Back in the late 1800’s until the early 1900’s, traveling sideshows were at its peak. Many times, these circus’s would bring along animals and people with incredible talents for pit stops all over the world. A lot of the time, these circus’s would feature bizarre acts and creepy talents, like sword swallowing or breathing fire. A lot of the time, they would also feature people with physical deformities who performed comedy acts or had interesting talents.
These photos depict the best of the best! They were truly dedicated to their practices in the circus and delivered incredible acts of entertainment despite the obvious exploitation of some of the performer’s abnormalities. A lot of these famous performers were featured in American Horror Story: Freak Show.
Koo-Koo (1879 – 1960)
Koo Koo, the Bird Girl, was born in 1880 and reportedly rescued from a mental asylum to enter the circus world. She was diagnosed with a rare congenital growth skeletal disorder called Virchow-Seckel syndrome. This explains her short stature, small head, and narrow bird-like face. She also had a receding jaw, large ears, and mild intellectual disability.
The Human Owl (1886 – 1955)
Martin Joe Laurello spent three years rotating his head for the sole purpose of spinning it to 180 degrees. This practice, along with a few dislocated vertebrae, gave him the role of The Human Owl in many popular sideshows.
Frank ‘Cannonball’ Richards (1887 – 1969)
The Human Caterpillar (1871 – 1934)
Prince Randian was born in 1871 and spent most of his life in the sideshow career. He had tetra-amelia syndrome which explains his lack of limbs. His sideshow act was very popular, as he usually wrapped himself in a fabric and crawled around like a caterpillar. He was best known for being able to roll a cigarette with his lips.
The Human Pincushion (1912 – 1948)
Mirin Dajo is known as being the human pincushion. He would stand in front of an audience, bare-chested, and have his assistant ram pointed objects through his abdomen. Eventually, medical teams caught on and brought him in for an examination. He was indeed getting pierced all the way through but somehow not getting harmed. Many believe he learned how to ignore the pain.
Lobster Boy (1866 – ?)
Fred Wilson was born with ectrodactyly fingers and backward feet. It was a familial trait that has been carried down the line for 300 years. There isn’t much information on him other than he was one of the most popular sideshow performers of his era!
Fanny Mills (1860 – 1892)
Fanny Mills suffered from Lymphedema. The illness caused intense swelling in her limbs that were incurable. She began her career in the medical realm and eventually joined a circus after they offered her $5,000 a year. She was reported to wear size 30 shoes.
World’s Smallest Woman (1864 – 1890)
LucÃa Zárate is the smallest and lightest person ever recorded. Her tiny stature and small beauty brought in the crowds all around the world. When she was 18, she only weighed four pounds. She died tragically from hypothermia when her circus train got stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Headless Chicken
A chicken survived for 18 months after his head was chopped off. A local circus ended up taking him in as an attraction and named him Mike.
The Four-Legged Woman (1868 – 1928)
A young Myrtle Corbin joined the circus circuit at only 13 years old. She was born a dipygus, meaning that her body axis split as she was developing in the womb. She had two separate pelves’ and could move the inner legs. She was such a favorite that many other circuses’ faked their own acts similar to Myrtle’s. She ended up retiring, getting married, and having five children.
The Elastic Man (1859 – ?)
James Morris was simply born with a lot of elasticity in his skin. He mainly used this little trick to entertain his friends. Once he joined the army, he continued to do this bit to amuse his fellow soldiers. Word caught wind and he was recruited by circus’ and museums.
The Three-Legged Man (1889 – 1966)
Frank Lentini is known to the world as the Three-Legged Man. He joined the circus when he moved to America at 13 and worked for over 40 years in the business. He had three legs, four feet, and two sets of genitals. He suffered from having a parasitic twin in the womb.
The Pierced Man
As body modification was absolutely a faux-pas back in the day, this act was incredibly heinous and shocking. The pierced man was able to pierce any part of his face during his act which shocked and stunned audience members. Nothing more unsettling than watching a guy pierce his tongue live on stage!
Pip & Flip
These sisters were born as Jenny Lee and Elvira Snow in Hartwell, George. They were usually billed as being from the Yucatan and as twins, but both are false. The two girls were born with microcephaly which explains their small heads. They were mentally delayed and acted like toddlers, which audiences adored. It’s rumored that they had a 12 year age difference.
The Legless Acrobat (1844 – 1924)
Also known as the “most handsome man in showbiz,” Eli Bowen was born with underdeveloped feet attached to his hips. He quickly became interested in acrobatics and was a pro by 13. He joined a traveling circus group at that time while also focusing on school. He’s known as one of the most successful showmen of his time.
Unzie
Unzie the Albino started his career allegedly being ‘kidnapped’ as a child by a popular circus company. He grew up within the business and became very popular. He was known as a gentleman and always flattered the ladies. His biggest moniker was his giant hair, that allegedly had to be trimmed once every two weeks or it would grow to be outrageous!
The American Bearded Woman (1865 – 1902)
Annie Jones joined showman P.T. Barnum’s circus when she was just nine months old due to her excessive body hair. At five, she had a mustache and sideburns for the act. Her parent’s received a $150 salary per week. She spent most of her live on the road in the circus.
Schlitzie Surtees (1901 – 1971)
Just like the Snow Sisters, Schlitzie also suffered from microcephaly. He spent most of his life in show business and the rest in a mental asylum. He was extremely popular to crowd due to his androgyny and mystery.
John Jennings (1845 – 1906)
Also known as Modern Sampson, Jennings was best known for his incredible strength. He would show audiences around the country just how strong every part of his body was. He even hung heavy weights just from his hair.
The Wild Men of Borneo (1825 – 1905 ) (1827 – 1912)
These two brothers were on the road with P.T. Barnum for most of their lives living under false names and a false story. Their birth names are Hiram and Barney, Barnum changed their names to Waino and Pultanor. Their fake story says that they were captured on the island of Borneo after a violent struggle with sailors.
The Man With Two Faces (1920 – 1995)
Robert Owen Melvin was “the Man with Two Faces” due to his neurofibromatosis. He was known as a friendly, generous church-going man who had a wonderful life. After his time in the circus, he went to college, got a degree, and got married.
The Two-Headed Man
This set of conjoined twins were actually billed as one person. These types of birth abnormalities were very common in the sideshow world.
The Pony Boy (1895 – 1970)
His real name was Robert Huddleston. He was born with a very advanced form of ongenital genu recurvatum, which is a deformity of the knee. He lived his entire life walking around on all fours. He was actually very successful as a farmhand and carpenter. He only went to the circus lifestyle after he did one circus just for fun. He then spent 36 years of his life in the industry.
The Minnesota Wooly Baby (1887 – 1933)
Alice Elizabeth Doherty is the only person known to be born with this condition in the United States. Hypertrichosis lanuginosa is simply abnormal body hair growth. When she was born, she was covered in two-inch thick hair all over her body. She went into the sideshow business at just two years old.
The Living Skeleton (1841 – 1887)
Isaac Sprague was born a healthy baby boy in 1841. At the age of 12, he suddenly began feeling ill after swimming in a lake. He then developed severe muscular dystrophy and lost an insane amount of weight that he could never get back. After working odd jobs, he finally gave in to the circus life.
Camel Girl (1870 – 1921)
Ella Harper also suffered from the same disfigurement as The Pony Boy. She worked in the business for a few years before moving away and getting married.
The Man With The Tail
This man, born with a vestigial tail, was also part of the sideshow acts. It’s unclear who he worked for but many people have questioned the conditions due to his skeletor look.
The Tattooed Woman (1893 – 1985)
Artoria Gibbons made the decision to become the tattooed lady after speaking with a sideshow owner. He then married the man after he made her a star and they lived happily together until he passed away in the 1940’s. Artoria is one of the most famous heavily tattooed women in the world.
Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy (1868 – 1904)
Fedor Jeftichew, a Russian child suffering from hypertrichosis, was referred to as “Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy” when he toured with the circus. He was yet another one of P.T. Barnum’s acts who he brought from overseas. He would bark and growl during his sets.
The Living Doll
Anita The Living Doll was a very popular sight to see as she was beautiful as she was adorable. She would pride herself in wearing the finest clothes and shared her immense knowledge with her crowds. When she was 26, she was 26 inches tall and weighed 13 pounds.
Lobster Boy (1937 – 1992)
Grady Stiles was another Ectrodactyly performer just like Fred Wilson, but after Wilson’s time. He continued the sideshow attraction of the “lobster boy.”
Conjoined Twins (1878 – 1922)
Conjoined twins Josefa and Rosa Blazed were born in the Czech Republic and brought to America as a circus attraction. Josefa was known as a quiet and introverted woman, while her twin Rosa was extremely talkative and physically stronger. Rosa ended up having a son, Franzl, who is pictured. She is the only female conjoined twin in history to give birth to a child.
Sophia Schultz
Known by her stage name Dwarf Fat Lady, Schultz was best known for her tiny stature and larger than normal weight in the late 1800’s. A few years into her career, she even began to grow facial hair, which she used to her advantage. She even penciled it in to make it more prominent!
A Happy Wedding
These two tiny performers met at and were married at the circus! Many people don’t realize that these performers had happy lives within the circus and many times found love.
Frances O’Connor (1914 – 1982)
Billed as The Armless Wonder, O’Connor was best known for her comedy acts. She would usually perform acts for crowds like knitting, sewing, and even smoking a cigarette… All with her toes!
Nicodemus The Indescribable (1869 – 1894 (?))
Born with three malformed limbs, this circus performer was impressively strong. There are many rumors surrounding the end of his life. There were some reports from 1894 that he drowned in a river, but then there are others placing him in Chicago at around 1908.
Jolly Irene (1880 – 1940)
Jolly Irene got her name when she reached her twenties and gained nearly 700 pounds. This was an oddity back in the day as obesity was something rare. She put herself on display as she could not find any other jobs, and the Ringling Brothers took her in. She was so popular, she even needed around-the-clock security! She lived well into her 50’s and died of weight-related illnesses.
Miss Lucy Moore (1877 – 1920)
Also known as The American Fat Lady, Miss Lucy Moore was billed as the heaviest woman in the world. She was a huge attraction in the UK, clocking in at nearly 700 pounds. She was always a heavy person, weighing in at 100 pounds when she was just a year old. She died after a long battle with cancer.
Sealo the Seal Boy (1901 – 1980)
Born Stanley Berent, Sealo the Seal Boy was an attraction because of his small, seal-like arms. He was born with a congenital medical condition known as phocomelia.
Contortionist Couple
Dolling themselves up in silly outfits, this couple knew just how to wow a crowd with their bendy moves!
Susi The Elephant Girl (1909 – 1975)
Susi suffered from Ichthyosis, which causes the skin to become loose and cracked. The skin resembles an elephant’s skin, which is where she got the name. It was a very painful condition for Susi and she had to keep moisturized constantly or she would risk cracking the skin and getting an infection. After a tough childhood, she found her place in the circus.
Princess Tiny (1985 – ?)
This actress entered the circus business when she was only 18 years old. At the time, she clocked in at 21 inches tall and 15 pounds. In many of her photos, she posed with furniture to show how tiny she really was.
Unknown Strongman
This small actor was known back in the day for his strongman act. He donned the usual ‘strongman’ attire and lifted incredible weights that wowed all of the crowds.
Woman of Steel (1884 – 1952)
Katie Sandwina got her name by beating out strongman Eugene Sandow. She feminized his last name so that people would remember what she did. She was over six feet tall and 187 pounds and could lift anything.
The First Human Cannonball (1863 – 1937)
Rosa Richter was the first person to be launched out of a cannon. She got started in the business when she was 12 and began tightrope walking and other acrobatics. She was known as a daredevil and a “lawmaker,” as many of her stunts enacted laws to try and protect and stop performers since they were so dangerous. Her circus career ended when she fell from a 40-foot tall wire and landed on her hands and knees while a metal pole landed on her back. She broke her back and nearly died.
Annie Oakley (1860 – 1926)
Probably one of the most famous sideshow performers, Annie Oakley is known for her sharpshooter feats. In the Annie joined Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show in the 1880’s where she performed as a trick shooter for 15 years.
Leona Dare (1854 – 1922)
Leona Dare was best known for her stunts on trapezes suspended from balloons. She also performed acts like the “iron jaw,” where she hung onto ropes with nothing but the strength of her jaw. In 1888, she accidentally let her performing partner drop where he fell to his death.
Gladys Roy (1902 – 1927)
The sister of three pilots, Gladys Roy was best known for her stunts on the wings of planes. She ended up getting killed during a stunt when she was struck by a propeller.
The Seven Sutherland Sisters
While their act was about singing, the true crowd-pleaser was their incredible hair. Collectively, their hair reached a length of 37 feet. They also were able to sell a hair growth tonic which became very popular.
The Lion-Faced Man (1830 – 1932)
In a rather sad turn of events, Stephan Bibrowski was given away to a German entertainer when he was born because she thought her hypertrichosis son was inhuman. She believed that he was the way he was because her husband was attacked by a lion when she was pregnant. He then became the Lion-Faced Man. He was also known for her gymnastic tricks.
Three-Eyed Man (1913 – 1975)
Bill Durks was born with a facial deformity that caused a large divot to form in the middle of his face. For his act, he painted on a large eye to make it look like a third eye. He suffered from frontonasal dysplasia.
The Penguin Lady (1910 – Retired 1960)
Mignon the Penguin Lady was known for her penguin-like features that also made her waddle. She was born with phocomelia which stunted her limbs and fused her digits together in the womb. She retired in 1960 where the rest of her life remains a mystery.
Sideshow Boxers
This was a very common thing to see in circus acts. Sideshow managers would find acts of different proportions and put them up against one another for the joy of the crowd. It was very popular and usually a given in most circus acts.
The Armless Fiddler (1848 – 1928)
The man born with no arms became a world-famous violin player. Carl Herman Unthan took the world by storm as traveled playing the violin with his feet. He even went to visit wounded WWI soldiers to play for them.
Oliver The Humanzee (1970’s)
This was a bizarre turn of events for the circus world. Oliver was billed as a ‘missing link’ on the circus route. They claimed that he was of man and chimpanzee… They even had a medical statement that he had 47 chromosomes, which is one more than man and one less than a chimpanzee. Oliver was reported to be human-like in facial features and demeanor.