100 WVIA Way
Pittston, PA 18640

Phone: 570-826-6144
Fax: 570-655-1180

Copyright © 2025 WVIA, all rights reserved. WVIA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
In just 10 seconds, YOU can take a stand for WVIA! Tell Congress to Protect Public Media NOW!

Creepy Clowns: The Horror Behind the Laughter

Season 5 Episode 14 | 7m 54s

When did clowns—the characters who filled our childhoods with juggling and balloons—become so creepy? For centuries, clowns have worn two faces: as irreverent entertainers, and tricksters who could break social norms. So when stories of scary clowns pop up all over popular culture, it's a sign that we're wondering who clowns really are behind the costume. Do they want to make us laugh? Or scream?

Aired: 11/21/23
Extras
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?
Latest Episodes
All
  • All
  • Monstrum Season 6
  • Monstrum Season 5
  • Monstrum Season 4
  • Monstrum Season 3
  • Monstrum Season 2
  • Monstrum Season 1
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.
La Lechuza: The Shape-Shifting Witch-Owl
King Kong and how his long-lived story has changed to reflect our society’s complex social issues.
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling?