The History of Jackie Le Claire - "The Children's Clown"

JACKIE LE CLAIRE
Clown - Teacher - Inspirer

JACKIE'S HISTORY

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My first visit to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
in Providence, RI, June 22, 1927 This is also the very first time Jackie's Dad had ever seen him. Jackie's mother stayed at home while his father was on the road with RB&BB to give birth to Jackie. They finally met in 1927 on Jackie's first trip to the circus.

Newspaper articles stating that my mother and father were taking me with Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus for the 1929 season

Felix Adler, Jackie, Jack LeClaire, Sr. and the Pig
Probably about 1930 - 1931 Ringling. Felix was as an Uncle to me. He was with my father when my father met my mother in 1921. They were life long good friends. They had done an act together in vaudville called "Adler & LeClair the Odd Pair".

The Greatest Show On Earth Motion Picture Filmed 1951
Picture released in 1952. I doubled for Cornel Wilde in the first trick he does in the film. I also appeared in the final scene as a clown in my hooped, ruffled costume dancing with my little umbrella, right in the center of all the activity

Clowns from the Orrin Davenport's Winter Circus Dates, Mid 1950's
Back Row: Carl Romig (Irv Romig's father), Dukie Anderson, (head behind him) Carl Marx, Al Ross, Frankie Cain, Jimmy Davidson (tramp) and Jackie Le Claire
Front Row: Bill Alcott (White Face Clown) , Jimmy Armstrong (in the white face clowns lap) and the clown cop is Joe Lewis

As "Richo" the Rich Plain Clown 1957-59
In PR doing all sorts of appearances including neighborhood shows right on front lawns from a Vokswagon Micro Bus. Great experience for me which set me up to be qualified for the "Ambassador of Goodwill" as Ringling's advance clown in the early 60's.

Helping lead the elephants to the circus with
Ringling Bros. & Barnum an Bailey about 1960

Jackie Le Claire Guest Appearance -
Royal Palace Circus Sarasota, FL 1998

"Royal Palace Circus" &
"The Great Sarasota Circus On Tour"
had used my picture on their posters and free children's tickets for their 1998 season. Litterally thousands an thousands of posters were posted and unbelievably millions of free children's tickets distributed throughout the areas that they played. I thought the least I could do was work "meet and greet" during the come in of the show when it played here. I love this one on one working with the children, and as you can see by the photo, they kind of enjoyed me to.

Above photo taken by Jimmy Daniels Piehl who has graciously scanned and e-mailed to me nearly all the other photos I have so far used on these web pages.

Eleven performances, Nov. 4 th to the 14th, and weeks of rehearsals,
but it was a fun show to do. Got the best laugh in the show with the comedy drag making my entrance in the "Come Follow the Band" number on the chorus singing "See the pretty lady toss that baton high. Ain't she a cutie?" Did 9 appearances, 5 costume changes and 4 make up changes. Even did a center stage dance in the "Join the Circus" number. For 72, not bad!!!

Programing and Graphic design