For one circus family who stopped, the show isn't just a performance, it's a way of life.

The media has been portraying clowns in some of the most evil, murderous ways for decades. And viewers seem to be loving it.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Clowns in American circuses were once considered a form of adult entertainment. ArtMarie/E+ via Getty Images The scary clown has ...

Postdoctoral fellow of history Madeline Steiner writes for The Conversation on the origins of the modern creepy clown. The scary clown has become a horror staple. Featuring Art the Clown as the main ...