american sideshow Archive

Bearded Lady, Vivian Wheeler, circa 1970

A Sideshow Star with the World’s Longest Female Beard. Rest in Peace, Vivian Wheeler.

Human Oddities

I Ran off to the Circus Historical Society Convention

Human Oddities, Misc.

Peek Inside the Life of a 1930s Sideshow Star: The Rubber Skin Lady’s Scrapbook is Now For Sale

Books, Human Oddities

Alfred Pilgrim cabinet card, circa 1890.

Alfred Pilgrim: The Boy Who Lived without Arms and Legs

Human Oddities

At Ward Hall's house in Gibtown. From left to right: Ward, Bruce Snowdon holding a two-headed chicken, little Pete Terhurne, and me. December, 2003.

Thank You Ward Hall, King of the Sideshows, for all the Wonders of the World

Human Oddities

Giovanni and Giacomo, the Tocci Brothers. Marc Hartzman Collection.

A Few Things to Know About the Extraordinary Tocci Brothers

Human Oddities

William Durks, the Man with Two Noses and Three Eyes.

200 Words About the Man with Two Noses and Three Eyes

Human Oddities

Agnes the Rubber Skin Lady and other performers, including: signed photos from Frieda Pushnik; a little person, Major Small; and John Williams, the Alligator-Skin Boy. Photo courtesy of Dori Ann Bischmann, PhD

Inside the Never-Before-Seen Scrapbook of the Rubber Skin Lady, a 1930s-era Sideshow Star

Human Oddities

A pitchbook sold by Medusa Van Allen.

Medusa Van Allen: The Woman Who Couldn’t Grow

Human Oddities

Vivian Wheeler, bearded lady.

Struggles and Triumphs: The Life of the Bearded Lady

Human Oddities

Dave Ballard, the Texas Giant

Dave Ballard, aka Tobor the Robot, the World’s Tallest Santa, and the Texas Giant

Human Oddities

Ted Evans, The Tallest Man Alive. Photo: Kobel Collection, courtesy of Bob Blackmar

The Most Exaggerated “Tallest Man Alive” That Ever Lived

Human Oddities

American Sideshow by Marc Hartzman, featuring more than 200 performers throughout history.

American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History’s Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers

Books, Human Oddities