Difference between revisions of "Lou Jacobs"

Revision as of 09:10, 19 January 2009

Clown

By Dominique Jando

Lou Jacobs (1951)

At school, young Ludwig demonstrated great skill in gymnastics. Moreover, he had a taste for show business. Following WWI, his father began to train him in basic acrobatics, barrel-jumpingAct in which an acrobat jumps from inside a barrel to inside another barrel, often placed at different levels. (a specialty rarely seen today, but quite popular then, especially in Germany and Russia), and—since Ludwig had a natural ability for it—contortion. By then, Jacobs had already made his debut in show business: in 1910, at age seven, he appeared on stage as the rear end of an alligator, a costume whose front end was animated by his elder brother, Karl.

The economic situation in Germany was abysmal after the first World War. In 1923, Jacobs followed his brother to the United States. There, he found employment as an acrobat, working with a father-and-son comedy acrobatic act in which he played the straight man. Then, in late 1924, he teamed up in another comedy act with a contortionist named Davis, who had signed a contract with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey for the 1925 season.

Jacobs, who had by then Anglicized his name to Lou, made his debut with The Greatest Show On Earth in 1925. There he discovered that his vocation was clowning. In 1926, he became one of the dozens of clowns appearing in the show. Jacobs found himself in good company: among the other clowns was Felix Adler. (Later, Jacobs would be joined in the show by another great German-born clownGeneric term for all clowns and augustes. '''Specific:''' In Europe, the elegant, whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team., Otto Griebling, and by Emmett Kelly.)

Jacobs's makeup was inspired by Albert Fratellini, one of the celebrated Fratellinis. A trio of extremely talented clowns, the Fratellinis were Europe's greatest circus stars. Originally, Jacobs applied his makeup on a white base (which explains why, in many circus writings, he is often referred to as a "whiteface" clownGeneric term for all clowns and augustes. '''Specific:''' In Europe, the elegant, whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team.). In later years, however, his makeup became closer to the Fratellini original, with a flesh-colored base. His distinctive and efficient makeup, along with Jacobs's oversized and colorful costume (which he wore over his 6'11" frame) made him easily recognizable in the vast expanses of the Ringling's giant big topThe circus tent. America: The main tent of a traveling circus, where the show is performed, as opposed to the other tops. (French, Russian: Chapiteau) (and later, in sport arenas).

Jacobs's clown face eventually became an iconic image for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's advertising; in 1956, it even appeared on a U.S. postage stamp celebrating the circus.

Unlike many of his fellow clowns, Jacobs's created his own gags, for which he had an unbridled imagination. He can be seen in Cecil B. DeMille's film The Greatest Show On Earth (1952), parading on the hippodrome track in his famous self-propelled bathtub. For the same movie, Jacobs helped Jimmy Stewart develop his character of Buttons the Clown. Jacobs's two best-remembered routines were a hunting scene in which his chihuahua, Knucklehead (later replaced by PeeWee), played a mischievous rabbit, and the 2x3-foot midget car into which the former contortionist squeezed all of his 6'1" body.

Jacobs married Jean Rockwell, a former Ringling showgirl, in 1953. They had two daughters: Lou Ann, who became an aerialistAny acrobat working above the ring on an aerial equipment such as trapeze, Roman Rings, Spanish web, etc. and an elephant trainer, and Dolly Jean, an aerialistAny acrobat working above the ring on an aerial equipment such as trapeze, Roman Rings, Spanish web, etc. who became one of America's greatest circus stars, eventually creating Circus Sarasota with her husband, Pedro Reis.

At the end of the 1985 season, Jacobs retired from performing. He was then 82 years old, and his health was beginning to fail. He remained active, however. He had been a Master Teacher at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College since its inception in 1968, a position he held until 1991. He was, by all accounts, the college's most revered faculty member for all of the twenty-three years he taught there.

In 1987, Kenneth Feld presented Jacobs with a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The following year, Jacobs saw his star on Sarasota's Circus Ring of Fame unveiled. In 1989, he was inducted into both the Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, Indiana, and the newly formed Clown Hall of Fame in Delavan, Wisconsin.

Lou Jacobs died of heart failure on September 13, 1992, in his hometown of Sarasota, Florida. He was 89 years old.

Image Gallery

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  Lou Jacobs (1951)

• Lou Jacobs Ringling advertisement 1963.jpg

  Lou Jacobs, Ringling Advertisement (1963)

See Also

• Biography: Dolly Jacobs