EMMETT KELLY SR. - INSCRIBED ORIGINAL ART SIGNED 1950 - HFSID 217081
Sale Price $995.00
Reg. $1,200.00
EMMETT KELLY, SR.
On the back of a menu fragment, he has penned a detailed ink portrait
of "Weary Willie," his most famous character. As a cartoonist in his younger
days, Kelly had drawn this character long before he portrayed him.
Original Art inscribed and signed: "Best Wishes to/Holly &
Eddie Donohue/From/Emmett Kelly/1950.", in ink, 4x6 on verso of a menu
fragment. 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 (1923), 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.Stained,
touching signature and writing. Shaded at blank edges, 1/8x1½-inch portion cut
away in bottom left blank corner. Overall, fine condition.
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