The Godfather of CircusFit

A tribute to one of my heroes. Here's to you Otto!


Otto Griebling, (April 28, 1896 – April 19, 1972) was a German-born immigrant who rose to become the most respected American circus clown of the 20th century as well as the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program that was best known for a landmark advertising campaign featuring Griebling’s name and likeness; it has been described as one of the longest-lasting and most memorable ad campaigns of all time. Griebling performed for many years with the Cole Bros. and later the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. He was one of four clowns given the title Master Clown by Irvin Feld.According to Griebling, he trained himself to develop his body from that of a “scrawny weakling”, eventually becoming the most influential character clowns of his day. His company, Otto Griebling Ltd., was founded in 1929 and, as of 2009, continues to market a fitness program for the “97-pound weakling.” The company is now overseen by the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Baraboo, WI.

Otto Griebling, (April 28, 1896 – April 19, 1972) was a German-born immigrant who rose to become the most respected American circus clown of the 20th century as well as the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program that was best known for a landmark advertising campaign featuring Griebling’s name and likeness; it has been described as one of the longest-lasting and most memorable ad campaigns of all time. Griebling performed for many years with the Cole Bros. and later the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. He was one of four clowns given the title Master Clown by Irvin Feld.

According to Griebling, he trained himself to develop his body from that of a “scrawny weakling”, eventually becoming the most influential character clowns of his day. His company, Otto Griebling Ltd., was founded in 1929 and, as of 2009, continues to market a fitness program for the “97-pound weakling.” The company is now overseen by the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Baraboo, WI.