Circleville in Pickaway County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ted Lewis, 1890-1971
⎯⎯⎯
Circleville's Ted Lewis

"Is Everybody Happy?"

Ted Lewis, 1890-1971 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2008

1. Ted Lewis, 1890-1971 Marker

Inscription. Ted Lewis, 1890-1971
“Is Everybody Happy?” One of the outstanding American showmen of the twentieth century, Ted Lewis was born Theodore Leopold Friedman in Circleville to a prominent business family. Stagestruck at an early age, Lewis began performing in cabarets, vaudeville shows, and nightclubs throughout Ohio at age 17, and moved to New York in 1915. Ted opened his own cabaret in 1918. With his animated stage persona, his clarinet, and his trademark cane and battered top hat, Lewis enjoyed a wide appeal with his jazz age audiences. His “Me and My Shadow” act exemplified his popularity during the 1920s, at which time he was the highest-paid entertainer in the business. His career spanned over six decades, from vaudeville to television. Lewis died in New York in 1971.

Circleville's Ted Lewis As Circleville's most famous native son, Ted Lewis contributed significantly to his hometown. Having performed in the first Pumpkin Show in 1903, Lewis continued to promote Circleville's trademark festival throughout his career. He returned to Circleville often and performed a successful benefit show

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here in 1952; with his wife Adah Becker Lewis (1897-1981), he bought and donated the land for Ted Lewis Park, and supported local Berger Hospital. The Ted Lewis Museum, dedicated in 1977, occupies the only remaining building that stood on Circleville's original circle. It interprets the life and career of “The Jazz King” and contains significant collections in the history of early twentieth century American music. Ted and Adah Lewis are interred at Circleville's Forest Cemetery.

Erected 2001 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, City of Circleville, Ted Lewis Park Board and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 4-65.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Entertainment • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 39° 36.51′ N, 82° 56.644′ W. Marker is in Circleville, Ohio, in Pickaway County. It is at the intersection of Picnic Avenue and Rosewood Avenue,

Circleville's Ted Lewis Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2008

2. Circleville's Ted Lewis Marker

on the left when traveling north on Picnic Avenue. Marker is north of the picnic shelter in Ted Lewis Park. Main park entrance at intersection of Ted Lewis Drive and Court Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 128 Rosewood Ave, Circleville OH 43113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pickaway County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Zieger House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Caleb Atwater (approx. 0.4 miles away); 2010 Bicentennial Mural (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rex Edwin Haecker (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Old Tecumseh" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veteran Memorials

Ted Lewis, 1890-1971 / Circleville's Ted Lewis Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2008

3. Ted Lewis, 1890-1971 / Circleville's Ted Lewis Marker

Looking south.

(approx. 0.4 miles away); This Victorian Fence (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Circleville.

Ted Lewis Park Entrance off Court Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2008

4. Ted Lewis Park Entrance off Court Street

Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,057 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on May 14, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4. submitted on November 6, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Ted Lewis, 1890-1971⎯⎯⎯Circleville's Ted Lewis

"Is Everybody Happy?"

Ted Lewis, 1890-1971
⎯⎯⎯
Circleville's Ted Lewis