Sebastian John Ross, (April 24, 1919 - August 24, 2008), known as S. John Ross or "The Silhouette Man", was an American-born Australian artist and showman, famous for his miniature silhouette portraits cut in black card. S. John Ross became a well-known identity at the annual shows such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the Brisbane Ekka where he worked each year for about 60 years. He was regarded within his own lifetime as "a legend".[1]
Arriving in Australia in 1942 as a U.S. Serviceman, S. John Ross married an Australian woman, Phyllis Counsell, and later migrated from the United States to live in Australia.[1] He worked until the age of 89, and in that time created thousands of portraits, including those of many celebrities. He claimed that only the Taxation Office knew what the "S" in his name stood for.[2] He was sometimes referred to as "Scissors John".
Ross Eastgate, military historian and journalist, said of S. John Ross, "He was not tall in stature, but he was giant in Australian entertainment." [3]
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S. John Ross was born Sebastian John Ross, in Detroit, USA, April 24, 1919. Inspired by an artist that he saw at Michigan State Fair, he trained with the silhouette artist Budd-Jack, travelling around to different fairs for three years. He later worked in Hollywood.[4]
During World War II, Ross served in the Philippines. He then came to Australia and served at Base Section 7 in Sydney, and as Staff Sergeant managed the US driving pool, driving entertainment celebrities such as Bob Hope and Jack Benny. In his search for good drivers, he employed a number of Australian women in the WAAAF, thus meeting Florence Phyllis Counsell (known as Phyllis). They married in February 1945.[1]
After the war, Ross returned to the United States with his wife, but decided to settle permanently in Australia. They returned on the SS Lurline on 18 March 1946. They lived at Falcon Avenue, Hazelbrook, in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Ross and Phyllis had two sons, John Leyton Ross and Philip Ross.[1]
In 1948, Ross began to tour the circuit of agricultural shows as a silhouette artist, encouraged by the travelling showman and boxing entrepreneur, Jimmy Sharman. He was to continue working at shows for the next 60 years, travelling as far as the Proserpine Show in Queensland. From the 1950s until its closure in 1979, Ross also worked at Luna Park, Sydney, unless he was touring shows. More recently he worked at Centrepoint Tower.[1]
S. John Ross became a well-known identity on the show circuit, with generations of families taking their children to have their portraits cut out by him. In 2006 he was named an "Ekka Legend" at the Brisbane Exhibition[1] and in 2007 was named a "Show Legend" at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.[5] He was often heard to say that he would "rather be a living legend than a dead one." [1] In 2004, he was commemorated at the reopened Luna Park by his inclusion in a mural painted by Ashley Taylor, artist in residence.[2]
In August 2008, S. John Ross did not attend the Brisbane Ekka as usual. He died on Sunday August 24, 2008, aged 89.[3]
Ross generally worked at shows in a little open booth, surrounded by a display of portraits that he had created of famous people. According to Ross, the art of making silhouettes was very important before the era of photography, and went back to Ancient Greece.[2]
He worked quickly with a pair of small scissors, cutting portraits from thin matt black card. He usually concentrated on the profile, but would also enhance the portrait by snipping out a few details. Each portrait was mounted on white card. The likenesses were remarkable, so that it was easy to recognise the famous faces that were on display. He claimed that not everyone's face was suitable for profile portraits and that he was selective as to who he would portray.[2]
Among the celebrities whose portraits he made were Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Robert Menzies, Vivien Leigh and Nicole Kidman. In the United States, he had made portraits of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Stan Laurel, Al Jolson, Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, Ernest Borgnine, Johnny Ray and John Mills.[2][4]