Mention the name Emmett Kelly and chances are three images come to mind immediately – clown broom spotlight.
Kelly, of course, is the famous circus clown, who created the character of Wearie Willie, known all over the world for his specialty of sweeping up a spotlight.
He’ll be doing just that, again, in a poignant scene with Bette Midler when he makes a guest appearance on The Bette Midler Special to be colorcast on the NBC Television Network Wednesday Dec 7,9 p m
It came about by accident said Kelly, of his signature sketch “The light men in the circus used to like to lease the clown while they were setting up their lights. I played around with them and the thing grew out of that -I pretended that the light bugged me. I tried to get away from it but they wouldn’t let me. Finally I swept the light under a rug.
Kelly has been doing the act for 35 years now, ever since 1942. He recently appeared five weeks in Las Vegas and continues to entertain in nightclubs.
