The world famous circus clown Pete Mardo was born Peter Anthony Guckeyson on 22 Jul 1881 in Dubuque, Iowa, USA, The son of Johann Jacob Guckeisen and Christina Schreier. Early on the family moved to Akron Ohio where he was raised.
Akron was known for its circus family heritage. As a boy Pete sent much of his time with a family of acrobats learning their stunts.
In the summer 1896 at the age of 15 Pete and another boy who was his tumbling partner ran away from home joining with a rag tag open air circus touring around the Midwest working only for meals and a place to sleep. At the end of the summer he returned to Akron where he continued to train and practice.
In 1899 he got a job with another show, not as a clown but as an acrobat. The name Mardo comes from an acrobatic troupe, "The Mardo's" to which he became a member. As time passed he started doing more comedy in the act which lead to his becoming a clown.
In 1909 he met Florence Harris while they were both stars of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Circus rule forbade their carrying on an open courtship but they managed to steal time between performances and at meals. At the close of the 1910 season they were married.
In 1916 Pete realized his boyhood dream when he was named a Producing Clown. Producing Clowns were responsible for creating the new comedy routines. Among them he is known for the burlesque boxing match between a clown and kangaroo. He also did a horse racing routine where Pete as Sparkplug the horse was losing a race until he stretches his neck out 10 feet to win by a nose.
At the end of the 1929 season they quite the show business and settled down in Poland Ohio just outside Akron and opened the Tally-Ho Tavern and Grill where they lived out their retirement.
Akron was known for its circus family heritage. As a boy Pete sent much of his time with a family of acrobats learning their stunts.
In the summer 1896 at the age of 15 Pete and another boy who was his tumbling partner ran away from home joining with a rag tag open air circus touring around the Midwest working only for meals and a place to sleep. At the end of the summer he returned to Akron where he continued to train and practice.
In 1899 he got a job with another show, not as a clown but as an acrobat. The name Mardo comes from an acrobatic troupe, "The Mardo's" to which he became a member. As time passed he started doing more comedy in the act which lead to his becoming a clown.
In 1909 he met Florence Harris while they were both stars of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Circus rule forbade their carrying on an open courtship but they managed to steal time between performances and at meals. At the close of the 1910 season they were married.
In 1916 Pete realized his boyhood dream when he was named a Producing Clown. Producing Clowns were responsible for creating the new comedy routines. Among them he is known for the burlesque boxing match between a clown and kangaroo. He also did a horse racing routine where Pete as Sparkplug the horse was losing a race until he stretches his neck out 10 feet to win by a nose.
At the end of the 1929 season they quite the show business and settled down in Poland Ohio just outside Akron and opened the Tally-Ho Tavern and Grill where they lived out their retirement.
The world famous circus clown Pete Mardo was born Peter Anthony Guckeyson on 22 Jul 1881 in Dubuque, Iowa, USA, The son of Johann Jacob Guckeisen and Christina Schreier. Early on the family moved to Akron Ohio where he was raised.
Akron was known for its circus family heritage. As a boy Pete sent much of his time with a family of acrobats learning their stunts.
In the summer 1896 at the age of 15 Pete and another boy who was his tumbling partner ran away from home joining with a rag tag open air circus touring around the Midwest working only for meals and a place to sleep. At the end of the summer he returned to Akron where he continued to train and practice.
In 1899 he got a job with another show, not as a clown but as an acrobat. The name Mardo comes from an acrobatic troupe, "The Mardo's" to which he became a member. As time passed he started doing more comedy in the act which lead to his becoming a clown.
In 1909 he met Florence Harris while they were both stars of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Circus rule forbade their carrying on an open courtship but they managed to steal time between performances and at meals. At the close of the 1910 season they were married.
In 1916 Pete realized his boyhood dream when he was named a Producing Clown. Producing Clowns were responsible for creating the new comedy routines. Among them he is known for the burlesque boxing match between a clown and kangaroo. He also did a horse racing routine where Pete as Sparkplug the horse was losing a race until he stretches his neck out 10 feet to win by a nose.
At the end of the 1929 season they quite the show business and settled down in Poland Ohio just outside Akron and opened the Tally-Ho Tavern and Grill where they lived out their retirement.
Akron was known for its circus family heritage. As a boy Pete sent much of his time with a family of acrobats learning their stunts.
In the summer 1896 at the age of 15 Pete and another boy who was his tumbling partner ran away from home joining with a rag tag open air circus touring around the Midwest working only for meals and a place to sleep. At the end of the summer he returned to Akron where he continued to train and practice.
In 1899 he got a job with another show, not as a clown but as an acrobat. The name Mardo comes from an acrobatic troupe, "The Mardo's" to which he became a member. As time passed he started doing more comedy in the act which lead to his becoming a clown.
In 1909 he met Florence Harris while they were both stars of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Circus rule forbade their carrying on an open courtship but they managed to steal time between performances and at meals. At the close of the 1910 season they were married.
In 1916 Pete realized his boyhood dream when he was named a Producing Clown. Producing Clowns were responsible for creating the new comedy routines. Among them he is known for the burlesque boxing match between a clown and kangaroo. He also did a horse racing routine where Pete as Sparkplug the horse was losing a race until he stretches his neck out 10 feet to win by a nose.
At the end of the 1929 season they quite the show business and settled down in Poland Ohio just outside Akron and opened the Tally-Ho Tavern and Grill where they lived out their retirement.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
