Grock
Encyclopedia
Grock born Charles Adrien Wettach, was a Swiss
clown
, composer and musician. Called "the king of clowns" and "the greatest of Europe's clowns", Grock was once the most highly paid entertainer in the world.
, a village in the Bernese Jura
in the Canton of Bern. He started early as a performer, learning musicianship and acrobat
ic skills from his father. 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. He become a clown, working first with Brick in 1903, adopting the name "Grock", and then the famous clown Antonet (Umberto Guillaum). 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.
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. 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 October 30, 1954. Grock described the secret of clowning as follows: "The genius of clowning is transforming the little, everyday annoyances, not only overcoming, but actually transforming them into something strange and terrific… it is the power to extract mirth for millions out of nothing and less than nothing."
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.
, and French and German language versions of Grock in 1931. A biopic, Au revoir, M. Grock (1949), featured Grock as himself, 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 authored several books, including an autobiography.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
, composer and musician. Called "the king of clowns" and "the greatest of Europe's clowns", Grock was once the most highly paid entertainer in the world.
Early life
Grock was born in LoveresseLoveresse
Loveresse is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...
, a village in the Bernese Jura
Bernese Jura
Bernese Jura is the name for the French-speaking area of the Swiss canton of Bern, and from 2010 one of five administrative divisions of the canton....
in the Canton of Bern. He started early as a performer, learning musicianship and acrobat
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
ic skills from his father. 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. He become a clown, working first with Brick in 1903, adopting the name "Grock", and then the famous clown Antonet (Umberto Guillaum). This second act was developed with the aim of making the transition from circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
to music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
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
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he made Britain his base, remaining there until 1924, when he returned to continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. 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 October 30, 1954. Grock described the secret of clowning as follows: "The genius of clowning is transforming the little, everyday annoyances, not only overcoming, but actually transforming them into something strange and terrific… it is the power to extract mirth for millions out of nothing and less than nothing."
He retired to the Villa Bianca (now named "Villa Grock"), a 50-room house he had had built in the 1920s in Imperia, Italy
Imperia
Imperia may be:* Imperia , an Italian city* Province of Imperia, the Italian province of the above city of Imperia* IMPERIA, a vodka produced by Russian Standard* Imperia , a statue in Constance, Germany...
, where he died in 1959.
Media
Some of Grock's performances have been preserved on film. He made the 1927 silent movie What For?What For?
"What For?" is a song performed by Latvian singer Aisha, written by Jānis Lūsēns and Guntars Račs. The song represented Latvia in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, and competed against sixteen other Eurovision entries in the first semi-final on May 25...
, and French and German language versions of Grock in 1931. A biopic, Au revoir, M. Grock (1949), featured Grock as himself, 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 authored several books, including an autobiography.
Legacy
Grock's career is commemorated with the Grock d'Or, an annual competition for young circus artists which first took place in 2003. This competition has been discontinued since 2008.Books
- "Grock. Nit mö-ö-ö-glich. Die Memoiren des Königs der Clowns", autobiography (1956) ; English version: "Grock, King of Clowns" (1957)
External links
- Video of Grock stage performance YouTube. Retrieved April 16, 2011
- Grock-News
- Association Grockland
- "Grock - Seltsamer als die Wahrheit" FilmArts Productions, Zurich (2006)