30388.
Unidentified Fire Eater.
Oddities, Circus, Fairs, Clowns, Ventriloquists, Puppets, Automatons-Cabinet & Boudoir Cards
30389.
Billy Wells, Champion Iron Skull Man, at Cohl & Middelton’s, South Side Museum, Clark St. Chicago, Ill., Sept. 1892.
30390.
E.H. Crossman, Yankee Whittler, with Maria.
30391.
E.H. Crossman, Yankee Whittler, with Maria.
30392.
Gaddah, the “American Elephant Man.” Written on verso “Joseph Brokaw, Born in Arabia, 25 years old.”
30393.
Written on verso “A cow I saw 25 years ago in New York.”
30396.
Eugene Berry. I believe his signature is on verso.
30397.
Eugene Berry. I believe his signature is on verso.
30399.
Alice Bounds and Mother. These individuals were afflicted with acromesomelic dysplasia, an extremely rare, inherited, progressive skeletal disorder that results in a particular form of short stature known as short-limb dwarfism. The disorder is characterized by acromelia and mesomelia. Mesomelia describes the shortening of the bones of the forearms and lower legs relative to the upper parts of those limbs. Acromelia is the shortening of the bones of the hands and feet. Thus, the short stature of affected individuals is the result of unusually short forearms and abnormal shortening of bones of the lower legs. The very short hands, fingers, feet, and toes are characteristic. These findings are apparent during the first years of life.
30400.
Two of the Shields Brothers with unidentified gentleman.
30401.
Unidentified man with his small horse.
30402.
With Compliments from Eddie McDonald, the “Flexible Statue.”
30403.
Unidentified contortionist.
30404.
Unidentified contortionist.
30406.
L.L. Slingen?, foot writer without any obvious disability.
30408.
Maximo & Bartola, Aztecs of Ancient Mexico. Máximo and Bartola (also known as Maximo Valdez Nunez and Bartola Velasquez respectively) were the stage names of two Salvadoran siblings both suffering from microcephaly and cognitive developmental disability who were exhibited in human zoos in the 19th century. Originally from near Usulután, El Salvador, the siblings were given by their mother to a merchant who promised he would take them to Grenada to be educated and exhibited. They then went through several guardians afterwards. They were eventually billed as “Aztec Children” and an elaborate story was constructed of how they were found in the temple of a lost Mesoamerican city. They toured the U.S. and Europe, appearing before various regents and dignitaries.
30409.
Unidentified pinhead.
30410.
Barney Baldwin, Broken Neck Wonder, The only living man in the history of the world with a broken neck.
30411.
Barney Baldwin, Broken Neck Wonder, The only living man in the history of the world with a broken neck.
30412.
James Wilson, “Expansionist.” The Anatomical Wonder, James Wilson, Expansionist Extraordinary. Breaks chains, straps and mighty ropes, by merely expanding his chest..
30413.
James Wilson, “Expansionist.” The Anatomical Wonder, James Wilson, Expansionist Extraordinary. Breaks chains, straps and mighty ropes, by merely expanding his chest..
30414.
Unidentified man with very long beard.
30416.
Krao Farini (1876 – 16 April 1926) was an American sideshow performer, who was born with hypertrichosis, who took part in 19th-century exhibition tours in North America and Europe. She was adopted by Guillermo Antonio Farini. On verso is says “Born in Siam Asia Age 16. Forepaugh Circus, 1892. She was billed as the “Missing Link.” There are various stories of her origin which you can find online.
30419.
Written on verso “Barnum’s kayaker rows between shows.” Information from Fred Dahlinger: This is submariner Paul Boyton, who did an act in a shallow tank for Barnum and Bailey about 1887. He later organized an amusement park at Coney Island, later (not originally) known as Sea Lion Park and ultimately bought by Thompson and Dundee who transformed it into the first Luna Park, the success of which inaugurated the great era of amusement parks in the US and elsewhere.
30420.
Written on verso “Delano Fitz, Wonderland, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.” Information from Fred Dahlinger: This image has a backstamp of P[lumber] M. McClintock who was an ephemera dealer in Detroit and later Franklin, Pa.
30421.
Written on verso “White Eagle 1889.”
30462.
Signed on verso “Compliments of J.H. Sullivan (Broncho John).
30464.
Performing Bear.
30470.
Gentleman with his advertising Ferris Wheel. Words on some of the cars: “Confectioner,” “and,” “Refreshment,” “Contractor,” “Banquets,” etc. Information from Fred Dahlinger: This wheel with observation platforms at axle height is the British Graydon wheel of 1895.
30595.
Santa Claus.
30616.
Clown and costumed female performer.
30663.
The Little Esquimaux Lady, Miss Olof Krarer. Age, 31 years. Height, 40 inches. Weight, 120 lbs.
30665.
Gustavo Arcaris, from Naples, Italy, better known as “The Great Arcaris” was discovered by PT Barnum in Italy in the late 1880’s. Barnum brought him to the US to act as a show man for the Barnum circus. The woman who performed as his assistant is Gustavo’s sister Kate.
30666.
Gustavo Arcaris, from Naples, Italy, better known as “The Great Arcaris” was discovered by PT Barnum in Italy in the late 1880’s. Barnum brought him to the US to act as a show man for the Barnum circus. The woman who performed as his assistant is Gustavo’s sister Kate.
30667.
Gustavo Arcaris, from Naples, Italy, better known as “The Great Arcaris” was discovered by PT Barnum in Italy in the late 1880’s. Barnum brought him to the US to act as a show man for the Barnum circus. The woman who performed as his assistant is Gustavo’s sister Kate.
30668.
Les Roni. Information from Fred Dahlinger: Shown are musical sleigh bells, just one of maybe a dozen novelty instruments played in dime museums, side shows, vaudeville stages and the like.
30669.
Les Roni.
30670.
Nelsoni, the Boy Juggler.
30671.
Eberhart.
30672.
Ball Walker.
30673.
Mill Lillie Selbini with Harry Kernell’s Co. 1887 & 1888. Residence, Liverpool, Eng.
30674.
Great Fielding, Juggler, Newark, N.J. Harry Kennell Co., 1889, Fred Graves, Manager.
30675.
Dennis the Juggler.
30676.
Pertois. Equilibrist de pied.
30677.
Gus White and his puppets.
30678.
Panoramic photo of the Clarence Wortham Shows, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, July 8 to 15, 1921. The Siamese twins Rosa & Josepha Blazek can be seen at left center. Information from Fred Dahlinger: Clarence A. Wortham the “Little Giant,” was a prominent carnival owner who had four railroad shows on tour at one time. He hailed from Danville, IL, but quartered later in San Antonio, Texas. Of short stature, he was highly respected, playing big fairs in the US and Canada.
30684.
Group of men by circus tent. African-American with metal pan; man with shoeshine kit; man in musician’s uniform; couple other men in uniform.
30685.
Written on verso, “Ross Ritche, taken when he was in show on stage traveling. He did juggling act.”
30687.
Burbank the ventriloquist with his dummies.
30688.
Mrs. A.H. Bates and Capt. M.V. Bates. The man at right is the photographer Charles Eisenmann.