Keeping with the circus theme in my previous post, I thought it was high time you also met Curly the Clown. (He too has been a draft post for more than a year.)
This post also doubles as last week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgia post.
This sign is just rusting away alongside the Historic National Road (U.S. 40) in Seelyville, Indiana. I pass this iconic piece of Americana everyday on my way to work in Terre Haute.
When searching the Net to find out more about this once animated ice cream sign I found out that he is just like the original Dairy Queen sign. I’m not sure if the ice cream shop years ago in Seelyville purchased Curly the Clown from Dairy Queen, then painted their own business name on the sundae container … or maybe Circus Conies & Cones custom ordered the same sign as Dairy Queen from the same sign company.
Anywho … The original Dairy Queen version also waved and a bulb in the ice cream cone would light up at night.
Sheila T Illustrated© 
I’d have me a circus sundae but would have to pass on the circus elephants, although they were well photographed 🙂
A real taste of circus fair is rare in these parts. I have only experienced one under a big top in my lifetime. Thanks for the compliment, Mike.
Oh, I love this..
Thanks, Rob. Wouldn’t it be cool if he was restored to again wave and light at night!!
Actually, the light was behind the clown’s hand (not in the curl of the ice cream). The arm moved up and down and when the light was on, it indicated that the stand was open. The sign was most definitely built as a Dairy Queen sign. This was their short-lived Curly the Clown figure. More about these signs here:
http://www.roadarch.com/eateries/dq.html
Thanks for the info roadsidenut