Wicke was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and immigrated to the United States with his father, who was also named August Wicke. He became a U.S. citizen as a child when his father was naturalized. He was living in West New York, when he registered for the World War I draft in 1917.[1]
Wicke began in the entertainment world as early as August 1916, when he appeared on BroadwayinThe Big Show, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Hippodrome Theatre.[5] The show ran for 425 performances until May 1917.[5] He was a member of various harmony singing and comedy groups, including The Texas Four, which had broken up by 1926; The Westerners, which became active at around that time; and the Shanley Trio.[1] He appeared in Boston in Here and There by director and producer R. H. Burnside in 1929.[1] Two years later, Wickie was on Broadway in the musical comedyBallyhoo of 1930, which ran for 68 performances, from December 1930 to February 1931, at Oscar Hammerstein's Hammerstein Theatre.[6]
Wickie was the voice of Bluto in the Fleischer Studios' Popeye cartoons from 1935 until 1938.[7][1] His final performance for Fleischer was as the "Chief" in Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh.[8] His draft registration documents indicate that he was one eyed, like Bluto's nemesis Popeye (as his name implies).[9]
When Fleischer Studios moved from New York City to Miami, Florida, in 1938, Wickie stayed behind and continued working in the entertainment industry.[1] An oft-cited biographical error is that Wickie was a baritone, recordings of his voice indicate he was a bass singer according to his dark timbre and vocal range, which go down to at least low C,[10] as do published reports contemporary with his rediscovered later career according to research by David Gerstein.[11]
Wickie was known for his nightclub performances around New York City, particularly at Bill's Gay Nineties, a venue run by Bill Hardy, but also at Radio Franks Club.[1] Wicke generally made up a quartet with Spike Harrison, Fred Bishop, and a fourth member who was not permanent.[1] He was listed in Billboard's February 19, 1944, list of performers who appeared under the aegis of the American Theatre Wing to entertain the troops.[1]
