40 Photos Of Retro Circus Performers That Got People Saying ‘Damn, That’s Interesting’
Looking at historical photos is quite fascinating. Such images not only capture what life was like in earlier times but also show how drastically different things are now.
Whether it's fashion trends or urban landscapes, each vintage scene highlights the evolution of human civilization.
Today, we've gathered fascinating snapshots of circus performers from the subreddit "r/Damnthatsinteresting". Many of us know about entertainers like acrobats and clowns, but these photos of retro artists share a glimpse into the world of old circuses.
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Martin Couney Saved Over 7,000 Premature Babies By Exhibiting Them In Incubators In His Coney Island Sideshow. By 1943, Nearly Ever Hospital In America Had One Of His Incubators - And He Wasnt Even A Doctor!
When people hear the word circus, they think of a spectacle filled with gravity-defying stunts, animals performing tricks, and colorful clowns. Back in the day, there was another act that was prominently part of these marquees.
Many traveling circuses in the 1800s and 1900s featured sideshows or freak shows. People with biological rarities were showcased in such events. Referred to as "freaks of nature" in popular culture, they had physical deformities such as excessive hair growth, additional limbs, unique tattoos, and missing body parts.
Maud Wagner The First Professional Female Tattoo Artist, In 1904. (She Also Worked As A Tattooed Lady For The Circus)
In The 1910s, There Was An Austrian-American Circus Act Featuring Katie Sandwina, A Remarkable Strongwoman. One Of Her Notable Feats Was Lifting Her Husband Overhead
People saw these oddities as a way to make a quick buck as spectators would flock to see these humans with mutations. Sadly, they were treated as objects of interest and entertainment, shifting the stigmas held by people into curiosity. These carnival sideshows required a separate entry fee from the main circus.
In 1881, P.T. Barnum, known for his promotion of sensational attractions and hoaxes, joined hands with James Bailey to create the Barnum & Bailey Circus, often dubbed "The Greatest Show on Earth". The biggest sideshow was part of their circus as one of the chief attractions.
After The Death Of Her Husband, Mary Ann Bevan Decided To Enter A Contest And Won "Ugliest Woman In The World" & Was Hired By A Circus. She Endured The Ridicule Of Others To Give Her Kids A Better Life
Ella Harper Was Born With A Rare Condition That Caused Her Knees To Bend Backward. She Had To Walk On All Fours, Earning Her The Nickname “Camel Girl.” She Made A Fortune With A Weekly Wage Of $200 In 1886
A Circus Strongwomen Balances A Piano And A Pianist On Her Chest, 1920s
The Barnum and Bailey performers appeared in the center of a large tent, while a ‘lecturer’ walked around describing the unique characteristics of each person. As bizarre as this sounds, their popular entertainers included ‘Jo-Jo the Human Sky Terrier, whose long hair made him look like a dog’, Annie Jones, the Bearded Lady, among many others.
In the late 1800s, while touring in London, a group of 40 or so of these performers rightfully staged a labor strike. They demanded that the management of the Barnum and Bailey circus shouldn’t use the term freak for their show’s promotional items.
1920's Circus Clown. Tim Burton Would Freak
Prince Randian, Also Known As The Living Torso, Was A Performer In American Sideshows In The 1930s. Born In British Guyana In 1871, Randian Was Known As The "Human Caterpillar" For His Ability To Crawl On His Belly
Unzie Circassian Circa 1900. He Looked Like A Total Rockstar!
1899, Two African-American Brothers With Albinism Were Forcibly Exploited As Performers In A Circus. In 1927 They Returned To Roanoke And George Recognized Their Mother, And Screamed, "Willie, She Is Not Dead"!
"George and Willie Muse were two brothers who grew up in Truevine, part of a sharecropping family that lived in a tobacco farming community near Roanoke, Virginia. The two brothers were both albinos, a feature that Willie claimed prompted a circus man to abduct the two children in 1899 while they worked in a field."
Circus Performer Jimmy Armstrong Having A Smoke Break. 1958
George Moore (The Living Skeleton) vs. Fred Howe (The Fat Man), Two Circus Performers, 1897
I think George had hyperthyroidism. He was 6 foot 3. Fred was only 4 foot 2. He probably had hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone was only synthesised in the early 1920's?
They held meetings to decide on a new name and even shared a strongly worded resolution: “That we, a majority of the living human curiosities at the Barnum and Bailey Show, emphatically protest against the application of the word ‘freak’ to us, and severely condemn its general assignment to those who, for their benefit or otherwise, were created differently from the human family as the latter exist today, and that, in the opinion of many, some of us are really the development of a higher type and are superior persons, inasmuch some of us are gifted with extraordinary attributes not apparent in ordinary beings.”
Lucia Zarate, The Shortest Woman In History, Died Of Hypothermia When Her Circus Train Became Stranded In Snow In The Sierra Nevada Mountains In 1890
Lucía Zárate was a Mexican entertainer with dwarfism who performed in sideshows. Zárate is the first person to have been identified with Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II. She was entered into the Guinness World Records as the "lightest recorded adult", weighing 4.7 pounds at the age of 17.
Krao Farini (1876 – 16 April 1926) Was An American Sideshow Performer, Who Was Born With Hypertrichosis And Took Part In 19th-Century Exhibition Tours In North America And Europe. (403x599)
The Hilton Sisters: Violet (Left) & Daisy (Right). Conjoined Twins And Entertainers, Born In England During The Early 1900’s
Their story is very tragic. They were purchased from their mother by her employer, Mary, who wanted to profit off their condition. They were very much slaves to her and her daughter (they were out and out bequeathed to Mary's daughter when Mary died), and were beaten and abused if they didn't follow orders. They managed to successfully sue the daughter and her husband and gain emancipation in 1931.
The news of this revolt created a media frenzy across Britain. Articles were published on the ‘final awakening of personal pride in abnormal species of the human race’. A campaign was started to find a new name for them. Many suggestions like Anomalies, Peculiar People, Uniques or Unusuals were sent in from around the country.
The Man With A Parasitic Twin Growing Out Of His Torso: The Life Of Circus Performer Jean Libbera
"World’s Largest Woman And Smallest Man", July 1922. Nellie Blanche Lane, 642 Lbs., And Clarence Chesterfield Howerton, 2 Ft. 4 Inches Tall, One Of The Munchkins In 'Wizard Of Oz' (Who Was 9 Years Old)
If I read this correctly, Clarence was nine years old, which makes him a boy not a man.
Francesco "Frank" Lentini (May 18, 1889 − September 21, 1966) Was A Sicilian-American Sideshow Performer. Born With A Parasitic Twin, Lentini Had Three Legs, Four Feet, And Two Sets Of Genitals
The word ‘Prodigies’, which was suggested by Canon Albert Wilberforce of Westminster Abbey, was accepted after receiving 21 votes. Eleven people voted for the name Human Marvels and there was one vote each for the other 10 names. The Prodigies were happy with the new name and life returned to normal.
Former Circus Performer Jakob Nacken (7,3”) Was The Tallest German Soldier Of Wwll, Here He Is Chatting With British Corporal Bob Roberts (5,3”) After Surrendering To Him Near Calais, France In 1944
Circus Freak Shows Used To Include Exotic Dancers
They were called Circassian Beauties
They'd backcomb their hair to look more "exotic" & give an elaborate backstory about how they're former dancing girls from the haram of a wealthy sultan. That way the show would be plausibility "educational" enough to get around legal loopholes regarding nudity.
Stephan Bibrowski, Who Had Gorgeous Blonde Hair That Covered His Entire Body From Head To Toe, Was Born In Bielsk, Poland In 1890
However, despite receiving monetary benefits, these sideshows created some moral dilemmas for the performers. Many of them were manipulated and forced into the industry. Quite often, their backstories and conditions were exaggerated by the managers. They made them seem like outcasts just to draw in larger crowds.
Johnny Eck, Actor & Freak Show Performer Who Was Born Without The Lower Half Of His Torso, Posing With His Brother Robert In 1922
I have seen him starring in "Freaks". I just looked him up - he lived to be 79!
Photo Of Joseph Merrick (The Elephant Man) Circa 1889
"The Elephant Man" (1980) is one of the most poignant films I have ever seen. I highly recommend it.
James Morris, “The Rubber Man”, Had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Eds) And Could Stretch His Own Skin Up To 46 Centimeters (18 In) From His Body Without Any Pain. 1880's
With time, the popularity of such shows dwindled as more and more people questioned the obvious ethical and moral issues of making money off people’s physical adversity. Later, medical advancements provided explanations and diagnoses for different conditions, causing sideshows to lose that element of mystery.
However, the public’s perception has changed and such immoral and unethical acts aren’t acceptable in modern times. Social norms have shifted and activists are fighting to end such injustices. What are your thoughts on this? Have you heard about circus sideshows before?
"Madam Gustika", Of An Ethiopian Tribe Where Stretched Lips Were A Cultural Norm, Became A Circus Attraction In New York. She Is Shown Smoking A Pipe During A Show In New York, April 12, 1930
Julia Pastrama, Or 'The Ugliest Women In The World' Had Her Body Stuffed Against Her Wishes After Death Along With That Of Her Stillborn Son By Her Own Husband So He Could Keep Making Money Off Her
Chang And Eng Bunker Were A Pair Of Conjoined Twins Born In Siam (Now Thailand) In 1811. They Found Work As Freak Show Performers Across The World, And Both Got Married And Had Children In America. Chang And Eng Popularized The Term “Siamese Twins”
From Wikipedia: "The brothers were born with Chinese ancestry in Siam (now known as Thailand) and were brought to the United States in 1829." "In 1839, after a decade of financial success, the twins quit touring and settled near Mount Airy, North Carolina. They became American citizens, bought slaves, married local sisters, and fathered 21 children, several of whom accompanied them when they resumed touring. Chang and Eng's respective families lived in separate houses, where the twins took alternating three-day stays. After the Civil War, they lost part of their wealth and their slaves. Eng died hours after Chang at the age of 62. An autopsy revealed that their livers were fused in the ligament connecting their sternums."
Millie And Christine Mckoy Were African-American Pygopagus Conjoined Twins. They Traveled Throughout The World Performing Song And Dance Shows
They Went By The Stage Names "The United African Twins"[1]: 125 "The Carolina Twins", "The Two-Headed Nightingale" And "The Eighth Wonder Of The World".
Thomas Wadhouse Was An English Circus Performer Who Lived In The 18th Century. He Was Most Famously Known For Having The World's Longest Nose, Which Measured 7.8 Inches (20 Cm) Long
P.t. Barnum With Charles Sherwood Stratton, Whom He Billed As General Tom Thumb, Circa 1850. Stratton Was The Most Popular Entertainer Of His Day, Socializing With Abraham Lincoln And Queen Victoria
Isaac W. Sprague (May 21, 1841 - January 5, 1887) Was An Entertainer And Sideshow Performer, Billed As The Living Human Skeleton
From Wikipedia: "Although normal for most of his childhood, Sprague began irreversibly losing weight at age 12 after feeling ill after swimming.The weight loss continued throughout his life despite having a healthy appetite. His condition has been described by historians as extreme progressive muscular atrophy. This ultimately led to his death." "Sprague made attempts to stay away from the sideshow, but he could not escape financial distress. It is rumored that in addition to being financially responsible for his wife and their three sons, Sprague had a gambling problem. His condition also kept him from finding real work anywhere other than Barnum's, so he continued to tour off and on throughout the country and eventually overseas. By the age of 44, he was 5 feet and 6 inches (168 cm) tall with a weight of only 43 pounds (19.5 kg). Sprague's condition required him to be constantly taking in nutrients."
Adrian And Fedor Jeftichew. At 16, Fedor Joined P.t. Barnum's Circus As Jo-Jo The Dog-Faced Boy
Charles B. Tripp And Eli Bowen Riding A Tandem, 1890s.
Conjoined Twins Rosa And Josepha Blažek With Rosa's Son, Franz [1910]
![Conjoined Twins Rosa And Josepha Blažek With Rosa's Son, Franz [1910]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PGRfSPLcjnZT8hVXcytG9jEf4uMSA5iAcrX9lsUX5n8-6645cabca0ea3__700.jpg "Conjoined Twins Rosa And Josepha Blažek With Rosa's Son, Franz [1910]")
Annie Jones, A Bearded Woman Who Toured With P.t. Barnum As A Circus Attraction
From Wikipedia: "She toured with showman P. T. Barnum as a circus attraction. Whether the cause of her condition was hirsutism or an unrelated genetic condition that affects children of both sexes and continues into adult years is unknown. Many photographers, including Mathew Brady, took her portraits during her lifetime, which were widely distributed. As an adult, Jones became the country's top "bearded lady" and acted as a spokesperson for Barnum's "Freaks", a word she tried to abolish from the business. Jones married Richard Elliot in 1881, but divorced him in 1895 for her childhood sweetheart William Donovan, who died, leaving Jones a widow. In 1902, Jones died in Brooklyn of tuberculosis."
World’s Fattest Man In 1890 Was Large Enough To Be Considered A “Freak Show” In The Circus
The “Wild Men Of Borneo” Were Underdeveloped Twins That Were Actually Sold To Circus By Their Own Mother - 1874 (More Info In The Comments)
Their own mother?! As if being sold like a f*cking animal wasn't bad enough. Just evil.
Til About Alice Elizabeth Doherty Who Is The Only Known Person To Have Suffered From Hypertrichosis (Werewolf Syndrome) In The Us. She Was Exhibited As A Sideshow Attraction By Her Parents
From Wikipedia: "She was exhibited by her parents as a sideshow attraction from as early as the age of two. Later she was presented commercially by her mother and Professor Weller's One-Man Band throughout the Midwestern United States. She was consistently shown as a standalone exhibit in store front exhibitions. By the time she was five years old, her hair grew to about 5 inches (130 mm), eventually increasing to about 9 inches (230 mm) by the time she was a teenager. Doherty was never interested in entertainment, but continued to perform to support her family, anxiously awaiting retirement."
Saartjie "Sarah" Baartman (1789 – 29 December 1815) Was The Most Famous Of At Least Two Khoikhoi Women Who Were Exhibited As Sideshow Attractions In 19th Century Europe Under The Name Hottentot Venus
Thank you for respectfully not posting as to one of the reasons as to why she was famous. She has been through enough and now resting peacefully in her home soil
Showman P.t. Barnum’s “Figi (Fiji) Cannibals”, Bought By Barnum In 1870 To Be An Attraction In His Circus
I can (somewhat) understand people with physical deformities only finding employment (and possibly fame and wealth) in side-shows, but this is something else. There were "human zoos" where people brought (often without their consent) from different countries and cultures were exhibited like exotic animals, and treated as such. Several of the Paris "Expositions coloniales" in the late 18s and early 19s had such reconstituted "villages" populated with miserable people. Many died, very few ever got to go back where they had come from.
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I hope the Bored Pandas reading about these people will comment with courtesy and respect. I have worked all of my life as a psychologist with people of differing physical and mental abilities and characteristics, and have acquired a deep respect for people with all ranges of intelligence and physical characteristics. My respect for them has been shaped as much by the way they handle other "more normal" people and their reactions as by their intrinsic humanity.
Most of these aren't performers or artists but people displayed in so called freak shows for people to stare at. They probably had not much of a choice making a living otherwise.
Yeah I'm torn because it's incredibly exploiting and some of these people were treated as property but there were some of them that made a living this way and when these shows were shut down they were destitute. Many of them couldn't find any other work because society as you can imagine was much less accepting of people who were different and/or had disabilities.
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A history which was proudly and ignorantly continued by some within the comments section.
Load More Replies... I hope the Bored Pandas reading about these people will comment with courtesy and respect. I have worked all of my life as a psychologist with people of differing physical and mental abilities and characteristics, and have acquired a deep respect for people with all ranges of intelligence and physical characteristics. My respect for them has been shaped as much by the way they handle other "more normal" people and their reactions as by their intrinsic humanity.
Most of these aren't performers or artists but people displayed in so called freak shows for people to stare at. They probably had not much of a choice making a living otherwise.
Yeah I'm torn because it's incredibly exploiting and some of these people were treated as property but there were some of them that made a living this way and when these shows were shut down they were destitute. Many of them couldn't find any other work because society as you can imagine was much less accepting of people who were different and/or had disabilities.
Load More Replies... A history which was proudly and ignorantly continued by some within the comments section.
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