August Wicke(May 7, 1885 – January 3, 1947), also known asGus WickeandGus Wickie,[3]was an Americanbass singer,and stage andvoice actor.He was one of the voices ofBlutoin the animated series,Popeye the Sailor,byFleischer Studios.[4]
Gus Wickie | |
|---|---|
| Born | August Wicke May 7, 1885 |
| Died | January 3, 1947(aged 61) |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, stage actor, voice actor |
| Years active | 1916–1944[2] |
Life and career
editWicke was born inFrankfurt,Germany, and immigrated to the United States with his father, who was also named August Wicke. He became a U.S. citizen as a child when his father wasnaturalized.He was living inWest New York,when he registered for theWorld War I draftin 1917.[1]
Wicke began in the entertainment world as early as August 1916, when he appeared onBroadwayinThe Big Show,produced byCharles Dillinghamat theHippodrome Theatre.[5]The show ran for 425 performances until May 1917.[5]He was a member of various harmony singing and comedy groups, including The Texas Four, which had broken up by 1926; The Westerners, which became active at around that time; and the Shanley Trio.[1]He appeared in Boston inHere and Thereby director and producerR. H. Burnsidein 1929.[1]Two years later, Wickie was on Broadway in themusical comedyBallyhoo of 1930,which ran for 68 performances, from December 1930 to February 1931, atOscar Hammerstein's Hammerstein Theatre.[6]
Wickie was the voice ofBlutoin theFleischer Studios'Popeyecartoons from 1935 until 1938.[7][1]His final performance for Fleischer was as the "Chief" inBig Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh.[8]His draft registration documents indicate that he was one eyed, like Bluto's nemesisPopeye(as his name implies).[9]
When Fleischer Studios moved from New York City to Miami, Florida, in 1938, Wickie stayed behind and continued working in the entertainment industry.[1]An oft-cited biographical error is that Wickie was abaritone,recordings of his voice indicate he was a bass singer according to his darktimbreand vocal range, which go down to at leastlow C,[10]as do published reports contemporary with his rediscovered later career according to research byDavid Gerstein.[11]
Wickie was known for his nightclub performances around New York City, particularly at Bill's Gay Nineties, a venue run by Bill Hardy, but also at Radio Franks Club.[1]Wicke generally made up a quartet with Spike Harrison, Fred Bishop, and a fourth member who was not permanent.[1]He was listed inBillboard's February 19, 1944, list of performers who appeared under the aegis of theAmerican Theatre Wingto entertain the troops.[1]
Wickie died inBelleville, New Jersey,on January 3, 1947, at the age of 61.[1]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijGerstein, David (November 30, 2013)."Out of the Vaults: From Binko to Bluto".Ramapith: David Gerstein's Prehistoric Pop Culture.RetrievedJanuary 25,2014.
- ^Gus Wickeat theInternet Broadway Database
- ^Gould, Jack (February 13, 1938)."Notes and Reflections on the Night Clubs".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 4,2010.
- ^Grandinetti, Fred M. (July 29, 2004).Popeye: An Illustrated Cultural History, 2d ed.McFarland.ISBN978-0-7864-1605-9.
- ^abThe Big Showon theInternet Broadway Database
- ^Ballyhoo of 1930on theInternet Broadway Database
- ^Hurwitz, Matt (July 29, 2007)."Utter Genius: Voices That Call Out Still".The Washington Post.RetrievedJanuary 4,2010.
- ^Erickson, Hal(2012)."Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh (1938)".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon October 26, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 4,2010.
- ^"Out of the Vaults: From Binko to Bluto".November 30, 2013.
- ^(Popeye) Abu Hassan Song with Lyrics.YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2021.
- ^"Ramapith: David Gerstein's Prehistoric Pop Culture Blog".
