Even though the history of clowns dates back to 2400 BC, during the Fifth dynasty of Egypt, clowns didn’t become mainstream until the early 1800’s after English actor and comedian Joseph Grimaldi created the traditional white faced make-up design. The clown image later became synonymous with circuses when Englishman John Bill Ricketts brought the first modern circus to the United States in 1792. Since then, clowns have become a part of American culture, being major draws for circuses such as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey.