It is a different world. The dominant face of a clown is of a crazed murderer (e.g. Joker).
Even now, if you look at clown shows from a more innocent time, the vibe has now become creepy because of the world around us.
When I was a youngster, I always loved when the “Banana Man” performed on Captain Kangaroo. Now, I wouldn’t let the banana man within 30 feet of my wife or children).