Jim Gerald

Jim Gerald
Jim Gerald, Melbourne, 2 June 1951, by Gordon F. De Lisle.jpg
Born
James Fitzgerald

1 January 1891
Darlington, New South Wales
Died2 March 1971 (aged 80)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • circus clown
  • acrobat
  • writer
  • director
  • trope leader
  • filmmaker
  • actor
  • radio producer
Years active1907-1969
SpouseEsther Patience Futcher
Comedy career
MediumTheatrical, Circus, film
GenresObservational comedy, physical comedy, self-deprecation

Jim Gerald (1 January 1891 – 2 March 1971) born James Fitzgerald [1] was an Australian comedian, circus clown, acrobat, writer, director and troupe leader and filmmaker. Theatre Historian Frank Van Straten has described Gerald as "the quintessential clown... [with] rubbery face... and the loose-limbed body of an acrobat."[2] He is generally cited as one of the leading post-World War I comedians to work the Australasian variety circuits, the others being Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, and George Wallace.[3]

  1. ^ Djubal, Clay (26 October 2014). "Jim Gerald" (PDF). Australian Variety Theatre Archive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. ^ Van Straten, Frank (2003). Tivoli. South Melbourne: Thomas C Lothian. p. 100. ISBN 0-7344-0553-7.
  3. ^ "George Wallace" at AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource (sighted 19 January 2014)