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Unicycle, Ref. Frank Lemon
Identifier:
187019Description:
20" wheel, frame painted white, red, black & gray.;Belonged to Frank Lemon, the clown.Current Location Status:
In StorageSource:
Gift Of Frank LemonExhibit/Program:
Artifact GR (2012 – 2013)Artifact GR was a project which invited members of the community into the archives of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, and asked them to write about their experiences. The resulting submissions were cataloged in an interactive website (www.artifactgr.org) and in a published book (http://www.blurb.com/b/4400444-the-artifact-projectsoftcover).
Related Entity:
Frank Lemon (donor)In 1898, Frank Lemon went into partnership with Arthur Rosenthal as trick cyclists. They toured America from 1900 to 1904 under the name Rose and Lemon performed bicycle and unicycle tricks. In 1904 Lemon came up with the idea of a steel spherical cage that motorcycles could be ridden in and it was later patented by Rosenthal. That same year, the two traveled Europe and performed at fairs, amusement parks, vaudeville shows, and burlesque shows. Their act was known as the Globe of Death as they rode in the cage on motorcycles going 40 to 50 miles per hour. As cinemas became more popular, vaudeville's popularity declined and in 1919 Rosenthal left the partnership to create Roseswift Airplane Service in Grand Rapids. Lemon continued to perform with the Globe of Death until 1927. He then formally retired and began a career as the maintenance engineer for Rosenthal's company Rose Patch and Label Co. Although he no longer performed the Globe of Death routine, Lemon continued riding his unicycle and performing tricks until the age of 80. Most of these performances were done for veterans and charities.
Frank Lemon was born in 1881. He married Pearl Bernice Murphy on December 28th, 1912 and passed away in 1963 at the age of 62.