For those who envision Uncle Sam as larger than life -- think tax time -- does 8 feet, 6 inches fit your image?

It does for Jay Breckenridge, even though he's on shaky ground trying to prove it. But then tall stilts (and tall taxes) can do that to you.

Mr. Breckenridge, 66, a professor of theater arts at Penn State Greater Allegheny, in McKeesport, portrays Uncle Sam -- on stilts -- at celebrations throughout the region. Today through Sunday he is appearing at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.

Uncle Sam, of course, is the cartoon embodiment of the government of the United States, a character who started to appear in newspapers in the early 19th century. Uncle Sam was modelled after Samuel Wilson, of Troy, N.Y., a meat purveyor to the United States Army during the War of 1812. Known as Uncle Sam to family, he put his initials on his goods. Soldiers came to think those initials stood for the United States.

Over time, Uncle Sam evolved into from a kindly uncle to a tall, white-haired man with goatee and star-spangled suit, an invention of political cartoonists. The single most famous portrait of Uncle Sam is the decidedly stern "I WANT YOU" Army recruiting poster from World War I, created by James Montogomery Flag in 1916.

Putting Uncle Sam on stilts is a popular way of showing the character's larger-than-life image.

Stilts and stripes forever?

Mr. Breckenridge, also an actor, began portraying the character about 12 years ago when he had to come up with an idea for a Kennywood festival.

The crowds love him. "The best part of all this is the smiles I get,'' he said.

Of course, it's a little hard not to smile at a man with a fake beard tottering on stilts and shouting: "Your tax dollars at play!"

Sometimes he further dazzles the crowds by juggling. (Duck pins, not the economy.)

His costume is pretty much what you'd expect: Red and white striped pants, blue vest with white stars, red bolo tie and a top hat.

He said the outfit is a "group effort," the work of seamstresses at Kennywood, and his wife Kathie.

He does the character on stilts to use a talent he developed when he worked as a member of World Emergency Circus, a professional three-man magic, juggling and music act, now disbanded. He recalled that group preforming at everything from local street fairs to the Easter Egg Hunt on the White House lawn.

The stilts, of course, come with a price.

"At the end of the day, after being on them for eight hours, it's a little tough on the legs," he admitted.

The stilts, making him a towering 8 feet, 6 inches tall, are strapped on below his knees.

He recalls falling only twice, "and that was only because a stilt broke."

"Kennywood folks came along in a golf cart and hauled me off to the repair shop,'' Mr. Breckenridge said.

Mr. Breckenridge has a doctorate in language and literature from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a founding member of the Heritage Players of Bethel Park Community Theatre. He has acted there, at Little Lake Theatre in Canonsburg, and in a variety of commercials and advertisements.

For more on Kennywood's ongoing "Celebrate Pittsburgh" visit kennywood.com.

Mr. Breckenridge will also appear from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 11 and Aug. 1 at Mt. Lebanon's First Fridays street festival on Washington Road.