• Clowns brighten Sunday church service in London, remembering one of their own

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Clowns in full costume sing during the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Clowns attend the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church service in memory of Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837), the most celebrated English clown who was born in London. The service has been an annual tradition since 1946 with the attending clowns usually performing for the public afterwards.

    -- Getty Images

     

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    A clown carries a cake during the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Clowns in full costume attend the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Clowns in full costume attend the annual Clowns Church Service at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston on Feb. 3, in London, England.

    Karel Prinsloo / EPA

    A clown hugs a woman as they attend a service at the Holy Trinity Church in London, Britain, on Feb 3.

     

  • Clown doctors bring levity to serious situations

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    Professional performers 'Doctor E.K.' and 'Dr. Mafalda,' members of the Red Noses clown doctors, perform in the pediatric clinic in Novo Mesto, Slovenia on Nov. 7.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    'Doctor Sfrckljana' performs with a doll in a clinic for infectious diseases in Ljubljana on Nov. 7.

    Since 2004 15 clown doctors, inspired by the U.S. Doctor 'Patch' Adams, visit different hospitals throughout Slovenia 2-3 times a week, using laughter to help aid the recovery of young and elderly patients suffering from serious illness or injury.

    Editor's note: Reuters made these pictures available to NBC News on Nov. 20.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    Members of the Red Noses clown doctors on Nov. 7.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    'Doctor E.K.' performs in the pediatric clinic in Novo Mesto, on Nov. 7.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    'Doctor Obizek Cvilka' and 'Doctor Zena' perform at a home for the elderly in Ljubljana on Nov. 19.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    'Doctor Mally' dances with a nurse as an elderly patient watches at a care home in Izola, on Nov. 16.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    'Doctor Zivalski' shows a mirror to an elderly woman as he performs at a care home in Izola, on Nov. 13.

    Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

    'Doctor Zen' sings to boys in the hospital for disabled youth in Stara Gora on Nov. 5.

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  • Camp aims to lift clown frowns during slow economy

    Grant Hindsley / AP

    Julie Varholdt, or "Lovely Buttons" the clown, teaches a course on how clowns can entertain with everyday objects in a pinch at the third annual Clown Campin' in Ontario, Calif. All photos taken on July 31, 2012 and made available to NBC News on August 14, 2012.

    The Associated Press reports from Ontario, Calif. — Even when she's not in character, Julie Varholdt acts like a buffoon.

    Bring up professional clowning, however, and the mother of three decked out in cartoon-sized purple buttons, a red straw hat and oversized shoes grows serious — and even sheds a few real tears.

    "Clowning is an art, it is an ancient art," said Varholdt, whose grandfather was a clown. "You can't just pull on a wig and slap a watermelon smile on and — 'Poof!' — you're a clown. Unfortunately, we see it a lot." Read the full story.

    Grant Hindsley / AP

    Clown shoes are for sale at Jose Morales's, or "Cascarita" the clown's table in the dealer room at the third annual Clown Campin' in Ontario, Calif. The week long event is held for clowns across the United States and Canada to learn, get inspired, and network.

    Grant Hindsley / AP

    Bob Neil, aka "Kiwi" the clown, gestures after making the finishing touches on his costume.

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  • Hungarians find a creative way to protest

    Zsolt Szigetvary / EPA

    A woman wears a mask during a demonstration of Hungarian police officers, firemen and prison guards near the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary on June 16. Thousands of Hungarian police and firefighters protested against government plans to end early retirement, while unions disrupted traffic with a convoy of cars driving around the center of the Hungarian capital. Under the banner "Clowns' Revolution" a ballot box was set up near the parliament building, where people could "take back" votes they cast for Prime Minister Viktor Orban's conservative party Fidesz in elections last year.

    Imre Foldi / EPA

    Participants wear masks or clown outfits during a demonstration of Hungarian police officers, firemen and prison guards.

    By Chris A Wilson

    With lots of protests and riots happening recently all over the world, seeing protesters dressing up and getting creative came as a pleasant surprise.

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  • Tomas Bravo / Reuters

    Bombon Dulcito, a policemen dressed as clown, plays with a balloon as he waits for his partner outside the police headquarters of the municipality of San Nicolas de los Garza, neighboring Monterrey January 19, 2011. Amid jokes and laughter, two Mexican police officers dressed as clowns hope to instill values into the children of the country's richest city at a time when drug cartels have forced escalated violence and recruit more and more young assassins every day. Officers Tomas and Alexandro put on makeup for 40 minutes every day to portray Bombon Dulcito (Marshmallow) and Trompetillas (Little Trumpets) in a laudable and uncommon initiative in a country where police are constantly accused of corruption and of being infiltrated by drug traffickers.

    Mexican police officers dress as clowns to instill values into children

    By Jim Seida

    I've never been afraid of clowns...until now.