Frankie Saluto

Midget clown Frankie Saluto performing a trick with his bunny rabbit.

Frankie Saluto (November 8, 1906 to July 30, 1982) was known as The Greatest Midget Clown on Earth and The King of Midget Clowns. He spent most of his career with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus.

Height: 3' 10" or about the height of six pencils stacked on top of each other.

Career: Frankie began clowning in 1928 and joined Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus around 1931. He left RBB&B in 1955 for five years, during a tumultuous time in the circus industry, clowning for Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus.

Highlights:

John Ringling died in 1936, in his will he asked the clowns in Clown Alley to choose the Most Popular Clown. Frankie was voted Most Popular Clown by his peers and received a diamond stickpin for the honor.

Frankie was frequently a part of the group of performers who visited children's hospitals in the cities where the circus was performing. The circus partnered with Babe Ruth during a visit to a children's hospital, Frankie had the honor of participating in the promotional event alongside The Great Bambino.

Frankie was a member of the Ringling Giants, a skit of midget basketball players.

Always a hard worker, he would even paint the circus railcars. He also had a big heart, he'd give money to whoever asked him. One of his friends would have to hold onto his money so he didn't give it all away.

Frankie retired in 1974 at the age of 65, much to his dismay. If he could have, he would've clowned until the day he died.

In 1991, Frankie Saluto was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame, the third year of the honorable distinction.