Posted 9/26/00
Patches keeps clowning around for 25 years
By Jon Tatting
Dennis Mack feels more comfortable with make-up on his face. After all, it's part of his job.
Mack, better known as Patches the Clown, is celebrating 25 years in the clowning business, which has painted many smiles - from young and old - on people's faces at local parades, hospitals, banquets and church functions.
The Isanti Rodeo/Jubilee Days parade, for instance, is seldom held without him.
In the style of mime artist and hero Emmett Kelly Sr., Patches takes on the tramp role of clowning. Though his painted frown, unstable looking swing bike and mess of damaged bicycle parts may look a bit depressing, it remains a hit with audiences.
"By my sadness, I create laughter," said Mack of his expectations.
Still, after a quarter century of playing the sad clown, Patches has no plans of hanging up the grease, face paint.
"When Patches gives up, that's when you'll bury me. I'm addicted," said Mack, who at age 66, lives in Athens Township in southern Isanti County.
Mack, a Watertown, S.D., native, began his road to clowning during a shot at high school drama. Thus began an interest in portraying comedic relief.
Continuing on through the college level in Sioux Falls, Mack, standing at just over five-foot three inches, recalls playing a character with a nonverbal role - a cello-playing Elvis in the style of mime.
"I was petrified most of the time," he said of his first performance, at age 22, before 300 people at a variety show. "I'm the mini-size of Elvis. I did the shake to ëBlue Suede Shoes' and ëHeart Break Hotel.'"
The idea of clowning sprouted from a church Halloween party 25 years ago in Coon Rapids, MN. Unsure of what to dress up as, Mack and his wife, Mary, eventually found their threads...and for Mack, a calling.
After finding an old, black suit, he stitched various colored patches over the outfit. Still not satisfied, he applied ash from burnt wood to create a five o'clock shadow, red lipstick and Vaseline covered with baby powder upon his face.
Mack went on to win a tiny first place trophy at the party for his efforts. And though the crude make-up created quite a mess, he remembers, Patches was born.
"I don't even let my grandkids touch it," Mack said of his first trophy. "This guy (Patches) is my pride and joy. It gave me direction in where to go."
And once his clowning performance began, so did his celebrity status. In fact, a newspaperman, so intrigued by Mack, orchestrated a front-page spread featuring Patches the Clown.
Mack, surprised by the front-page attention, let his newfound prominence sink in.
"Dad, you're a celebrity," he remembers one of his kids telling him after seeing the newspaper. Dennis and Mary, celebrating 38 years of marriage, have eight children.
And it's perhaps his unselfish outlook on life that keeps Patches in demand.
Mack has to regularly keep his mini, portable calendar handy while fulfilling time to the Foster Grandparent Program with Lutheran Brotherhood, as a senior companion with Catholic Charities and a Hospice volunteer.
Even without the grease paint, he continues to make a difference to all ages. "I do it cause I enjoy people," he said. "I'm here to help you."
Mack is also sympathetic to those kids - during visits to schools and shelters - who have never seen a clown. Upon such visits, he'll arrive in street clothes, talk with the kids and gradually transform himself into Patches the Clown.
"I'll ask kids if they want to see," Mack said before applying the make-up. "I'll open up my suitcase and they're almost on top of ya."
Patches merchandise
While Patches enjoys bringing smiles to faces, he has also grown a bit frustrated with those who continue to steal his character - literally.
After falling victim to stolen wigs, threads from his suit and the official ëPatches the Clown' sign from his car, Mack now offers T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets with the Patches character on them.
Below is a list of his merchandise. Interested consumers can reach Mack at 763-444-4371.
- Jacket, small through X-large, $50.
- Adult T-shirts, all sizes, $13.50; XX-large, $15.
- Adult sweatshirts, all sizes, $18.50; XX-large, $20.
- Youth T-shirts, sizes 6-8, 10-12 and 14-16, $12.50.
- Youth sweatshirts, above sizes, $17.50.