Wolo (July 4, 1902 – 1989) was a German-born American artist, caricaturist, muralist, puppeteer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning six decades, he created murals, illustrated children's books, and worked as a puppeteer for television and live performances. He gained prominence for his caricature work with the San Francisco Chronicle and for his whimsical children's books.
Early Life and Education
Wolo was born Ehrhardt Anton Wolff Georg Trützschler Von Falkenstein on July 4, 1902, in Berlin, Germany, to Baron Ludwig Ullrich Martin Fritz Trützschler Von Falkenstein and Caroline Margarethe Charlotte Ida Anna (née Von Nettelbladt). His family belonged to the German nobility. His nickname "Wolo" originated from his younger sister, Anneliese, who struggled to pronounce his name and called him "Wolff."
After his parents' divorce, Wolo lived in Switzerland with his mother and stepfather, a diplomat. At age 12, he was sent back to Germany, where he attended the Royal Military Academy. Following World War I, he studied business and later earned a degree as an agricultural engineer from a Swiss agricultural college.
Wolo arrived in the United States in 1922 as part of a student exchange program at the University of Wisconsin. Initially working on a model farm near Beloit, he took various odd jobs, including grocery clerk, linoleum cutter, and real estate salesman, before deciding to pursue art full-time.
Artistic Career
Caricatures and Illustration
Wolo began his artistic career sketching in cabarets and creating caricatures for newspapers and magazines. In 1932, he became a caricaturist and columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, where he launched the daily feature "I Saw You". The column featured caricatures of people he observed in public, offering a $1 reward if the subject could identify themselves.
His caricature style was described as exaggerated portraits rather than conventional caricatures, emphasizing personality and expression. His work was displayed in exhibitions such as Courvoisier Galleries in 1933.
Murals
Wolo painted numerous murals in hospitals and restaurants across California. Some notable works include:
- Stanford Convalescent Home for Children, Palo Alto – Featuring 80 playful animal characters.
- Children's Hospital Little Jim Ward, San Francisco
- New Pisa and Vesuvio Restaurants, San Francisco
- Salinas and San Pablo Children's Wards
His murals were often whimsical and aimed at brightening spaces for children.
Children's Books
By 1940, Wolo's artistic reputation led to a publishing contract with William Morrow and Company, where he authored and illustrated several children's books inspired by bedtime stories he told his children. His works combined fantastical storytelling with colorful illustrations.
Notable Works:
- Amanda (1941) – The adventures of a kind-hearted polka dot snake and her jungle friends.
- The Secret of the Ancient Oak (1942) – A tale of woodland creatures working together to save their home.
- Tweedles Be Brave (1943) – A story about a brave monkey and a cockatoo outsmarting a spoiled monkey king.
- Sir Archibald (1944) – The story of a boastful monkey on a quest to retrieve a lost crown.
- Friendship Valley (1946) – A socially conscious story emphasizing cooperation among animals seeking a new home.
He also contributed illustrations to the Hippo Cook Book (1969) and A Children's Music Box (1945).
Puppetry
Wolo was an accomplished puppeteer, performing both for live audiences and television. He was a regular puppeteer for KPIX-TV in San Francisco and performed with his puppet Aloysius for the station's Morning Show. He was a charter member of the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and designed puppets for the Storybook Puppet Theater at Fairyland in Oakland.
His puppetry style involved creating all elements of his performances, including designing and building the puppets, writing scripts, and performing live.
Legacy and Death
Wolo's artistic career spanned over 60 years, blending caricature, children's literature, and puppetry. His art, books, and murals left a lasting impact on San Francisco's cultural landscape. He passed away at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco at the age of 86 in 1989.
Wolo's body of work continues to be remembered for its charm, creativity, and contribution to children's storytelling and visual arts.