ROCHESTER — It’s enough to make a clown cry.
Randy Munson, of Rochester, has been clowning for more than five decades, a gig that has taken him all over the world. As the polka-dotted, red-nosed “Circles the Clown, ” Munson has performed at the White House and at Minnesota Vikings games, at Disneyworld and Disneyland, on all the major networks and in all 50 states.
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If ever there was someone who knew what they wanted to be when they grew up, it was Munson, or Circles. Even before kindergarten, he felt a clown's calling to create laughter and giggles, to amuse and entertain.
As a crowning achievement to his clowning career, Munson was recently honored as the No. 1 White-face Clown by the World Clown Association.
But the later third of Munson’s clowning career has coincided with a time when the number of clowns has plummeted to a point where the red-nosed buffoons have become an endangered species. And it’s not a mystery why.
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Randall Munson shows off his rare Knucklehead ventriloquist dummy while at his home in Rochester on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin
The image of clowns has taken a beating, hijacked by books and Hollywood movies, such as Stephen King’s “It,” which depict clowns scary and frightening. Serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who performed as “Pogo” the clown, didn’t help matters.
Munson recalled leaving his hotel room one time in full clown regalia and seeing a teenager at the end of the hallway. Circles started walking toward the boy.
“I know you’re probably fine,” the frightened boy said as a way of explanation, before running away. It was a stark contrast to the gravitational pull Munson had known clowns to have on children, to the hugs and handshakes that customarily greeted his presence.
Yet Munson, 75, has resisted packing up his rubber chickens, his ventriloquist's doll and his puffy red ears for good and calling it a career for a simple reason.
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“The world needs clowns — funny clowns,” Munson said.
And so Munson persists in his clowning, to help restore and revive what clowns used to be.
Clowns have been an enduring staple of human history. Their origins can be traced back thousands of years to various cultures, including Egypt, where pygmy clowns entertained pharaohs, and ancient China, where the jester mocked the emperor. They served as court jesters in medieval Europe and offered comedic relief in circuses.
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Randall Munson shows old photographs of himself dressed as Circles while at his home in Rochester on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin
In his own career, Munson has seen the almost-magical effects and healing power of clowns. Munson recalled years ago visiting children at Mayo Clinic. After he had performed and was ready to leave, a nurse pulled him aside and asked if would see “one more little boy.”
She led him to a restricted ward where Munson found a boy lying in his hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. Munson started making balloon animals and doing magic tricks, to little avail. The boy just stared up in a comatose state.
On the other side of the room was a girl patient who was in traction due to a car accident. He crossed over to her to try to cheer her up. Here, he was having more success. The girl was laughing. Then he heard a voice.
“Hey clown, come back here.” It was the boy who had been unresponsive to Munson’s antics. Soon, Munson was running through his arsenal of tricks and before he left, the boy was “literally jumping up and down, laughing in his bed.”
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Munson also worked at IBM, where, at the unveiling of the AS/400 computer, he made it magically appear on stage in a flash of light. He is also a public speaker.
Late last week, Munson was packing in preparation for a performance at Howard Lake. His clowning paraphernalia was scattered about the living room. When he prepares for a show, Munson references a burgeoning index file where he has a card for every magic trick and puppet in his repertoire.
At the height of his career, Munson performed at parades, stage shows and birthday parties at least once a week. Now he does just a few a year.
But while his pace has slowed, there are no plans for Circles to exit stage left. Retirement is not in Circle’s lexicon.
“I still love it,” Munson said. “It’s kind of an extension of me.”
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Randall Munson, also known as "Circles the Clown," poses for a picture with Elmo Farkwart, one of his many puppets while at his home in Rochester on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin
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Various clown memorabilia and medals are pictured in the home of Randall Munson, who also known as "Circles the Clown," on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 in Rochester.
Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin
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Randall Munson's license plate which reads "I CLOWN" is pictured at his home in Rochester on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin
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Randall Munson's "Circle the Clown" costume is pictured at Munson's home in Rochester on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Sophia Marschall / Post Bulletin
Matthew Stolle
By Matthew Stolle
Matthew Stolle has been a Post Bulletin reporter since 2000 and covered many of the beats that make up a newsroom. In his first several years, he covered K-12 education and higher education in Rochester before shifting to politics. He has also been a features writer. Today, Matt jumps from beat to beat, depending on what his editor and the Rochester area are producing in terms of news. Readers can reach Matthew at 507-281-7415 or mstolle@postbulletin.com.