He’s Back…Fleebus Cleared for Autumn Leaf Parade

| September 18, 2017

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Fleebus (aka Fred Anderson of New Bethlehem) and his imaginary dog, Killer, will officially be back this year for the 64th annual Autumn Leaf Festival Parade on Saturday, October 7.

The Clarion Chamber of Business and Industry banned clowns from last year’s parade because of a nationwide fear of clowns that dominated media reports.  Just to be safe, the chamber banned clowns, but Fleebus decided to march on his own.
           
“We don’t really have anything against clowns,” said Chamber Executive Tracy Becker, “but we really need everyone in the parade to register as part of security and even Homeland Security guidelines.”

Anderson, 81, said he understands and will register this year, but most people welcome his visits, and he knows enough to stay away from people who fear clowns. Fleebus, who has appeared in ALF parades since 1990, ignored last year’s ban and marched on his own.

The fear of clowns may again raise its ugly head after last week’s release of a movie version of Steven King’s “It” that features an evil clown named Pennywise. While the horror movie set box office records, there’s really no confusing Fleebus with Pennywise, even if there are random red balloons emerging from storm drains.

“I got absolutely no negative feedback after last year, but lots and lots of positive feedback,” said Anderson. 

“People from other states that I didn’t even know sent me praise.  It must have gone viral. Once it’s on the internet, who knows where it goes?”

Anderson is quick to point out that last year’s “controversy” about evil clown reports turned out to be much ado about nothing.

“You know, all of the publicity that came out and they never arrested anybody and they never caught anybody that I have heard of, and it was just a big hoopla. When they showed the Penn State students running crazy, they never caught anybody.”

Fleebus looks like a traditional clown from a circus with decades of experience putting on the traditional makeup and clown suit.  This year he even has a new tie with his ensemble.

“I got a new tie at a clown store down in Pittsburgh on the back street of the Strip District,” said Anderson.  “My old one was just a plain tie with different colors. This one is red and a big bow tie. It’s pretty classy.”

In terms of the reputation of Fleebus, Anderson thinks he has earned it.

“I have a good reputation because they see how I react with the kids,” said Anderson.  “Grownups get involved at parades, but just walking down the streets they ignore me.  A lot of older men will say, ‘Hey bring your dog over here.’ There’s always the college kid who wants me to sneak behind someone and tap her on the shoulder.”

Anderson doesn’t fulfill those requests because “it’s the wrong thing to do, and she’s likely to turn around and whack me one.”

He is also aware a few people are afraid of clowns, and he does his best to avoid those people.

“There was a little old lady sitting at a celebration, and she saw me coming, and I could see the scowl on her face,” said Anderson. 

“I asked if she is afraid of clowns, and she said ‘yes,’ so I got out of there. I just kept away from her. The ones I encounter at a parade usually put their hand up to stop, and I just circle around them.”

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“Men especially will avoid eye contact on the street.  If you’re walking down the sidewalk, they will look away in the other direction. The kids come up to you and want a hug, or they want to pet the dog, blow your horn, or squeeze your nose. You can’t let them squeeze your nose, or they might pull it off.  The glue will only hold so much.”

The name Fleebus goes back to before he was married after he got out of the service and lived in Clearfield.

“A bunch of us went to the movie once, and they had the cartoons.  They had this cartoon about Fleebus, and it had to be the dumbest cartoon you ever saw.  All this guy would do is walk down the street and wave and say ‘Hi gang’ and they would wave back and say ‘Hi Fleebus.’ So, when I would walk down the street after this or go to the gas station, the guys would be in front of the gas station and go ‘Hi Fleebus,’ and I would say ‘Hi Gang’ to them.  This went on for years.”

Fleebus is busy this year, already appearing at the First Clarview and Country Springs Family Fun Day, Kellersburg Labor Day Parade for the fourth time, and the annual Peanut Butter Festival Parade.

Next on his list is the Autumn Leaf Festival, possibly an appearance at the Brick House Festival in Oak Ridge, and a Christmas parade.


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