OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
@fingersmaloy Clowns are well-known for freaking kids out. Actually, I recall another clip, where this guy has cards with funny facial features in front of his face and takes them off one by one, revealing others underneath. That one was freakier (at least this guy "takes off" his clown face). Would be interesting to see that one again.
For some reason I misremembered the actor as Dustin Hoffman, but it had been at least 30 or 35 years since I'd seen this (at which time I didn't know about Hoffman).
My nose goes in this box, my hair rests on this stand, my ebrows goes in this tube...and my balloon floats down the gutter....they all float down here!
When I was a kid, I thought clowns were awesome- I guess because of the performance artist aspect of them, so this clip was interesting- not scary- to me. It was the same with the singing orange, everyone is afraid of her, but I loved the fact that she was getting ready to sing. Mind you, I never had a scary experience with a clown. However, I understand people's fear... I was pretty terrified of the number painter guy on S.Street.
@brightbite "Don Music" (the yellow muppet with the messy hair and glasses) used to scare the hell out of me when I was real little -- the way he would lose his temper when he messed up a song, and he would start yelling and screaming, and hitting his head against the piano....what a spaz! Other then that, I don't think much else ever scared me...just the "Don Music" sketches...and ice cream trucks, but thats another story!
I had long forgotten about this video and was absolutely horrified to find it. I probably won't be able to sleep tonight but now I know the root of many nightmares... thanks Sesame Street.
At 1:26, what did Dennis Allen mean when he said "me too?" Was he saying that he likes his everyday face the best or his clown makeup face? (Probably as soon as he said "which do you like best" at 1:20, it probably would have been best if they had kids screaming in the background shouting something like "I love the clown face the best" where Dennis Allen then had a good reason for saying "me too.")
@afriendofbean For realz it confused me a bit to but then after the slide kinda moved to the clown so i guess we were sposed to like the clown more.. i think its a bit scary tho haha.
Yes, seeing the single screen of the clown face at 1:27 probably means that the young kids at home like the clown face more instead of Dennis Allen's everyday face. Also I agree, it was scary seeing the single screen of the clown face at 1:27 which scared me a lot when I was very young. Maybe the reason a lot of people including you and me were scared of the clown face at 1:27 is because, Dennis Allen's everyday face looks very sad and/or angry.
Is Dennis Allen wearing a microphone while he has his clown makeup on? I'm wondering this because, as soon as he removed his makeup, his voice sounds different where he is talking in a very sad and/or angry way.
Count me as another adult who has had a lifelong fear of clowns after seeing this video on Sesame Street. I remember running out of the living room in tears.
Count me as another adult who has had a lifelong fear of clowns after seeing this video on Sesame Street. I remember running out of the living room in tears.
Dunno if anyone remembers WITNey the hobo back in the 80's-it was the theme music to whoever played the clown on WITN-TV 7. I remember this music so well b/c at that time they showed Transformer cartoons. 1time you had to figure out the letters scrambled up during the shows. If you figured it out and your name was drawn via postcard you would win that transformer. I figured it out - it was Devastator, but mom wouldn't let me send in postcard to win.
This clip absolutely terrified me as a little kid. My mom said that I literally climbed up and out of my high chair and hid under the table while screaming to get away from it. Definitely caused a long lasting fear of clowns...
I'm so glad you posted this; I've been going nuts trying to find a copy of the music that plays under this clip, and I knew it ran on Sesame Street somehow.
It was also in Roger Rabbit, in the first scene in R.K. Maroon's office, playing on the movieola. Does anyone know the title of the music here? I would LOVE to get a copy of it!
@fingersmaloy Many children are afraid of clowns, because you can't tell what the person really looks like. The purpose of this segment is to reassure children that beneath every clown face there is a perfectly ordinary human face. I always thought it was well done—especially with the reverse filming!
@fingersmaloy ,why do people always have something stupid to say about clowns,like how sacred they are of clowns,this was taught to you by the media !
@sn9696 Whaaaaat? I was reflecting on an emotional reaction I had as a three-year-old. I feel like my fear of clowns was more of a default reaction than the product of the media, but either way, how is that "stupid"? Also I think that this clip in particular is frightening, whether you're generally scared of clowns or not. They use that same sped-up backwards motion effect for horror movies nowadays.
Maybe the reason why he looked like that (his name is Dennis Allen) is because, either he does comedy that way without smiling (Dennis Allen is a comedian and I know that some comedian's do comedy without smiling) or, maybe the day they were filming this, he was probably not feeling well with a high temperature and the directors and producers said that they had to film this skit on that day and Dennis Allen couldn't reschedule.
One of these two reasons might be the reason why he looked sad.
Yes, I also used to be afraid of this skit too. The thing I was afraid of on this skit was after the split screen was shown, they showed the clown with his makeup on, and it scared me seeing the clown where he looked at the camera without smiling (since clowns are supposed to smile and not look sad/angry).
I wonder maybe the reason why he didn't smile either because, since he's a comedian, maybe he does comedy without smiling or, maybe he was sick on this day when they filmed this.
Thanks for the info. I had no idea he had passed away. The Wikipedia does not mention him, and the IMDB does not have a lot of info on him, other than the fact that he died of lung cancer. He was a character actor, wasn't he?
I found this clip disturbing for some reason, not so much to do with him taking off his makeup, but I think it may have to be due to his deadpan expression.
Although I have never seen this segment before, to this day, I am still afraid of clowns. (What's more embarrasing is that I'm a freshman in high school).
I actually liked this one as a kid. I did not remember it until he put his nose in the box. When I saw that, I was instantly transported back to 1978 or so. Pretty cool! I love this stuff!
Is it just me or does he look just as creepy as a regular person? He looks like a rapist or something...I'd be scared if I ran into him at night by myself.
I wonder if they probably have a different person each time playing Ronald McDonald. Although, there was a time when I was in Nursery School in the early 80s, there was a guy who looked, dressed, and sounded just like the Ronald McDonald that I've seen on the television and he came inside my Nursery School. When he came in, he shook hands with us all. After that he read us a Sesame Street book all about Grover. I remembered Ronald McDonald's voice back then, and this guy sounded like him.
carefully calculated skit. brillinatly calculated. Dennis Allen was obviously chosen for the part for a very specific reason. this clip was very, very disturbing to me as a kid, to the point where i think some unrelated emotions crossed over in my subconscious (like pain and pleasure intertwine, fear and sexual feelings, etc.), and i feel like this was more of an "experimental" clip. Sesame Street does rigorous deciding which clips go up, so it's not like somebody just let it by.
Anything can become vaguely sexualized when you're a kid. I've had friends and family say that about all kinds of random things. That whole Freudian idea of the "latent period" of childhood between toilet training and puberty is bunk.
i know exactly what you are talking about. Its not easy to sum up in a youtube comment. Kids need more of this stuff today - non-ironic, adult-ish weird entertainment, however confusing and creepy it can be at times. It is a big stimulant for creativity and future abstract/psychological thinking.
it seems like there was something more than a clown removing his makeup. combine that with the fact that kids are already uneasy about clowns anyway, well... a clown doesn't take off his makeup like that, but it's fucking entertaining, i'll give you that. the clip is obviously put together from several takes (note the slight differences in the face at each cut) and synched up to the music. it just strikes me odd that this would just have been a sort of "happy accident" rather than a
of the movement all led to an out-of-control feeling that i feel was intended by the producer of the clip. with so many people expressing really negative things about this clip, combined with Sesame Street's strict rules on creating clips (establish the point, reinforce the point, give examples the underscore the point, reinforce the point again, and make it entertaining), and considering how long it was aired (i stopped watching sesame street around 1987 and it was still being shown,
this clip was perhaps one of the creepiest i've ever seen. the thing about it was his calm, annoyed demeanor never made me feel like he was a friend, or even funny, say like Krusty. the backwards, fast motion "removal" of the makeup's disturbing effect was compounded by the over-the-top music, and then the really calm monotone of his voice meticuluosly dictating in which tube each color belonged, as dry as if it were a controlled experiment. the pasty lighting, the white face and the nature
Okay. The guys name is Dennis Allen. But he looks and sounds like a younger Ben Stein. Personally I was never freaked out by this sketch. I love clowns. They make people laugh. What is so wrong with that?
This guy (Dennis Allen) also sounds like Ben Stein to me. The reason I feel this way because, I've seen Ben Stein on many movies, commercials, and television game shows, and whenever he is seen on the television, he never smiles, just like Dennis Allen is doing on this skit where he looks very sad and/or angry after he removes his clown makeup. I'm sure if Ben Stein and Dennis Allen smiled more on television, the movie, commercial, game show, etc. would be a lot of fun to watch.
This clown has haunted me since I was about 4 years old! I'm 26 years old now... This was the reason I became terrified of clowns! I still feel like crying and hiding under the table, just like I used to....
The only thing that scared me on this skit was after they showed the split screen of Dennis Allen with and without the makeup, they showed the Dennis Allen with the clown makeup on, and it looked scary to me because he was making a scary face with the clown makeup on while looking at the camera.
OK,some of us were freaked by this ckip big time, I never knew when it was coming,but most times when it did play, I ran,the other tinmes,I watched shaking
Wow! You actually worked iwth him? Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime! What was it like working with him? He always looked sad to me. Was that part of his "showbiz persona", or was he naturally depressed, all the time (in real life)?
He was a really funny guy. I wasn't really close to him so I can't speak for more than what he was like at work. A lot of fun. He said that a film student made this and he didn't know it was for Sesame Street until later.
I also noticed how sad he looks with and without the makeup. It was also making me sad that he was never smiling on the skit, especially as a clown, he should be always smiling. Maybe the reason he was not smiling is because, he probably does comedy that way (some comedians like actor Ben Stein do comedy without smiling because some people around the world think they look funny on television without smiling, instead those actors act serious which make them very popular).
I would've had Dennis start the clip by saying, "Although it's my job to make people laugh, some people are afraid of clowns and don't know that we're regular people too." Then near the end I'd have him say, "Hi, my name is Dennis Allen. As you can see my face looks different without my make-up on. Of the two faces, which is your favorite?" Then in the Split-screen, I'd have Plain Dennis say, "Personally, I like them both." with Clown Dennis replying "Yeah, that goes double for me, Dennis."
Yes, I love your idea. Your idea sounds a lot better than the director who directed this skit because the director of this skit didn't do a good job making it fun to watch. On this skit, Dennis Allen looks both sad or angry after he removes his make-up, and it also makes me sad to see his sad or angry face when he should be happy like a clown. I'm sure if you were the director of this skit, I would love to watch this skit over and over again, and I'm sure I will never get tired of watching it
I like your idea. To me, that's how Mr. Rogers would have done it. He was great at pointing out that seemingly scary things weren't so scary after all.
I still think your idea is great. Also, the other thing I would also add is that, after they showed the split screen with Plain Dennis and Clown Dennis, they showed a single screen of Clown Dennis looking at the audience and I would include in that spot with Clown Dennis saying "bye kids, and never have any fear of clowns including myself since clowns like me will make you laugh and they will be very nice to give you a sticker and/or a balloon, even I do."
I have NEVER understood the deathly fear so many people have of clowns. Why clowns? It never made sense to me! As a kid, I never thought clowns were particularly funny but I was never afraid of them.
well, it's not a fear of clowns, I am ok with clowns. Some of my best friends are clowns! (no kidding!)
Just this clown. I think it's because he never smiles once, and the surrealness of the backward motion was way too much for my little brain. Plus, the guy at the end isn't so friendly looking.
Me neither! I remember one time waiting for the bus at night, a man dressed like a clown was waiting in the bus stop shed; then a woman, her friend and a little girl, assumable one of the women's daughter walked towards the stop; it was dark too. All of a sudden i heard "AAAH, A CLOWN" I involuntarily burst out laughing and I couldn't stop; I laughed till my stomach hurt!
IMO, it's the white makeup. Deathly white faces scare the bejeezus out of me. On a deeper level, it's the sense that they must be hiding something really eeeeevil underneath all that makeup and forced jollity.
I grew up in Detroit, and they would play this same piece of music in between Three Stooges shorts back in the 1980's. I always wondered what the title was. Does anyody know if there is a website dedicated to Capitol Media Music? R.I.P. Dennis Allen.
Once I heard that from a 7inch promo single of "Capitol Media Music Release No7". And also i have a lot of R/R tape of this series (called capitol Hi-Q series) and did not find this track yet.
OMG I DID A PARODY OF THIS w my BROTHER and used strange sounds and in end mine the took off his arms and legs and stuff and turned to a big goop with out his body which you like best BOP BOP ME TOO bum bum BOP BOP
This video used to scare me big time. It wasn't the vidoo that scared me,really,but the music, and Stace,I agree with you,he looked better with the makeup on. The troubador suit he wore was a bit funy though
this skit was a bit scary to me when i was little but the weird thing is i don't have a fear of clowns, it is probably the way the guy looked without the makeup that scared me, lol!
It's part of a production music library, just don't ask me which one. I've heard it used in a few TV toy ads in the 1970's including STRECH ARMSTRONG. Unfortunately, the only way to find out the name of this cue is to do a HUGE amount of research and listening to clips on production cue websites.
I hated that bloody...THING, too. ::shudder::
ranchoth 3 days ago
OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
wonderfulmadcat 3 days ago
My brother was scared of this clip too.
7997jenny 1 week ago
Pause at 1:07 It's Lt. Commander Data.
Amar7605 3 weeks ago
guy looked as silvester stallone at the first moment without the make-up
SamTheGentleGhost 1 month ago
That isn't Dustin Hoffman, it's actor/comedian Dennis Allen.
UniverseAndI 1 month ago
Yeah, that is Dustin Hoffman, I recognize his face and voice, cool vintage video. :)
saints093 1 month ago
at fingersmaloy this traumatized u i hear from ppl that it traumatizes them lol
5ferretmom 2 months ago
I don't know about the next person, but I say that is definitely Dustin Hoffman. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.
timepoet77 3 months ago
@Optimalillusion yes - it would seem to be them! (did a search on Youtube). Quite a group, better than standard mime for sure.
erracht 3 months ago
@fingersmaloy Clowns are well-known for freaking kids out. Actually, I recall another clip, where this guy has cards with funny facial features in front of his face and takes them off one by one, revealing others underneath. That one was freakier (at least this guy "takes off" his clown face). Would be interesting to see that one again.
erracht 4 months ago
@erracht
sounds like you were freaked by Mummenshanz. They's trippy.
Optimalillusion 4 months ago
did anyone els see him drop a tube of paint that goes On his mouth
SUPERSAYENNICK 4 months ago
For some reason I misremembered the actor as Dustin Hoffman, but it had been at least 30 or 35 years since I'd seen this (at which time I didn't know about Hoffman).
Gyrofrog 6 months ago
@Gyrofrog Ha, wow, that is Dustin Hoffman! I never knew that.
bassistguy 6 months ago
@bassistguy Actually it's Dennis Allen, not Dustin Hoffman.
afriendofbean 5 months ago
@afriendofbean Ok. I had always thought it was the late Pat Paulsen. Thanx.
TheSV3 2 months ago
@TheSV3 No problem.
afriendofbean 2 months ago
either way he's a drunk!
CATMAN98821 7 months ago
diiiid not apreciate this one as a kid AT ALL! guy sticking the things in his eyes like that! lol
jerryjuicebag 7 months ago
My nose goes in this box, my hair rests on this stand, my ebrows goes in this tube...and my balloon floats down the gutter....they all float down here!
pgbrown 7 months ago 7
he sounds like steven wright
cavalierfan1995 8 months ago
omg this shit scared me as a child and now i look at it and laugh
lady2much07 9 months ago
When I was a kid, I thought clowns were awesome- I guess because of the performance artist aspect of them, so this clip was interesting- not scary- to me. It was the same with the singing orange, everyone is afraid of her, but I loved the fact that she was getting ready to sing. Mind you, I never had a scary experience with a clown. However, I understand people's fear... I was pretty terrified of the number painter guy on S.Street.
brightbite 9 months ago
@brightbite "Don Music" (the yellow muppet with the messy hair and glasses) used to scare the hell out of me when I was real little -- the way he would lose his temper when he messed up a song, and he would start yelling and screaming, and hitting his head against the piano....what a spaz! Other then that, I don't think much else ever scared me...just the "Don Music" sketches...and ice cream trucks, but thats another story!
dslgunner1977 8 months ago
Dennis Allen August 24,1943-December 1,1995. He died of advanced lung cancer like Victor French from Little House on the Prairie.
gottaloveaz 10 months ago
I remember this on Sesame Street when I was a kid. The guy looks like Dustin Hoffman, but I'm not sure if it's him.
collegeman1988 10 months ago
@collegeman1988 actually the clown is actor/comedian Dennis Allen who appeared on Laugh-In.
cjdunn 10 months ago
I had long forgotten about this video and was absolutely horrified to find it. I probably won't be able to sleep tonight but now I know the root of many nightmares... thanks Sesame Street.
Dougster 10 months ago
During his off-time he's a level three sex offender.
51516 11 months ago
Why so serious?
tobar1p 1 year ago
No wonder why I'm afraid of clowns. I remembered this from when I was little. eeek!
kll510 1 year ago 2
8 people were scared by the video and missed the like button.
TheMicroraptor 1 year ago 2
This is my everyday face. I'm horribly depressed. Somebody shoot me.
birdsandbugs1 1 year ago 3
Putting cown makeup on was a reverse.
sailorscoutpet 1 year ago
I wonder if that clown is a stoner.... D:
TheLonersManual 1 year ago
Thanks for the memories
Sparkina 1 year ago
This video is a false representation.
DullTorpor 1 year ago
I remember seeing this as a kid,
I never realized till now just how depressed Dennis Allen looked.
cha5 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
That's not how clowns take off their makeup, they just use a cotton ball and wipe it off with water.
Xaxton2 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
That's not how clowns take off their makeup, they just wash it off with water.
Xaxton2 1 year ago
That's not how clowns take off their makeup, they just wash it off with water.
Xaxton2 1 year ago
but y do clowns waer makeup?
steventean 1 year ago
@steventean So that they look silly.
Xaxton2 1 year ago
@steventean Are you serious? someone actually has to explain this to you?
nukecat 11 months ago
i gess so
steventean 11 months ago
for a clown he not very happy
42angelstar 1 year ago
At 1:26, what did Dennis Allen mean when he said "me too?" Was he saying that he likes his everyday face the best or his clown makeup face? (Probably as soon as he said "which do you like best" at 1:20, it probably would have been best if they had kids screaming in the background shouting something like "I love the clown face the best" where Dennis Allen then had a good reason for saying "me too.")
afriendofbean 1 year ago
@afriendofbean Maybe he's just agreeing with whatever choice the kid watching at home chooses.
KraZvEgGyBuRgEr 1 year ago
That's also true.
afriendofbean 11 months ago
@afriendofbean For realz it confused me a bit to but then after the slide kinda moved to the clown so i guess we were sposed to like the clown more.. i think its a bit scary tho haha.
raven610 11 months ago
Yes, seeing the single screen of the clown face at 1:27 probably means that the young kids at home like the clown face more instead of Dennis Allen's everyday face. Also I agree, it was scary seeing the single screen of the clown face at 1:27 which scared me a lot when I was very young. Maybe the reason a lot of people including you and me were scared of the clown face at 1:27 is because, Dennis Allen's everyday face looks very sad and/or angry.
afriendofbean 11 months ago
Is Dennis Allen wearing a microphone while he has his clown makeup on? I'm wondering this because, as soon as he removed his makeup, his voice sounds different where he is talking in a very sad and/or angry way.
afriendofbean 1 year ago
this would trip out kids so much haha
WeFlySkyHigh 1 year ago
Who played the song?
DEADLOK69 1 year ago
@DEADLOK69 I had the same question...best answer that I got is it's from the Capitol Media Music library...title and author still unknown.
aman1016 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Count me as another adult who has had a lifelong fear of clowns after seeing this video on Sesame Street. I remember running out of the living room in tears.
linds5309 1 year ago
Count me as another adult who has had a lifelong fear of clowns after seeing this video on Sesame Street. I remember running out of the living room in tears.
linds5309 1 year ago
Dunno if anyone remembers WITNey the hobo back in the 80's-it was the theme music to whoever played the clown on WITN-TV 7. I remember this music so well b/c at that time they showed Transformer cartoons. 1time you had to figure out the letters scrambled up during the shows. If you figured it out and your name was drawn via postcard you would win that transformer. I figured it out - it was Devastator, but mom wouldn't let me send in postcard to win.
Thanks very much for uploading this. =)
toiletfan 1 year ago
His everyday face would be actually quite handsome if he smiled. At all.
murielsartre 1 year ago
does anyone know the clown?
beaver371 1 year ago
This clip absolutely terrified me as a little kid. My mom said that I literally climbed up and out of my high chair and hid under the table while screaming to get away from it. Definitely caused a long lasting fear of clowns...
CheckeredZebra14 1 year ago 3
I'm so glad you posted this; I've been going nuts trying to find a copy of the music that plays under this clip, and I knew it ran on Sesame Street somehow.
It was also in Roger Rabbit, in the first scene in R.K. Maroon's office, playing on the movieola. Does anyone know the title of the music here? I would LOVE to get a copy of it!
marktoonery 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this, I used to love watching this clip!!!
poptart26753 2 years ago
rotflmao. I'm not scared of clowns but this does broch the disturbing end of the spectrum!!!!
Eddsqua88 2 years ago
I was also scared of this clip as a kid.
markshazam 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This clip traumatized me as a child and today it's still horrific.
fingersmaloy 2 years ago 18
@fingersmaloy Yes, it freaked me out as a tot, too. Yet I could not look away as I ate my Fruit Loops
Trund27 1 year ago
@fingersmaloy Many children are afraid of clowns, because you can't tell what the person really looks like. The purpose of this segment is to reassure children that beneath every clown face there is a perfectly ordinary human face. I always thought it was well done—especially with the reverse filming!
rambam1204 10 months ago
@rambam1204 This was made before John Wayne Gasey was caught...I think he ruined clowns for everyone!
dslgunner1977 8 months ago
@fingersmaloy ,why do people always have something stupid to say about clowns,like how sacred they are of clowns,this was taught to you by the media !
sn9696 3 weeks ago
@sn9696 Whaaaaat? I was reflecting on an emotional reaction I had as a three-year-old. I feel like my fear of clowns was more of a default reaction than the product of the media, but either way, how is that "stupid"? Also I think that this clip in particular is frightening, whether you're generally scared of clowns or not. They use that same sped-up backwards motion effect for horror movies nowadays.
fingersmaloy 3 weeks ago
Also you had two whole years to respond to my comment and you still wrote "sacred" instead of "scared". Now who's the clown?
fingersmaloy 3 weeks ago
wow... it was a kid's show. Couldn't he have cracked a little smile and looked less depressed and John Wayne Gacy?
chickapey 2 years ago 2
Yeah, he is totally Gacy!!! "Come here, little boy, try these magic handcuffs on!"
AgaMbadi 2 years ago 2
No doubt! I remember this one! And I never liked clowns. But I wouldn't blame this mellow fellow.
faelismaegnus 2 years ago
This video used to scare the c**p out of my dauighter - she would just cry and scream!!!
only1biddles 2 years ago
jis everyday face is depressing
GothicMunky101 2 years ago
OMG that is Dustin Hoffman!!!!
josieroselee 2 years ago
Nope. It's Dennis Allen
ebf1957 2 years ago
Wow, low self-esteem much? I like him without the makeup, but apparently he doesn't...
grade4 2 years ago
He looks a little like Dustin Hoffman.
JasonMC72 2 years ago 2
NIGHTMARE CITY!!!!!!!!!
wschac1 2 years ago
LOL! I think this was an attempt to get us to not be scared of clowns.....DID NOT WORK FOR ME!!!!!
CarpeCakem2007 2 years ago
Oh and I remember as a kid wondering what was wrong with this guy- he was so miserable!
Whoozinga 2 years ago
Maybe the reason why he looked like that (his name is Dennis Allen) is because, either he does comedy that way without smiling (Dennis Allen is a comedian and I know that some comedian's do comedy without smiling) or, maybe the day they were filming this, he was probably not feeling well with a high temperature and the directors and producers said that they had to film this skit on that day and Dennis Allen couldn't reschedule.
One of these two reasons might be the reason why he looked sad.
afriendofbean 2 years ago
Oh my dear Lord, I just glanced at this guys face in the menu and knew exactly what this was!!! How could i have forgotten this freak show? LOL
I was unnerved as a kid and uhhh kinda still am..
Whoozinga 2 years ago
Why did they have to show us stuff like this as kids? Maybe I'd be somewhat normal today
BabyWetsAllNight 3 years ago
I think if anything this made me slightly less afraid of clowns...showing the man behind the makeup. Which I assume was the attempt.
But yeah, it was still creepy.
deyoungparker 2 years ago
Geez no wonder I"m afraid of clowns. This guy is creepy with and without his makeup on. I hated this clip and a kid.
kll510 3 years ago
Yes, I also used to be afraid of this skit too. The thing I was afraid of on this skit was after the split screen was shown, they showed the clown with his makeup on, and it scared me seeing the clown where he looked at the camera without smiling (since clowns are supposed to smile and not look sad/angry).
I wonder maybe the reason why he didn't smile either because, since he's a comedian, maybe he does comedy without smiling or, maybe he was sick on this day when they filmed this.
afriendofbean 3 years ago
I worked with this actor in KC in 1992. He was a great guy but died of lung cancer a few years ago.
jillpettis 3 years ago
What was this actor's name? He looks very familiar.
Stevedup 3 years ago
His name is Dennis Allen.
afriendofbean 3 years ago
Thanks for the info. I had no idea he had passed away. The Wikipedia does not mention him, and the IMDB does not have a lot of info on him, other than the fact that he died of lung cancer. He was a character actor, wasn't he?
Stevedup 3 years ago
I think he was an actor on some movies (I'm just guessing about that) but, I know that he was a comedian.
afriendofbean 3 years ago
I found this clip disturbing for some reason, not so much to do with him taking off his makeup, but I think it may have to be due to his deadpan expression.
Akira625 3 years ago
This video still gives me the willies lol! disturbing...
Neiko410 3 years ago
Obviously this was part of his prison work-release program. Sheesh.
xpander2k 3 years ago
Yeah it took me a while to figure out that they reverse the film.
CelesteK 3 years ago
Although I have never seen this segment before, to this day, I am still afraid of clowns. (What's more embarrasing is that I'm a freshman in high school).
classicssmfan 3 years ago
I actually liked this one as a kid. I did not remember it until he put his nose in the box. When I saw that, I was instantly transported back to 1978 or so. Pretty cool! I love this stuff!
ibrokemyfingerbowlin 3 years ago
Is it just me or does he look just as creepy as a regular person? He looks like a rapist or something...I'd be scared if I ran into him at night by myself.
greendayfan10101 3 years ago
LOL, I don't think you'd have anything to worry about. He looks like he's drunk and/or stoned and about ready to pass out.
CatalinaSafari73 3 years ago
why so serious?
wabtanker 3 years ago
I was really frighted by this a child , used to cover my ears and run behind the sofa lol
Im glad to see it now though
CherJovi 3 years ago
This bit TERRIFIED me as a kid! I can remember running to my bed to hide under the covers when this would come on. Stupid, scary clowns...
muld65 3 years ago
as a kid, this clip made me feel a little scared.
johnbourbon 3 years ago
Dennis Allen, huh? Until now I my memory was connecting him to Dustin Hoffman. Thank for the info.
Teankun 3 years ago
How odd. Me to. I was watching this thinking how I thought it was Dustin Hoffman for years.
themustardrebellion 3 years ago
I want to see a Ronald Mc Donald clown remove his make-up. Because I never know who plays ronald mcdonald
happy7117 3 years ago
Not gonna happen, the identity of the actor who plays Ronald McDonald is a closely guarded secret.
deltoru 3 years ago 2
I wonder if they probably have a different person each time playing Ronald McDonald. Although, there was a time when I was in Nursery School in the early 80s, there was a guy who looked, dressed, and sounded just like the Ronald McDonald that I've seen on the television and he came inside my Nursery School. When he came in, he shook hands with us all. After that he read us a Sesame Street book all about Grover. I remembered Ronald McDonald's voice back then, and this guy sounded like him.
afriendofbean 3 years ago
carefully calculated skit. brillinatly calculated. Dennis Allen was obviously chosen for the part for a very specific reason. this clip was very, very disturbing to me as a kid, to the point where i think some unrelated emotions crossed over in my subconscious (like pain and pleasure intertwine, fear and sexual feelings, etc.), and i feel like this was more of an "experimental" clip. Sesame Street does rigorous deciding which clips go up, so it's not like somebody just let it by.
rbx111 3 years ago 2
Sexual feelings? Huh???
36slicesamericanchz 3 years ago
Anything can become vaguely sexualized when you're a kid. I've had friends and family say that about all kinds of random things. That whole Freudian idea of the "latent period" of childhood between toilet training and puberty is bunk.
DianaDeLuna 3 years ago
i know exactly what you are talking about. Its not easy to sum up in a youtube comment. Kids need more of this stuff today - non-ironic, adult-ish weird entertainment, however confusing and creepy it can be at times. It is a big stimulant for creativity and future abstract/psychological thinking.
dariaE 2 years ago
it seems like there was something more than a clown removing his makeup. combine that with the fact that kids are already uneasy about clowns anyway, well... a clown doesn't take off his makeup like that, but it's fucking entertaining, i'll give you that. the clip is obviously put together from several takes (note the slight differences in the face at each cut) and synched up to the music. it just strikes me odd that this would just have been a sort of "happy accident" rather than a
rbx111 3 years ago
of the movement all led to an out-of-control feeling that i feel was intended by the producer of the clip. with so many people expressing really negative things about this clip, combined with Sesame Street's strict rules on creating clips (establish the point, reinforce the point, give examples the underscore the point, reinforce the point again, and make it entertaining), and considering how long it was aired (i stopped watching sesame street around 1987 and it was still being shown,
rbx111 3 years ago
this clip was perhaps one of the creepiest i've ever seen. the thing about it was his calm, annoyed demeanor never made me feel like he was a friend, or even funny, say like Krusty. the backwards, fast motion "removal" of the makeup's disturbing effect was compounded by the over-the-top music, and then the really calm monotone of his voice meticuluosly dictating in which tube each color belonged, as dry as if it were a controlled experiment. the pasty lighting, the white face and the nature
rbx111 3 years ago
Okay. The guys name is Dennis Allen. But he looks and sounds like a younger Ben Stein. Personally I was never freaked out by this sketch. I love clowns. They make people laugh. What is so wrong with that?
zacandtaylorrule 3 years ago
Is it me or does this guy look and sound like a younger ben stein?
zacandtaylorrule 3 years ago
This guy (Dennis Allen) also sounds like Ben Stein to me. The reason I feel this way because, I've seen Ben Stein on many movies, commercials, and television game shows, and whenever he is seen on the television, he never smiles, just like Dennis Allen is doing on this skit where he looks very sad and/or angry after he removes his clown makeup. I'm sure if Ben Stein and Dennis Allen smiled more on television, the movie, commercial, game show, etc. would be a lot of fun to watch.
afriendofbean 3 years ago
This clown has haunted me since I was about 4 years old! I'm 26 years old now... This was the reason I became terrified of clowns! I still feel like crying and hiding under the table, just like I used to....
robynm333 3 years ago
Me 2 I was so scared of this as child...it really scared me Id run behind the sofa till it was over ...but now its a gem to see TY
CherJovi 3 years ago
Love it. Totally remember this. I think it is an awesome thing you've done. Thank you so much.
kjsw143 3 years ago
This always terrified the you know what out of me. Never thought I would see it again. Amazing
TMonag 3 years ago
The only thing that scared me on this skit was after they showed the split screen of Dennis Allen with and without the makeup, they showed the Dennis Allen with the clown makeup on, and it looked scary to me because he was making a scary face with the clown makeup on while looking at the camera.
afriendofbean 3 years ago
I totally remember this!
MoochyMooch 4 years ago
To be a clown this guy seems rather deadpan! LOL!
mel4pat2000 4 years ago 2
Dennis Allen August 19,1943-December 1,1995.
ghostchantxx 4 years ago
OK,some of us were freaked by this ckip big time, I never knew when it was coming,but most times when it did play, I ran,the other tinmes,I watched shaking
Jamo1973 4 years ago
I worked with Dennis in KC and after a few days I said, "hey..you were the clown on sesame street!" He was a great, funny guy.
jillpettis 4 years ago
Wow! You actually worked iwth him? Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime! What was it like working with him? He always looked sad to me. Was that part of his "showbiz persona", or was he naturally depressed, all the time (in real life)?
Stevedup 3 years ago
He was a really funny guy. I wasn't really close to him so I can't speak for more than what he was like at work. A lot of fun. He said that a film student made this and he didn't know it was for Sesame Street until later.
jillpettis 3 years ago
Very interesting jillpettis! Thanks for the info!
Stevedup 2 years ago
Dennis had this character on Laugh-In named Officer Peaches and always said, "I'm Officer Peaches. I'm the fuzz."
ebf1957 4 years ago
I was never afraid of clowns but this bit was always alittle disturbing to me
rudyking 4 years ago
He looks so annoyed!, before and after makeup removal.
pem1974 4 years ago 2
geez....hes sad for a clown
gooberbug81 4 years ago
I also noticed how sad he looks with and without the makeup. It was also making me sad that he was never smiling on the skit, especially as a clown, he should be always smiling. Maybe the reason he was not smiling is because, he probably does comedy that way (some comedians like actor Ben Stein do comedy without smiling because some people around the world think they look funny on television without smiling, instead those actors act serious which make them very popular).
afriendofbean 3 years ago
He looks more thoughtful than sad. Maybe that's why he likes being in clown mode, doesn't want to make people unhappy unintentionally.
PandaMishima 2 years ago
He was on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
IbePiglet 4 years ago
I would've had Dennis start the clip by saying, "Although it's my job to make people laugh, some people are afraid of clowns and don't know that we're regular people too." Then near the end I'd have him say, "Hi, my name is Dennis Allen. As you can see my face looks different without my make-up on. Of the two faces, which is your favorite?" Then in the Split-screen, I'd have Plain Dennis say, "Personally, I like them both." with Clown Dennis replying "Yeah, that goes double for me, Dennis."
patrickballoonman 4 years ago
Yes, I love your idea. Your idea sounds a lot better than the director who directed this skit because the director of this skit didn't do a good job making it fun to watch. On this skit, Dennis Allen looks both sad or angry after he removes his make-up, and it also makes me sad to see his sad or angry face when he should be happy like a clown. I'm sure if you were the director of this skit, I would love to watch this skit over and over again, and I'm sure I will never get tired of watching it
afriendofbean 3 years ago 4
I like your idea. To me, that's how Mr. Rogers would have done it. He was great at pointing out that seemingly scary things weren't so scary after all.
baarbear 3 years ago
I still think your idea is great. Also, the other thing I would also add is that, after they showed the split screen with Plain Dennis and Clown Dennis, they showed a single screen of Clown Dennis looking at the audience and I would include in that spot with Clown Dennis saying "bye kids, and never have any fear of clowns including myself since clowns like me will make you laugh and they will be very nice to give you a sticker and/or a balloon, even I do."
afriendofbean 1 year ago
That Dennis Allen. Wasn't he something?
patrickballoonman 4 years ago
this clip terrified me so badly as a child that I was banned from watching sesame street for a short period. I am a lot better watching it now! =)
muffetandspider 4 years ago
I have NEVER understood the deathly fear so many people have of clowns. Why clowns? It never made sense to me! As a kid, I never thought clowns were particularly funny but I was never afraid of them.
mstatz 4 years ago
well, it's not a fear of clowns, I am ok with clowns. Some of my best friends are clowns! (no kidding!)
Just this clown. I think it's because he never smiles once, and the surrealness of the backward motion was way too much for my little brain. Plus, the guy at the end isn't so friendly looking.
muffetandspider 4 years ago
Me neither! I remember one time waiting for the bus at night, a man dressed like a clown was waiting in the bus stop shed; then a woman, her friend and a little girl, assumable one of the women's daughter walked towards the stop; it was dark too. All of a sudden i heard "AAAH, A CLOWN" I involuntarily burst out laughing and I couldn't stop; I laughed till my stomach hurt!
Brinah 4 years ago
IMO, it's the white makeup. Deathly white faces scare the bejeezus out of me. On a deeper level, it's the sense that they must be hiding something really eeeeevil underneath all that makeup and forced jollity.
camolanphy 2 years ago
but what i wonder is y they wear makeup
steventean 1 year ago
I got freaked out by a lot of Sesame Street skits, so I totally know where you're coming from, but this one never freaked me out for some reason.
I was more freaked out by that rubber band face creature that would count numbers as balls shot past his lips and what not.
A550RGY 4 years ago 2
Yes, that was creepy, especially the sounds they used with it!
thezaylady 3 years ago
Yes! They were cold, computer-like sounds as if being transmitted from a doomed astronaut in deep space...
A550RGY 3 years ago
Ahaha.
KraZvEgGyBuRgEr 4 years ago
I grew up in Detroit, and they would play this same piece of music in between Three Stooges shorts back in the 1980's. I always wondered what the title was. Does anyody know if there is a website dedicated to Capitol Media Music? R.I.P. Dennis Allen.
Stevedup 3 years ago
That clown music comes from "Capitol Media Music" series.
soniclab 4 years ago
Thanks for the info. You didn't happen to get a name to go along with the source, by any chance?
aman1016 4 years ago
Once I heard that from a 7inch promo single of "Capitol Media Music Release No7". And also i have a lot of R/R tape of this series (called capitol Hi-Q series) and did not find this track yet.
soniclab 4 years ago
OMG I DID A PARODY OF THIS w my BROTHER and used strange sounds and in end mine the took off his arms and legs and stuff and turned to a big goop with out his body which you like best BOP BOP ME TOO bum bum BOP BOP
cootmaster 4 years ago
Who was this person?
lion371 4 years ago
all i did was watch this one (just curious) once last year and i found by doing this clip backward, i found this one disturbing!
splotchwork5000 4 years ago
Tesu,it's still a great show. I sometimes watch it in the morning ,just to hear rhe theme song,even if they modernized it,the magic is still there
Jamo1973 4 years ago
"Which do you like best?" Wow. After all these years, I still remember his deadpan reply...
Ah, SS...you were a gem of a show!
tesubcalle 4 years ago
Well, he looked a decent guy without the makeup, maybe he just liked being a clown.
PandaMishima 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this one. I love that crazy music!
Pikachurules 5 years ago
I remember this one very very very well. My sister and I used to giggle like crazy. We wanted to put that makeup on and be clowns. :)
rcktmanil 5 years ago
This video used to scare me big time. It wasn't the vidoo that scared me,really,but the music, and Stace,I agree with you,he looked better with the makeup on. The troubador suit he wore was a bit funy though
Jamo1973 5 years ago
this skit was a bit scary to me when i was little but the weird thing is i don't have a fear of clowns, it is probably the way the guy looked without the makeup that scared me, lol!
StaceSesame 5 years ago
That clown music is the same music used in Who Framed Roger Rabbit in the first R.K. Maroon's office scene
tpirman1982 5 years ago
Exactly! lol
Brinah 5 years ago
It's part of a production music library, just don't ask me which one. I've heard it used in a few TV toy ads in the 1970's including STRECH ARMSTRONG. Unfortunately, the only way to find out the name of this cue is to do a HUGE amount of research and listening to clips on production cue websites.
aman1016 5 years ago
Anyone know who this is? and yes I agree with daria about the clown phobia. I noticed this guys makeup is similar to Ronald McDonald's
werewolfantipaladin 5 years ago
Dennis Allen. Larynxa posted it a while back, and that posting has more information.
bennyraven 5 years ago
Dennis Allen was really skilled at knockabout physical comedy. He appeared on "Laugh-In" for a while. Sadly, he died a few years ago.
Larynxa 5 years ago
Yeah he was funny unfortuantely he died of lung cancer in 1995.
KPCarter2000 4 years ago