TP_304804_ALLE_circus_02
WILLIE J. ALLEN JR., Times
(04/19/2009 Tampa) .Tampa Egypt Shrine clown John "Nickles" Spraigue carries his granddaughter Silvie Fiske, 2 during a circus performance intermission on Sunday at the Shriner Circus on Dale Mabry. Spraigue and 16 other clowns performed from Thursday through Sunday in 18 shows. Spraigue a Shriner for 33 years has played Nickels the clown for the last 9 years. "When you're a clown the kids love you." said Spraigue when asked why he became a Shriner clown. [WILLIE J. ALLEN JR., Times].
![WILLIE J. ALLEN JR., Times<br />
(04/19/2009 Tampa) .Tampa Egypt Shrine clown John "Nickles" Spraigue carries his granddaughter Silvie Fiske, 2 during a circus performance intermission on Sunday at the Shriner Circus on Dale Mabry. Spraigue and 16 other clowns performed from Thursday through Sunday in 18 shows. Spraigue a Shriner for 33 years has played Nickels the clown for the last 9 years. "When you're a clown the kids love you." said Spraigue when asked why he became a Shriner clown. [WILLIE J. ALLEN JR., Times].](https://www.williejallenjr.com/img-get2/I0000kw0nwCY2SDE/fit=1000x750/Shriner-clowns.jpg)
