Club de Payasos

Oscar “Oskarin” Corona, left, puts on his clown shoes while fellow clowns put on makeup. Oskarin says even when he is old and his joints creak like worn stairs from a lifetime of hard work, he still would be a clown. ¿If I could do a party with a walker,¿ says the 41-year-old, who speaks only Spanish, ¿then I would.¿   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Mayra “Zafiro” Ortiz, foreground, paints the face of Jonathan Hernandez, 4, while Oscar “Oskarin” Corona paints another guest’s face at a birthday party for 1-year-old Miguelito Escamilla in South Gate.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Mayra “Zafiro” Ortiz, left, and Oscar “Oskarin” Corona entertain the guests.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The two clowns finish their weekend work. The club was founded in 1985 so owner Carlos Clemente could network with other clowns.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)