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{{Short description|Austrian cycling champion}}
{{Other people|Joe Jackson}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Refimprove|date=September 2014}}
{{One source|date=January 2021}}
}}
[[Image:Joe Jackson NYWTS.jpg|thumb|Joe Jackson]]
[[Image:Joe Jackson NYWTS.jpg|thumb|Joe Jackson]]


'''Joe Jackson Sr.''' (1873–1942) was born as '''Joseph Francis Jiranek''' in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. He was Austrian [[cycling]] champion and a member of a world champion [[bicycle polo]] team before he became an [[Entertainment|entertainer]].
'''Joe Jackson Sr.''' (born '''Joseph Francis Jiranek'''; 1873–1942) was an Austrian [[cycle sport|cycling]] champion and a member of a world champion [[bicycle polo]] team before he became an [[Entertainment|entertainer]].


Jackson started with a serious bike riding act, and then developed it into a [[comedy]] break. Preferring intimate settings, Jackson worked almost exclusively in [[vaudeville]] and [[Europe]]an [[circus|one-ring circuses]]. His act took him to [[England]], Europe, [[Russia]], [[Siberia]], [[Turkey]], and [[United States of America|the United States]]. He encouraged [[Joe Jackson Jr.|his son]] to take over the act. It was performed by either father or son for over 100 years.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
Born in [[Vienna]], Jackson became a champion racing cyclist at an early age. Later he became a trick bicycle rider and traveled over much of Europe. While appearing at the Crystal Palace in London, the handlebars of his bicycle came off. He waved the handlebars wildly as a gesture of despair. The laughs from the audience brought down the house and it gave Jackson the idea for his famous act. From then on he was a comedian. In all his years on the stage, Jackson did his act in pantomime. Preferring intimate settings, Jackson worked almost exclusively in [[vaudeville]] and European [[circus|one-ring circuses]]. His act took him to England, Europe, Russia, [[Siberia]], Turkey, and the United States. During the New York World's Fair, he appeared in the ''American Jubilee''. Shortly afterward, he opened a restaurant and resort in Bellvale, Greenwood Lake New York, where he made his home. In his late years he devoted most of his time to managing his eatery, making only infrequent stage appearances, mostly in New York, when he felt like it. He was also a capable magician.


He encouraged [[Joe Jackson Jr.|his son]] to take over the act. Junior did the exact routine with every gesture exactly as done by his father. During a recent (to that time) run at the Music Hall, Junior substituted for his father for one performance and nobody knew the difference. Junior carried on the act in Los Angeles with the [[Ice Capades]].<ref name="Billboard">''Billboard'', May 23, 1942</ref>
Following a performance at [[New York City|New York's]] [[Roxy Theatre (New York City)|Roxy Theater]], he took several curtain calls, and then died in the wings. He was inducted into [[International Clown Hall of Fame|The International Clown Hall of Fame]] in 1994.

Following a performance at [[New York City]]'s [[Roxy Theatre (New York City)|Roxy Theater]], on May 16, 1942, he took five curtain calls; he turned to Buck Wheeler, the Roxy stage manager, and said "They're still applauding." Then he walked over to the backstage elevator and, while applause was still being heard, died of a heart attack.<ref name="Billboard" /> He was inducted into [[International Clown Hall of Fame|The International Clown Hall of Fame]] in 1994.

He was married to Maria 'Rialto' Truccot Prols, a former singer, who ran Mother Rialto's tavern in [[Bellvale, New York]] with him and their later daughter-in-law.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Jackson, Joe
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Austrian clown
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1873
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1942
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Joe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Joe}}
[[Category:Austrian clowns]]
[[Category:Circus performers from Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category:1873 births]]
[[Category:1873 births]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to the United States]]

Latest revision as of 14:35, 31 May 2023

Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson Sr. (born Joseph Francis Jiranek; 1873–1942) was an Austrian cycling champion and a member of a world champion bicycle polo team before he became an entertainer.

Born in Vienna, Jackson became a champion racing cyclist at an early age. Later he became a trick bicycle rider and traveled over much of Europe. While appearing at the Crystal Palace in London, the handlebars of his bicycle came off. He waved the handlebars wildly as a gesture of despair. The laughs from the audience brought down the house and it gave Jackson the idea for his famous act. From then on he was a comedian. In all his years on the stage, Jackson did his act in pantomime. Preferring intimate settings, Jackson worked almost exclusively in vaudeville and European one-ring circuses. His act took him to England, Europe, Russia, Siberia, Turkey, and the United States. During the New York World's Fair, he appeared in the American Jubilee. Shortly afterward, he opened a restaurant and resort in Bellvale, Greenwood Lake New York, where he made his home. In his late years he devoted most of his time to managing his eatery, making only infrequent stage appearances, mostly in New York, when he felt like it. He was also a capable magician.

He encouraged his son to take over the act. Junior did the exact routine with every gesture exactly as done by his father. During a recent (to that time) run at the Music Hall, Junior substituted for his father for one performance and nobody knew the difference. Junior carried on the act in Los Angeles with the Ice Capades.[1]

Following a performance at New York City's Roxy Theater, on May 16, 1942, he took five curtain calls; he turned to Buck Wheeler, the Roxy stage manager, and said "They're still applauding." Then he walked over to the backstage elevator and, while applause was still being heard, died of a heart attack.[1] He was inducted into The International Clown Hall of Fame in 1994.

He was married to Maria 'Rialto' Truccot Prols, a former singer, who ran Mother Rialto's tavern in Bellvale, New York with him and their later daughter-in-law.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Billboard, May 23, 1942