EMMETT KELLY SR. - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 252682

EMMETT KELLY
The beloved clown writes a letter to children.
Autograph Letter signed: "Emmett Kelly Sr.", 1p, 8½x11. No place, no date. To "Dear Children of Saco Valley Assn." In full: "Wish I could be there to visit with all of you nice children. I am so grateful for your Easter Card you sent me. Not it is a great pleasure to be remembered by kids at Easter time and I want you to know I am thankful to you. I am sending 2 small photos and have cut off a satchet [?] of my real hair to send along to you. Best Wishes to you all." Enclosures not present. Emmett Lee Kelly (1898-1979) began his circus career, which spanned 55 years, after a starting out as a cartoonist. First performing as a trapeze artist, he later went into clowning, creating his most famous character, "Weary Willie", from a cartoon character he had drawn years earlier. In 1942, Kelly joined the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, where he would star until 1956 (one of his most famous routines was "sweeping the spotlight"). In 1957, he joined the Shrine Circus and settled in Florida (Sarasota is the winter home of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus). Kelly, America's most famous clown, continued appearing in commercials and performed in special shows until he was 80. His son, Emmett Kelly, Jr. (1923-2006), followed successfully in his father's footsteps and rivaled his fame, forming his own Emmett Kelly, Jr. Circus in 1972. Fine condition.