Are you ready to learn about the demented history of Jack the Clown at Halloween Horror Nights?
In our history as humans, fear has been a big part of our evolution and growth.
We use fear to survive and protect ourselves.
As centuries have passed, one of the things that people have listed as a fear is clowns.
On the surface, they are comics with great talent in costume, bringing joy and laughter to everyone.
Clowns derive from vaudeville events from the golden age of Hollywood and early days of theater.
7.8% of Americans have Coulrophobia, or a fear of clowns, according to a Chapman University Survey.
It is a common phobia that Universal Orlando embraced and crafted a truly sinister and evil icon to draw the curious and fear lovers in.
His name is Jack and today, I will be telling his story at the campfire.
I will go over his backstory and his history with Halloween Horror Nights.
So, enter the fog and read on if you dare.
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The Story of Jack Schmidt AKA Jack the Clown
It is said of Jack,
“Every day was Halloween for Jack Schmidt…
You know that old Halloween story about putting razor blades in apples? Well that wasn’t urban legend. That was Jack.”
Who is Jack the Clown?
Jack Schmdit, along with his brother Eddie, was born in the Shady Brook Rest Home and Sanitorium in the 1800s.
He would later go on to join Dr. Oddfellow’s Carnival of Thrills.
Jack Schmidt escaped from his severely abusive and poor family to join the circus, and he did so in a very literal sense.
Unfortunately, he did leave behind his brother as a consequence.
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Becoming Jack the Clown
As a carnival performer, Jack had a blast entertaining everyone, especially kids, with his silly pranks and goofy falls. But there was way more to Jack than met the eye.
In reality, he was a twisted killer and he was on the run for snatching up kids and making them disappear forever across the south.
Eventually, all signs pointed to the traveling circus. Fast forward to Halloween 1939, and the cops were getting closer to Jack, bit by bit.
The story goes on to say that Jack the Clown finally admitted his horrid secret to Dr. Oddfellow in the hopes that he would protect him.
In fact, the opposite occurred as Oddfellow got extremely upset with him for bringing the authorities onto the carnival.
Dr. Oddfellow versus Jack the Clown
Come to find out, Oddfellow was also sought by law enforcement for “Accidental” fatalities resulting from an unusual incident at the circus years earlier, during which he operated under a different identity.
He insisted that Jack reveal where he stashed the kids’ bodies, uncovering a total of 13 bodies crammed into 3 small trunks buried in his stuff.
To cover his tracks, Oddfellow had Jack taken out.
Oddly enough, Jack didn’t go without a fight as he left a scar on Oddfellow’s face, spilling blood onto Jack.
Jack and his unfortunate victims were showcased in an exhibit, with his body stashed in a jack-in-the-box for good, right after.
Oddfellow sold the carnival and years went by with no one even remembering Jack.
However, as the fight came to an end, the blood from Oddfellow fell onto Jack that made a magical transformation happen on his corpse, giving Jack a bit dark magic and immortality.
Jack ended up being a never-ending nightmare for HHN fans to come after getting picked as a messenger by the demon, Adaru.
Jack the Clown’s Poem of Terror…
His story continues through various scenarios as the Halloween Horror Nights event went on throughout the years but at its core, these were Jack’s beginnings.
And so he is immortalized by this terrifying poem:
His background obscured in the mists of time, Odd indeed that grew into a gourmand of crime.
With an insatiable taste for the bizarre and insane, a wicked sense of humor, a heart full of disdain, for all he encounters who end up the same: Twisted, depraved and never leave the same as they came.
Play this card and you might wish you had not, for you enter his world and unless you forgot, the warnings were there for all to see. His victims are many and no one goes free.
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History of Jack the Clown at Halloween Horror Nights
Jack the Clown made his debut as the first icon with a detailed backstory at Halloween Horror Nights 10 back in 2000.
He was crafted by Michael Aiello, Senior Director of Creative Development and James Keaton, the very first Jack Performer for the event.
Aiello stated that “In every survey they did, clowns were the number one fear for visitors who responded.
The Art & Design team at the time took that thought and the rest they say is history. But nobody knew Jack would become what Jack is now.”
Art and design had the great task ahead of them.
They had to come up with a creepy clown that was unlike anything we usually see in movies. He still needed to be super scary and really make people feel afraid.
“Physicality was all about that makeup, wig, and the nails,” says James Keaton. “The sculpts started real ornate with big cheekbones and chin and these sharp nails. I always carefully place my hands as I think of them as his killing tools.”
The basic vibe was on point with that sharp jawline, colorful face paint, and crazy burnt orange hair.
To finish off Jack’s design, a pair of creepy eyes peeked through the paint while weird teeth formed a chilling grin.
Keaton goes on to say that the teeth helped with the speech but the iconic laugh was all him.
The HHN Jack the Clown character has opened the door for more lore, icons, shows, characters and ultimately helping make the event one of the most premiere in the country.
He also helped take the event to the next level with expansions going to Universal Hollywood, Japan, and Singapore.
Over the years, fans really started to dig him, and his backstory just kept getting bigger and more interesting.
It opened the door for the icons we have come to love today like The Director, Chance and now, Dr. Oddfellow.
Watch: New to Halloween Horror Nights? Don’t Go Without Knowing These 15 Tips!
What does the future hold for Jack the Clown at Halloween Horror Nights?
He recently returned for the 30th year and has been with the event for 20 of them.
It seems that no matter what the future holds, Jack will have a solid place within it, as the honorable first Icon of Fear.
Now it’s your turn, let me know who your favorite Halloween Horror Nights Icon is in the comments section below.
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
Victoria is a professional solo traveler here to make your solo trips as stress free AND enjoyable as possible for you.
She has over 5 years of Disney and Non-Disney travel experience and was featured by POPSUGAR as one of the Top 50 Black Disney Creators you should follow.
She is a Proud Native to Baltimore, Md but always will call Disney World home.
(Original Article Date: September 2023/Updated by Editor on August 3, 2024)