Evil Clown of Middletown
| Evil Clown of Middletown | |
The Evil Clown of Middletown
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 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
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| Coordinates | 40°23′30.2″N 74°5′57″W / 40.391722°N 74.09917°W |
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| Location | Middletown, New Jersey |
| Designer | Leslie Worth Thomas |
| Type | Advertising sign |
| Material | Galvanized steel |
| Height | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Opening date |
January 18, 1956 |
| Restored date | |
January 18, 1956
The Evil Clown of Middletown is a large outdoor sign in Middletown Township, New Jersey. Originally built by and for Food Circus grocery store, which later became known as the regional supermarket Foodtown, it is now a roadside display and de facto advertising sign for a nearby Spirits Liquors. Much of the clown's notoriety stems from its sinister-looking face, which might be described as bearing a vaguely-amused sideways scowl.
It was first constructed in 1956 by Joseph Azzolina originally built to advertise his Food Circus grocery store (the predecessor to today’s Foodtown supermarket chain). In its early years it rotated continuously by electric motor, a then-common ad gimmick that went out of style (or economic practicality) by the mid-1970s or so. The clown has long since been fixed in place.
The clown is the work of Road Ad Sign Company painter Leslie Worth Thomas who also created the mural Tillie, at the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park. One hand of the figure originally held a sort of fool's scepter tipped with a pom-pom or ball; the rod at one point was painted out, with the "ball" now treated as a kind of badge or sign-within-a-sign.
The giant clown’s slyly sinister grin and blood-red tipped index finger have earned it the nickname the "Evil Clown of Middletown" in popular culture. The moniker was perhaps first coined by local author Doug Kirby, of Roadside America fame, who grew up in the area and remembers marveling at the odd icon from an early age.
In 1993, the township began exploring the idea of a major redevelopment in the area where the Clown stands. Dubbed "Middletown Center," it would feature up to 750,000 square feet (70,000 m2) of retail space; 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of office space; 4500 parking spaces, 4 single family homes; 220 townhouses and apartments; and set aside space for a school to be leased to the Township. To date, the project has been delayed numerous times due to public outcry over increased traffic and the destruction of the only open space property in the township.
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