett later adapted for her show.
Kelly is quoted as saying, “By laughing at me, the audience really laughs at themselves. And realizing they have done this gives them sort of a spiritual second wind for going back into the battle of life.”
His circuit career spanned 55 years, and “Weary Willie” performed until he was 80. He retired to Florida and died on March 28, 1979, after suffering a heart attack. He is buried beside his mother in Rest Haven Memorial Park, Lafayette, Ind.
“Laughter of the children is something no clown can forget,” Kelly wrote. To this old clown, that was what it was all about – the children.
