Jack Earle
Encyclopedia
Jacob Rheuben Ehrlich was an American silent film actor and sideshow performer. Due to acromegalic
gigantism
, Earle was one of the world's tallest humans at the time of his death, standing at 7 ft 7½ inch. (2.32 m) tall. For 14 years, he traveled with Ringling Bros.
and Barnum & Bailey Circus, then became a salesman. He is referenced in Tom Waits
's song "Get Behind The Mule".
in 1906, at a weight of less than four pounds. Jacob was small for his age, until he reached his seventh birthday. By the time was ten, he was over six feet tall. His family lived in El Paso Texas at this time and the locals nicknamed him "Pecos Bill" (a title he used for over twenty years.)
Because of his intimidating height, he would avoid people by walking the alleys on his way to school so he could hide if he encountered anyone (for fear of frightening them).
. Over seven feet tall at the time, he attracted the attention of Century Comedies, a motion picture production company. Jerry Ash and Zion Meyers offered him a job in the movies. He convinced his father that this was a good opportunity, and he was allowed to stay. Jacob took the screen name Jack Earle when he started working in the silent film industry, there he appeared in many movies.
He appeared in films like Hansel and Gretel in 1923 and Jack & the Beanstalk in 1924.
Over the next few years he found himself busy in the movie making business, and going to school.
His movie career came to an end when during filming he fell from the scaffolding
. He broke his nose and was hospitalized. While in the hospital, his eyesight became blurry and within days he lost his sight completely. As his doctor examined him, he found a pituitary tumor. The tumor had pushed up against his optic nerve
during the fall. For the next four months, Jack underwent X-ray treatments. His eyesight returned, although it has been speculated that the treatment may have stopped his growth. At the time of his hospitalization he was seven feet six inches tall.
offered "Jack" a one year contact, which turned into fourteen years of employment. During his time with the Ringling Bros., Jack met most of the giants who lived during his lifetime.
He stayed with the circus until the late thirties or early forties. He was tired of the routine and decided to leave the business. Undecided about his future, he decided to lay the "Pecos Bill" persona to rest and he returned to California.
In addition, Earle was a talented artist and worked in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and poetry. He was published in a book entitled The Long Shadows, and on November 4, 1950, the Saturday Evening Post ran an article titled Life of Giant Jack Earle.
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
gigantism
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
, Earle was one of the world's tallest humans at the time of his death, standing at 7 ft 7½ inch. (2.32 m) tall. For 14 years, he traveled with Ringling Bros.
Ringling Brothers Circus
The Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
and Barnum & Bailey Circus, then became a salesman. He is referenced in Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
's song "Get Behind The Mule".
Early life
He was born in Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1906, at a weight of less than four pounds. Jacob was small for his age, until he reached his seventh birthday. By the time was ten, he was over six feet tall. His family lived in El Paso Texas at this time and the locals nicknamed him "Pecos Bill" (a title he used for over twenty years.)
Because of his intimidating height, he would avoid people by walking the alleys on his way to school so he could hide if he encountered anyone (for fear of frightening them).
Acting
When he was thirteen he and his father made a trip to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Over seven feet tall at the time, he attracted the attention of Century Comedies, a motion picture production company. Jerry Ash and Zion Meyers offered him a job in the movies. He convinced his father that this was a good opportunity, and he was allowed to stay. Jacob took the screen name Jack Earle when he started working in the silent film industry, there he appeared in many movies.
He appeared in films like Hansel and Gretel in 1923 and Jack & the Beanstalk in 1924.
Over the next few years he found himself busy in the movie making business, and going to school.
His movie career came to an end when during filming he fell from the scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
. He broke his nose and was hospitalized. While in the hospital, his eyesight became blurry and within days he lost his sight completely. As his doctor examined him, he found a pituitary tumor. The tumor had pushed up against his optic nerve
Optic nerve
The optic nerve, also called cranial nerve 2, transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Derived from the embryonic retinal ganglion cell, a diverticulum located in the diencephalon, the optic nerve doesn't regenerate after transection.-Anatomy:The optic nerve is the second of...
during the fall. For the next four months, Jack underwent X-ray treatments. His eyesight returned, although it has been speculated that the treatment may have stopped his growth. At the time of his hospitalization he was seven feet six inches tall.
Sideshow performer
While touring El Paso, Texas, Ringling Bros.Ringling Brothers Circus
The Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
offered "Jack" a one year contact, which turned into fourteen years of employment. During his time with the Ringling Bros., Jack met most of the giants who lived during his lifetime.
He stayed with the circus until the late thirties or early forties. He was tired of the routine and decided to leave the business. Undecided about his future, he decided to lay the "Pecos Bill" persona to rest and he returned to California.
Later years
He went on to become a Roma Wine Company salesman, working his way up to becoming their public relations specialist.In addition, Earle was a talented artist and worked in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and poetry. He was published in a book entitled The Long Shadows, and on November 4, 1950, the Saturday Evening Post ran an article titled Life of Giant Jack Earle.