Marceline Orbes

Marceline Orbes (May 15, 1873 - November 5, 1927), best known simply as Marceline, was a world-renowned clown during the late 19th and early 20th century.[1][2]

Marceline Orbes
Marceline (on left and on Wanted poster) in The Mishaps of Marceline (1915)
BornMay 15, 1873
Jaca, Spain
DiedNovember 5, 1927 (aged 54)
New York City
OccupationClown

Marceline was born in Jaca, Spain in 1873, performed in Spain, France and other continental european countries, made his way to England by around 1895. He had success at the London Hippodrome and then enticed by producers Thompson and Dundy to come to the New York Hippodrome, where he arrived with great fanfare in 1905.[3][4] He was a part of shows at the Hippodrome through 1915,[5] by which time his pantomime routine and falling gags were falling out of favor with the public. He did reappear at the Hippodrome for some later shows, including Good Times in 1920-21 and Better Times in 1922-23.[1]

Attempts to succeed in the restaurant business in New York and Connecticut both failed,[6] and he lost money in real estate ventures. Out of work and out of savings, Marceline was found dead in his hotel room at the Hotel Mansfield on November 5, 1927, with photographs of his glory days on the bed, and a bullet through his head.[1][7]

He was buried at Kensico Cemetery.[8] He was survived by his wife, from whom he had been separated since 1925.[8]

Marceline was long admired by Charlie Chaplin, who worked with Marceline at the London Hippodrome from December 1900 to April 1901, and is one of just a few performers from this period of his life that Chaplin discusses in his autobiography. Chaplin recounts seeing him years later in the United States with a circus, and though expecting to see him be a featured star, was surprised to see him only amongst other clowns.[9]

As Marceline performed before the film era, despite the many contemporary reports of his world fame, there is a lack documentary evidence of his performances. A 1915 Thanhouser Company film short titled The Mishaps of Marceline is lost aside from a few still frames of the clown.

References
  1. Cullen, Frank et al. Vaudeville old & new, Vol. 1, p. 719 (2007)
  2. (21 September 1913). Merry Marceline's Magic Mimicry A Marvel, Washington Herald
  3. (23 April 1905). An "Acrobatic Clown", New York Tribune
  4. (16 December 1905). For the Little Folks, Evening Star
  5. (27 November 1910). Marceline, Famous Hippodrome Clown, Made His Debut When Seven Years Old, Pittsburgh Press
  6. Johnstone, Will B. (5 April 1918). Marceline Back in Ring After Retiring To Gratify Eating and Cooking Ambition, The Evening World
  7. (6 November 1927). Marceline, Clown, Ends Life By Shot - Famous Hippodrome Figure for Many Years IS Found Dead in Narrow Hotel Bedroom - Had $6 and Pawn Ticket - His Money Believed Lost in Business Ventures - Began Career Abroad at Age of 7, The New York Times (subscription required)
  8. (7 November 1927). Stage Folks View Marcelline's Body - Funeral Services for Famous Hippodrome Clown to Be Held at Campbell Chapel Tomorrow, The New York Times (subscription required)
  9. Scheide, Frank Milo. The history of low comedy, p. 244 (1990)
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