Rutherford bans Bobo the clown due to clown craze
Decked in bloody onesie pajamas, and with a menacing backwoods serial killer look, Rutherford's Bobo the Clown is as creepy as they come, but he's not part of sinister wave of clowns allegedly terrorizing neighborhoods and posting threats on social media.
A professional actor with Fun Ghoul in Rutherford, Bobo the Clown is always in character, and ponders what the clown craze is doing to his image. Last year he terrorized people at Rutherford's Annual Haunt.
"I've been doing this for six years, and now these amateurs are trying to steal my job," he says.
To prepare for his role, Bobo says he begins with makeup, exaggerating the creases in his forehead and a permanent scowl before the big red nose goes on.
"I put on makeup and mess up my hair. I look menacing. The craziest reaction is when people run and fall trying to get away from me, then pop back up and keep running as they're looking back," he says.
The light blue pajamas with cuddly teddy bears and puffy clouds print is his trademark look, with blood spattered across the front. Prior to mastering his creepy clown shtick, Bobo ran the gamut of monsters before incorporating that sinister vibe into a clown.
"Clowns creep people out. Bobo scares people, makes them run and scream. What's more fun than a clown with a knife in hand. Nothing, " Bobo says.
But lately clowns are really getting bad rap and Bobo won't be appearing at Rutherford's Annual Haunt. "The town decided no Psycho Circus at this year's haunt, and I will oblige, so there will be happy clown instead," Fun Ghoul owner Cliff Witmyer says.
Whether it's publicity stunt, a hoax or a threat, the possibility of clowns terrorizing neighborhoods is no laughing matter to those who have fallen under the hysteria that began in Greenville, SC over the summer. In September, several copycat style threats were discovered in New Jersey. Facebook pages such as "Ain't Clowin' Around" posted that the clowns would kill teachers and students. Dozens of individuals have been arrested for causing false public alarm.
Witmyer uses around a dozen professional actors who work as clowns for public as well as private events.
"Private haunts want the creepy clowns to scare the [expletive] out of you. Public events we're more cautious with now. For private, the scarier the better. The Psycho Circus includes a killer, creepy clown, and other stuff. The creepy clowns want to mess with you. They're a cross between a mime and a clown. They're mysterious and unpredictable," Witmyer says.
By contrast, happy clowns are always smiling and prancing around entertaining in other ways. "squirt flowers, juggle balls, and they're sweet and happy…everything rosy," Witmyer says.
Happy and rosy are the 38 clowns with Call Us Clowns, a non-profit that visit hospitals, nursing homes and senior centers.
"We're very disappointed with the issues we're seeing regarding the clown problems, and we hope it's over soon," says spokesperson Ginnie "Foxy Roxy" Testo of Woodland Park. "We've had two cancelations because of these incidents. One was a school and another was a hospital. Every once in a while something like this happens and it seems kind of derogatory to our clowns. But that's not our image. We bring happiness and cheer, promote good things. We have a happy clown image, pleasant, always smiling and with attractive costumes, props and jokes that make you laugh, balloons and face painting. We'll give you a big hug and lift your spirits. We are caring clowns."
Call Us Clowns does not do Halloween clowning, she notes. Additionally, she noted that police recommended to the group that the clowns carry identification and a copy of the company's insurance policy while the clowns are en route to and from events.
For those who want to clown around regardless, Witmeyer notes that he is not restricting clown makeup and accessories sales, in light of the national phenomenon that has police and parents on alert.
"Anyone can buy clown makeup and accessories here, so I'm not clown policing," Witmyer said. "I not buying into this. People can still come in and buy the makeup, the oversize shoes, the clown nose and horn."
Makeup artist Kim Eubanks painted up Lisa Fischetta as both got ready to practice their amateur creepy clown look.
"We're just practicing and bouncing ideas off of each other," Fischetta said. "I think I'll maybe go to Shop & Shop and do some grocery shopping, see what kind of reactions I get."
The Rutherford Haunt is on Sunday, Oct. 30 at Memorial Field.
The young kids events will take place at 4 p.m., with the older kids events at 6 p.m. The event will feature haunted hay rides.
Email: nicholaides@northjersey.com