Portage County Historical Society

Emmitt Kelly Jr.

Ruthie provides this information: " Emmett Kelly Jr. is the SON of the original Emmett Kelly. Emmett Jr. was a very good clown, and owned all the rights to his father’s make-up and clown gags, etc. We worked many times with him on his show, and on others' shows. Most excitedly, we worked with him at Caesar’s Palace at Lake Tahoe. Emmett especially liked Frank, as Frank reminded him of his father, he said. He always stood in the wings and watched our act and always did us the honor of taking our entrance capes from us whenever we worked together. Just a few years ago, we were honored to be invited guests , at his table, for an evening of special tributes given to him for all his years of making people laugh and cry. It was a wonderful evening for him. He died just a few months later (2006)."