Jacob Rheuben Erlich (July 3, 1906 â€" July 18, 1952), professionally
credited as Jack Earle, was an American silent film actor and sideshow
performer. Due to acromegalic gigantism, Earle was one of the world's
tallest humans at the time of his death, standing at 7ft 7 1/2in tall,
although, in an exaggeration that was common for circus giants, he was
billed as being 8 ft 6 1/2 in tall. For 14 years, he traveled with
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, then became a salesman. He
is referenced in Tom Waits's song "Get Behind The Mule".He was born in
Denver, Colorado, in 1906, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. He was
born at a weight of less than four pounds. Jacob was small for his
age, until he reached his seventh birthday. By the time he was ten, he
was over six feet tall. His family lived in El Paso, Texas at this
time and the locals nicknamed him "Pecos Bill" (a title he used for
over twenty years.)Because of his intimidating height, he would avoid
people by walking the alleys on his way to school so he could hide if
he encountered anyone (for fear of frightening them).
credited as Jack Earle, was an American silent film actor and sideshow
performer. Due to acromegalic gigantism, Earle was one of the world's
tallest humans at the time of his death, standing at 7ft 7 1/2in tall,
although, in an exaggeration that was common for circus giants, he was
billed as being 8 ft 6 1/2 in tall. For 14 years, he traveled with
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, then became a salesman. He
is referenced in Tom Waits's song "Get Behind The Mule".He was born in
Denver, Colorado, in 1906, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. He was
born at a weight of less than four pounds. Jacob was small for his
age, until he reached his seventh birthday. By the time he was ten, he
was over six feet tall. His family lived in El Paso, Texas at this
time and the locals nicknamed him "Pecos Bill" (a title he used for
over twenty years.)Because of his intimidating height, he would avoid
people by walking the alleys on his way to school so he could hide if
he encountered anyone (for fear of frightening them).
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