Facts

Frank Thomas Saluto

Born: November 8, 1906 in unknown town in Massachusettes

Died: July 30, 1982 in Sarasota, Florida. Buried in Manasota Memorial Park, Bradenton, FL 34203

Family Heritage: Frankie's heritage originates from all over Europe, he is a second-generation American. One of XX number of children, Frankie was the X born. Frankie is the only midget known in the family tree. There is another distant relative who was uncommonly tall. Frankie has no known children and was never married.

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.

• 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 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.

More to come.