"As far as true comedy is concerned - that is, real pantomimic clowning," said Kelly as he donned a rubber cap and "clown white" greasepaint, "the funny man who thinks to himself that he is being very funny will never get laughs from an audience."Clowning Is Serious Business! - The funny face of the clown oft masks a serious face and heart, as every audience of "I Pagliacci" knows. Perhaps the greatest exemplar extant, outside of the classic halls of opera and inside the realm of real life, is Emmett Kelly, who has kept circus fans in stitches for 30 years which his sad and solemn clowning. January 01, 1950.