The Clown Statue

A teen female was babysitting for a wealthy family with a very large house, location - Newport Beach, California.

The parents planned on dinner out and a late movie. Wanting to ease the babysitter's concerns about being in such a large house, the father directs that the babysitter use a certain tv room after putting the kids to bed, so she can hear the kids easily should they awaken before the parents' return.

After the parents leave, the babysitter visits with the children, and they all share a nice supper that was prepared ahead of time by the kids' mother. Afterward, the babysitter spends time with the kids doing various activities before their bedtime. Nothing is amiss and all are having a pretty good time and enjoying each other.

After the babysitter puts the kids to bed, she goes downstairs to the room mentioned by the father of the household. She understands that this is the best room to be in so that she can hear the children should they stir in their sleep and need her to come and comfort them, but she is bothered by the clown statue in the corner of the room. To her, it is very unnerving!

She tries to ignore the clown statue and watches a little television, but finally, her nerves get the better of her and she dials the father's cell number. She knows she shouldn't disturb the couple she is babysitting for, but under the circumstance, she felt it best to phone and ask permission to go against the prior directions to stay in the father's room of choice. Perhaps he would be able to suggest a similarly convenient place in the home for listening for noise from the children. Of course, she also wouldn't want to get in trouble for directly disobeying, either.

When the father answers his cell phone, the babysitter asks, "Would it be alright with you if I find a different place in the house to sit - or if I go read quietly with the little lamp in one of the kids' rooms while I wait for you to get home?"

When the father asks if it might not be better for her to just read from the tv room, she admits, "I know this sounds very silly, but I'd rather read upstairs and don't mind not watching tv until you get home because this big clown statue in the tv room is really creepy!"

Immediately, the father says, "Go upstairs, get the kids - quickly - " and he outlines a quick route through the large house to the back door. "Go directly to the neighbor's house - phone me once you're there - go do this now!"

Alarmed, the babysitter asks, "Wow, what's goin on?" The father just repeats, "Go now, follow my instructions exactly - go!"

The babysitter does exactly as instructed, and once she gets the kids to the neighbor's house, she calls the father back.

"What was all that about" the babysitter asked.

"We do not own any kind of clown statue!" the father replied. "I have already phoned the police and they are on their way over to the house...you stay put with the kids - we are on our way to meet you at the neighbors."

If urban legends with clowns in them do not frighten you, then maybe this will.

Serial killer, John Wayne Gacy had a persona as "Pogo The Clown," whereby he entertained a cookouts, parties, Bar-B-Q events.

Gacy raped and murdered 33 young men and boys. He shoved many of their bodies in a crawlspace and 27 bodies were found under the floorboards of his Chicago, Illinois home. He dumped several other bodies in strip mall dumpsters and in nearby rivers between 1972 and when he was arrested in 1978. Gacy was convicted of 33 murders and was executed May 10, 1994. Gacy earned the nickname, "Killer Clown" from authorities and the public.

• Hubpages author, crazyhorsesghost has put together an interesting hub with a number of Gacy's clown pictures on it called - simply - John Wayne Gacy

Fear of clowns is so widespread and prominent that there is actually a term, Coulrophobia, for a phobia of clowns. Coulrophobia occurs in both children or adults and it is believed that one develops coulrophobia due to a traumatic experience with clowns. This trauma can be experienced either in real life or through the dramatic portrayal of clowns who are evil in movies and stories.

• * Hint - GO EASY on listeners if you are telling urban legends with clowns in them... coulrophobia is intense and serious! If your audience becomes very squeamish, then it's time to ease up on the intensity of detail in clown urban legends, get to the end quickly or interrupt the legend and announce the reason why you are doing so. Then switch story types to something lighter. I'm serious. Technically and ethically, it is ABUSIVE to continue to frighten people through storytelling once there are indications that the 'fear factor' has gone too far.

Myself...I admit that I DO have a touch of coulrophobia! I do NOT like clowns and I HAVE HAD an awful lot of exposure to scary clown stories and scary clown movies, pictures, etc.

• Hubpages author, Mrvoodoo has published an excellent hub on the topic of Coulrophobia. I agree with Mrvoodoo who mentions on this hub that "Pennywise" from Stephen King's "IT" book and movie is one of the most frightening clowns ever!
• Hubpages authoress Nell Rose has an article about why people fear clowns (Why do people have a fear of clowns...) and also adds some tips for those with coulrophobia!
• Hubpages authoress k @ r i also has published a hub about clowns, highlighting some connections between Zombies, Ghouls and Clowns. I liked reading that this hubber, a mother, has vowed to pay attention when children exhibit signs of coulrophobia. To my great relief, k @ r i has videos on her hub that mostly make light of clowns and clowning around.

Film makers in the Horror genre know they have hit upon something with clowns. There are TONS of horror movies featuring clowns to get everything from knee-jerk reactions to screams and even more severe reactions.

There are several horror movies based solely around the fear of clowns. Titles "Clownstrophobia" (2009), "Clowns" (2000), and "The Last Circus" (2010) come readily to mind - but never fear - there are many more movies based around clowns providing fear, horror, and terror.

Even Batman movies have some seriously scary clowns in the character, The Joker.

Jack Nicholson's Joker was diabolically scary and Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker was insanely frightening and disarming.

Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise The Clown in Stephen King's "IT" (1990) is probably one of the most memorable scary clowns in film. Pennywise is in the Top 10 of several (at least a dozen) lists I checked on horror movie, movie review, and horror lit sites on line. And Pennywise is the #1-#3 choice on many lists. This clown is one of my top 10 scares, too! I walk closest to the grassy edge of the sidewalk, even as an adult, versus the curb side where the storm drains are - due to the "Georgie" scene (Pennywise in the storm drain, talking to a young Georgie) in "IT"!