Clowning is Serious Business Too Quiz

Answer: Egypt

The first known clown was a pygmy. He entertained Pharaoh Dadkeri-Assi as the court fool during Egypt's Fifth Dynasty. Clowns have performed in the courts of Chinese kings since 1818 B.C.

Answer: Yes

Yu Sze was a jester in the court of Emperor Shih Huang-Ti around 300 B.C. The Emperor wanted to paint the Great Wall of China. Thousands of labourers had already died during the construction of the Wall. Painting it would lead to the death of thousands more. Yu Sze was the only one who dared to criticize this plan and convinced the Emperor to abandon it, thus saving the lives of many.

Answer: Joseph Grimaldi

Joseph made his stage debut at the age of 3. He never performed in the circus ring, starring mostly in full-length pantomimes. His biography titled "Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi" was written by the famous English author, Charles Dickens.

Philip Astley created the first known circus in England in 1768. William Kemp and Richard Armin were clowns in Lord Chandler's Men acting troupe while Shakespeare was its playwright.

Answer: Four

Major clown organizations recognize three types of clowns - Auguste, Whiteface and Tramp. A fourth type, called the Character clown, is included for costume competitions. This type of clown should portray an identifiable character or occupation like a sailor, nurse, cowboy, etc.

Answer: Japanese Whiteface

Whiteface clowns are the oldest type of clowns in existence. When performing with the Auguste or Tramp clown, the Whiteface clown remains in charge and orders them around. The Straight Whiteface clown is considered to be the aristocrat among clowns. The Grotesque Whiteface is also known as the Comedy Whiteface and is the most common type of Whiteface clown. Bozo and Ronald McDonald are two famous Grotesque Whiteface clowns.

The European Whiteface is also known as the Pierott clown.

Answer: Dan Rice

Dan Rice was a popular American clown in the years before the Civil War. He also ran for President of the United States in 1868. He starred in various parodies of Shakespeare's plays including "Dan Rice's Version of Othello". Mark Twain paid tribute to him in a description of a circus in "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".

Answer: I will only perform in a circus.

There are eight commandments in the clown's Code of Ethics. Clowns have to change into street clothes as soon as possible, so as not to be associated with any incident which may ruin the image of a clown. They also have to try to maintain the best clown standards of makeup, costume and comedy.

Answer: Clown Alley

Clown Alley is also used to refer to the area set aside for the clowns to get ready for their performance. One theory about the origin of this term is based upon the functions of a clown. If an artist was injured during a performance, the clowns took over until the show could be resumed.

When the clowns were required, the Performance Director would yell 'Clowns Allez' which meant 'Clowns Go'. Eventually the group of clowns and the place where they waited between acts became known as Clown Alley.

Answer: Blue

A common superstition among clowns is that blue face paint brings bad luck. Additionally, clowns do not wish each other "Good luck" before a performance. Instead they use expressions like "Knock 'em dead" or "Bump a nose".

Answer: Provide good clean comedic entertainment

Clowns should make sure that their performance and behaviour is in good taste. They also have to try to remain anonymous while in clown costume and makeup, though sometimes circumstances may dictate otherwise.

Here's an extract from the official clown's prayer:
And in my final moment,
May I hear You whisper:
"When you made My people smile,
You made Me smile."