Joanne’s Little Black Vaudeville Scrapbook (2022)
“Joanne’s Little Black Vaudeville Scrapbook”, a time capsule documenting Pepito & Joanne Perez’s stage career, 1928 to 1942. Contains candid and studio photographs, accompanied by extensive annotations.
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VIDEO CLIP: “I Love Lucy, The Very First Show” (1990)
Monday, April 30, 1990 “If you are wondering how we got tonight’s film [the Lost Pilot of “I Love Lucy”], my father (Desi Arnaz) gave it to Pepito the Clown as a thank you for guest-starring in the Pilot … but more importantly, for creating my parents’ vaudeville act. Only after hearing it was missing,…
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Orange County Register: Glamorous Lifestyle More Than A Memory For Former Star Joanne Perez (1984)
Wednesday, September 5, 1984 By Jim O’Connell, The Register For skeptics who believe there is no glamour left in the world, a trip to 1502 N. Ross Street in Santa Ana, California could change their minds. There, at the Pepito and Joanne Ballet Academy, Joanne Perez is continuing a tradition that was lost when the…
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Santa Ana Register: “Once Spanish Court Jester, He Devotes His Time To Youth” (1965)
By Gwen Starr, The Register Sunday, October 3, 1965 Pepito, the world famous Spanish clown who reigned as “King of Playmates” in vaudeville for more than 20 years and who has devoted his life to entertaining children, again shares billing with his talented wife Joanne. Only now, the marquee is atop an old Santa Ana…
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Pepito, Spain’s Court Jester, Recalls Glittering Era (1948)
NEWPORT-BALBOA PRESS, PAGE 7—PART II THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1948. Pepito, “playmate of kings” and official court jester for the Spanish Crown under King Alfonso, chewed on a theatrical-looking cigar and spoke of clowns. “In Spain and Europe, generally clowns enjoyed the dignified status of dramatic artists,” Pepito said, comparing the position of the beloved fraternity…
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Pacific Motor Boat Magazine: Famous Clown Pepito Takes to Motor Boating In Matthews 38 Sport Cruiser (1931)
Pepito, celebrated Spanish clown who is familiar to patrons of R.K.O. theaters throughout the United States, recently purchased a 38-foot Matthews single cabin sport cruiser of the type shown on this page. Pepito, also illustrated herewith in the wheelhouse of his new boat, will bring his new ship to Los Angeles, its home port, when…
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Toledo News-Bee: Old Funny-Face Pepito Is Handsome Young Man Who Played Opposite Garbo (1931)
Monday, May 11, 1931 He is a clown, but he never worked under a circus tent. (See footnote 1). He speaks his English with a pronounced accent, but he is an American citizen. (2) His features are as handsome as those of any reigning screen favorite, but he greets his public behind a grotesque mask…
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Rochester Democrat Chronicle: Pepito Admits His First Choice Is Angling for Sea’s Game Fish (1931)
Monday, April 20, 1931 Pepito has a good act which should prove a treat to all the youngsters in town, abounding in all the young nonsense which one has to learn to laugh at when one is 6, if one laughs at all. His costumes are, as always, striking. His impersonation of the famous pianist with which he concludes…
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Syracuse Herald: Juanita Falcy’s Dilemma, Concert Pianist or Acrobatic Dancer? (1931)
When one is so gifted that one can choose between a career as a concert pianist and that of a specialty acrobatic dancer, then one is gifted indeed. That’s the dilemma Juanita*, blonde partner of Pepito, Keith’s clown, found herself in during the early days of her career. Juanita, whose full name off stage is…
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Wisconsin State Journal: A Short Talk With Pepito Uncovers a Lively Life (1931)
Spanish Clown, Appearing At Orpheum, Was Once Court Jester to King of Spain; Owns and Trains Lions For Motion Picture Work January 16, 1931 Backstage in a vaudeville house is always an interesting place to be while the acts are on. Stage managers and assistants wander about in smocks; time and cue sheets are posted on a bulletin…
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Los Angeles Daily News: Pretty Dancer to Wed Clown (1928)
Monday, June 25, 1928 It’s No Joke. Pepito, famous clown, proposed to Joan Falcy (above), beautiful dancer, and she accepted. The couple, now appearing at Fox theater here, will be married at sea and will tour world on honeymoon. (Los Angeles Daily News photo). Keywords: Pepito the Spanish Clown Pepito the Clown Jose Escobar Perez…
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Pepito Meets Joanne: Their Matchmaker Was Charlie Chaplin (1928)
January 1, 1928 The 1928 premiere of of Charlie Chaplin’s movie “The Circus” at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood included a live stage prologue (a stage show before the movie) called the “Ballyhoo.” Chaplin wanted an actual three ring circus to precede the screening of the movie, to fit the theme of his film, but by…
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Milwaukee Sentinel: Joann Zettler, Daily Dozen All At Once (1926)
Wednesday, May 12, 1926 Entering the world 17 years ago with her left leg situated behind her head, Joann Zettler, formerly of 247 Twenty-Second Street, yesterday had an X-ray taken to discover her flexible secret. Source: Milwaukee Sentinel, May 12, 1926.
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Watertown Daily Times: Pepito Forsakes Art to Become Clown (1922)
FORSAKES ART TO BECOME CLOWN FORTUNE LOST, GIVES UP CAREER AS A PAINTER PEPITO, SPANIARD, HERE Vaudeville Performer Made Hit On Stage With Caricatures Until Persuaded to Join Clown Act — Now Learning English Language Watertown, New York DAILY TIMES November 14, 1922 (Melani Carty’s note: This is the earliest U.S. newspaper article I have…
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The Mystery of Pepito’s Missing Scrapbook (2009)
Thursday, May 28, 2009 After the death of Joanne Perez, her entire estate was liquidated, and the proceeds benefitted Biola University in Southern California. One of the items that was sold was Pepito’s scrapbook. The current whereabouts of this fabulous scrapbook are unknown. It is my hope that the current owner will contact me, and consider…
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Orange County Register: Ballet Teacher Still Going Strong at 91 (1999)
Joanne, surrounded by students in the late 1990s. Although she was reliant on a wheelchair, she continued to teach dance classes.
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Eye On Santa Ana: Pepito and Joanne, Dancing With the Hollywood Stars (1994)
Wednesday, June 1, 1994 by Catherine C. Cate (This article originally appeared in the Summer 1994 issue of “Eye on Santa Ana.”) Behind the iron gates that surround the Victorian-style building at 1502 N. Ross in Santa Ana, California lies a world well known to thousands of aspiring performers: “The Pepito and Joanne Academy of Dance.”…
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Pepito & Joanne 