Myrtle Corbin was a healthy baby girl at birth but with multiple limbs. Born in Basle, Switzerland, in 1884, Gabrielle Fuller first … Though circus freak shows are long gone, the above 16 Circus Freaks remind us that there are still unexplainable things in the world. So, as you marvel at the thought of whether being a circus freak was a good or bad thing, given the two-faced-ness of the situation. Julia Pastrana was a Mexican woman whose memory was preserved amounting to her circus condition. Gary Stiles was a 6th Generation ectrodactyly. A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance. Juan famously had a love affair with the popular French sideshow entertainer Blanche Dumas who also had three legs and an extra set of genitalia. His reputation indeed precedes him. Although plenty of these acts attracted their fair share of fame, ridicule and disbelief over the years, few lived a life as interesting and colourful as Josephine Clofullia. However, Wang was never tracked down or heard from again and the original photograph (which Ripley made a waxwork figure from for his exhibition) is the only known record of the man. Charles Stratton, started his performance in the Circus Organization when he was only 5 years old under the stage name – General Thumb. It is unknown when she retired but she was still managing to draw in the crowds well into her 40s and it is suspected that she moved back home to Switzerland when she eventually left the sideshow business. Susi –The Elephant Girl. History dating back to the 16th mid-century in England, tells stories of people who were suffering from a medical condition and had some form of deformities or genetic anomalies, being used as the form of entertainment, interest, and curiosity as people wilted away their hours. The banker submitted the photograph to Robert “Believe It or Not” Ripley naming the farmer only as Wang. Francesco Lentini. Susi, later on, ended up coming to the United States in 1972 with the mission to serve as part of a troupe and working with for the Ringling brothers. Daisy and Violet Hilton, a pair of British Siamese Twins who toured the US sideshow in the 1930’s, … Polish-born Stephan Bibrowski became a very popular sideshow attraction travelling around Europe and later at Coney Island, New York because the abnormally long hair covering his body gave him the appearance of a lion. 08/05/2010. Joseph Merrick – The Elephant Man (1862 – 1890) Few life stories are as tragic as … 3.3 out of 5 stars 7. Though she was a complete delight when she eventually made her way into W.H Harris’s Nickel Plate Circus and became a star and earned herself a lot of money. Freaks with missing limbs were a fairly common sight at many sideshows, and many of the afflicted could wow an audience just by performing simple, routine activities that most people would assume they were incapable of doing by themselves, like eating or shaving. In the old days, there were no TVs, Radios or any form of digital entertainment for our forefathers. But this time it was supposedly under the guise of interest, and not necessarily derision or fear. Francesco Lentini was also technically one of a pair of conjoined … This elegant image helped Gabrielle get a spot on the coveted vaudeville circuit, and she was one of the very few freaks to have performed in this much more ‘upscale’ form of entertainment. The bearded lady has long been a staple of freak show exhibitions. Although the appeal of freak shows had waned by the 20th century as public attitude towards physical disabilities and deformities became more sympathetic, modern variations of the shows still live on. They made their living touring Europe back in the day. Nicknamed the Camel Girl because of the bizarre way her legs bent backwards, Ella Harper suffered from a congenital deformity called genu recurvatum which caused hyperextension of her knee joints. Schiltzie was one of the most renowned pinhead entertainers in history. However, Prince Randian did dress like a Human Caterpillar, he had no limbs to rely on and wore a sleeveless stock outfit leaving only the head and the torso to be seen. Many are best known by the name of their principal owner. Top 10 Weirdest Looking Birds in the World, Top 10 Weirdest facts about female breasts. From missing limbs to multiple limbs, Myrtle Corbin was born in Tennessee in 1868 with two extra legs. Conjoined twins can have a hard time in life since they have to decide to do the same things in their lives despite having different interests. Though he was a midget, he awed the ladies by being a complete gentleman as well as his complex acts and hilarious antics through his life. Circus sideshows might have been a vicious inhumane act as the so-called ‘freaks’ were placed under a contract to entertain people, nonetheless, some of these individuals went on to benefit greatly having become world prominent acts and profiting off what some could not afford to pay them. Thinking it's a magnificent play they soon discover it's dark little secret with the freaks. Gabrielle was often remarked to be the perfect example of a half-woman as she possessed a well-proportioned figure and her trunk finished neatly at her waist. Even though the appeal of the circus freaks waned off by the 20th century when people started seeing the exploitation of people with deformities as ferocious and they became more sympathetic to their condition, some modern shows still live on to keep the image alive. Mademoiselle Gabrielle. The real people rather than the performers the world sees are often just as interesting. However, Joseph’s condition worsened during this time and his head grew more enlarged. Behind our philosophically-guided red noses… We are an ensemble of passionate performing artists who take our creative direction from the clown-in-charge, Russ Sharek . Typically thought to be a type of skin tumour, these conical growths don’t usually grow much more than a few inches, but there have been extremely rare cases of the horns becoming more than one foot in length. Susi was one of the Circus Freaks born in Berlin in 1909. When people hear of carnivals and circuses, they picture animal acts, bustling crowds, overpriced rides, and unscrupulous con games where winning was determined by skill or chance. With Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams, Olga Baclanova, Roscoe Ates. Thought by modern medical experts to have had Neurofibromatosis type I and Proteus syndrome, Joseph’s skin was thick and tough like animal hide (hence his eventual nickname ‘The Elephant Man’) and he had large tumours all over his body as well as abnormal bone development. Gabrielle made a fairly substantial income from her sideshow days and lived a normal life, marrying three times. Back in the day, ‘Pinheads’ were an especially big draw in the circus shows. Lucia Zarate is a woman who had the ability to draw a large crowd of people at the circus show. Such was the case with Mademoiselle Gabrielle, a woman who was fiercely independent despite being born with no legs. The Circus Freaksare a group that put on a circus to attract an audience, then rob the town while Zombozo feeds on the audience's laughter. We are, as one of our young (and extremely wise) fans said, “more people-y than people,” and that’s what makes the Circus Freaks awesome. Ella Harper, Camel Girl. 95 $49.99 $49.99. One of the most famous and mysterious cases of a ‘horned human’ came from China in the 1930s. What’s more is that he did not let his disability stop him from living, he had a wife and kid none of who shared his tribulation. She fell in love with a talented young French painter and the two wed and had a healthy, similarly hairy young boy in 1851. A fall at the age of 10 broke his hip and caused Joseph to have permanent lameness and, when his mother remarried the same year, he suffered from regular beatings from his cruel, unaccepting stepfather. His extra leg was actually two legs fused to become one, with 8 toes and two heels. Grady Stiles was a renown performer back in the day and he used his disability to the best of his ability to entertain people and make a living in the process. He was only nearly 3 feet as a grown man and unemployable. He died from a heart attack aged 41 in 1932. Very few nicknames in the sideshow business were complementary, but none were as downright insulting as Mary Ann Bevan’s. Some human marvels are born not made. She proved to be so popular that she moved on to America and started worked for the big leagues at the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Good for her. However, these loud and colourful family-friendly events once had a much darker, seedier side. Myrtle essentially had two complete bodies from the waist down as the two small pelvises had been fused together (the smaller pair of legs sat inside the larger legs on the outside). Although he drew in massive crowds, Martin was apparently a contentious individual and an apparent Nazi sympathiser. With Christopher Adamson, Rebekah Kochan, Dane Rosselli, Sharon Edrei. Circus Freaks \ 2310 N. Henderson Avenue #639 \ Dallas, TX 75206. Mary Ann was suffering from acromegaly, an adult-onset disorder which causes the pituitary gland to produce excess growth hormones, and her facial features became increasingly distorted and enlarged. Jul 14, 2014 - Explore Maria Salas's board "Circus freaks" on Pinterest. Circus of Freaks. Although it could not be moved independently, doctors feared that amputating the extra appendage would be dangerous so Juan usually strapped it to his thigh and he was able to walk, run and even ride horses unencumbered. Josephine was sent away to boarding school but the confident, unique young girl quickly learned how to draw a crowd with the help of her six inch bushy beard. Barnum was fully aware of the improper ethics behind his business as he said, "I don't believe in duping the public, but I believe in first attracting and then pleasing them." Yes, you read that right. He had two functioning penises and three legs. Born to a working class family in England in 1862, Joseph began suffering from abnormal growths during the first few years of his life. Treves discovered that Joseph , despite constant claims to the contrary, was not mentally impaired at all and he spent his later years writing correspondence to well-wishers, engaging in hobbies and even leaving the hospital on day trips. With a wide ranging set of over 150 songs we GUARANTEE to get ya rocks off & begging for more! Many of the freaks that used to be part of the sideshows had medical conditions that account for their unusual features. Unfortunately, they were sold as slaves to a midwife who took all their earnings when they danced and sang in circus freak shows and forbade them from socializing. In spite of her disability, she was married three times and managed to make a hefty income for herself during her performing days. It’s an image far removed from the pity and curiosity which had to be endured by some of these most famous sideshow freaks from years ago. The two smaller legs were stunted in growth but Myrtle was still able to move them. He quickly became a sensation stateside and worked at notable exhibitions like Bailey Circus, Hubert’s Museum, Barnum & Bailey and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! She suffered from hypertrichosis, a condition which made her physical features more of a replica of a gorilla with close resemblance to a dog; her ears and nose were especially enormous, her face was covered with hair plus she had a double pair of teeth which protruded from her mouth. She was quite light and even weighed lighter than a cat. An otherwise healthy baby, Myrtle suffered from dipygus; a congenital deformity which had caused her to absorb the legs of her twin which had failed to develop in the womb. In his early years of life, he was thought by modern medical practitioners to have had Proteus syndrome, and Neurofibromatosis type I. Additionally, despite any evidence based on speed, there is no proof that actual snails are employed as mail carriers by the US Postal Service. The following is a list of both circuses and their country of origin. Top 10 Urban Legends that Are Actually True! Directed by Tod Browning. $28.95 $ 28. Ripley offered a cash reward to Wang or to anyone else who could bring the farmer to his famed Odditorium museum in Baltimore, America. Unlike other people on this list, Juan Baptista dos Santos repeatedly turned down offers to appear in sideshows and circuses. Yes, am talking about a real human here and not a Human Centipede. Thought to have been born in Hendersonville, Tennessee between 1870 and 1873 (like many people from this era, surviving, accurate records of Harper’s life are scarce), Harper became the star of W. H. Harris’s Nickel Plate Circus by 1886 and her name and likeness were prominently promoted in local newspapers whenever the circus changed locations. Records dating back to at least the mid-16th century in England tell stories about people suffering from deformities, medical conditions and genetic anomalies being used as objects of entertainment, curiosity and interest, and the pastime became particularly popular in America and Great Britain during the 19th century thanks to the promoting skills of circus legend P.T. 997 likes. 1 of 13 All Reviews musiclver_2000. Fedor Jeftichew had a condition known as hypertrichosis where his face had a lot of hair, he had canines with his face taking a close resemblance to a dog. For the Hilton sisters, who were conjoined twins, they shared a common nervous system and could feel the same pain. See more ideas about circus freak, vintage photos, old photos. Mademoiselle Gabrielle was born in Switzerland in 1884 with no limbs and bared an exemplary example of the half woman and an independent woman even though she bared no limbs. Lillian Leitzel—“The Queen of Aerial Gymnasts” During the golden age of the circus in the early 20th … His extra leg didn’t hinder him from doing anything, in fact, he could walk, run and ride horses with his extra leg strapped around his thigh. ‘Joannes Baptista’ the smaller of the brothers was a mere protrusion of his bigger brother Lazarus Colloredo in the chest. Posters for his act declared that he could “Walk forward and look backward” but there was more to Martin’s act as he was also an accomplished animal trainer who taught cats and dogs to perform acrobatic tricks. Born Martin Emmerling in Germany in 1886, Martin performed around Europe before arriving in America in 1921. Unlike other freaks who were largely ignored by the medical community, Myrtle had many scientific articles and journals written about her from the day she was born. $9.84 shipping. He is known as one of the most popular midgets in history. The Original Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Bunker, The Original Siamese Twins Chang & Eng Bunker Twin brothers Chang... 2. He was sold to Mr. Sedlmayer, a German impresario, when he was four and was displayed as a sideshow exhibition around Europe. Famous Freak Show Acts: Annie Jones (“The Bearded Lady”) Annie Jones, the world-famous bearded lady of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Merrick turned to the travelling sideshow life in 1884 but he eventually settled in London where he lived at the back of a ‘human curiosity’ shop where he could be viewed by paying customers. As a performer, she was always on top of her game, delivering her performance with demure and grace. From then on, they went on to star in movies and circus freak shows where they made a high earning showbiz career for themselves. Top Ten Famous Sideshow Performers and Freaky Human Oddities 1. A travelling Russian banker snapped a photograph of a Chinese farmer in Manchukuo who appeared to have a horn growing out of the back of his head which exceeded 13 inches in length. When he was an adult, he was quite sexually adventurous, word goes around that he took full advantage of his two penises and when he would finish with one, he could continue with the other. She was diagnosed with a medical condition known as a congenital deformity which had caused her to absorb the legs of her twin which had failed to develop in the womb. She was born at a weight of 8 ounces and a height of 7 inches. From giraffe neck women to the world's tallest man (EVER), check out circus freaks ... err performers, of the past. Little is known about his later life, but it is thought that Martin burned many bridges in the sideshow industry and his last recorded performance was in 1945 with Ripley. She was described as a gentle woman and had many scientific journals and articles written about her since birth. Barnum, Coney Island Circus and the Ringling Bros, Myrtle was described as being a “gentle woman” with a happy disposition and she earned up to $450 a week at the peak of her popularity. It was a fairly common tactic of promoters to compare their sideshow freaks to animals, especially if they had rare conditions like hypertrichosis which caused abnormal hair growth on the body. However, things looked up for him when he eventually settled in London and lived in a Human Curiosity shop where he could be viewed and paid by passing customers. During the 1840s Barnum beg… However, performers in these attractions display triumph over their physical deformities and have become world renowned entertainers for their acts. When he wasn’t performing, he lived a normal life and could speak Russian, English, and German. Zip the Pinhead Zip the Pinhead in his “Missing Link” outfit William Henry … While circus freaks are no longer part of the show, performers from the past are as interesting today as in past eras. With her father in tow acting as her agent, Josephine toured around Europe from the age of 14 and found considerable fame when she fashioned her beard like that of Napoleon III and received diamonds from the French leader. I am talking about Circus Freaks; one of the biggest attractions back in the day was the freak show events. Mr. Wang was a mysterious man whose peculiar condition made him the famous person he was back in the day. Harper suffered from a condition which was very rare known as congenital deformity or genu recurvatum which caused hyperextension of her knee joints causing them to bend backward in a bizarre way. 07. However, although he looked normal, Laurello was able to completely rotate his head 180 degrees. For a short time, the Circus Freaks were forced to … Promoted as ‘The Ugliest Woman’, Mary Ann actually lived a fairly normal, married life until she began to develop abnormal facial growth and started suffering from severe headaches and failing eyesight in her mid-30s. This earned a high tier in the sideshow world of fame. Circus Freak. Sadly, the image of this two brothers was that they were all ‘not there’. There have been many famous modern circuses since the first modern circus was staged by Philip Astley in London on January 9, 1768. P. T. Barnumwas considered the father of modern-day advertising, and one of the most famous showmen/managers of the freak show industry. 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