Circus clown of George M. Cohan. He was also one of the main models for "Uncle Sam". With changes in circus and popular culture after the Civil War, his legendary talents under the big top have gradually slipped into almost total historical obscurity; biographer David Carlyon (2001) called him "the most famous man you've never heard of". While Dan Rice's talking and singing clown was taking America by storm, a new type of clown was emerging on the British pantomime stage, one that would have a more lasting influence on contemporary American circus clowning. George Lafayette Fox was America's first great "whiteface"
The Family Circus the run of the strip. Bil (named Steve in the early years of the strip) works in an office, and he is believed to be a cartoonist, most likely based on the writer of the strip because he draws big circles on paper, presumably a cartoon version of the "Family Circus". Some early panels referred to Bil as a veteran of World War II. Thel is a college-educated homemaker. The "Los Angeles Times" ran a feature article on the Thelma character when Keane updated her hairstyle in 1996. The oldest child is 7-year-old Billy. A recurring theme involves Billy as