By Bronwyn Page
From the Archives
For more than six decades, the Kansas State Fair had a heartbeat that wasn’t found in the roar of the midway or the crowds at the grandstand. It lived in a small paint shop tucked near the empty rides, where an old man with wavy white hair and paint-splattered jeans clocked in every morning. JB Holdren Jr., also known as “Bardo the Clown,” was not just a performer. He was the fair’s resident artist, craftsman, historian, and, in many ways, its soul.
Born in El Paso, Texas, in 1919, Holdren moved to Hutchinson young enough to become part of its story. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1937 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, a chapter that shaped his discipline and quiet resilience. After the war, he drifted into the world that would define him: circus and carnival arts. He worked for Fox Studios, Ringling Brothers Circus, Disney, and painted side-show banners, including a show front for famed burlesque performer Sally Rand.
But Hutchinson is where his life settled into its truest form.
Holdren joined the Kansas State Fair workforce and never really left. For over 68 years, he served as the fair’s official clown, though most days he preferred jeans and a work shirt over greasepaint. His circus name, “Bardo,” became a familiar presence to generations of Kansans. He lived year-round on the fairgrounds in a small fifth-wheel trailer, driving his golf cart each morning to the paint shop where his art came alive.
His fingerprints were everywhere: gate signs, circus wagon paintwork, carved figures, carnival fronts, and even the colorful trash barrels that became part of the fair’s visual charm. This “show art,” as he called it, was more than decoration. It was the fair’s personality, whimsical, nostalgic, and unmistakably Bardo. His work blended folk art with carnival tradition, preserving a style of American entertainment that was fading elsewhere.
Despite his clown persona, Holdren was a quiet man. Colleagues described him as gentle, soft-spoken, and unwaveringly dedicated. He rarely missed a day of work. Even in his 90s, he continued painting full-time, preparing for the fair’s 100th anniversary. His final project, a carousel horse he hoped to sell during the centennial, remained unfinished when he passed away on Jan. 1, 2013, at age 93.
His life held sorrow as well. His only son, Jon “Bix” Holdren, died in a motorcycle accident in 1979 at age 24. Yet Bardo kept working, pouring his grief into the colors and carvings that shaped the fairgrounds.
Holdren’s memorial service was held fittingly in the Domestic Arts Building on the fairgrounds—the place he had animated for nearly seven decades. Military honors recognized his service; the community honored his devotion.
Today, Bardo’s legacy remains visible in Hutchinson. His art still adorns the fairgrounds. His name still sparks memories. And his life, lived simply, creatively, and in joy, stands as one of Hutchinson’s most enduring stories.
Bronwyn Page is the director of operations at the Reno County Museum. She can be reached at bronwyn@renocomuseum.org.