Robert Edwin Clark (June 16, 1888 – February 12, 1960), known as Bobby Clark, was an American minstrel, vaudevillian, performer on stage, film, television and the circus. Known for his painted-on eyeglasses, he was part of a comedy team with Paul McCullough for 36 years.
He was born in Springfield, Ohio. While still in grammar school he formed a friendship with classmate Paul McCullough. The two attended tumbling classes, and began performing an acrobatic act in minstrel shows and later in the Ringling Brothers' Circus.[1] The team worked as clowns from 1906 to 1912. In 1912, they made their debut in vaudeville with a pantomime act built around the simple act of placing a chair on top of a table.[1] In 1922, they starred in Irving Berlin's Broadway show Music Box Revue.[2]
Film career
Beginning in 1929, they made a series of about 35 short comedy films, for FOX and RKO, some of which are still extant.
Clark and McCullough performed together until McCullough's suicide in March 1936.
In 1939, Clark appeared on Broadway in The Streets of Paris, sharing the stage with a new comedy act: Abbott and Costello.
Clark appeared on television during the 1950–51 television season, in the 8–9 pm Sunday night time slot of The Colgate Comedy Hour; however, Clark's four episodes were among those sponsored by Frigidaire and titled simply The Comedy Hour.
The Clark and McCullough shorts were made for an adult audience, with Clark writing much of the dialogue. Like Wheeler & Woolsey's films, they were not released for television, being considered too vulgar. So, they did not enjoy the renaissance of popularity with a new generation on television, like The Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.
He appeared on Broadway in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. His reputation grew as he tackled roles in plays such as Sheridan's The Rivals, as well as in musical comedies and revues.
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