Notable Stage Performers in the Carnival Circuit
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the world of freak shows was a popular form of entertainment. Here are the captivating stories of some of the most famous performers from that era.
Chang and Eng, the Siamese Twins, were born in Siam (present-day Thailand) in 1811. They were conjoined twins, joined at the chest, and would later become the first conjoined twins to gain international fame. They traveled to America and Europe, performing in numerous sideshows and traveling troupes.
P.T. Barnum, the famed showman, enticed Chang and Eng out of retirement to pay for their college tuitions. The twins retired and purchased a Southern plantation by 1838, owning 33 slaves.
Annie Jones, known as the "Infant Esau," was a bearded lady who started her career at a young age working for P.T. Barnum. She grew long hair to match her beard and became an accomplished musician.
Ella Harper, known as the "Camel Girl," had congenital genu recurvatum, a condition causing her knees to bend backward. This made walking on all-fours more comfortable, and her act was inspired by her condition. She earned the nickname "Camel Girl" due to her knees and walking position. Ella retired from the sideshow world at the age of 16 to go to school.
Schlitzie Surtees, known for playing a "pinhead" character, was born with microcephalus, a condition that causes an unusually small head circumference. He performed in various circuses and appeared in a film by Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi. Schlitzie performed as a woman due to developmental disabilities that made him incontinent. He was adopted by a chimp trainer in the '30s, but was later committed to a mental hospital.
Zazel, a British aerialist, was the first human cannonball. She was launched in 1877 by The Great Farini's cannon that relied on springs. Her first flight was at the Royal London Aquarium, where she flew 70 feet (21 meters) in the air. However, she missed a landing and ended up retiring with a broken back. The cannon used by The Great Farini for Zazel's act exploded only to capture the audience's attention.
The Great Farini, a well-known tightrope walker, invented the cannon that projected humans into the air. Ella Harper's act was also inspired by a unique device. She often appeared with a camel in her act to present a side-by-side comparison.
Freddy Quinn, a visionary active in 19th and 20th century Germany, was a known tightrope walker who began as a tightrope walker and acrobat in a circus. He later became a popular singer in postwar Germany, entering German popular culture through his maritime-themed songs and widespread media presence.
Schlitzie was eventually found by a fellow circus performer and lived on his own until his death at age 71 in Los Angeles. These extraordinary individuals left a lasting impact on the world of entertainment, pushing boundaries and captivating audiences with their unique talents.
