The world's greatest clown By SARA RIMER Pl1ILADFELPI IA - The lithe, little man in blue jeans and a work shirt crouched easily next to the chimpanzee wearing a gold jumpsuit. Slinging an arm over the chimp's shoulder, the man leaned in close and smacked hin right on the mouth. Click, click, went the photographer. "Talk, Kelly, talk," shrieked the aging blonde whose short-shorts showed thighs with lumps of fat. Kelly the chimp flapped his jaws, and the man grinned. Click, click, went the photographer. A few more smacks on the mouth from the man and some more jawing from the chimp, and the news- paper photographer had clicked through his roll of film. The man bounced up off his toes and took the chimp's hand. Together they walked down the steps of the high platform overlooking the Delaware River. The pavement was hot under the afternoon sun, and the chimp hung back, walking gingerly on his heels. The pair walked past the striped circus tent that made a cool, dark shelter. It was empty. When they reached a group of trailers, some with men and wo- men lounging on the outside steps, the chimp disap- peared into one trailer and the man into another. THE PHOTOGRAPHER stepped into his car and drove back to The Philadelphia Bulletin at 30th and Market Streets where he told the editor he'd gotten "some nice shots of that chimp and his trainer." The picture was planned for page one of the evening's edition as an advance for the coming circus at the Delaware waterfront. When the pictures were developed - in color that highlighted the gold-suited chimp - the photographer turned them over to the editor who, jumping from his chair in recognition, shouted, "That's no trainer, idiot! Don't you know Weary Willie, the clown?!" The chip named Kelly had stolen center stage from another, more famous Kelly - the one named Emmett Kelly, Jr., world famous as Weary Willie the clown. Emmett Kelly, Jr., has had too many interviews and television specials in his 16 years as a clown to mind if a chimp gets a little recognition. The red-haired press agent with mirrored sunglass- es, who was named Red, introduced me to Emmett at the screen door of the clown's trailer. "And now Em- mett," he tries to joke, "For your first interview." Emmett smiles - just a little. BUT INSIDE his trailer, which is cool as a shaded porch, Emmett says, "I'm always gracious with the press." lie swings open the refrigerator door and asks, "Want something to drink?" He calls out the choices, "Orange juice, tomato juice, Dr. Pepper, Coke." I ask for tomato juice, and he pours a small can into a tall, green plastic glass. He pours himself a mug of coffee from the percolator sitting by the sink and sits down across from me at the formica table. Dangling over our heads are a painted, plastic parrot and one of Emmett's tattered, plaid ties clip- ped to the ceiling swith a clothespin. The back of the trailer is all bed - bedacovered with fake black fur. The trailer also has a stereo, a tape deck, a TV, and air conditioning. Emmett likes to drop names, especially when the celebrities say nice things about him. He's proud that actor Tony Curtis once told him he had the expressive eyes and gestures of a natural actor. "Said most actors have to go to school to learn what I do natur- ally," Emmett boasts. "Next stop for Emmett and his one- ring circus of clowns, acrobats, chimps, and elephants is Caracas, Venezuela. If you tell Emmett you're the kind who likes to put down roots, he shakes his head; 'Just travel with me once, and you won't be able to stay still again.'"' There are deep lines creasing Emmett's hollowed out cheeks and tracking the skin under those famous green eyes. Long-haired and lean, he looks, at 55, more like an aging rock star than a famous clown. As he springs nimbly about his trailer showing off cos- tumes and pictures, he has all the energy of, well, of a kid at his first circus. And he talks young: "I couldn't cut a 9-5 job. I'd go stir-crazy. Only two jobs I've ever loved: clowning and railroading." Emmett wants me to know just how much he loves trains: "Every time I hear that Frankford Elevated train going by (across Delaware Ave.), I gotta run out and watch." And when he and his fiance Nancy took a ride on the old- time New Hope Ivyland train through the farmland of Bucks County last week, Emmett was so entranced with the engine's sweet sound that he says he's going back with a tape recorder next time. IT'S THE TRAVELING that clowns and railroad men do that Kelly loves. In Philadelphia only two weeks, Emmett's already got what he calls "white line fever." He wants to be back on the road, watch- ing the line etched forever along the highway, but he's stuck in this bicentennial city for three hot months. And while he says he's got to have red, white, and blue costumes in his show, he rolls his eyes and calls the Bicentennial a "rip-off." Next stop for Emmett and his one-ring circus of clowns, acrobats, chimps, and elephants is Caracas, Venezuela. If you tell Emmett you're the kind who likes to put down roots, he shakes his head; "Just travel with me once, and you won't be able to stall still again. My fiance - she was an Indiana farm girl - travelled with me just once and now she'll never go back." Emmett adds, "We get along fine; I was raised on a farm, too." Then Emmett pops up to rummage through a cabi- net. Out comes a handful of color instamatic photos, which he tosses on the table. "That's my fiance, Nan- cy. Look at those eyes," he says. Red, the press agent, has walked into the trailer and seats himself on the blue-carpeted step leading from the kitchen to the bed- room. He picks up the photos and studies Nancy's curves closely. He agrees that she does indeed have "real pretty eyes." They are beautiful. PUT HER on a plane this morning to Indiana so she could get her divorce," Emmett says, turning back to us. "We're getting married this summer." Red wants to know where, but Emmett's not telling. Seated at the table again, Emmett asks, "Want a roll?" He tears open a plastic bag of iced cinnamon rolls and hungrily bites down with silvered teeth. Other circus people stop at the screen door. One man wants a wrench and another asks, "You being interviewed, Emmett?" "Yeah, why?" Emmett calls out. "Oh, I just stopped by to talk. I'll come back later." The screen door of the trailer across the way opens to reveal a young woman who looks just like the beautiful trapeze stars kids worship. The thick air hits her, and she leans lazily against the door. I look at my watch; I've spent half the afternoon being charmed by Emmett Kelly, Jr. When I say I've got a deadline, Red jumps up, loads his camera, and says, "I want a picture of the two of you - your first interview in Philadelphia, Emmett." The lithe, little man stands shoulder to shoulder with me, slings an arm around my waist, and leans in close. Click, click. I say goodbye to Emmett and hail a cab back to The Bulletin. For a few moments there I wanted to run away to the circus. Sara Riner, former executive editor of the Daily, is an intern with the Philadelphia Bulletin. The Michigan Daily Edited and managed by Students at the University of Michigan Wednesday, June 30, 1976 News Phone: 764-0552 Carter's religious screen WE HAVE POKED occasional fun at Jimmy Carter for his much-discussed brand of evangelical Southern Baptism, but we notice as the public focuses increasing attention on the Georgian that his religion has received undue scrutiny. Over and over again the national newsmagazines- chiefly Time and Newsweek -- have mentioned and dis- cussed at length Carter's religious affiliations, and it is apparent that many voters as well as sizing up his can- didacy in terms of his church. This is foolish. Certainly Carter's deep religious be- liefs influence his character and thus deserve some at- tention, but carrying the matter too far obscures the more practical issues of Carter's candidacy. Carter at last is beginning to emerge with more details of his posi- tions, but consistent coverage of the religion issue makes him look as vague as ever. Where is Carter's stand on tax and governmental reform and foreign policy? Why must the voters read instead of his new life n Jesus Chrst? Which will affect the voters own lives more profoundly? I'M FOR CARTER BECAUSE HE LISTEN! NOBODY IS MORE HONEST WON'T LIE TO US. . . AND HE THAN FORD! BESIDES, HE'S MORE BELIEVES IN AMERICA! ELECTABLEI \ - .L. i K-- YEAH? WELL CHURCH EV L CARTER GOE ERY SUNDAYI BIG DEAL! F SOMETIME TWICEI - Tr IS TO FORD S GOES I LOVE THE INCISIVE DEBATE OF A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. THE MILwAUKEE IOURNAL Diti f/esppe fnd