“I Just Wanted To Spread Positivity”: Clown Creates COVID Memorial For Community
Bakersfield, Calif., March 5, 2022. Photo by Mark Armendariz-Gonzales.
Reporting by Mark Armendariz-Gonzales and Zena Taher, video by Mark Armendariz-Gonzales and Zena Taher, photos by Mark Armendariz-Gonzales, editing by Zena Taher, infographics by Zena Taher and Paige Chestnut
On a quiet street in Bakersfield, there is a house that stands out from the others. Sculptures of dinosaurs line the roof. An aviary with over 200 birds inside sits next to the home, in full view of cars passing by. A nose, lips and a pair of eyes have been stuck onto a tree trunk in the front yard.
This is the home of Bo-Bo the Millennium Clown, who declined to give his real name so he could stay in character. He has been performing since he was 14 years old.
“It was 1992,” Bo-Bo said. “I was a freshman in high school… I started doing more and more clowning and I got big contracts.”
So he started making business cards, stamping each one by hand. Eventually, he made enough money to buy professional cards.
That was just the start of his career in performing. Now, 30 years later, Bo-Bo and his family have experienced losses during the pandemic. Restrictions and an economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus made business slow.
“Prior to the pandemic, we were doing shows every weekend, you know, every Saturday and Sunday, and I’m talking like five or six shows on a Saturday back to back,” said Bo-Bo, who declined to give his real name so he could stay in character. “We were affected where we had no shows whatsoever.”
Being unable to perform took a toll on Bo-Bo. Almost overnight, he was unable to pursue his passion.
“I could tell he was really bummed out that he couldn’t go out and do what he loves to do,” said Rosanna Valdez, Bo-Bo’s wife. “Fortunately, he was able to do a little with his nine-to-five Monday through Friday job, but it’s not the same as going out and meeting people, seeing the joy on kids’ faces. It’s what he lives for.”
The decline in business was not the only challenge Bo-Bo and his family faced during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Several of our family members have passed,” Bo-Bo said. “Some have been on ventilators… We’re going to a service this weekend for a family friend.”
After seeing people struggle during the pandemic, Bo-Bo decided he wanted to bring comfort in some way. Because of restrictions, he was unable to help others by performing.
Instead, he decided to use the chain link fence in front of his house as an open memorial to those that had been lost during the pandemic.
of the Valdez family home in Bakersfield, Calif., March 5, 2022. Photo by Mark Armendariz-Gonzales.
Anyone can bring a lock to the home and place it on the fence in memory of a lost loved one at any time. They can take the key with them or leave it on the property.
“I just wanted to spread positivity in the world today, during the hard times,” Bo-Bo said.
Along with his wife and son, Bo-Bo placed the first lock on the gate. Since then, several people have come by and added their own painted locks.
“I think it’s important just for anyone to remember the people that they’ve loved and had the opportunity to live life with,” Bo-Bo said. “Life is short, man, and that’s why I do what I do… I think it’s a great opportunity for people to honor their family and friends and just enjoy life because we’re not promised tomorrow.”