Most of my childhood dolls did not survive. I no longer have any pretty baby dolls or big girl dolls with fancy clothes and shiny hair. When I did get them I combed their hair and chewed off their fingers. (I think I had a vitamin deficiency as a kid!) I guess you could say I was hard on my dolls.

But I do have one doll that has been with me for over 60 years. It’s “Weary Willie,” modeled after Emmett Kelly’s famous clown character. I received the doll for my 12th birthday. I never knew anyone else who had a Willy doll. I had a great fondness for this clown with the sad eyes and perpetual frown, and I still do.

I guess Willie looks pretty good for being 60, what with my track record. He is missing his hat, which I borrowed from Willie to put on the head of the paper mache duck I made in my junior high art class. He (the duck) was lopsided and goofy looking till I put him in Willie’s hat and a black bowtie! I’m not sure what happened to that hat after the duck got through with it. And it looks like the mice got a pretty good taste of Willie’s shoes before they decided to search for food somewhere else. His bald head flops a bit and his hair could use a good wash. But I learned long ago that it doesn’t pay to mess with a doll’s hair.

Anyway, I looked up Emmett Kelly today and learned that he was born in 1898 and spent most of his adult life as a circus clown. His character was  “Weary Willie,” based on a cartoon he had drawn of a Depression era hobo. His son, Emmett Kelly Jr, carried on the tradition as a clown as well. The first video shows Emmett Kelly, Sr. on What’s my Line? and the second one shows Emmett Kelly Jr in a wonderful routine of sweeping up the spotlight. You might also enjoy the Facebook page dedicated to Emmett Kelly, Sr.

How about you? Did you have a favorite doll or toy as you were growing up? Do you still have it?

Would you like to share it with us? You can respond in the comments below and let us know what the toy/doll was and tell us a story about it in a few sentences. Or you can go to the Salt & Pepper Blog page on Facebook and leave your comment there. If you have a photo to share, that would be great!