This article is about the Swiss clown. Not to be confused with Grok.
Grock (born Charles Adrien Wettach;[1] 10 January 1880 – 14 July 1959) was a Swissclown, composer, and musician. Called “the king of clowns”[2] and “the greatest of Europe's clowns”,[3] Grock was once the most highly paid entertainer in Europe.[2]
Grock was born in Loveresse, a village in the Bernese Jura in the Canton of Bern. He started early as a performer, learning musicianship and acrobatic skills from his father.[4] When a caravan of Roma passed through, he joined them, learning more instruments and gaining confidence with them. In 1894, he debuted with Fiame Wetzel's traveling circus.[4] He became a clown, working first with another performer named Brick in 1903, adopting the name "Grock," and then going on to partner with the famous clown Antonet (Umberto Guillaum).[5] This second act was developed with the aim of making the transition from circus to music hall stages, which were more lucrative. While not initially successful, Antonet and Grock did manage to secure a London engagement in 1911. Refining their performances according to audience response, Grock came to dominate the act, and they eventually split up.
Career and later life
Signature of Grock
Grock with wife, Berlin 1930
Villa Grock in 2007
By 1913, Grock's fame had spread, his act having developed into the mixture of pantomime and musical blunders for which he is now remembered.[5] With the outbreak of World War I, he made Britain his base, remaining there until 1924, when he returned to continental Europe. He performed throughout Europe and in the United States, commanding ever higher fees, and his continuing success enabled him to establish his own circus in 1951, with which he toured until his final performance in Hamburg on 30 October 1954.[6]
He retired to the Villa Bianca (now named "Villa Grock"), a 50-room house he had had built in the 1920s in Imperia, Italy, where he died in 1959.
Media
Some of Grock's performances have been preserved on film. He made the 1927 silent movie What For?, and French and German language versions of Grock in 1931. A biopic, Au revoir, M. Grock (1950), featured Grock as himself,[7] with Adrien Osperi and Ted Rémy playing Grock as a boy and young man, respectively.
In retirement, he made some appearances on Italian television. He also wrote several books, including an autobiography.
Legacy
The Grock d'Or statuette
Grock's career is commemorated with the Grock d'Or, an annual competition for young circus artists which first took place in 2003.[8] This competition has been discontinued since 2008.[citation needed]
"Grock - Seltsamer als die Wahrheit" FilmArts Productions, Zurich (2006) (in German)
Museo del Clown
January 06, 2023
grock, this, article, about, swiss, clown, confused, with, grok, born, charles, adrien, wettach, january, 1880, july, 1959, swiss, clown, composer, musician, called, king, clowns, greatest, europe, clowns, once, most, highly, paid, entertainer, europe, 1903bor. This article is about the Swiss clown Not to be confused with Grok Grock born Charles Adrien Wettach 1 10 January 1880 14 July 1959 was a Swiss clown composer and musician Called the king of clowns 2 and the greatest of Europe s clowns 3 Grock was once the most highly paid entertainer in Europe 2 GrockGrock in 1903BornCharles Adrien Wettach 1880 01 10 10 January 1880Loveresse Canton of BernDied14 July 1959 1959 07 14 aged 79 Imperia ItalyOccupation s Clown music hall performerYears active1890s 1954 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Career and later life 1 3 Media 2 Legacy 3 Filmography 4 Books 5 Notes 6 Additional references 7 External linksBiography EditEarly life Edit Grock was born in Loveresse a village in the Bernese Jura in the Canton of Bern He started early as a performer learning musicianship and acrobatic skills from his father 4 When a caravan of Roma passed through he joined them learning more instruments and gaining confidence with them In 1894 he debuted with Fiame Wetzel s traveling circus 4 He became a clown working first with another performer named Brick in 1903 adopting the name Grock and then going on to partner with the famous clown Antonet Umberto Guillaum 5 This second act was developed with the aim of making the transition from circus to music hall stages which were more lucrative While not initially successful Antonet and Grock did manage to secure a London engagement in 1911 Refining their performances according to audience response Grock came to dominate the act and they eventually split up Career and later life Edit Signature of Grock Grock with wife Berlin 1930 Villa Grock in 2007 By 1913 Grock s fame had spread his act having developed into the mixture of pantomime and musical blunders for which he is now remembered 5 With the outbreak of World War I he made Britain his base remaining there until 1924 when he returned to continental Europe He performed throughout Europe and in the United States commanding ever higher fees and his continuing success enabled him to establish his own circus in 1951 with which he toured until his final performance in Hamburg on 30 October 1954 6 He retired to the Villa Bianca now named Villa Grock a 50 room house he had had built in the 1920s in Imperia Italy where he died in 1959 Media Edit Some of Grock s performances have been preserved on film He made the 1927 silent movie What For and French and German language versions of Grock in 1931 A biopic Au revoir M Grock 1950 featured Grock as himself 7 with Adrien Osperi and Ted Remy playing Grock as a boy and young man respectively In retirement he made some appearances on Italian television He also wrote several books including an autobiography Legacy Edit The Grock d Or statuette Grock s career is commemorated with the Grock d Or an annual competition for young circus artists which first took place in 2003 8 This competition has been discontinued since 2008 citation needed Filmography EditClear the Ring 1950 Books Edit Grock Nit mo o o glich Die Memoiren des Konigs der Clowns autobiography 1956 in German English version Grock King of Clowns 1957 Notes Edit Some sources give this as Karl Adrian Wettach a b Pat Cashin Grock Clown Alley blog August 24 2006 Retrieved April 22 2011 Life on the Newsfronts of the World Google Books Life magazine November 15 1954 Retrieved April 22 2011 a b Frank Cullen Florence Hackman and Donald McNeilly Vaudeville Old amp New Google Books Routledge 2007 pp 462 463 Retrieved April 22 2011 a b Grock Britannica Online Encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 2008 12 20 Wettach Adrien 1957 Grock King of Clowns Methuen p 219 Bullock Alan 1980 The Faces of Europe Phaidon Press p 103 Le 5e Grock d Or part pour Geneve Association Grockland Archived from the original on 2011 10 06 Retrieved 2008 12 20 Additional references EditLaw M D ed 1950 Grock Chambers s Encyclopaedia George Newnes p 600 Grock www steffi line de in German Retrieved 2008 12 20 External links EditGrock News in German Association Grockland in French Grock at IMDb Grock Seltsamer als die Wahrheit FilmArts Productions Zurich 2006 in German Museo del Clown Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grock amp oldid 1131760223, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
