Horrifying Clown haunting Staten Island (New York)

[Errata]

It was my favorite book as a child. That probably explains why I am on this site.

Does anyone know where King got the inspiration for It? Did he also inherently find clowns creepy? Or did Gacy play a role?

Relatedly and somewhat morbidly, anyone know if Gacy read It in prison?

He didn't find clowns creepy. In fact the opposite. It's why he used a clown. It's a symbol of innocent fun associated with childhood, which makes the clown being a killer extra terrifying. Because it soils happy memories of the past.

Gacy most likely didn't read it, though I can't swear he didn't see the movie or have someone tell him all about it. He was smart enough, but pretty undereducated. He had enough problems in school that reading anything longer than a letter was likely hard work for him, and this was a guy who liked his immediate gratification.

[Scorpio]

There is a name for the pathological fear of clowns, but i can't remember what it is.
Gacey never killed anyone in his clown suit i believe. It was something he put on for very small kids in some cheesy nice guy routine.

[RivkahChaya]

There is a name for the pathological fear of clowns, but i can't remember what it is.

Coulrophobia. It's a fairly recently coined word, IIRC. Clowns as we know them didn't exist in ancient Greece. "Coulro-" comes from a kind of busker who walked on stilts, and probably did other acrobatics-- the word is related to stilts, but the idea of an entertainer is there.

The word doesn't seem to go back more than about 30 yrs, but the fear does, trust me.

"Coulrophobia" came before the movie It, so the movie did not cause the word to be coined. Probably caused it to spread, though.

[Scorpio]

The scariest aspect of the clown is the mask. Ancient warriors wore them in battle to scare there enemies, the horror movie genre puts them on its slasher villains ( Leatherface, Jason Vorhees, Michael Myers, and so on ).
The greasepaint used by clowns looks somewhat cadaverous, and the discoloration about the eyes and mouth is commonly scene in the natural world, a mutation that has useful side effects.

[Monty]

Copycat clowning.

http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/03/cheap-immitation-of-the-northampton-clown-haunts-staten-island/359498/

Monty

[Robert]

There you are, you see. Nothing to be frightened of.

[Robert]

Boo!

[Cogidubnus]

Or more appropriately to Stephen King (Lisey's Story) readers...Bool!

All the best

Dave

[Beowulf]

Copycat clowning.

http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/03/cheap-immitation-of-the-northampton-clown-haunts-staten-island/359498/

Monty

Well, whaddya know, this guy's a cheap second

[louisa]

I'm a Londoner, born and bred. The first time I ever saw a clown I was a young child. Our street had organized a party to celebrate the Queen's coronation (giving my age away here!) and tables were put all along the centre of the road with goodies like jelly, ice cream and cake.

Anyway I was just tucking into my grub when this face appeared at my shoulder. I turned my head to see a big ugly clown with a white face and a huge lipstick mouth crouching down beside me. He was probably asking if I was having a nice time. I screamed my head off and didn't stop screaming until my mother was asked to take me home.

[Beowulf]

Lol! They ARE frightening.

One of the most fascinating stories to me is of that actor who comes back as the clown he played at Drury Lane.

[GUT]

Why are people frightened of clowns, I love 'em.

[Steadmund Brand]

Why are people frightened of clowns, I love 'em.

All I know is that sharks will not eat clowns.. they think they taste funny (ok I know old joke.. but...)

I have always found clowns a bit creepy... most anyway.. I think it all started with me seeing Lon Chaney Sr. in " Laugh,Clown,Laugh " when I was a child (on TV thank you.. I am not that old!!!!!) but ever since that flickering black and white image at around 3am when i was 5 or 6 years old clowns have always freaked me out a bit..plus Mcdonalds food is a bit scary (except shamrock shakes!!!!)

Steadmund Brand---

[Brenda]

.

Clowns are scary for me because the makeup masks their true face. I rely a lot on expressions when dealing with people....I don't like someone hiding their true face.

[GUT]

G'day Brenda

Clowns are scary for me because the makeup masks their true face.

That's why the wife scares me.