Earle Shipley

A very wistful looking Earle Shipley (identified on the back of the photo as "The Dean of Clowns") who, I recall Jackie LeClaire once telling me, was a really nice guy. Earle was a Ringling Advance Clown from 1958 through 1960.

If I remember correctly he was also the uncle of mid-to-late 60s Ringling clown Billy Ward and Earle gave Billy all of his costumes and props when he retired.