BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — This week’s look back into our archives takes us to a "circus-like event" full of clowning around.

It’s February 1977 and our news crew is at the Jaffa Mosque in Altoona where clowns are performing for judges.

We got help from the current Jaffa Calliope Clowns to explain.

They tell us it’s called the Clown-O-Rama.

It’s an annual competition among Shriner clowns in the mid-Atlantic states.

Different cities take turns hosting the event.

Each clown is given a number then makes their way around the arena to be inspected by several judges.

They are scored on categories like makeup, skits and gimmicks.

The Calliope Clowns tell us the winners get plaques or trophies, and of course, bragging rights.

One interesting note, they say Altoona will host Clown-O-Rama again in 2026.

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