Dick "Rocko" Lewis
Dick "Rocko" Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Henry Lewis III June 4, 1908 Butte, MT, US |
| Died | October 22, 1966 (aged 58) San Antonio, TX, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Circus clown |
Richard Henry Lewis III (June 4, 1908 – October 22, 1966), better known by his stage name "Rocko," was a circus performer and entertainer who performed as a clown in more than twenty circuses between 1938 and his accidental death during a performance in 1966.
Lewis was born in Butte, Montana.[1] In approximately 1938, Lewis was working odd jobs for the Al G. Barnes Circus when he met Felix Adler, who encouraged Lewis to become a clown.[2] Lewis went on to work with renowned performers such as Adler, Emmett Kelly, and Otto Griebling.[1][2] Lewis performed with the Ringling Bros. Circus, Clyde Beatty and Cole Bros. Circus, Russell Bros. Circus, Ward Bros. Circus, Gil Gray Circus, Polack Circus, Shrine Circus, and others, and served as the resident clown at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1965 and 1966.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Lewis's signature act was the "table rock," a dangerous balancing act where Lewis would rock back and forth atop three stacked card tables before tumbling off in a somersault.[2] Lewis died after falling from the stacked tables and striking his head during a Shrine Circus performance in San Antonio, Texas in 1966.[1][11]
Lewis made uncredited appearances as a clown in various films and television productions including "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952), "Here Come the Girls" (1953), "Ring of Fear" (1954), and "The Clown Who Cried," a 1954 episode of "The Adventures of Superman" in which Lewis performed the table rock as a stunt double.[2][12][13]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Staff Writer (24 October 1966). "Baraboo Circus Favorite 'Rocko the Clown' Dies from Accident Injuries". Newspapers.com. The Capital Times (Madison, WI). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Collins, Joan (9 Aug 1966). "Bringing Laughter to Kids is Rocko's Biggest Aim". Newspapers.com. The Capital Times (Madison, WI). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Staff Writer (1 July 1949). "Laugh, Clown". Newspapers.com. La Grande Observer (La Grande, Oregon). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Staff Writer (21 April 1958). "Circus Opens Tonight With Many New Acts". Newspapers.com. Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield, MO). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Staff Writer (29 June 1950). "Legion Coliseum Show to Feature Clown Act". Newspapers.com. The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Staff Writer (12 April 1945). "Russell Brothers Circus to Present Two Shows Tuesday". Newspapers.com. San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Staff Writer (27 May 1949). "Dick Lewis Famous Toppling-Table Star". Newspapers.com. The News-Review (Roseburg, OR). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Cashin, Pat. "DICK "ROCKO" LEWIS: Circus World (Early 60s)". Pat Cashin's Clown Alley. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Lewis, Dick. "The Art of Clowning". White Tops (Jan-Feb 1966): 3–4. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Cashin, Pat. "DICK "ROCKO" LEWIS: At the CWM". Pat Cashin's Clown Alley. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Staff Writer (23 October 1966). "Circus Clown Suffers Injury". Newspapers.com. The Odessa American (Odessa, TX). Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ "Richard Henry Lewis". IMDb. imdb.com. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Cashin, Pat. "DICK "ROCKO" LEWIS: Meets Superman". Pat Cashin's Clown Alley. Retrieved 18 October 2019.