The Jackson Trio

Posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 by John Wood
… Easily one of the most amazing photographs ever taken. Jimmy “Muscles” Jackson (Frank Kirigin), Gene “Jewell” Waddell, and Charley “Jarley” Jackson were known professionally as the “Jackson Trio” as they traveled the country performing on the Vaudeville circuit. (At times, they were also known as “The Three Jacksons,” “The Jackson Brothers” or “The Three Zeckos”.)
On August 21st, 1934, with the news reel cameras rolling, the Jackson Trio balanced precariously on a ledge of the 86th floor of the Empire State Building while this famous picture was taken. The Jackson Trio got their start opening for Houdini on the vaudeville circuit and when in New York, the trio always trained at Sig Klein’s Gym!