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NAME	PERIOD	LOCATION	BACKGROUND
Indian Fakirs	circa 2000 BC	(India)	Some of the earliest known references to sword swallowing were documented over four thousand years ago in India by fakirs and shaman priests who practiced the art around 2000 BC, along with fire-eating, fire-walking on hot coals, laying on cactus or a bed of nails, snake handling, and other ascetic religious practices, as demonstration of their invulnerability, power, and connection with their gods. Sword swallowing is still performed in a few parts of India today. Sword swallowers in India are known by the term "golewala" or "jolewale" or "jholewale" or "jholawalla" or "jollahwallah" or "jadoowallah" (meaning "juggler", "busker" or "street performer") or "jagudar" (meaning "magician" or "miracle worker"). Legend has it that there was said to have been a tribe of sword swallowers known as the Konda-Dora tribe in the state of Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana who would pass on the art of sword swallowing from father to son. Konda-Dora is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Orissa by about 28,000 people. The Konda-Dora are distributed in the Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari districts. According to the 1981 Census, their population was 141,374. They call themselves Pandava Doras or Pandava Rajas. They believe that they are the descendants of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. Etymologically "konda" means "hill", and "dora" means "headman" or "chieftain", hence "Konda-Dora" means "hill chieftain". The Konda-Dora language, which is also known as Kubi, is closely related to the Kui language of the Khond, and has borrowed vocabulary from Oriya and Telugu. Many Konda-Dora speak Telugu as well as or instead of their native Khond. One of the most famous of the Indian sword swallowers was Ramo Samee "The East Indian Juggler" who performed in the UK and US from 1813 to 1850. Seeking photos and more information. Indian Sword Swallowers Indian Sword Swallowers Indian Sword Swallowers (1810 article) Indian Sword Swallowers (1822 illust) Indian Sword Swallower (1863-73) Indian Sword Swallower engraving (1878) Indian Sword Swallower (1904) Indian Sword Swallower (1910 card) South Indian Sword Swallower (1940s?) Indian Sword Swallower (1950s?) Indian Sword Swallower (1980s) Indian Sword Swallower (1980s) Sword Swallower in Jaipur, India Sword Swallower in Jaipur, India
Greeks and Romans	1st centuries AD	(Greece/Italy)	From India, sword swallowing spread to China, Greece, Rome, Europe, and the rest of the world. Sword swallowing was often seen at festivals throughout the ancient Roman empire.
Mayan Indians	1st centuries AD	Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)	In the Popul Vuh, the Maya myths, there is mention of the two main Mayan heroes doing stilt-walking and sword-swallowing. This suggests that the time of its transmission from oral to written history would have been about 2000 years ago.
Papua New Guineans	?	(Papua New Guinea)	According to a June, 1939 article in Tops Magazine, an Independent Magazine of Magic entitled "Primitive Sword Swallowing", a primitive tribe in Papua New Guinea uses a form of "vine-swallowing" in the initiation rites of teens being initiated into adulthood. "In an address on anthropology, Mr. G.W. Chinnery told of a new native tribe found in New Guinea. In an initiation ceremony, added Mr. Chinnery, the men pushed lengths of flexible cane into their throats until the cane reached their stomachs." The Matausa tribe cleanse their boys of impurity and help them gain the vitality a warrior needs by sticking two wooden canes down their throats until they vomit. Then, reeds are forced up their nostrils and their tongues are stabbed until their blood has been sufficiently purified. There was a video documentary filmed in the 1970s or 80s on this initiation rite of passage, showing many of the canes or vines being removed from the young men's throats covered in blood. It was reported that several of the initiates die each year from the perforations. Seeking photos and more information. TopsMagazine article (June 1939) Matausa cane swallowing
Germans	410 AD	Rome (Roman Empire)	Swordswallowers are mentioned in 410 AD during the Teutonic fight for Rome.
Chinese	750 AD	(China)	The art and practice of sword swallowing traveled north from India into China around 750 AD. T'ang Dynasty Illustration mid 8th century Chinese Ling Troupe 1915 Chinese Sword swallower 1915 Chinese Sword swallower Shanghai 1920s Chinese Sword swallower Shanghai 1920s Sword swallower in Shanghai Chinese Sword swallower 1927
Japanese	750 AD	(Japan)	Sword swallowing was popular in Japan in the 8th century and was often seen as part of an acrobatic form of entertainment known as Sangaku, which also featured juggling, tightrope walking, contortion, and other related skills. This type of performance art was "street theater" and the performers traveled throughout Japan. Sangaku, like other forms of drama popular in Japan prior to the 11th century, traced its origins to southern China and India. Japanese engraving 1864 Japanese Sword Swallower
Dervish Rifai Sufis	1182 AD	(Middle East)	The Dervish Orders of the Sufis reflect the meeting of Islam and Hindu thought in the 8th century. Dervish is Persian for "beggar." Some Dervish orders wander, others beg alms, and others live in Sufi monasteries. Some are religious entertainers hired to chant the zikr dirge, and some only perform Dervish ceremonies on special occasions. Dervishes are known for working themselves into frenzies and committing great feats of strength (this is where we get the term "Whirling Dervishes"). One of the Dervish orders founded in 1182 was the order of Rifais who eat glass, walk on hot coals, and swallow swords. Ancient sword swallower from Hittite Period in Anatolia
Europe	1200-1893	(Europe)	Sword swallowing spread north from Greece and Rome into Europe at the hands of medieval jongleurs and other street performers who performed in public areas. In the Middle Ages, sword swallowers, like magicians, jugglers and other entertainers, were often condemed and persecuted by the Catholic Church. Still, in most places they were popular by the common folk, and the tradition of the wandering entertainer remained strong. By the mid-17th century, performers wandered more freely and became common sights on street corners and at festivals across Europe. Sword swallowing began to die out in Europe and Scandinavia in the late 1800s, when variety shows were formally outlawed in Sweden in 1893. Sword Swallower on display 1857
Dr. Edward W. Stevens	Born St. Croix, Virgin Islands ca 1755 Studied sword swallower 1777 MD at Univ of Edinburgh 1777 Died St. Croix, Sept 26 1834	(St. Croix, US Virgin Islands)	It was through the good offices of a sword-swallower that the Scotch physician, Dr. Edward Stevens, was enabled to make his experiments on digestion in 1777. On September 12. 1777 Stevens graduated with his MD at the University of Edinburgh with his thesis paper in Latin "Dissertatio inauguralis de alimentorum concoctione" (1777). As part of his research, Dr. Stevens had a sword swallower swallow small metallic tubes pierced with holes. They were filled, according to Reaumer's method, with pieces of meat. After a certain length of time, he would have the sword swallower disgorge the tubes, and in this way he observed to what degree the process of digestion had taken place. It was also probably the sword-swallower who showed the physicians to what extent the pharynx could be habituated to contract, and from this resulted the invention of the tube of Faucher, the esophageal sound, lavage of the stomach, and illumination of this organ by electric light. Stevens' father, Thomas, a prosperous merchant, was reputedly also the father of Alexander Hamilton. Nothing is known of his mother. In his youth, Stevens moved with his family to New York. He graduated A.B. from King's College (now Columbia University) in 1774; and the following year he began studies at the University of Edinburgh, enrolling in the medical school in 1776 and again in 1777. He graduated M.D. on 12 September 1777. Stevens' inaugural dissertation, "De alimentorum concoctione," (1777) presented with ingenuity and insight his experiments and observations on gastric digestion, and clearly confirmed him as the first investigator to isolate human gastric juice. It removed the confusion and contradictions presented in the doctrines of fermentation and trituration, the latter championed by Leeuwenhoek, Borelli, Pitcairn, and Pecquet, and decried by Astruc and Stephen Hales. It also repudiated such views as those of John Pringle and David Macbride. Stevens' work formed a vital bridge linking the experiments of Réaumur before him and Spallanzani and later workers after him. Réaumur had shown, in 1752, that digestion was due to the solvent power of gastric juice. Stevens confirmed this, isolated human gastric juice, and performed experiments both in vitro and in vivo in man and animals. Stevens was admitted to the Royal Medical Society (Edinburgh) on 20 January 1776, and served as its president in 1779 and 1780. In 1778 Stevens read a paper to the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh entitled 'What Is the Cause of the Increase of Weight Which Metals Acquire During Their Calcination." A MS copy is in the library of Edinburgh University. At Edinburgh he was awarded the Harveian prize for an experimental inquiry on the red color of the blood. He returned to St. Croix about 1783 and practiced medicine there for ten years. In 1793 Stevens moved to Philadelphia. where he received public support from Alexander Hamilton and became embroiled in a controversy with Benjamin Rush over methods of treating yellow fever in the great epidemic of that year. On 18 April 1794 he was admitted to the American Philosophical Society, and the following year he was appointed professor of the practice of medicine in King's College (later Columbia University). It is probable that Stevens' presence and reputation in Philadelphia, as well as his contributions in gastric physiology, contributed to the marked interest in gastric studies that took place round the turn of the century in that city. Of these studies, that of John R. Young is best-known. He undoubtedly was familiar with Stevens' work; indeed, his experiments with bullfrogs and small frogs are reminiscent of Stevens' observations of partially digested small fish inside larger ones. Stevens was United States consul-general in Santo Domingo from 1799 to 1800. His consular dispatches to Timothy Pickering, Adams, Jefferson, and other leaders, revealing a critical, observant mind, outlined the geopolitical problems facing the United States in the Caribbean at that time. Controversy marred his political life, however, and he returned to the United States in 1801. He made appearances at the American Philosophical Society meetings in 1803 and 1804, probably returning to St. Croix shortly thereafter. Little is known of Stevens' last years. David Hosack wrote to him in St. Croix on yellow fever in 1809, and in 1823 he wrote Hosack a letter introducing his son, who had also graduated at Edinburgh. Stevens' fundamental and sound gastric studies were confirmed by Spallanzani, who augmented and added to them in masterly fashion, assuring that from then on, gastric physiology would be a well-founded science.
Sena Sama Senaa Samma First Sword Swallower in America	Performed 1817-1843	St. John's Hall Pepin's Circus Pepin and and Breschard's Circus New York, NY (USA)	Sena Sama (also spelled Senaa Samma) from Madras. Tamil Nadu, India was reported to be the first known sword swallower in America. An article explains, "Senaa Samma, an Indian juggler from Madras and London put on the first sword swallowing act in America in New York in November 1817". An article dated November 11, 1817 reports, "Senaa Samma appeared at St. John's Hall in New York City in a lovely exhibition of juggling and sword swallowing. Admission to see the performance was $1 for adults." Another report states that Sena Sama put on America's first sword swallowing exhibition in New York City on November 25, 1817. The newspaper account said that he swallowed "a sword manufactured by Mr. William Pye of New York as a substitute for the one lately stolen from him by some villain." Sama worked a short time with Pepin's Circus in 1818, but reports say he was already working previously in America doing theatre cabaret work. Sama is mentioned in both "Annals of the American Circus, Vol.1. 1793-1829" by Stuart Thayer and "Freak Show: Presenting Human Oddities for Amusement and Profit" by Robert Bogdan. In 1833, Sena Sama and Hamed Ben-Alla published a 71 page booklet on magic entitled "The Whole Art of Legerdemain or Hocus Pocus" published by N.C. Hafis in NY. In 1843, the book "Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society" mentions that sword swallower Sena Sama came to New York and swallowed a sword that measured 22 inches long. Could this have been Ramo Samee or one of his troupe from Madras and London? Seeking pictures and more information.
Ramo Sami Ramo Same Ramo Samee Ramo Samme Ramosamee Ramaswamy Chief of the Indian Jugglers	Born 1791 Performed 1813-49 Died August 21, 1850 Buried Sept 1, 1850	Pall Mall Street Salem MA USA Olympic Theatre Royalty Theatre Royal Coburg Theatre Vauxhall Gardens Royal Victoria Theatre Adelphi Theatre New Strand Subscription Theatre New England Museum Boston Theatre Royal Garrick Theatre Robert Merry's Museum London England (UK)	Ramo Samee (probably "Ramaswamy") was a 19th century East Indian juggler and magician who starred with his own juggling troupe. In fact, he is considered to be the first "modern" professional juggler, and was by far the most famous juggler of his time. Samee was born around 1791 in East India, possibly in Madras in Tamil Nadu, and was brought to England in 1814 at around the age of 23. A certain Captain Campbell, returning to England from the Indian colony in 1814, brought a troupe of Indian magicians and performers with him and installed them in Pall Mall Street London, where they demonstrated native juggling, acrobatics, yogic postures, conjuring, and sleight of hand for an audience that was curious about the quaint customs and strange manners of India. "Coming forward and seating himself on the ground in his white dress and tightened turban," the essayist William Hazlitt commented upon seeing one such performance, "the Chief of the Indian Jugglers begins by tossing up two brass balls, which is what any of us could do, and concludes with keeping up four at the same time, which is what none of us could do to save our lives, nor if we were to take our whole lives to do it. Is it then a trifling power we see at work, or is it something next to miraculous?" ("Indian Jugglers" Table Talk). The inspiration for one of the Western world's fundamental puzzlers, the Needle Swallowing Trick, can probably be traced back to the genius of Ramo Samee. Samee was known for performing a trick he called "Stringing Beads With the Mouth", in which he "swallowed" a handful of beads and a string, then pulled the beads out of his mouth, one by one, tied to the string. Samee's troupe included Kia Khan Khruse, another Indian juggler-magician who first introduced the "Needle Swallowing Trick" to European audiences in 1818. Obviously, this was a more dangerous version of Samee's bead swallowing trick. Samee first presented the Indian needle trick to Western audiences in the 1820's, where he would swallow a hundred needles. Samee performed in England from 1814 to 1844, with successful tours of the eastern United States in 1817-1819, and again in 1834. An advertisement in the Salem Gazette of October 5, 1819, describes the "East Indian" magician and juggler Ramo Samee as having performed "for some time past in the metropolis of England, and before all the crowned heads of Europe, who have unanimously pronounced him to be the first master of the art in their dominions." Samee closed his act with a demonstration of sword swallowing. Ramo Samee had a successful run for 35 years, earning £25-£30 per week in England, while according to reports, one of his contemporary sword swallowers earned a mere £3-£4 per week. According to articles in The Times of London dated January 12th, 18th, and 29th, 1821, Ramo Samee "Chief of the Indian Jugglers" was booked at the Olympic Theatre. According to The Times of London dated January 3, 1822, Ramo Samee was booked at the Royalty Theatre in London. Samee also performed on January 15, 1822 at the Royal Coburg Theatre. In 1822, Frederick Gye employed sword swallower Ramo Samee as the "chief attraction" at the Royal Gardens Vauxhall Theatre in Kensington, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London from the mid-17th century to the mid-19th century. Samee also performed at a benefit on February 28, 1825 at the Adelphi Theatre, in 1834-35 at the Royal Victoria Theatre in Borough, and in August 1842 at the Theatre Royal. In the 1840's Samee created a sensation at the Garrick Theatre in London by performing his feat of swallowing beads and horse hair separately and then regurgitating the former threaded upon the latter. According to an article published in Robert Merry's Museum on January 1, 1849: "The trick of swallowing a sword too (sic) feet long, or rather of thrusting it down his throat into the stomach up to the hilt, has become familiar to us by the public exhibitions of Ramo Samee and his companions, natives of India. Before the arrival in Europe of these jugglers, whose speculation, it is said, was most profitable, attempts had been made, but unsuccessfully, to induce other professors of the art to go to England for the purpose of exhibition." Ramo Samee also gets several mentions posthumously in Henry Mayhew's "London Labour and the London Poor", published from 1851 to 1862. According to London press clippings, Ramo Samee died a pauper at the age of 59 on August 21, 1850. According to an obituary in the 1850 The Gentlemen's Magazine, Volume 34: "Aug. 21. At Sidney-st. City-road, in extreme poverty, Ramo Samee, a celebrated Indian juggler. His health had received a severe shock at the death of his only son, who, in attempting to swallow a sword, did himself such injury that he died shortly afterwards. His body was interred in old St. Pancras churchyard." According to London press clippings, a plea for donations was taken up for his widow, as there was not enough money to bury or creamate him at the time of his death. "THE LATE RAMO SAMEE AND HIS WIDOW -- Sir: Your early insertion of the widow's appeal, under the above head, in last week's paper, reflects the highest credit on you, and in remembrance of the plesure I experienced in the early days at his performance, I beg to hand you 10s from ten friends, collected in the neighbourhood of High Holborn, towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor widow and family... [Surely the managers of theatres and other establishments who have derived so much advantage from the talents of the deceased, ought to contribute to lift his widow, a most respectable woman, from the severe grip of absolute poverty. Poor Ramo is to be buried today, and his funeral expenses have to be defrayed by instalments. The trifle obtained has been handed to Mrs. Samee." Ramoo Samee was buried on September 1, 1850 in St. Pancras, Middlesex, London, England. Seeking pictures and more information. Ramo Samee Timeline 1791: Born in East India 1814: Arrives in London, performs at Pall Mall Street 1817: Tour of US as Sena Samma in New York? 1819: Oct 5: Salem MA, USA 1821: Jan 12, 18, 29, Feb 8: Olympic Theatre London 1822: Jan 3: Royalty Theatre London 1822: Jan 15: Royal Coburg Theatre London 1822: Aug 15: Royal Gardens Vauxhall Theatre London 1822: Aug 22: Last appearance at Vauxhall Gardens London 1824: Nov 9: Royal Coburg Theatre London 1825: Feb 28: Adelphi Theatre London 1832: April 16: New Strand Subscription Theatre London 1834: Aug 25-30: New England Museum Boston, MA USA 1834: Sept-Nov: Royal Coburg Theatre with Looking Glass London 1835: Dec 13: Royal Victoria Theatre London 1836: Jan 25: Royal Victoria Theatre London 1836: Aug 20: Royal Beulah Spa Norwood 1840s: Garrick Theatre London 1842: Aug: Theatre Royal London 1849: Jan 1: Robert Merry's Museum London 1849-50: Son died of sword swallowing injury 1850: Aug 21: Died at Sidney St andCity Road, London, England 1850: Sept 1: Buried at St. Pancras in London Ramo Samee Olympic Theatre (1-12-1821) Ramo Samee Vauxhall Gardens (1822) Article on Ramo Samee Ramo Samee bio Ramo Samee New England Museum Boston (8-25-1834) Coberg Theatre with Looking Glass (9-14-1834) Victoria Theatre London (12-13-1835) Ramo Samee Article (1-1-1849) Ramo Samee Obituary (8-1850) Ramo Samee Obituary (8-21-1850)
Saib Khan Ing	Performed 1822	Preston (UK)	According to broadside scrapbooks kept by William Hay in England, one broadside announces the arrival of 'Saib Khan Ing' in Preston in 1822 to 'exhibit his astonishing performances' at juggling, sword swallowing, and, 'chang[ing] himself from an Indian juggler to a British Minister of State' (Hay 11.222).
Signor Tomaso	Performed Feb 5, 1833	Richmond Hill Theatre New York (USA)	Sword swallower and fire eater Signor Tomaso performed at Richmond Hill Theatre New York on Tuesday, February 5, 1833, Seeking pictures and more information. Signor Tomaso Richmond Hill Theatre (2-5-1833)
P.T. Barnum's American Dime Museum	Founded 1841 Burned 1865	Boston, MA (USA)	In 1841, P.T. Barnum founded the American Dime Museum in Boston, which included oddities and freaks of nature, including working acts such as sword swallowers. The "American Museum" burned down in 1865, at which time Barnum retired from show business.
East Indian Sword Swallowers	Performed Nov 27, 1845	Philadelphia, PA (USA)	According to an article in the Philadeplphia "Pennsylvanian" newspaper dated November 27, 1845: "The rope-dancers, serpent tamers, and sword swallowers of Madras are celebrated throughout India. They will leap over elephants, and even five camels side by side; their bodies are so pliant that they will twine themselves like snakes up and down between the steps of a ladder; they walk over sharp swords; raise heavy burdens with their eyelids; and like Ramo Samee of old, are said to be able to float in the air without any visible support. Even the children exercise themselves in swallowing small sticks of bamboo, in order that they may eventually do the like with swords and daggers."
Miss Martha Mitchell Champion Lady Sword Swallower Martha Mitchell Mrs. Henry Wallis	Born June 12, 1858 Married 1873 Performed mid 1800s? Died c 1887	England (UK)	Martha Mitchell was a female sword swallower in England in the mid 1800s, known as Miss Martha Mitchell, England's Champion Lady Sword Swallower. Mitchell was born in her father's traveling van in Coventry on June 12, 1858. In 1873. At the age of 16, around 1873, she married showman Henry James Wallis who was a fairground proprietor and showman of the old school. Wallis was born in Liverpool on May 11, 1854. At first Wallis worked as a photographer on the fairgrounds, but he later became a riding master of some note, and was also the founder of Seaforth Fair and one of the founders of the Van Dweller's Association, which later became the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain. Martha Mitchell's brother was Charlie Mitchell, the famous bare knuckle boxer who fought J.L. Sullivan and Gentleman Jim Corbett. Martha Mitchell died by the age of 30, circa 1887. Seeking pictures and more information. Martha Mitchell Birth Certificate
Lawson Peck	Performed 1857	Peoria, IL New York (USA)	Sword swallower Lawson Peck was known to have performed at the Peoria Museum in 1857. According to the announcement in the Peoria Transcript, dated Oct. 27, 1857, "Shoaf has made engagement with Mr. Lawson Peck from New York, the greatest sword swallower living, to give two performances Friday and Saturday nights at the museum. The sword, 23 inches long, may be inspected by the audience. He will also bare his neck and swallow the sword up to the hilt, a feat never attempted by a living man before. No additional charge to the museum." (page 4, col. 1) In the 1950s, Thurman F. (Jack) Naylor collected a number of interesting photographs, including this rare photo of a sword swallower from the 1860s. Could this have been sword swallower Lawson Peck? Seeking pictures and more information. Unknown Sword Swallower from 1860s
Forestel Forestell Sig. Forrestall Prof. Forestell Signor Forestell Signor Forestelle Signor Forrestelle Professor Forestell Sydney Foerestell Sydney Forestell	Performed Feb 14-26, 1859 Performed Jan 10, 1876 Performed April 11, 1881 Performed Aug-Oct, 1888	Vannuchi's Museum 107 St, Charles street New Orleans, LA John Robinson's Circus King's Novelty Show California Dime Museum & Theatre Los Angeles, CA (USA)	Sword swallower, knife-swallower and fire eater Signor Forestelle or simply Forestel was featured at Vannuchi's Museum 107 St, Charles street, New Orleans, LA on February 14, 1859 and February 24-26, 1859. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Daily Postdated January 10, 1876: "The Providence Press describes a rather interesting lawsuit that was on trial in that city yesterday. It seems that a traveling company of players gave a show there some time ago, and shortly after all the goods and chattels were seized on a writ against one Poguee for failure to pay his board... All this was interesting of course, but the agony was reached when "Signor Forrestelle" the great sword-swallower was put upon the stand. Signor carried his sword with him and the lawyers wanted to see him swallow it, and so asked if he had any objections to showing his performance. He had none, and down went twenty-seven inches of steel, to the gratification of the lawyers. Signor handed his sword to the admiring legal gentlemen, asking them to examine and see that there was no fraud. He had a very business-like air, and when asked what other branches his business took in, he remarked that it was his habit to eat marbles. Everybody wanted to see him eat marbles, and down went four good-sized "allies." He remarked that the great trick was putting the sword down also and hearing it chink against the marbles, and down went the sword, and the chink was heard. Signor's performance was "immense," and had a jury witnessed this novel exposition of a legal point, his fortune would have been made." According to a San Francisco Police and Peace Officer's Journal of 1929 reminiscing back 50 years to San Francisco in the 1870s: "And who does not remember the Wild Man From Borneo, a simple soul who allowed himself to be plastered with hair, and stood in a cage, while the visitors propped him with canes? And Signor Forestell, the sword swallower, who performed outside of a museum in the old St. Ignatius building on Market Street where the Emporium now stands. This individual actually slid canes, bayonets and swords down his throat to the amazement of the gathered throng. But this class of fakir was only doing his bit as an entertainer, and harmed no one but himself, while the real simon pure medical fakir was the individual who did untold injury to all those who sought relief from him." According to the Cincinnati Enquirer dated April 12, 1881, over 4000 people attended John Robinson's Circus inaugural show the night before at Lincoln Park, which included a performance by Signor Forestell. According to the San Bernardino CA Daily Courier dated September 24, 1887, "King's Novelty Show, now holding forth in a large tent on the court house lot... There is a sword-swallower, Prof. Forestell, whose feats are marvelous. He actually swallows solid steel swords and bayonets, also ordinary walking canes with equal facility." According to the August 27 and September 24 1888 Los Angeles Herald, Professor Sydney Foerestell, champion sword swallower, had a long run at the California Dime Museum & Theatre at North Main Street, near First in Los Angeles, CA from August to October 1888, and on October 1, 1888, he was presented a gold and silver badge inscribed "Professor Forestell, Champion Sword Swallower of the World". Signor Forestelle performed for over 31 years. Seeking pictures and more information. Signor Forestelle Timeline 1859: Feb 14-26: Vannuchi's Museum New Orleans 1876: Jan 10: Providence RI 1879: San Francisco Museum 1881: April 11: John Robinson's Circus at Lincoln Park 1887: Sept 24: King's Novelty Show, San Bernardino, CA 1888: Aug 25-Oct 23: California Dime Museum & Theatre Los Angeles, CA Signor Forestelle Vannuchi's Museum New Orleans (2-14-1859) Forestel at Vannuchi's Museum New Orleans (2-24-1859) Signor Forrestelle Providence (1-10-1876) Los Angeles Herald (8-27-1888) Los Angeles Herald (9-22-1888)
Sallementro The Snake Swallower The Snake, Sword, and Knife-Swallower	Born c 1843 Performed 1861	London (UK)	According to the 1861 "London Labour and the London Poor", Sallementro learned sword and snake swallowing at the age of 17 or 18 from his friend Clarke who was also a sword and snake swallower. He was quite a young man, and, judging from his countenance, there was nothing that could account for his having taken up so strange a method of gaining his livelihood as that of swallowing snakes. He was very simple in his talk and manner. He readily confessed that the idea did not originate with him, and prided himself only on being the second to take it up. There is no doubt that it was from his being startled by the strangeness and daringness of the act that he was induced to make the essay. He said he saw nothing disgusting in it; that people liked it; that it served him well in his "professional" engagements; and spoke of the snake in general as a reptile capable of affection, not unpleasant to the eye, and very cleanly in its habits. "I swallow snakes, swords, and knives... It was a mate of mine that I was with that first put me up to sword and snake swallowing. I copied off him, and it took me about three months to learn it. I began with a sword first - of course not a sharp sword, but a blunt-pointed - and I didn't exactly know how to do it, for there's a trick to it. At first it turned me, putting it down my throat past my swallow, right down, about 18 inches. It made my swallow sore, very sore, and I used lemon and sugar to cure it. It was tight at first, and I kept pushing it down further and further. There's one thing - you mustn't cough, and until you're used to it, you want to very bad, and then you must pull it up again. My sword was about three-quarters of an inch wide. At first I didn't know the trick of doing it, but I found it out this way. You see, the trick is you must oil the sword - the best sweet oil, worth 14 pence a pint - and you put it on with a sponge. Then, you understand, if the sword scratches the swallow, it don't make it sore, 'cos the oil heals it up again. When first I put the sword down, before I oiled it, it used to come up quite slimy, but after the oil it slips down quite easy, and is as clean when it comes up as before it went down. The knives are easier to do than the sword because they are shorter. We puts them right down till the handle rests on the mouth. The sword is about 18 inches long, and the knives about 8 inches in the blade. People run away with the idea that you slip the blades down your breast, but I always hold mine right up with the neck bare, and they see it go into the mouth 'atween the teeth. They also fancy it hurts you, but it don't, or what a fool I should be to do it. I don't mean to say it don't hurt you at first, 'cos it do, for my swallow was very bad, and I couldn't eat anything but liquids for two months whilst I was learning. I cured my swallow whilst I was stretching it with lemon and sugar." "I was the second one that ever swallowed a snake. I was about 17 or 18 years old when I learnt it. The first was Clarke as did it. He done very well with it, but he wasn't out no more than two years before me, so he wasn't known much. In the country there is some places where, when you do it, they swear you are the devil, and won't have it nohow. The snakes I use are about 18 inches long, and you must first cut the stingers out, 'cos it might hurt you. I always keep two or three by me for my performances. I keep them warm, and I give them nothing to eat but worms and gentles. I generally keep them in flannel or hay in a box. I've three at home now. When first I began swallowing snakes, they tasted queer like. They draw'd the roof of the mouth a bit. It's a roughish taste. The scales rough you a bit when you draw them up. You see, a snake will go into ever such a little hole, and they are smooth one way. The head of the snake goes about an inch and a half down the throat, and the rest of it continues in the mouth, curled 'round like. I hold him by the tail, and when I pinch it, he goes right in. You must cut the stinger out or he'll injure you. The tail is slipppery, but you nip it with the nails like pinchers. If you was to let go, he'd go right down, but most snakes will stop at two inches down the swallow, and then they bind like a ball in the mouth. I generally get my snakes by giving little boys ha'pence to go and catch 'em in the woods. I get them when I'm pitching in the country. I'll get as many as I can get, and bring 'em up to London for my engagements. When first caught, the snake is slimy, and I have to clean him by scraping him with a cloth, and then with another, until he's nice and clean. I have put 'em down slimy, on purpose to taste what it was like. It had a nasty taste, very nasty. When I exhibit, I first holds the snake up in the air and pinches the tail, to make it curl about and twist 'round my arm, to show that he is alive. Then I holds it above my mouth, and as soon as he sees the hole, in he goes. He goes wavy-like, as a ship goes, that's the comparison. I always hold my breath whilst his head is in my swallow. When he moves in the swallow, it tickles a little, but it don't make you want to retch. In my opinion, he is more glad to come up than to go down, for it seems to be too hot for him. I keep him down about two minutes. If I breathe or cough, he draws out and curls back again. I think there's artfulness in some of them big snakes, for they seem to know which is the master. I was at Wombwell's Menagerie of Wild Beasts for 3 months, and I had the care of a big snake, as thick 'round as my arm. I wouldn't attempt to put that one down my throat, for I think I might easier have done down his'n. It was a f'urren snake, all over spots, called a boa-constrictor." Seeking pictures and more information.
James S. Donnell	Performed 1862 Died 1886	Pittsburgh, PA (USA)	James S. Donnell was sword swallower with a side show in the Pittsburgh area in 1862 and was sought by his mother, Eliza Donnell. He died in 1886 and was buried in the Homewood Cemetery in Allegheny County Pittsburgh PA. Seeking pictures and more information. Mother seeks James S Donnell
John Sheppard	Performed 1863-1866?	Gardner & Hemmings Thompson, Smith and Hawes (USA)	John Sheppard was sword swallower with Gardner & Hemmings in 1863, and general performer with Thompson, Smith and Hawes in 1866. Seeking pictures and more information.
William George Drummond Stewart	Born February, 1831 Injured October 19, 1868 Died October 26, 1868	(Scotland)	William George Drummond Stewart was born in Grandtully, Perthshire, Scotland in February 1831. Stewart was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Stewart was 26 years old, and a Captain in the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Lucknow. On October 19, 1868, while at Hythe, Hampshire, Stewart was giving a demonstration of sword swallowing. His demonstration went fatally wrong and he died from internal injuries a week later, on October 26, 1868 at the age of 37. Stewart is buried in a vault at St. Mary's Church, Grandtully, Scotland. Seeking pictures and more information. William Stewart Vault
Benedetti Benny-Dizzy Carlo Benedetti Signor Benedetti Signor Carlo Benedetti The Man Ostrich The Swedish Phenomenon The Great Sword-Swallower	Born 1849 Performed 1863-98 Died July 26, 1899	Schumann Company Paterson, Morris Plains, NJ (USA) Westminster Royal Aquarium London, England (UK)	Carlo Benedetti was born in Norköping Sweden of Italian immigrant parents in 1849, and in 1862 at the age of 13, he joined a circus as a horseback rider. Benedetti became so skilled as a rider that he toured Europe with the circus. Benedetti began learning sword swallowing at the age of 14 in 1863, and eventually became proficient at it by the age of 20 in 1869. After moving to the US, he performed with the Schumann Company in the eastern United States and Cuba as "Signor Benedetti". According to an article dated May 30, 1874 in the Daily Phoenix: "At the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, on Monday, Prof. Maury introduced to the faculty and students Signor Carlo Benedetti, a professional sword swallower, on whom he proposed to make a surgical examination. Benedetti first swallowed a sword blade twenty-three inches in length, and bending over, completely bent the steel. Next he placed a sabre, measuring twenty-nine inches in length down his throat to the hilt. The medical examiners discovered that the blade of the weapon stretches the oesophagus and distends the lower wall of the stomach. Benedetti then swallowed six thin, light swords at once, then extricated them with such ease as to excite the wonder of all the beholders. He next took an ordinary musket, weighing eleven pounds, with a common bayonet afixed. This bayonet he thrust into his throat by raising the musket butt into the air. When it was in he bowed all around to the company. He then drew the weapon out gracefully and easily, and explained that the point of leverage fell upon his lower jaw and teeth, which are very strong." An article in the NY Times dated Dec 5, 1874 quotes a Havana, Cuban article dated Nov 29, 1874 stating, "A performance was given at the Tacon Theatre last Thursday evening, by the Schumann Troupe, to a packed house, for the benefit of the sufferers by the recent inundations at Mavari, Bayamo, and other towns of the Eastern District, particulars of which have already been forwarded to you. The Captain General was present, and the novelty of the evening was the feat of the sword swallower, Benedetti, who attempted to cram an umbrella down his throat. He swallowed His Excellency the Captain General's sword, a cane, and other articles, but could not stomach the umbrella." In 1877-78, Bendetti performed in England. A caricature cartoon of "Benny Dizzy, the Great Sword-Swallower" in the March 16, 1878 issue of the London Punch magazine also mentions "Mr. Benedetti's marvellous performance at the Royal Aquarium". On July 3, 1878, Benedetti also performed at the Crystal Palace in London, according to an ad in the London Times dated July 3, 1878. On August 12 1878, Benedetti was featured at The Canterbury in London. In 1882 this photo was taken of Carlo Benedetti by photographer J. Wood in New York. It shows Benedetti posing with two swords and a bayonette attached to a rifle. From October 30 to November 11, 1882, Carlo Benedetti was booked at Bunnell's Brooklyn Museum as the Swedish Phenomenon and the Man Ostrich. In 1883, Benedetti was described swallowing a cane in the September 30, 1883 Atlanta Constitution. In 1895, the editor of a London magazine described Signor Benedetti who had just performed at the Westminster Royal Aquarium and Canterbury Hall at the age of 46. According to the description, Benedetti stood 5 ft 8 inches tall, and swallowed a blade that was 30.25 inches long, and he had swallowed swords for at least 32 years. On November 7, 1898, Benedetti was committed to the State Asylum for the Insane at Morris Plains NJ. According to an article in the Trenton Evening Times dated November 7, 1898, "Carlo Benedetti, of Paterson, will be removed this morning to the State Asylum for the Insane at Morris Plains. About one year ago Benedetti began to give evidence that his mind was affected. He imagined he was a millionaire and threw his money away. Fifteen years ago he was famous all over the world as a sword swallower." Carlo Benedetti died July 26, 1899 at the age of 49 in Morris Plains, NJ, and is buried in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa, New Jersey. Seeking pictures and more information. Signor Carlos Benedetti Timeline 1849: Born in Norköping Sweden 1862: Joined circus as rider 1863: Began learning sword swallowing at 14 1869: Began performing as sword swallower at 20 1874: May 30: Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia PA 1874: June: Brooklyn NY 1874: Nov 29: Tacon Theatre Havana Cuba 1877: Royal Aquarium Westminster London 1878: Jan 9, 18, 25: Royal Aquarium Westminster London 1878: Feb 6, 21: Royal Aquarium Westminster London 1878: March 4: Canterbury London 1878: March 4, 16: Royal Aquarium Westminster London 1878: July 3, Aug 5: Crystal Palace London 1878: August 12: Canterbury London 1880: August 30: Canterbury London 1882: Oct-Nov: Bunnell's Brooklyn Museum Brooklyn NY 1882: Photo of Benedetti in New York NY 1883: May 1: Koster and Bial's Concert Hall New Orleans 1883: Sept 29: New York NY 1895: Westminster Royal Aquarium and Canterbury Hall London 1897: Began losing mental facilities 1898: Nov 11: Committed to mental asylum, Morris Plains NJ 1899: Died July 26 at Morris Plains NJ Benedetti article (5-27-1874) Benedetti article (5-30-1874) Benedetti article Brooklyn NY (6-4-1874) Benedetti Boston Post history (6-26-1874) Benedetti article (12-1874) Royal Aquarium London (12-27-1877) Bendetti London (6-27-1878) Benedetti Crystal Palace London (7-3-1878) Bendetti Crystal Palace London (8-5-1878) Benedetti Canterbury London (8-12-1878) Benedetti caricature (1878) Benedetti with 2 swords and bayonet on rifle in NYC (1882) Benedetti Bunnell's Brooklyn Museum (10-31 to 11-11-1882) Benedetti at Koster & Bial's Concert Hall New Orleans (5-1-1883) Atlanta Constitution (9-29-1883) Benedetti committed to NJ Mental Asylum (11-7-1898)
Senor Franco	Performed 1863-1867	The Great Circus Manly Beach (Australia) San Francisco, California (USA)	Senor Franco the "sword swallower and stone eater" performed at Manly Beach, Australia on April 4, 1863. Four years later he was performing in San Francisco California on March 12, 1867. He swallowed a 23 inch long sword. Seeking pictures and more information. Senor Franco, Manly Australia (4-4-1863) Senor Franco, San Francisco CA (3-12-1867)
James Erwin	Born May 15, 1848 Performed 1864-66 Died January 3, 1885	Indianapolis, IN (USA)	James Erwin was born in Dublin, Ireland on May 15, 1848, but came to America as an infant. He entered the circus business as a sword swallower for a few years around 1865 at about the age of 17. He then became an operator and manager of his own sideshow. During the Civil War, he was twice sentenced to be shot for dissertion; the first time, as a mere boy, he was pardoned by President Lincoln; the second time, succeeded in escaping. In later years, he was considered one of the best shots in Indiana. Erwin was married once, but the union was not a happy one. He died of pneumonia in Indianapolis, IN on January 3, 1885 at the age of 37. Seeking pictures and more information.
Schwertschlucker Schwertfresser Der Eiserne Heinrich The Iron Henry Adolf Kußmaul Dr. Adolf Kussmaul Dr. Adolph Kussmaul Dr. Julius Müller Developer of Rigid Endoscope	Born 1822 1st Esophagoscopy and Develpment of Rigid Endoscope Using Sword Swallower 1868 Died 1902	Wolfshöhle Brauerie Gasthof Freiburg (Germany)	The first known mention of sword swallowing in medical literature is of a previously unidentified professional sword swallower, known simply as "Der eiserne Heinrich", ("The Iron Henry"), who while visiting the Wolfshöhle Gasthof und Brauerie in Freiburg, Germany in 1868, gave a demonstration of sword swallowing which was witnessed by a local Freiburg doctor. Dr. Kellar was fascinated by the feat and persuaded the sword swallower to visit his clinic and have his throat examined with a laryngeal mirror. His colleague, Dr. Julius Müller, examined the sword swallower and suggested to his professor that the sword swallower would make a suitable subject for esophagoscopy. His professor Dr. Adolf Kussmaul (1822-1902) carefully observed the sword swallower, being especially interested in the way he positioned his head for the passage of the long straight sword, and decided to examine him himself. For this purpose, Dr. Kussmaul had a local musical instrument maker named Fischer fashion tubes 47 cm long and 13 mm in diameter, one being round and the other elliptical in design, the tubes fitted with conical wooden mandarins to facilitate insertion. Using the straight tube, mirrors and a gasoline lamp, Kussmaul inspected the esophagus and the fundus of the stomach, thereby performing the first successful esophagoscopy esophagogastrostomy on a sword swallower in 1868. The sword swallower tolerated the long tubes well, but the examination was disappointing because the light was too weak to illuminate the field so far from its source. Also, despite washing out the stomach, fluid constantly collected around the tube and hindered the view. After considerable experimentation, Kussmaul and Müller managed to improve the light of their endoscope, and subsequently examined a number of patients. However Kussmaul was so pleased with his success that he took the sword swallower with him to perform demonstrations in various clinics, and later enlisted other sword swallowers due to their ability to voluntarily relax the cricopharyngeal muscle and form a straight line from the pharynx to the stomach, allowing passage of the rigid endoscope. Kussmail was Professor of Medicine at Heidelberg (1857), Erlangen (1859), Freiburg (1859) and Strassburg (1876). Today Kussmaul is recognized as the developer of the first rigid endoscope. Kussmaul died in Heidelberg, and his grave is located in a cemetary in Heidelberg, Germany. Seeking more information. Dr. Adolf Kussmaul (early) Kussmaul/Müller examine sword swallower (1868) Kussmaul examining sword swallower (1868) Dr. Adolph Kussmaul (1822-1902) Dr. Adolf Kussmaul (later) Dr. Adolf Kussmaul (late in life) Wolfshöhle Gasthof/Brauerie (1890s) (link) Dr. Adolf Kussmaul Heidelburg (1900) Dr. Adolf Kussmaul grave Heidelberg
Dr. Fournle Examines Sword Swallower	Examined in 1868	Boston, MA (USA)	According to an article in "The Youth's Companion" dated October 29, 1868: "When in our youth we were taken to see a juggler who performed the feat of swallowing a sword, we were taught to believe that the weapon, instead of being a rigid rod of metal, was telescopic, and doubled into itself when it was introduced into the man's mouth. A famous French physician lately experimented upon a Chinese conjuror, who swallowed a sword nearly three feet long, and permitted an examination of his body while the blade was in its living sheath. Dr. Fourle (such was the anatomists's name) was thoroughly satisfied with the honesty of the operation. They traced the point along its downward course, and felt it thirty inches from the swallower's mouth. So we may set down sword and poker swallowing as genuine feats of gymnastics." The Youth's Companion was printed from 1827-1927 by Perry Mason & Company in Boston, MA.Seeking more information. Article (Oct 29, 1868)
First Known Photograph of Indian Sword Swallower	1863-1873	Madras Tamil Nadu (India)	The first known photograph of an Indian Sword Swallower was displayed in England at the South Kensington Exhibition of 1873 in an album of photographs entitled "Trades and Occupations of India" in response to English curiousity about the British Empire in India. Among the many photographers were Nicholas & Curths of Madras, Tamil Nadu, South India, who took a photo of an Indian sword swallower performing the feat sometime between 1863 and 1872. Seeking photos and more information. Indian Sword Swallower (1863-72) Indian Sword Swallower (1863-72)
Ling Look & Yamadeva, David & Louise Güter Timelines: David Güter David Guter David Güder David Gueder David Guder David Geder David Gether Frederick Güter Frederick Güder Frederick Gueder Frederick Guder Ferdinand Guder David Frederick Güter Louis Güter Louis Güder Louis Guder	Born 1842 Performed 1868-1878 Died Oct 1877? Died April 11, 1878	Olympic Theatre Budapest (Hungary) New York (USA) (Hong Kong)	A mystic Far East illusionist and sword swallower performing under the name Ling Look, became famous in the 1870s for his bizarre, daring and dangerous performances as a sword swallower. In actuality, his real name was David Güter who was born in Budapest Hungary in 1842, and performed from 1868 to 1878 under the stage name "Ling Look". According to an article in the New York Herald dated July 15, 1872, and another article in the New York Times dated July 16, 1872, a novel performance was offered at the Olympic Theatre on July 15, 1872 by Ling Look, "who disposes mysteriously but satisfactorily of a blade ninety centimetres in length." For his premier number, he was known to swallow a red glowing sword. A quote from 1872 describes Ling Look's performace: "He gorged his blade, last night, with such an appetite as might have smitten the African ostrich with envy, and with such ensuing satisfaction as quite shook our faith in the scriptural announcement that whoso taketh the sword shall perish by the sword. How much sword he took we are not prepared to state; but he did not perish." According to the November 2. 1874 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "Ling Look and Ya Ma Di Va the Japenese Man Serpent were again booked at the Olympic Theatre in New York". In 1875 a showman named Heinrich Keller, who went by the name Harry Keller (1849-1922), put together a show troupe that included Ling Look and his brother Yamadeva. Keller was born in Erie PA on July 11, 1849, and graduated from Painesville High School in 1866. In 1866-67 Keller worked as assistant to the magician Fakir of Ava, and later worked with magician John Henry Anderson Jr. During this time, Keller learned some secrets of the business, and began his solo work until the opportunity came to join the spectacle of the Davenport Brothers in 1867. From 1871 to 1873, Keller and Fay toured South America. In the spring of 1873, Keller, 24, along with William Marion Fay, both junior pseudo-spiritualists, left the Davenports show in the spring of 1873 and became independent performers, forming a partnership and putting together their own tour throughout America and Europe under the name Fay and Keller. Bad luck struck Keller in Valparaiso, and he returned to Panama, where he met Ling Look and Yamadeva, two famous "Chinese" brothers. They were specialists of exceptional merit. Ling Look was known as the "Fire-King", while Yamadeva was a contortionist of such rare powers that he was known as the "Man-Serpent", and his movements were as graceful as a cat. Keller formed a troupe with the brothers under the name of "The Royal Illusionists". The party went to New York by the steamer Andes, narrowly escaping shipwreck off Hatteras in the March Equinoctial of 1876. After a short stay in New York, the trio crossed overland to California, and began an engagement at Baldwin's Academy of Music in San Francisco on the evening of May 15, 1876. In actuality, Ling Look's real name was David Güter, David Guter, David Guder, David Güder, David Gueder, David Geder, or David Gether, although he also went by Ferdinand Guder or Frederick Guder. His brother Louis Guder performed under the stage name Yamadeva or Ya Ma Di Va. Ling Look and Yamadeva posed as Chinese and Japanese performers, but in fact, according to various sources, were Hungarian (from Budapest) or Austrian (from Vienna). Ling Look performed as a fire-eater and sword swallower, and went by the title "King of Fire". With his head half-shaved, and the remaining hair in a long braid, he almost looked Chinese. Some of his feats included swallowing hot coals and red hot swords, then blowing fire from his mouth. "One of his most spectacular and shocking numbers was swallowing a sword or bayonette halfway down his throat, which was attached to a rifle, which, when fired, propelled the sword down his throat. Meanwhile, Yamadeva was an accomplished contortionist who performed incredible escapes. He was also known as the Snake Man, due to his serpentine or feline movements." According to local press, "The Chinese" performed in Rosario Argentina on August 19th and 20th 1875, with the program consisting of the following: 1. The infernal dinner (fire eating) 2. The poor of India (escape) 3. Yamadeva the snake (contortion) 4. The fete des Chinoises After meeting the brothers Ling Look and Yamadeva and the magician Cunard, Keller formed the performing troup The Royal Illusionists in May 1876. Their show consisted of a spiritualist cabin with Keller and Cunard performing cage disappearance and escapes from ropes and handcuffs, and contortion by Yamadeva, and for the finale, the fire and sword acts by Ling Look. The group put together a tour that began in the USA, moved on to Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Java, Shanghai, China and Hong Kong. In May 1876, The Royal Illusionists traveled overland to California and opened at Baldwins Academy of Music San Francisco, on May 15, 1876, under the management of Al Hayman, after which they made a short tour of California. They closed their American engagement in Salt Lake City on July 6, 1876, and sailed for Australia. In Sydney, they played a successful engagement at the Victoria Theater. During their ten weeks' engagement in Australia they performed to capacity houses everywhere. Gov. Sir Hercules Robinson, Lady Robinson and suite were frequent attendants at the entertainments of the Illusionists. From Australia they went to Java, and from there on to Shanghai, China In early October 1877 Yamadeva suffered heart pains while playing a 10-pin bowling game in Shanghai China. Just before they were to sail from Shanghai on the P&O Steamer Khiva for Hong Kong, Yamadeva and Keller visited the bowling alley of The Hermitage, a pleasure resort on the Bubbling Well Road. They were watching a husky sea captain who was using a huge ball and making a double spare at every roll, when Yamadeva suddenly remarked, "I can handle one as heavy as that big loafer can." He grabbed one of the largest bowling balls and rolled it down the alley with all his might. But he misjudged his own strength, for he had no sooner delivered the ball than he grasped his side moaning in pain. He barely had enough strength to get back to the ship, where he immediately went to bed. Four days later, he died while onboard the ship heading to Hong Kong. An examination showed that he had ruptured an artery. When the ship landed in Hong Kong, he was buried in the Hong Kong Cemetery. Shortly after their arrival in Hong Kong in October, Yamadeva (Louis Güter) underwent an operation for a liver trouble, and died under the knife. Six months later, his brother Ling Look (Ferdinand David Güter) died on April 11 (or 14?), 1878, just six months after his brother. Both brothers were buried in adjacent graves at the Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley in Hong Kong. Gravesite of Louis Guder who died in October 1877 and was buried in the Hong Kong Cemetery, and brother David Frederick Guder who died 11 April, 1878 and is buried next to his brother Louis Guder. In 1879, a fakir with the same name, the same routine, Chinese look, hair and costume style appeared in England and claimed to be the original Ling Look. He wore his make-up both on and off stage, and performed Ling Look's show perfectly. This performer claimed that the news of his death in 1878 was not true, and that he was still alive. His fame reached the US and the New York Clipper published in its Letter Columns an article stating that Ling Look was not dead, but was alive and working in England. In 1882, an ad in the December 20 1882 Belfast Morning News advertized Ling Look performing at the AlhambraTheatre of Varieties in Belfast Ireland. In 1883, a commentary in the newspaper La Capital de Rosario, dated August 9, 1883, gave news of an artist with an exotic name who was performing in town. It was Ling Look, who it was claimed, had worked as director of a great illusionist and acrobatic troupe, in their inimitable work with the infernal dinner, and swallowing swords. The same name and the same routines, the one who so successfully passed through Rosario with his brother Yamadeva in 1875? But this was not possible, unless the advertised Look Ling had risen, or was a phony. According to Keller's 1886 book, A Magician's Tour, Ling Look died in October or December 1877. (It was actually the younger brother Louis Guder or Yamadeva who died in 1877). Frederick David Guder died 6 months later in April 1878, and his headstone in Hong Kong, gives April 1878 as his date of death. History leaves his passing in confusion. But then, people were confused right afterward too. Shortly after his death, another Ling Look surfaced in England. Friends and fans were greatly relieved to learn the performer was alive. His likeness and act were so similar that he fooled everyone who saw his show. He nearly fooled Keller, who had buried the original Ling Look sword swallower himself. The litmus test was when this Ling Look clashed with Keller, who had buried the original Ling Look in Hong Kong in 1878. The imitator had the nerve to stick to his story even when confronted by Keller. The magician recalled the story in a letter: I came all the way from Scotland to see the man calling himself Ling Look, now performing in this city, only to find him an impostor. I had corresponded with this man for some days, and his letters deceived me and led me to believe that he was actually my old companion. He certainly knows all of Ling Look's past life, and must have been in constant correspondence with him while we were making our tour through China and Australia. I introduced myself to this man as a friend of Keller, and questioned him on our route, etc., and he gave me satisfactory answers, until I asked him about what month we arrived at Hong Kong, when he told me April. Now, we were there in October. He also stated that the name of the hotel at which we stayed was the Victoria, whereas it was the Hong Kong Hotel at which we stayed (there being no Victoria Hotel). I asked him if he would know Keller, and he replied, "Do you think I am an impostor?" I said, "Yes." I then told him, "I am Keller," when he immediately took his hat and left the room. When Keller assured him that he had personally attended the burial of Ling Look in Hong Kong, the imposter broke down and confessed that he was a younger brother of the original Ling Look but continued performing under his elder brother's stage name. Keller later said that the resemblance was so strong that had he not seen the original Ling Look consigned to the grave, he himself would have been duped into believing that this was the man who had been with him in Hong Kong. Keller later confessed to Harry Houdini, that the resemblance between the two was such that if he had not been present when Ling Look died in Hong Kong in 1878, he would almost be unable to refute or verify that this was another person in 1879. This story was referenced by Harry Houdin in his book Miracle Mongers and Their Methods, written in 1920. Both Guder brothers were buried in adjacent graves at the Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley in Hong Kong. Gravesite of Louis Guder (Yamadeva) who died at sea in October 1877 and was buried in the Hong Kong Cemetery, and brother Frederick (David) Guder or David Frederick Guder who died 11 April, 1878 at age 37, and is buried next to his brother Louis Guder. The question remains: What was the name of the younger Guder brother imposter who remained performing the Ling Look shows in the UK in the 1880s and on into Sydney Australia in 1887, and when and where did this Ling Look II die? Seeking photos and more information on Ling Look. Ling Look and Yamadeva Timeline 1842: David Guter born in Budapest Hungary? 1872: Olympic Theatre New York 1873, Harry Keller puts together show troupe 1874: Olympic Theatre New York 1875: Harry Keller books tour to Rosario Argentina 1876: May: The Royal Illusionists troupe formed 1876: May 15: Baldwin's Academy of Music in San Francisco CA 1876: July 6: closed their American engagement in Salt Lake City, UT 1876: Victoria Theater Sydney Australia 1876-77: Toured Australia, New Zealand, India, Java and Shanghai, China 1877: Oct: Yamadeva Louis Guder dies on ship en route from Shanghai to Hong Kong 1877: Oct: Louis Guder buried in Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley 1877: Remaining Royal Illusionists stay in The Hong Kong Hotel 1877: David Guder leaves The Royal Illusionists company in Hong Kong after death of his brother 1878: April 11: Ling Look David Guder dies in Hong Kong 1878: Frederick David Guder buried in Hong Kong Cemetery 1879-83: Ling Look imposter appears in England 1882: Ling Look imposter kills boy in audience in gun accident 1882: Dec 20: Ling Look imposter in Belfast Ireland 1883: Aug 9: La Capital de Rosario reports Ling Look alive in Argentina 1887: Aug 27: "Look Ling" imposter in Sydney Australia Ling Look Yamadeva Olympic NY Herald (7-15-1872) Olympic NY Times (7-16-1872) Olympic Theatre (11-2-1874) Yamadeva (1876) The Royal Illusionists Louis Guder grave Hong Kong Cemetery (died 1877) Frederick Guder grave Hong Kong Cemetery (died 4-11-1878) Ling Look imposter in Belfast Ireland (12-20-1882) Ling Look imposter in Sydney Australia (8-27-1887) Lissten to To The Hilt Podcast at:
Professor Costello	Performed 1871	Sheldenburger & Co. (USA)	Professor Costello was sword swallower with Sheldenburger & Co. in 1871. Seeking photos and more information.
August Zorner	Performed 1874	New York, NY (USA)	August Zorner was a professional juggler and sword swallower in New York City in 1874. He and Charles Zorner were arrested as witnesses to a murder on New Years night 1874. Seeking photos and more information. August Zorner (1-5-1874)
Signor Wandana Signor Wandanna Signor Wandonna Signor Wandanus Signor Waudanus Signor Waudanna Signor Wandanone Signor Wanhanna "The Wonderful Sabre, Bayonet, and Sword-Swallower"	Performed 1870s Died May 9, 1875	Indianapolis, IN Gibb's Zoological Exhibition Calais, ME (USA)	Signor Wandana (Signor Wandonna or Signor Wandanone) was known as "The Wonderful Sabre, Bayonet, and Sword-Swallower" in the 1870s. Signor Wandana died on May 9, 1875 of internal injuries sustained after a sword swallowing feat went wrong. His obituary was published in the May 10, 1875 Philadelphia Times and the May 11, 1875 Chicago Tribune entitled "Death of a Sword Swallower": "Calais, Me, May 10---Signor Waudanus, the sword-swallower, while performing at Calais last week cut himself internally; Inflammation ensued, and he died last evening." According to the May 10. 1875 Boston Post "Signor Wandonna, a sword swallower, with Gibb's Zoological Exhibition, while performing at Calais, Me., last week, accidentally cut himself internally. Inflamation resulted and he died last evening." According to an article in the Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette dated May 11, 1875, "SIGNOR WANHANNA, a sword swallower, while performing at Calais, Me., last week, cut himself internally. Inflammation ensued and he died last Sunday evening." This photograph was taken by Hugraham & Claflin's New Photographic Rooms, 32 1/2 East Washington St. Indianapolis, Ind, and is now part of the collection of sideshow historian and author Richard Flint of Baltimore MD. Could Wandana be buried in the Calais Cemetery in Calais, Maine under a different name? Seeking photos and more information. Signor Wandana (1870s) Death of Signor Wandanone (5-9-1875) Death of Signor Wandonna (5-9-1875) Signor Wanhanna death (5-11-1875)
Piotr Nikitin	Born 1846 Performed 1873-80s Retired 1890s Died August 20, 1921	Russian Circus of the Nikitin Brothers Nikitin Brothers's Russian Circus Circus Nikitin Moscow (Russia) Tbilisi (Georgia)	In nineteenth-century Russia, circus was extremely popular among the aristocracy and the people alike, but the Russian circus was developed mostly by foreigners whose names -- Ciniselli, Truzzi, Salamonsky -- became synonymous with Russian circus. There was one notable exception, however: The Nikitin brothers, Dmitri (1835-1918), Akim (1843-1917), and Piotr Nikitin (1846-1921), who became the first true Russian circus entrepreneurs of note, and would remain so until the Bolshevik revolution. The Nikitin brothers were born to Aleksandr and Alina Ivanovna Nikitin, who were serfs bound to one of the vast lands belonging to the Crown. Tsar Nicholas I began to ease the condition of the serfs of his Imperial estates in 1842, when he established the "quit-rent" system, which allowed them to leave the land to which they were attached in exchange for a rent paid to their landowner, the Tsar. Aleksandr Nikitin immediately took advantage of this new, if limited, freedom and became an itinerant organ grinder. His first son Dmitri, who had learned to play the balalaika, followed him on the road. Akim and Piotr were born shortly thereafter, and almost as soon as they were able to walk and do a rollover, they joined forces with their father and elder brother, entertaining passersby from village squares to street corners. In time, the Nikitin brothers developed specific performing talents: Dmitri became a strongman; Akim, a front bender, a juggler, and an auguste (playing the Russian folk character of Ivan the Fool, always popular among the provincial audiences); and Piotr, a sword swallower, tumbler, and a foot-juggler. They also formed an acrobatic trio together, and created a puppet show. The Nikitin brothers were versatile and hard working. When Tsar Alexander II finally freed the serfs by his ukase of February 19, 1861, they began to find work on the country's fairgrounds in the balagans fairground itinerant theaters. In time, they would create their own fairground show. However, the Nikitins were also ambitious; they intended to escape the stigma of their former serfdom, and move upward. But work on the fairgrounds, even in the best balagans, had no glory. The circus was something else altogether: It was attended and enjoyed by the upper classes, and great circus artists received respect and, sometimes, even riches. Nicolas I had, in his time, created an Imperial Circus, and more recently, Carl Magnus Hinné and Gaetano Ciniselli had established themselves with great success in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Although they were illiterate, the Nikitins were shrewd and had honed on the road a remarkable talent for scheming and survival. The foreign directors who ran the Russian circuses might have appeared well introduced in aristocratic circles, but the Nikitin brothers knew that, in actuality, they didn't have much more formal education than themselves. Thus the former serfs and balagan entertainers didn't see any reason why they wouldn't grab their own part of the circus pie. Dmitri, Akim, and Piotr Nikitin had saved money during their years of performing on the road; with it, they acquired the equipment of the Austrian circus of Emanuel Beránek (Beránek was Czech, but Czechoslovakia was then part of Austria), which had been touring the Volga region in the early 1870s. The purchase had come replete with tent, carriages, costumes, and horses, and on December 23, 1873, the Russian Circus of the Nikitin Brothers () gave its first performance in the city of Penza. It was, at long last, the first genuinely Russian circus operating in the Russian Empire. The Nikitins' Russian Circus toured the provinces with good success. Money was coming in, and three years later, in 1876, they were able to build their first permanent circus in Saratov, in southern Russia. Located in the center of the city, it was an elaborate wooden structure that stood until 1928. (It was demolished, and a stone circus was built in its place in 1931; in 1963, RosGosTsirk, the central Soviet circus agency, replaced it with a brand new, state-of-the-art building, erected in a different part of the city. This latter circus, which still bears the name of Nikitin Brothers' Circus, remains active.) Owners of a permanent circus building and managing a touring company, the Nikitin brothers had finally entered the circus world's big league. While Dmitri and Akim increasingly took care of the business, Piotr developed into a remarkable bareback rider (he is said to have achieved the somersault on horseback), a flying trapeze and horizontal bars gymnast, a gifted mime, and even a quick-change artist. Then the Nikitins struck gold: On the occasion of the coronation of Tsar Alexandre III in May 1883, they were invited to erect a temporary hippodrome at Khodinskoye Pole, an old parade ground in Moscow. Their hippodrome was a large open-air arena, inspired by the famous Hippodrome Franconi at the Barrière de l'Etoile in Paris, but whose actual configuration, with its two rings separated by a central stage, owed more to P.T. Barnum's version of it. There, the Nikitins produced equestrian extravaganzas themed after old Russian legends, as well as chariot races and other traditional hippodrome fare. At the end of their run, which had been successful, they were awarded the Andreev Order's Silver Medal by the City of Moscow. Then, they hit the road again. But now that they had experienced the great Russian metropolis - and its business potential - they longed to return. Meanwhile, the brothers were trying to expand their circus empire. In 1884, they built their second permanent circus in Minsk. It passed under city ownership the following year (it was destroyed during WWII, a replaced later by another building), but others would come. Then, the wily brothers saw another golden opportunity in Moscow: The old Panorama (today, the Mir Theatre), adjacent to the circus Albert Salamonsky had built on Tsvetnoy Boulevard in 1880, was available. The circular building, which had once housed a panoramic painting depicting The Storming of Plevna, was an ideal fit for a circus, and its location on Moscow's most popular promenade, in the midst of other places of amusement (including an already popular circus!) seemed perfect - at least to Dmitri, Akim, and Piotr Nikitin. Thus the Nikitin Brothers's Russian Circus opened in its new Moscow building in 1866. Their show certainly didn't have the splendor of Salamonsky's productions, nor his superb equestrian presentations, but the Nikitins knew how to attract a popular audience, and they met with increasing success. Salamonsky was not amused and he finally bought out the Nikitins in 1887 for 30,000 rubles, a considerable sum for the time. He also had the Nikitins sign an agreement stating that they wouldn't compete with Salamonsky in Moscow. To protect himself from another unwanted neighbor, Salamonsky used the old Panorama for horse training and equestrian exhibitions. Salamonsky's precautions proved useless: The following year (1888), the brothers returned to Moscow, where they rented the old Circus Hinné on Vozdzvizhenka Street (which belonged to Andrea Ciniselli). Furious, Salamonsky reminded the Nikitins of their agreement; but Akim and Piotr were quick to point out that it was Dmitri who had signed the agreement - Dmitri, as it happened, had just left his brothers and gone his own way. (He had created the Panoptikon, a traveling "museum" and menagerie.) Therefore, the Russian Circus of the Nikitin Brothers was not bound anymore by Dmitri's agreements. Luckily for Salamonsky, the Nikitins didn't do great business on Vozdzvizhenka Street and, before the end of the year, they left Moscow for Tiflis (today Tbilisi, in Georgia), where they built a wooden circus on Golovinsky Prospect (today Rustaveli Prospect). Tbilisi became their homebase, and from there, they created a touring circuit for which they used circuses of bricks or wood that they built over the years in several Russian cities. By the turn of the twentieth century, the Nikitins' circus empire - and their well-oiled annual tour - included circus buildings in Tiflis (today Tbilisi in Georgia, which was the Nikitins' home base), Baku and Astrakhan (where Circus Nikitin spent the winter season), Tsaritsyn (today Volgograd), Saratov, Samara, Kazan, Nizhniy-Novgorod, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, and Kharkov. Piotr Nikitin, the great artist of the family, retired from the circus in the 1890s. (He died on August 20, 1921, having outlived his brothers.) Akim was left alone at the helm of the Nikitin Brothers's Russian Circus. When his flagship circus in Tbilisi burned down, Akim finally decided to build a permanent circus in Moscow, where he found a vacant lot on Triumfalnaya Plaza and Bolshoya Sadovaya Street. Designed by the architect Bogdan Mikhailovich Nilus, Circus Nikitin was a large stone building in the Art-Nouveau style with an imposing façade; it was equipped with a revolving ring that could sink to reveal a swimming pool - in the manner of Paris's famous Nouveau Cirque - which allowed the presentation of water pantomimes. Inaugurated in 1911, it has survived to this day as the Variety Theatre (formerly Theatre of Satire), but only its old circus cupola, still visible behind its new façade, betrays its circus origins. Seeking photos and more information. Dmitri, Piotr, Akim Nikitin (c.1880)
P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth Barnum & Bailey Circus	Started 1871 Merged with Ringling Bros 1918	Brooklyn, NY (USA)	In 1871, P.T. Barnum established "P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus", a travelling combination of circus, menagerie and museum of "freaks". In 1872, P.T. Barnum and W.C. Coup's Circus travels on a special circus train, and by 1872 was billing itself as "The Greatest Show on Earth". It went through a number of variants on these names: "P.T. Barnum's Traveling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth", and after an 1881 merger with James Bailey and James Hutchinson, "P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United", was soon shortened to "Barnum & London Circus". In 1881 Barnum & Bailey's first three-ring circus was staged in New York City. Barnum and Bailey split up in 1885, but came back together again in 1888 with the "Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show On Earth", later "Barnum & Bailey Circus", which toured around the world. P. T. Barnum died on April 7, 1891. Delno Fritz was the sword swallower with Barnum and Bailey Circus from 1896 to 1899. From December 27, 1897 to April 2, 1898, Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth wintered at the Olympia in England, and the following year again wintered at the Olympia in London from December 26, 1898 to April 8, 1899. In May 4-5, 1899, the Barnum and Bailey Circus played Nottingham, England and travelled between cities on 4 huge trains, each with 17 carriages. Delno Fritz was the featured sword swallower in 1899. In 1900, Mlle Amy was the sword swallower with Barnum and Bailey Circus in Germany. In 1901, Edith Clifford joined Barnum and Bailey in Vienna, and performed with Barnum and Bailey Circus through 1906. On April 11, 1906, owner James Bailey died. In 1907, Ringling Brothers bought Barnum & Bailey Circus, but the two shows continued to tour separately. In 1907, Marie DeVere was the new female sword swallower with Barnum and Bailey Circus. Capt. Fritz Lecardo performed with Ringling Brothers on a European tour, and was possibly along with Edward Smith part-time sword swallowers with Barnum and Bailey Circus possibly during the years 1908 to 1918. In 1915, Slivers Bowden, sword swallower, joined the Barnum & Bailey Show at Omaha, Nebraska. In 1918, Ringling Brothers combined with Barnum, & Bailey Circus to become one combined show, the Ringling Brothers, Barnum, & Bailey Circus. The Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus performed their first combined show in New York on March 29, 1919, with their new sword swallower, Edith Clifford. In the Spring of 1919, Harry Houdini came specifically to watch sword swallower Edith Clifford with the combined Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, and he wrote a raving review in his book "Miracle Mongers" published in 1920. Barnum and Bailey Circus Timeline, Routes, and Sword Swallowers: 1896: US Route Sword Swallower Delno Fritz in US 1897: US Route Sword Swallower Delno Fritz in US 1897-98: Winter shows at Olympia in London England 1897: Sword swallower Mlle Edith Clifford in London 1898: April 2: Final show at Olympia in London before touring Great Britain 1898: UK Route Sword Swallower Delno Fritz and Mlle Edith Clifford in Europe 1899: UK Route Sword Swallower Delno Fritz and Mlle Edith Clifford in Europe 1900: German Route Sword Swallower Mlle Amy in Germany 1901: Europe Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford joins in Vienna, tours Europe 1902: Europe Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford and Rob Roy in US 1903: US Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford and Rob Roy in US 1904: US Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford and "Veno" Nelson C. Barned 1905: US Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford 1906: US Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford 1906: James Bailey dies April 11, 1906 1907: Ringling Brothers buys Barnum & Bailey but tour separately 1907: US Route Sword Swallower Marie DeVere 1908: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1909: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1910: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1911: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1912: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1913: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1914: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1915: US Route Sword Swallower Slivers Bowden joins in Omaha 1916: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1917: US Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford in Atlanta GA 1918: US Route Sword Swallower Mlle Edith Clifford 1918: Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus merge to become one combined show 1919: March 29 Houdini watches Edith Clifford with Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Seeking more information on sword swallowers with Barnum & Bailey Circus
Alfred Hayden	Born 1862 Performed 1890s? Died after 1938	Castle Hill Richmond Yorkshire (England)	According to a 1938 article in the Yorkshire Evening Post, tattooist Alfred Hayden was ...in his young days, on the music-hall stage as a sword swallower. "We used to give entertainment in the recreation rooms of barracks," said Mr. Hayden to the Yorkshire Evening Post, "and one day at the depot of the 7th Fusiliers, at Hounslow, I fell in with Professor Beaumont, who was an expert tattooist and used to work the barracks in and around London. He took a fancy to my sword swallowing turn, and we got to know each other well. He suggested that I might take up tattooing in my spare time, and to fill in the intervals between theatrical engagements, I did, and for some 40 years now I have been in business for myself in various parts of the country, including London and Aldershot. During the War I was at Felixstowe." At the time of this article in 1938, Alfred Hayden was 75 years old and living in Castle Hill, Richmond Yorkshire England. Seeking photos and more information. SwSw Alfred Hayden reminisces at 75 (1938)
Harry Lester Harry M. Lester Harry Maryan Lester The Great Lester Maryan Czajkowski Maryan Tschaikovsky	Born 8 Sep 1879 Performed 1895-1898? Died 14 July 1956	Majestic Theater Rhinelander, WI Los Angeles, CA (USA)	Harry Lester (8 September 1879-14 July 1956), was born Maryan Czajkowski on September 9, 1879 in Poland, but was best known as a vaudeville ventriloquist under the stage name The Great Lester. Harry Lester was born in Poland on September 8, 1879 under his birth name of Maryan Czajkowski (often spelled Maryan Tschaikovsky). He was a cousin to the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, although the two most likely never met. While still very young, Maryan Tchaikovsky immigrated with his family to the United States. Tschaikovsky was bright, but he was not inclined to sit still in school. By the time he turned 16, Tchaikovsky had dropped out of school to run away from home and join the circus. In the circus, young Maryan took on every job that he could get. His enthusiasm quickly got him promoted to entertainer. He worked in the circus as a balloon jumper, clown and magician, and in the sideshow as a mind-reader, fire-eater and sword swallower. While working with the sideshow sometime between 1895 to 1898, he became fascinated in the art of ventriloquism. He read every book on ventriloquism he could get his hands on and mastered the craft well enough that around 1898, around the age of 20, he started performing strictly as a ventriloquist and changed his name to Harry Lester. During his first few years as a vent, Lester worked with several makeshift dummies. He acquired his most famous dummy, Frank Byron, Jr. around 1903. In numerous instances, he claimed to have carved Frank Byron, Jr. himself when he was young. Coronet cited Frank Marshall of Chicago as his carver. The most likely provenance of Frank Byron Jr. indicates that he probably came from the workshop of Theo Mack & Son of the Chicago Theodore Mack Company, a few years before Frank Marshall was employed there. With Frank Byron, Jr. at his side, Harry Lester assumed the moniker The Great Lester. He became a sensation, toured Europe, and became one of the highest-paid in-demand performers of the vaudeville circuit. Called the "Grandfather of Modern Day Ventriloquism", Lester claimed to be the first to drink while his dummy spoke; however, Joe Laurie notes that this trick was first performed in 1821. One of Lester's most noted acts was a bit where he called up Heaven and Hell in search of his sister. He was also the first ventriloquist to walk among the audience while his dummy whistled. In 1913, Lester's vaudeville tour took him to Rhinelander WI to perform in the new Majestic Theater. He fell in love with the area, and with a local girl named Charlotte. Harry Lester married his beloved Lottie and moved into a house on North Stevens Street. Lester loved children, and he and Lottie adopted two, a boy named Arnold and a girl named Jessie. Although Lester continued performing the vaudeville circuit, Rhinelander became his permanent home. He was in town full-time during the summers and came back during lapses in performance dates during the colder months. Lester was a vaudeville headliner throughout the 1920s, but by the end of the decade he suffered three setbacks from which he never fully recovered. He took heavy losses in the stock market crash of 1929, and was forced to file a libel suit against the scandalous Hollywood film, The Great Gabbo, for its false claims of being based on his life. But worst of all was the death of his beloved wife Lottie. After Lottie's death, Lester and his children moved to a lake house in the Newbold area and made the Northwoods their home through the 1930s. Lester continued traveling and performing, but his vaudeville ventriloquist act seemed increasingly old-fashioned compared to the newfangled talking films. When on breaks from touring, Lester remained active in his local community. He was a member of the local Elks and Masonic Lodges and he always found time to perform benefits for local audiences across the Northwoods. After World War II, Lester moved to Los Angeles CA, and offered ventriloquism lessons in a studio on Hollywood Boulevard. He was a well-known teacher of the art of ventriloquism, and he developed a rigorous program of breathing and speech articulation exercises. Students of Lester were encouraged to make tape recordings of their sessions, and as a result, there are many examples of his courses to be heard and a number of student recordings have been made available commercially. Edgar Bergen, one of the most famous ventriloquists of all time, was one of the Great Lester's pupils. In 1956, Lester needed an appendicitis operation. There were complications, and he did not recover. Harry Lester died in Los Angeles CA on July 14, 1956 at the age of 76 from complications of an appendicitis operation. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, CA. Today Frank Byron, Jr. and Lester's other ventriloquist dummies are on display at Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky where they reside. Seeking photos and more information.
Demetrius Longo Russian Fakir and Sword Swallower	Born 1872 Performed 1890-1970s Died after 1972?	Russian Circus Nizhegorodsk District, Moscow (Russia)	According to a Brownsville Herald article dated January 25, 1972: "Demetrius Longo spent most of his life swallowing swords, walking on nails, drinking molten tin, and pulling out his eyeballs. It did him no harm. Longo will turn 100 next week. The Soviet magazine Yunost (Youth) said Longo, a "famous fakir and dervish," is writing memoirs of his long career as a sideshow artist in Russian circuses. The magazine publishes excerpts from the memoirs in connection with Longo's 100th birthday. In his heyday, the magazine said, Longo "walked barefoot on burning coals and on points of Persian spears or Turkish sabres. He lay down on beds of nails, drank molten tin and conjured spirits. "For him, swallowing a sword was a mere trifle... he could even remove his own eyeball and put it back." In his memoirs, Longo revealed the secret of sword swallowing - it involves feathers and goose fat - and he described some of his more spectacular stage tricks. He also offered a reason for his long life. "He says he reached such an incredible age because he never feared death," the magazine said. "He quoted his favorite poet, Omar Khayyam: You will die but once so it is not worth worrying about it." Longo said he began his career at the age of 11 in the town of Nizhegorodsk where he joined a carnival as a roustabout, ticket taker and part-time magician. Later he said, he teamed up with a 9-foot giant, and a 20-inch lady. This was in the 1890s, he said, and it was about then that he acquired a French-speaking parrot named Ara. "Ara was five years older than me at the time," he said. "He still lives so that makes him 105 years old now." Longo, Ara, the giant, and the midget toured Russian cities with their act, he said and it gradually expanded. He once had a family of acrobatic cockroaches that performed tricks in a miniature playground." Seeking photos and more information. Russian SwSw Demetrius Longo turns 100 (1972)
Lady Marguerite Lady Margurite Lady Margaret Mlle. Margaret Davis Mlle. Marguerite Davis Marguerite Davis Margaurite Davis Margaret Davis Margaret Fiedler Marguerite Davis Fiedler Mrs. Jesse R. Fiedler	Born 1896 Performed 1914-1920 Married 1920 Died Nov 19, 1921	Mighty Haag Show Howe's Great London Show John Robinson Circus Side Show Davenport, IA (USA)	Lady Margurite was a female circus sword swallower who performed in the early 1900s to 1920. This photo was taken of her in Davenport, Iowa. According to the October 17, 1914 Billboard: "Annie Christ, professionally known as Trixie Christie, is a new addition to the Oriental department of the Mighty Haag Shows. Margaret Davis is doing the sword swallowing in the Haag Auxiliary. Slivers Bowden, side-showman is the power of this department." In 1915, "Marguerite Davis, sword swallower, who was in the last season with the Mighty Haag Show, has signed with Howe's Great London Show". However, according to the Howe's Great London Shows: Souvenir and Season's Route Book for 1915, her name was listed as "Margaurite Davis, sword swallower." According to Billboard Volume 29 dated May 9, 1917: With John Robinson's Circus in Cincinnati Ohio, "Marguerite Davis, sword swallower and slights." According to the January 3, 1920 Billboard: "Jesse R. Fiedler and Marguerite Davis, both members of the John Robinson Circus, were married in Pensacola, Fla., November 15, 1919. Mr. Fiedler has seen considerable service "Over There." According to the Billboard dated May 8, 1920, Mlle. Margaret (Davis), was featured as sword swallower John Robinson Circus Side Show of 1920. According to the Billboard dated September 18, 1920: John Robinson Circus. Margaret and Jess Fiedler rejoined the show at Pueblo. They opened with the show in the spring, but were compelled to leave on account of Mrs. Fiedler's health. Jess is selling tickets for the big show, while Margaret is working in the kid show. Marguerite Davis died on November 19, 1921 at the age of 24-25, and is buried in Plot Section 7, Lot 33, Grave 2 in Overlook Cemetery, Parkman, Geauga County, OH. Seeking photos and more information. Lady Marguerite Margaret Davis Fiedler Timeline: 1892 Aug: Jesse R. Fiedler born in Kansas 1896: Marguerite Davis born 1911: Frank A Robbins Shows 1914: Mighty Haag Shows Auxiliary 1915: Howe's Great London Show 1916: ? 1917: John Robinson's Circus Side Show 1919: John Robinson's Circus Side Show 1919: Nov 15: Married to Jesse R. Fiedler in Pensacola FL 1920: John Robinson Circus Side Show 1920: Marguerite Davis in poor health 1921: 18 Nov: Marguerite Davis dies at the age of 24-25 in OH 1942: 1 June: Jesse R. Fiedler dies Lady Margurite Lady Margurite (different scan) Lady Margurite (c 1919-20)
Cliquot Chevalier Cliquot "Watch Swallower" "The World's Greatest Sword Phenomenon" Fred Cliquot Fred McLand Fred McLone Francis McLone Frederick McLoan Frederick McLone	Born 1862 Performed 1878-1902+ Buried March 10, 1939	Globe Dime Museum Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum Palace Museum Harry Davis Eden Musee Huber's Museum Boston Lyceum Westminster Royal Aquarium Forepaugh Circus Chicago, IL (USA) Oldham, England (UK)	First well-known North American sword swallower, Chevalier Cliquot was one of the most prominent sword-swallowers of his time and was known by the description "The World's Greatest Sword Phenomenon". The story was perpetuated that Chevalier Cliquot was a "French-Canadian" born in Quebec, Canada in 1862 who ran away from home in Quebec at an early age to join a travelling circus bound for South America. On seeing an old man swallow a small machete in Buenos Aires, he allegedly took up learning sword swallowing around 1878-80 at about the age of 16 (Photo reportedly of Cliquot holding two swords taken in Montevideo Uruguay on July 18, 1880) In actuality, Cliquot was an American who was born in Chicago, IL, who went by the names Fred McLand, Frederick McLone or Francis McLone. According to Census records, in 1891, Fred and Edith Cliquot lived in Cardiff Wales in 1891. According to ship passenger records, on February 15, 1892 Fred and Edith Cliquot arrived by ship in Philadelphia, PA. According to the Chicago Inter Ocean dated May 8, 1892, "At the Chicago Globe Dime Museum there will be seen during the week (May 8th, 1892) Mme. Carver, the fat woman, and her midget son, Major Heard and son, diminuitive dwarfs; Cliquot, the sword swallower, and Clios Adams, the armless man." According to the May 15 1892 Cincinatti Enquirer, Cliquot was booked at Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum in Cincinatti OH the week of May 15, 1892. Cliquot told Harry Houdini that Delno Fritz was his sword swallowing pupil in the early 1890s. According to an ad dated May 23, 1892 in the Scranton Republican, Cliquot was booked at the Palace Museum in Scranton PA the week of May 23, 1892. On Sept 18, 1892, Cliquot performed at the World's Museum Theater in Pittsburgh according to the Sept 18, 1892 Pittsburgh Dispatch. According to a December 31, 1892 article in the Harrisburg Daily Independent, Cliquot was booked at the Harry Davis Eden Musee in Harrisburg, PA the week of December 26-30, 1892, and was assisted by Mlle. Cliquot. It was about this same time that Delno Fritz also claimed he studied sword swallowing from Cliquot while Fritz was also working at the Harry Davis Eden Musee in Harrisburg. According to an article in the Dec 12, 1893 New York Evening World, Cliquot also performed at Huber's Museum in New York in Dec 1893 (Delno Fritz perfomed at Huber's Museum a year later in December 1894 and 1895). On January 19, 1894, while swallowing 14 nine-inch swords at once in New York, Cliquot had the misfortune to have a skeptical audience, one of whom, a doctor who should have known better, rushed forward and impulsively pulled out the swords, inflicting injuries on Cliquot which incapacitated him for months. According to a January 20, 1894 article in the Ottawa Journal, "A French Canadian sword swallower named Cliquot was severely cut internally in a private exhibition at New York yesterday by a doctor who undertook to draw out fourteen swords that he had swallowed all at once, instead of singly. The sufferer is lying unconscious at an hospital." A New York Times article dated January 21, 1894 states, "'The Chevalier Cliquot' astonished doctors at the Metropolitan Throat Hospital. When he seemed in pain with fourteen swords down his throat, Dr. Hope yanked them out in a bunch. McLone in bed under morphine's influence. 'Oh, I'm all right,' groaned Frederick McLone, "the Chevalier Cliquot" sword swallower, as he tossed uneasily on a bed in Room 66 of the Union Square Hotel last evening, when his manager, William Howell asked him how he was getting along. McLone was under the influence of morphine administered by Dr. William Shannon, who believes his exhibition of sword swallowing at the Metropolitan Throat Hospital at 351 West Thirty-fourth Street on Friday brought about slight inflammation of the stomach and oesophagus, and that there are slight lacerations of the throat. McLone is a handsome little man, with a physique that is like that of Rowell, the walker. He was born in Quebec in 1862, and when a schoolboy became fascinated with a circus show and ran away from home to become an acrobat. A family of saltimbancos attached to a circus took an interest in him, and taught him to tumble and do feats of strength. He had just become expert enough to be worth a salary when he saw Battin the sword swallower perform some of his feats, and detected him in trickery. McLone experimented with himself, first with a wire with a knob at the end, until he had overcome the muscular and nervous resistance of his throat. Then he practiced with a sword until he was able to swallow a blade of about twenty inches up to its hilt. Constant practice made his throat callous to or familiar with intrusion, and fourteen years ago, when the United States man-of-war Lancaster was at Algiers, and a minstrel show was given on board, he appeared as the "American Acrobat" and gave an exhibition of sword swallowing without using a "sheath" or any device to lessen the severity of the ordeal to which his throat was put. His pseudonym was given him two years later in a Paris cafe, after a bottle of "The Widow's" had been splashed over him. He last appeared in public in Pittsburg three weeks ago and was to appear in Montreal to-morrow, but the date has been canceled. To kill time, he and his manager had gone to Boston, and his ability to swallow almost anything, except an insult, was demonstrated before Dr. Bowditch, Professor of Physiology at Harvard College, and others in B.F. Keith's office in the Gaiety Theatre. Dr. Bowditch, at the end of the exhibition asked: "Can you swallow anything?" "Yes," replied McLone. "Then swallow my cane." "I will if you'll wipe the ferrule." This was done, and the cane was pushed 22 inches down the Chevalier's throat, and the spectators marveled. The staff at the Metropolitan Throat Hospital deny that McLone was invited to appear before them. They say that he was brought there by his manager. They are familiar with the feats that a throat accustomed to distension will endure, and say that, physically considered, what McLone did on Friday was startling, but not especially wonderful. He first caused the 22 inch blade of a Chassepot sabre to disappear up to the hilt, and then swallowed four sword blades twenty inches long. The swords were made for the purpose, and the hilts were in the same plane as the blades, which fitted into each other like a nest of spoons. Then, taking the sabre, Cliquot fastened at right angles to the hilt a hollow rod of iron, four feet long, and to each end of the rod attached a dumbbell maker "14 pounds." Then, raising the rod until the point of the sabre was in his mouth, he swallowed it again, as he had done when nothing was attached to it. While the sabre was in his oesophagus McLone gave the bar a half twist, something he had never before attempted, according to Manager Howell. The doctors were asked if they wished to see a fowling piece attached to the bar and discharged while four inches of the sabre were out of the juggler's mouth, so that the sabre would force the blade down to the hilt, but they declined, and McLone prepared to do the next feat, that of swallowing fourteen swords, the blades of which were like those used in the second feat. Howell admits that when the sabre with the bar and the dumbbells was drawn from its living sheath, McLone appeared to suffer and retched, and that he should have then desisted, or have been made to do so. The fourteen swords were swallowed like the bunch of four, and the ordeal was little more severe, except that the distention of the throat was greater. Before swallowing the swords, McLone said that if any one wanted to draw them, it should be done one by one and not in a bunch. The swords were not half their length in McLone's economy when he appeared to be suffering and turned pale. Howell had turned his back when they were beginning to disappear, and he heard one of the doctors say, "My God, this is going too far." He turned to see Dr. G. B. Hope grasp the swords by the butts, and sharply withdraw them, instead of pulling them out quickly, one by one, as a card player deals cards, and as McLone does on stage. McLone gave a groan and leaned forward. He appeared to be in great agony, and could not speak for several moments. He then complained of severe pain in the stomach and throat. After a hypodermic injection of morphine had been given to him he was taken to his hotel in a cab. It was at first feared that either his throat had been lacerated or that there was a puncture of the stomach, and that an operation would be necessary, but there was no hemmorhage, and his condition had so far improved yesterday afternoon that he was able to drink some kumyss. Manager Howell was convinced that the new trick of turning the sabre with the bar and dumbbells attached was too great a strain for organs that had been strained and stretched to fit them for abnormal uses. He expected, however that McLone would be able to go to Toronto to fill an engagement at the end of this week. His wife, who aids him in his performances, was so satisfied with his condition that she went out for a walk with a friend. The staff of the hospital say they were not responsible for McLone's collapse. Before he gave his exhibition, his throat was examined, and while it was found to have become distended, it appeared to be healthy. McLone admitted that frequently after he had been idle for some time, he swallowed food with difficulty, and had several times been almost choked by food. He also suffered from dyspepsia when not "in practice", but found relief when he swallowed a sword. He was advised not to attempt any feat that would tax his throat more than it had been, and to keep it exercised." A follow-up story in the NY Times dated Jan 22, 1894 stated, "Frederick McLone, the sword swallower known on the stage as Chevalier Cliquot, who is suffering from inflammation of the stomach through the twisting of a sabre he had pushed down his throat at an exhibition, had greatly improved yesterday. Dr. William Shannon, his physician, says McLone may sit up in bed today." In February 1895, Cliquot was in Mexico City, Mexico. According to the March 9, 1895 article in the Chicago InterOcean, Cliquot did a demonstration for the senior class anatomy students at Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL on March 8, 1895. March 9, 1895 Chicago Daily Tribune account of Cliquot demonstration at Rush Medical College Chicago. According to an article in the Chicago InterOcean dated March 20, 1895: "Manager Hall of the McVicker's Theatre Casino has enlarged and strengthened the programme at that house since Sunday, the new people being Chevalier Cliquot, a sword swallower, and Gigmac and Pavese, the swordsmen. The sword swallower act is a remarkable one, the Chevalier passing blades twenty-one inches long down his throat and then bending his neck in all directions." From October 7-11, 1895, Chevalier Cliquot and his wife Mlle Cliquot were featured at the Boston Lyceum in Boston swallowing 14 swords (coincidentally only a few weeks after his competition "Chevalier Fritz" performed in Boston swallowing 11 swords in September, 1895) according to an ad in the October 6, 1895 Boston Post and followed by an article in the Boston Post. On November 10, 1895, an unnamed 35-year old European sword swallower who had performed for over 20 years was featured in an in-depth article on the art of sword swallowing in the Pittsburgh Daily Post. Based on the description of the sword swallower and details of the feats described, this must have been Cliquot. On January 17, 1896, Cliquot debuted at the Westminster Royal Aquarium in London England, according to the Westminster Budget dated January 17, 1896. On February 21, 1896, Cliquot was still pulling in the crowds at the Westminster Royal Aquarium by swallowing 14 swords and a watch according to an article in the Westminster Budget dated February 21, 1896. By 1902, Cliquot had swallowed up to 22 inch blades nearly every day for over 23 years at least and possibly beyond that. Cliquot could swallow a 22-inch cavalry sword without difficulty, and his act included swallowing an electric light bulb connected to an 8-volt battery, up to fourteen 19-inch bayonet swords at one time, and his major trick was to swallow a bayonet sword, weighted with a cross-bar and two 18-pound dumbbells. In another feat, he would partially swallow a bayonet weighted with a crossbar, and allow the rest of the blade to be "kicked" by the recoil of a rifle which was fixed to a spike in the center of the bar and then fired by his sister. Cliquot was known to have performed with the Forepaugh Circus, did lectures and demonstrations before physicians and students at the University of of Liverpool in England, and finally "reformed" and ended up as a music hall agent in England. Edith McLone died in March 1917 at the age of 47, and was interred in the county of Staffordshire England. According to an article in the July 7, 1939 New Castle News, "Francis McLone who in pre-war days was well known as Chevalier Cliquot, sword swallower, has died at the Royal Infirmary in Oldham, England. After a demonstration many years ago before the Chicago College of Surgeons, he was offered a life pension if he would agree to leave his body for research purposes. He refused, but a few days before his last operation, he bequeathed his body to the Oldham Infirmary." McLone died in 1939 at the age of 72, and was buried March 10, 1939 in the Southern Cemetery, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Metropolitan Borough of Greater Manchester, England, Plot: TConsecrated 1075. Seeking photos and more information. Chevalier Cliquot Fred McLone Timeline 1862: Born in Chicago, IL? 1864-65: Born according to passenger manifests 1867: March 24: Born in Quebec Canada? 1868-69: Wife Edith born in Brockton, Stafford, Staffordshire England 1878-80: Learned sword swallowing at 16 1880: July 18: Montevideo Uruguay 1891: Fred and Edith Cliquot live in Cardiff Wales 1892: Feb 15: Fred and Edith Cliquot arrive by ship in Philadelphia, PA 1892: May 8: Globe Dime Museum Chicago IL 1892: May 15: Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum Cincinatti OH 1892: May 23-28: Palace Museum, Scranton, PA 1892: Delno Fritz meets Cliquot in Pennsylvania, gets passionate about sword swallowing 1892: Aug 17: Mr. & Mrs. Cliquot move to Scranton PA 1892: Sept 15: Harry Davis Eden Musee Harrisburg PA 1892: Sept 18: World's Museum Theater in Pittsburgh PA 1892: Dec 26-30: Harry Davis Eden Musee Harrisburg PA 1893: Dec 12: Huber's Museum NY 1894: Jan 19: Injured at Metropolitan Throat Hospital NY 1894: Oct 14: The Wigwam, San Francisco, CA 1894: Oct 30: Court witness against The Wigwam, San Franciscof CA 1895: February: Mexico City Mexico 1895: March 8: Rush Medical College Chicago, IL 1895: March 20: McVicker's Theatre Casino Chicago 1895: Oct 7-11: Boston Lyceum Boston, MA 1895: Nov 10: In-depth article in Pittsburgh Daily Post 1896: Jan 1: Delphos Daily Herald article 1896: Jan 17: Debuts at The Aquarium in London 1896: Feb 21: Westminster Royal Aquarium London 1896: Harper's article 1897: Chevalier and Mrs. Cliquot arrive in Liverpool England 1902: Still sword swallowing 1903: Nov 17: Gets US Passport 1917: March: Edith McLone dies at 47, interred in Staffordshire, England 1939: Fred McLone Cliquot dies at 72 at Oldham Infirmary in Oldham England 1939: March 9: Buried in Southern Cemetery Oldham England Cliquot in Uruguay front (1880) Cliquot in Uruguay back (1880) Cliquot at Globe Dime Museum Chicago (5-8-1892) Cliquot at Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum Cincinatti (5-15-1892) Palace Museum Scranton (5-23-28-1892) Cliquot Watch Swallower (6-19-1892) Cliquot moves to Scranton PA (8-17-1892) Cliquot at Harry Davis Eden Musee Harrisburg (9-15-1892) Cliquot at Harry Davis Eden Musee Harrisburg (12-31-1892) Cliquot injury article 1 (1-21-1894) Cliquot injury article 2 (1--22-1894) Cliquot injury article pdf (1-1894) The Wigwam San Francisco (10-14-1894) Witness against The Wigwam San Fran (10-30-1894) Cliquot demonstration at Rush Medical College Chicago (3-8-1895) Cliquot demonstration at Rush Medical College Chicago (3-8-1895) Cliquot Chicago InterOcean (3-20-1895) Cliquot ad Boston Lyceum (10-6-1895) Cliquot article Boston Lyceum (10-6-1895) Pittsburgh Daily Post article (11-10-1895) Cliquot debuts at London Aquarium (1-17-1896) Cliquot swallowing 22 inch cavalry sabre (1896) Cliquot swallowing weighted sword (1896) Chevalier Cliquot (1896) Chevalier Cliquot (1896) Chevalier Cliquot postcard (1890s) Cliquot with Forepaugh Circus Cliquot Poster (1899) Cliquot Poster (1902) Francis McLone dies in Oldham England (1939)
James "Daddy" Day	Born c. 1853 Performed 187?-1938 Died after 1938	Ringling Brothers Circus W. B. Reynolds Circus Consolidated Shows Ridgeway, MO (USA)	According to a February 17, 1938 article in the Harrison County Times (MO), "Retired Ridgeway Man Was a Leading Sword Swallower, Circus Performer" James ("Daddy") Day, Ridgeway's retired photographer, has been a professional female impersonator, sword swallower, fire-eater and exhibitionist in other hazardous and generally unrelished occupations. And he was good too, "Daddy" will tell you. He can prove it because he was with the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Balley, W. B. Reynolds (1892-1896), and other prominent circuses, and was in top vaudeville for a number of years. Ridgeway residents confirm all "Daddy" says about himself, for a little more than a year ago he amazed them with an exhibition that included walking on sharp knives, eating fire and swallowing his long sword. He is 85 years old. "Daddy" has only a snort for scoffers anyway. He tells of the doubters who thought he was pushing the blade into the sword handle, a beautiful gilt affair. That was many years ago, but he knocked off the handle and proved to his audience the shaft went down his throat. He was born in Jefferson county, Ohio. The family moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, where young James learned to be a photographer. Then he moved to Des Moines. He was a strong, adventurous young man when he went to St. Louls to learn the profession of sword swallowing. There he studied under "the great Clicko" and paid his way by working in a museum. It is impossible to "eat" a blade without years of practice, "Daddy" informs us, and who are we to doubt such an authority. It took him four years to learn, so to earn his livelihood in the circus, he learned to pull forth yards of red tape from his mouth, eat and blow fire and tread the upturned knife blades. Of "Asiatic" Royalty At this time the Ohio-born youth was known as handsome Mons de Volia, the Circassian prince from the Black Sea of Asia. After a few years with circuses, Day turned to vaudeville. He was a female impersonator, dancing and singing with a partner. "I had a be-ootiful voice," Day said, "when I was known as Mile. Rosa. I sang in falsetto... I was with the Kate Pumphrey Opera company, Maggie Mitchell's dramatic shows, Primrose and West Minstrels and the Dockstater minstrels." Some time during his youth, Mons de Volia (James) married the Ringlings' beautiful snake charmer. She died more than 30 years ago. Mr. Day retired from the show business and returned to itinerant and stationary photography. In 1915 he moved to Ridgeway, where he opened a shop, which he operated until about ten years ago when busIness got bad. Now "Daddy" is drawing an old age pension and considering going to Mt. Vernon, Mo., to open another studio. He lives, surrounded by hundreds of photographs, in an otherwise unused store building on Ridgeway's maln street. At 85, life's not over for "Daddy" Day. Seeking photos and more information. Sword Swallower James "Daddy" Day Timeline c 1853: Born in Jefferson County OH 18??: Moved to Marshalltown, IA, learned photgraphy 18??: Moved to Des Moines, IA 18??: Moved to St. Louis, MO to study sword swallowing under Cliquot 1892-1896: Worked with W. B. ReynoldsCircus Consolidated Shows 1915: Retired from show business to work in photography in Ridgeway MO 1928: Closed photgraphy shop in Ridgeway, MO 1937: Performed an exhibition for Ridgeway residents at 84 James Daddy Day article (1938)
Harry Parsons	Performed 1880 Died December 20, 1880	Cleveland, OH (USA)	A Cincinnati Enquirer articles dated January 17, 1880 reports on a Cincinnati sword swallower who was injured in January 1880. Could this have been sword swallower Harry Parsons? According to obituaries in the NY Times and the Leavenworth Times, both dated Dec 24, 1880, "Harry Parsons, a professional sword-swallower, fatally injured himself while performing the feat in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday." Harry Parsons died on December 20, 1880, and is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. Seeking photos and more information. Cincinnati sword swallower (1-17-1880) Harry Parsons obituary (12-24-1880) Harry Parsons obituary (12-24-1880)
Gustaf Westerlund Gustaf Gustafinpoika Westerlund Brothers Westerlund	Born Sept 26, 1854 Performed 1880 Died 1917	Brothers Westerlund (Finland)	Gustaf Westerlund (born Sept 26, 1854 in Oulu Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland) and his brother Alexander Westerlund (born Sept 6, 1859) were born to Gustaf Westerlund and Maria Kaisa, and performed together as circus performers in Finland under the name "Veljekset Westerlund" (Brothers Westerlund) doing an acrobatic act which also included sword swallowing. An advertisement from August 5, 1880 states that Westerlund "...swallows in wonderful accuracy 24 inch long iron swords". Westerlund died in 1917, and is buried in plot #11in Oulu Cemetery in Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland.Seeking photos and more information. Alexander Westerlund
Barnum & Bailey's Circus	1881	New York, NY (USA)	Barnum and Bailey's first three ring circus is staged in New York City in 1881. Barnum and Bailey split up in 1885, but came back together again in 1888 with the "Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show On Earth", later "Barnum & Bailey Circus", which toured around the world. P.T. Barnum died in 1891.
Prof. Bauman Professor Bauman	Performed March 12-14, 1881	Turnverein Hall Los Angeles, CA (USA)	According to a March 9, 1881 article in the Los Angeles Herald, "Prof Willio, a world renowned Prestidigitateur and Necromancer will give three entertainments in this city, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday eve'gs, March 12, 13, and 14. The Professor outrivals the Davenport tricks, swallows molten sealing wax, and performs many new and astonishing feats. He is accompanied by PROF. BAUMAN, the great sword-swallower, gymnast, and contortionist." Seeking photos and more information. Prof, Bauman (3-1881)
Frederick Smith	Born c. 1864 Performed 1883 Injured August 1883	St, Thomas Hospital London, England (UK)	The book "The World of Wonders: A Record of Things Wonderful in Nature, Science, and Art" (1891) gives an account of sword swallower Frederick Smith who sustained a serious injury in the spring of 1883: "A still more recent performer, named Frederick Smith, met with a serious accident in the spring of 1883. While swallowing a sword, it became embedded in the gullet, and he by motions requested one of the audience to withdraw the weapon. The man thus appealed to place his hand on the hilt, causing the blade to penetrate the intestines, and the juggler was removed to St. Thomas' Hospital, where he was for a considerable time in a very dangerous condition." According to an article in the August 21, 1883 issue of The Royal Gazette, Bermuda Commercial and General Advertiser and Recorder: "A singular case, which may terminate fatally, has come under the notice of Mr. Mason, surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospital, London. A young man named Frederick Smith, aged 19 years, residing at No. 6 White Hart Street, Drury Lane, has of late been giving exhibitions as a sword swallower. While performing his extraordinary feat before a large audience, the blade of the sword, which is blunt on either side, becoming embedded in the thorax, the performer, by gesture, requested one of the audience to withdraw the weapon for the purpose of testing his bona fide performance, instead of which the party so requested placed his hand on the hilt, causing the blade to penetrate the intestines. The juggler suddenly collapsed, and it was with difficulty that the sword was extracted. He was immediately attended by the local surgeon, who deemed it expedient to have the sufferer removed to the above institution, where he now lies." Seeking more information. Frederick Smith injury (Spring 1883) Frederick Smith injury (August 1883)
Unknown Sword Swallower	Performed Dec 20, 1883 Injured Dec 20, 1883 Died Dec 28, 1883	(USA)	According to the book "Bizarre Medical Abnormalities", in 1883 Gussenbauer gives an account of a juggler who had an accident on December 20, 1883. When the juggler turned his head to bow an acknowledgment of applause while swallowing a sword, he thus brought his upper incisors against the sword, which broke off and slipped into his stomach. To relieve suffocation, the sword was pushed further down. Gastrotomy was performed, and the piece of sword 11 inches long was extracted; as there was perforation of the stomach before the operation, the patient died of peritonitis on December 28, 1883.
Prof. Rohelhorn	Performed June 21-23, 1884	Great National Circus Oakland, CA (USA)	According to an article dated June 18, 1884 in the Oakland Tribune, "Everybody will be there next Saturday afternoon and evening (6-21-1884), and also on Monday evening (6-23-1884) to witness the unparalleled exhibition known as the "Great National Circus and Equine Paradox of Educated Horses". It is the most thoroughly trained circus that has visited Oakland for years, containing, as it does, the world famous Morosco Brothers, the Marvels of Peru, Signior Hudson, the daring and graceful bareback rider, Frank Ashford, the amusing Irish comedian, Prof. Rohelhorn, the sword-swallower, Harry Lamott, the Indian rubber man, the clever Irwin brothers late of John Robinson's Circus, and Mons. Milo, the Iron-jawed man." Seeking photos and more information. Prof. Rohelhorn National Circus (6-21-1884) Prof. Rohelhorn National Circus (6-21-1884)
Moses Berg Joseph Berg Daniel Moses Berg Professor Moses Berg The Great Professor Berg Daniel DeHorn Daniel DeHoon Daniel DuHoun Daniel DeHoun Daniel DeHoune Professor DeHoune Professor Daniel De Houne Rope Walker	Born 6 Feb 1829 Born 19 Sept 1841 Enlisted 28 Nov 1861 Injured 24 Dec 1862 Lost leg in Civil War 1862 Discharged 7 Apr 1863 Married 8 Aug 1863 Divorced 1869 Married 7 Oct 1876 Married 10 Apr 1881 Performed 1863-1883 Died 13 March 1883 Died 1884 (or) Died 28 Jul 1898	Smolensk, Russia or Weiler, Prussia Germany Corsicana, TX (USA)	According to some reports, Moses Berg (or Daniel Moses Berg) was born on 19 September 1841, the son of the merchant Mendel (or Wendel) Berg and his wife Margaretha nee Koch in 111 Dorfstraße in Weiler, Prussia, Germany. He had four sisters: Elisabetha, Johannette, Wilhelmina and Maria. According to other reports, he was born on 6 February, 1829 in Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast, Russia and sometimes performed under the name "De Houne". At some point Moses Berg emigrated to America, where according to researcher Jim Yarin, Berg earned a living as an tightrope walker, acrobat and sword swallower. According to Civil War records, he enlisted in the Regular Army sometime between 1857 and 1860, but was pulled out by his mother for being underage. On November 28, 1861, Berg enlisted as a Private in the 7th KS Cavalry B. He was injured in the Civil War while fighting with the Kansas 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Middleburg. On December 24, 1862, he was "wounded in action" at the "Skirmish at Middleburg". He was wounded in action by a two pound cannon ball that fractured his right leg. His lower leg was then amputated between the knee and ankle. On April 7, 1863, he received an honorable discharge for disability at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He later went back to working as a tightrope walker with a wooden prosthesis. Berg was married at least three times. Per Deposition, he was married to Christine Haggemann on August 8, 1863 by a Squire in New Albany, IN. He later left Haggemann in 1866. She divorced him in 1869. In 1869, Berg suffered a serious fall while performing in Indiana, though no specific details were reported. Two years later, according to an 1871 article, Professor De Houne fell from a tightrope when the rope broke. An 1873 article in the New York Evening Telegram stated that, just before the Civil War, De Houne immigrated to Texas from Berlin, where he had performed for 13 years with a circus. Fighting for the Kansas 7th Cavalry in the Civil War, he lost his leg at the Battle of Middleburg in 1862. To support his wife and six children back in Texas, he took his showbiz stunts on the road, swallowing swords, swinging on a trapeze and dancing with a table balanced on his teeth. In 1876, according to a military deposition, Moses Berg married Augusta Hamman Brenner (sometimes known as Caroline, allegedly her middle name), on October 7, 1876 by Rev. G. Scheibel in New York, NY. (1876 marriage certificate) Augusta and Moses were living together for 6-8 years before they were married. Augusta claims she was never remarried after Berg's death, but she was living with a man named Joseph Meyer for 21 years after Berg left her, and was known as Augusta Meyer. It was later determined that Augusta and Moses were never legally divorced. In 1878, "The Great Professor Berg" was mentioned in the Mesilla NM newspaper, just north of El Paso TX. According to the Mesilla newspaper, Professor Berg walked a tight rope, actually a lariat rope, stretched between Hogan's Saloon and the roof of a barber shop. He did this despite several handicaps: One being the fact he only had one leg, and wore a peg-leg. And another being the fact that some of the uncouth onlookers had been expressing applause by firing their six-shooters in the air. In 1881, according to a marriage certificate, Berg was married to Sarah Berg (nee Hexter/Hoechster) on April 10, 1881 by Rabbi Abraham Wormser, who was a Rabbi at Congregation Sheareth Israel in New York, NY. Berg's father was listed as Emanuel Berg. The Special Examiners stated in their reports that Berg was hard to follow. He was a one-legged tight rope walker, and often used aliases or "stage names" like Daniel, Dan, Professor Du Houne, etc. In 1883 or 1884 (or some reports 1898), Berg attempted to cross a tightrope stretched over the main street of Corsicana TX. To make the stunt even more incredible, he added a heavy kitchen stove strapped to his back. A rope was stretched across Beaton Street and Fifth Avenue from the roof of an old frame building which later was the site of the First State bank to a similarly constructed building housing the Louis Hashop Confectionery. In the first building was Bernard Simon's grocery store, while the Hashop location was known as the "Blue Front" drug store. Tied from roof-top to roof-top, the rope was about 20 feet from the ground, and ranged "catty-cornered' across Beaton Street and Fifth Avenue. At that time in Corsicana, the opportunity of seeing a daredevil walk a tight rope was a rare occasion, and practically everybody in town had come from near and far over the dusty, unpaved streets and board sidewalks to see the event. As all eyes were focused on the Simon building, a medium-sized man in his early 40s climbed to the roof, fastened a wood-stove on his back, to begin his perilous trip across the rope. To the amazement of the townspeople, the man had but one leg, the other being a wooden limb. The bottom end of the false leg was notched to fit the rope. "He had a long bar in his hand to help balance himself," according to an account preserved in The Perpetual Record Book of the Jewish Cemetery, Corsicana. As the rope-walker reached the middle of the street intersection, sliding his notched wooden leg along the rope and cautiously pulling the other after, he became overbalanced, lost his balance and fell to the ground landing on his chest, with the stove crushing on top of his body. "When about halfway across, he lost his balance and fell to the street from a 2-story height. He was badly crushed by the weight of the stove on his back." Women and children screamed and fainted. Some of the older men surged forward in a body to where the man had fallen. Some fathers and brothers took their daughters and sisters inside nearby stores for protection and then joined the other men to give what assistance they could. Berg was taken to the Molloy hotel, around the corner, where Dr. J.W. Gulick was summoned and performed what first aid treatment was available at that time. The broken man told some of the bedside attendants that he was a member of a Methodist church, and asked for a minister of that denomination. Rev. Abe Mulkey came and talked for some time to the man. Later in the evening, Dr. Gulick reported the man was dying, and wanted to talk to "a Jew man." Mr. Simon, a Jewish businessman and owner of one of the stores, was summoned, and with the dying man, repeated the Jewish prayers in Hebrew. The rope-walker told Mr. Simon that he had been "joking" when he said he was a Methodist, but really was an Orthodox Jew, which was proven to Mr. Simon's satisfaction when the tightrope walker repeated his prayers in excellent Hebrew. During several conversations he refused to divulge his name or residence, or any information concerning his identy. No one could persuade the dying man to state his name or whether he had any family. He remained an enigma even as he was lowered into his place of final rest. The local Jewish community then took over the funeral of the nameless wirewalker. The broken body was laid to rest in the Jewish Hebrew Cemetery through the benevolence of the local Corsicana Hebrews. Not a word was ever learned of the man's identity, and it was some time later before the little marble tombstone was put at the head of the grave, which now may be seen near the Third avenue entrance to the cemetery. Since his identity was unknown at the time, a nameless gravestone with only "Rope Walker" marks the spot where he was buried. A 1936 article in the Corsicana Daily Sun repeated these details, as related by Rachel Mae London, daughter of the late Max London, keeper of The Perpetual Record Book. Rachel Mae had witnessed the tragedy as a girl. As reported in the Tuesday, February 25, 1936 Corsicana Daily Sun, most of the details of this story were related by Rachel Mae London, 316 West Sixth avenue, daughter of the late Max London, the record keeper, who as a girl, was an eye-witness to the tragedy. Moses Berg was about 43 years old at the time of his death (other reports claim he was 69). There is much (modern) confusion about the date and circumstances of his death. Per an affidavit, he fell from the tight rope on March 6, 1883 and died when his right leg was amputated on March 13, 1883. Per a letter, he died March 13, 1883 in Navarro County, TX. He is buried in the Hebrew Cemetery in Coriscana TX. Moses Berg kam am 19. September 1841 als Sohn des Handelsmanns Mendel (oder Wendel) Berg und seiner Frau Margaretha geborene Koch in Weiler in der Dorfstraße im Haus Nr. 111 zur Welt. Er hatte vier Schwestern: Elisabetha, Johannette, Wilhelmina und Maria. In Amerika verdiente er sein Geld als Seiltänzer, Akrobat und Schwertschlucker, wie Jim Yarin berichtete. 1862 verlor er im Sezessionskrieg sein rechtes Bein, arbeitete aber mit einer Holzprothese weiter als Seiltänzer. 1884 stürzte er in den Tod, als er, einen Küchenherd auf den Rücken geschnallt, in Corsicana, Texas, ein Seil überqueren wollte, das über eine Straße gespannt war. Da zu diesem Zeitpunkt seine Identität nicht bekannt war, markiert ein namenloser Grabstein, auf dem nur "Rope Walker" (Seiltänzer) steht, die Stelle, an der er bestattet wurde. Wie Jim Yarin herausfand, soll der Sterbende um einen Rabbiner gebeten haben, da er Jude sei. Einen Rabbiner konnte man ihm nicht besorgen, aber ein jüdischer Kaufmann habe mit ihm gebetet. Die dortige jüdische Gemeinde habe dann die Beerdigung des Namenlosen übernommen. Seeking photos and more information. De Houne fall from tightrope (1871) Moses Berg marriage certificate (1876) Professor Berg (1878) Civil War database (link) Marriage certificate to Sarah Berg (1881) (link) (link) (link) Sarah Berg pension application (1883) Examiner's report
Ringling Brothers Circus	Founded in 1884	Baraboo, WI (USA)	John Nicholas Ringling starts Ringling Brothers Circus in Baraboo Wisconsin in 1884.
LeTort Le Tort Joseph LeTort Joseph Le Tort Joseph H. LeTort Professor LeTort Professort Joseph LeTort Joseph H. Bartlay	Born 1825 Died November 22 1880	(Denmark/Sweden)	Joseph H. LeTort was born in 1825 as Joseph H. Bartlay. He died in poverty on November 22, 1880 in Svendborg, Denmark. There was also a magician named Niels Edvard Jacobsen who was born in 1856 and in 1891 took the stage name "LeTort". There is speculation that the two magicians met in 1880 and Niels Edvard Jacobsen bought some of Joseph H. Le Tort's props and even his name, which was not an uncommon practice at the time. In 1891 Niels Edvard Jacobsen requested from the king that he be allowed to take the stage name "LeTort", and at first he was known as Niels Edvard Jacobsen Letort. Professor Joseph H. Le Tort vara född år 1825. Hans rätta namn var Joseph H. Bartlay. Han dog den 22 november 1880 i fattigdom i Svendborg, Danmark, där han tänkt ge föreställningar. Han var i sina yngre dagar en av de flitigaste trollkarlarna här i Norden och gjorde överallt mycken lycka men tog inte vara på sina inkomster. Joseph H. Le Tort var en liten, livlig, mörklagd man med mörkt, lockigt hår, välvårdade mustascher och pipskägg, och han uppträdde klädd i frack. Han hade en rikhaltig, effektfullt anordnad apparatuppsättning och bjöd på en omväxlande repertoar. Le Tort kallade sig engelsman i reklamen ("från London", "från Dublin", "från England"), men han kunde göra sig förstådd på de skandinaviska språken. "Beklagligen började den skicklige trollkarlen låta sig för mycket frestas av glasets njutningar, varför det kunde hända att han vid utförandet av ett bland sina praktnummer, den omtalade schalkonsten, osäkert fubblade så att publiken fick alltför stora inblickar i dess hemligheter och därvid upptäckte att han t.ex. inför västen gömde vattenskålarna, hvilka voro övertäckta med s.k. guldslagarehinna, hvarigenom vattnet kvarhölls." (S:t Eriks årsbok 1909) Ett häfte på 24 sidor med titeln "Trettioen utmärkta konststycken utförda av Professorerna Döbler och Bils samt flera andra Konstnärer, och hvilka Konststycken hvar och en fullkomligt kan lära sig, tydligt och lättfattligt framställda av J. Le Tort.", utdelades till publiken vid föreställningen i Stockholm den 18 januari 1852. Häftet är prytt med ett träsnitt av Le Tort. 1869 utgavs i Köpenhamn häftet "Fireogtyve Taskenspiller kunster udförte af Professor Le Tort, utgivne i Trykken af hans medhjaelper". Le Tort uppges vara författaren men vem hans "medhjaelper" var är okänt. 1904 utgavs i Köpenhamn häftet "Professor Le Tort's berömte tryllekunster", som har samma text och innehåll - endast konststyckenas antal skiljer. Nedan följer en förteckning över föreställningar, som Joseph H. Le Tort enligt tidningsannonser, affischer och omnämnanden har gjort. 1851 i Sverige: 2 maj i Nyköping tillsammans med Professor Carl Bils. Norra Tivoli, Norrtullsgatan, Stockholm (med Bils). Manegen på Djurgården och på Djurgårdstivoli (med Bils). Mosebacke (troligen ensam) under sommaren (13 maj är känt). Under vintern på Hornungs figurteater, Jakobsbergsgatan, Stockholm (4, 14, 18, 21 oktober är känt). Upsala 30 december. 1852 sejouren i Stockholm avslutades 1 februari. Till Danmark: mitten av juli - 8 september Tivoli, Köpenhamn. Aalborg, Randers, Fredericia. 1853 i Sverige (bl.a. Stockholm 27 december). 1854 i Sverige med avstickare till Norge. 1855 i Sverige. 1856 i Sverige. Borås, Gillets salong, 3 januari. Stockholm 31 maj. Till Finland - minst 6 föreställningar i september (bl.a. den 12 september "å härvarande Teater" i Helsingfors). Till St. Petersburg. Le Tort åtföljs nu av hustrun Clara och dottern Maria. 1857 i Sverige. 10 augusti "föreställning inför det unga hofvet på Ulriksdal". I september Ladugårdslands-theatern, Stockholm. 1858 i Danmark. Premiär i Tivoli, Köpenhamn 3 maj, därefter landsorten. 1859 i Danmark och Sverige. Premiär den 4 juni i Göteborg. 16 oktober (för sista gången) K. Humlegårds-Teatern, Stockholm (tillsammans med Mr. Philippe). 1860-1862 ? 1863 i Danmark. 29 mars, Theatret i Aalborg (på sin genomresa till Randers). 1864-1865 ? 1866 i Danmark. 1867 i Sverige och Finland. Wexiö, Stockholm. 27 september premiär i Helsingfors, därefter 2, 4, 5, 6 oktober. 11, 13 oktober Fredrikshamn ("på genomresa till Ryssland"). Le Tort har nu sällskap av nya hustrun Henriette och dottern Emma Jane samt en dansk assistent (?) Carli. 1868-1876 i Amerika. Den 12 augusti 1876 ges avskedsrepresentation i Amerika ("varit i de flesta amerikanska städer") - åter till Sverige. 1877 i Sverige. Premiär på Ladugårdslands Teatern, Stockholm den 4 mars till april. 12 augusti Kalmar. Sejour i Kristianstad och här blev Le Tort den 22 oktober överfallen i förstugan i det hus han tillfälligt bodde i. 1878 i Sverige. Göteborg i början på mars. 14, 17, 19 maj föreställningar på Teatern i Arvika. 10 och 31 maj samt 2 juni Cirkus Eqestres lokal i Karlstad. 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 16, 20 juli (tre förest.) och 21 juli (tre förest.) i Westerås. 1879 i Sverige. 1880 i Danmark, bland annat tillsammans med danske trollkonstnären F. Bland. Seeking photos and more information. Joseph H. Bartlay Letort Timeline 1825: Born 1851: May 2: Nyköping Sweden with Professor Carl Bils. Norra Tivoli, Norrtullsgatan, Stockholm (med Bils). Manegen på Djurgården och på Djurgårdstivoli (med Bils). Mosebacke (troligen ensam) under sommaren (13 maj är känt). Under vintern på Hornungs figurteater, Jakobsbergsgatan, Stockholm (4, 14, 18, 21 oktober är känt). Upsala 30 december. 1852: Stockholm until Feb 1. Till Danmark: mitten av juli - 8 september Tivoli, Köpenhamn. Aalborg, Randers, Fredericia. 1853: Sweden (Stockholm 27 december) 1854: Sweden med avstickare till Norge 1855: Sweden 1856: Sweden. Borås, Gillets salong, 3 januari. Stockholm 31 maj. Till Finland - minst 6 föreställningar i september (bl.a. den 12 september "å härvarande Teater" i Helsingfors). Till St. Petersburg. Le Tort åtföljs nu av hustrun Clara och dottern Maria. 1857: June 11-13: Hotel de Russie, Helsinki Finland 1857: Sweden. 10 augusti "föreställning inför det unga hofvet på Ulriksdal". I september Ladugårdslands-theatern, Stockholm 1858: Denmark. Premiär i Tivoli, Köpenhamn 3 maj, därefter landsorten 1859: Danmark och Sverige. Premiär den 4 juni i Göteborg. 16 oktober (för sista gången) K. Humlegårds-Teatern, Stockholm (tillsammans med Mr. Philippe) 1860-1862: ? 1863: Denmark. 29 mars, Theatret i Aalborg (på sin genomresa till Randers) 1864-1865: ? 1866: Denmark 1867: Sweden and Finland. Wexiö, Stockholm. 27 september premiär i Helsingfors, därefter 2, 4, 5, 6 oktober. 11, 13 oktober Fredrikshamn ("på genomresa till Ryssland"). Le Tort har nu sällskap av nya hustrun Henriette och dottern Emma Jane samt en dansk assistent (?) Carli. 1868-1876: America. Den 12 augusti 1876 ges avskedsrepresentation i Amerika ("varit i de flesta amerikanska städer") åter till Sverige. 1877: Sweden. Premiär på Ladugårdslands Teatern, Stockholm den 4 mars - till april. 12 augusti Kalmar. Sejour i Kristianstad och här blev Le Tort den 22 oktober överfallen i förstugan i det hus han tillfälligt bodde i. 1878: Sweden. Göteborg i början på mars. 14, 17, 19 maj föreställningar på Teatern i Arvika. 10 och 31 maj samt 2 juni Cirkus Eqestres lokal i Karlstad. 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 16, 20 juli (tre förest.) och 21 juli (tre förest.) i Westerås 1879: Sweden 1880: Denmark with Danish magician F. Bland 1880: Nov 14: Last performance Rudköbing Theater 1880: Died November 22 in Svendborg, Denmark Joseph LeTort, Helsinki Finland (6-11-13-1857) Prof. LeTort (11-9-1871)
Niels Le Tort Professor LeTort Niels Edvard Jacobsen Niels Edvard Jacobsen LeTort	Born April 29, 1856 Performed 1871 Married 1881 Divorced 1896 Died Feb 7, 1929	(Denmark/Sweden)	Niels Edvard Jacobsen was born April 29, 1856 in Tröröd, Sölleröd Sogn, north of Copenhagen, Denmark. He started poor, and after military service, began studying hatmaking with a hatmaker in Copenhagen. In 1880, he may have met up with magician Professor Joseph H. Le Tort and bought some of his props. In 1881, Niels Edvard Jacobsen got married, and upon his first child's birth in 1883, he gave up his hatmaking occupation for the life of an artist. By 1887 Jacobsen was working as a sword swallower (his seven swords are preserved in a collection). In 1891 Jacobsen requested from the king that he be allowed to take the name "LeTort". At first he was known as Niels Edvard Jacobsen Letort. There was also a magician named Professor Joseph H. Le Tort who was born in 1825 and performed in 1880 before dieing in Swedborg Denmark on November 22 1880. There is speculation that the two magicians met in 1880, and Niels Jacobsen got to buy some of Joseph H. Le Tort's props and even his name, which was not an uncommon practice at the time. In 1893, Niels Jacobsen LeTort showed a banner at a fair, and at this point became a sideshow tent owner. In 1895 he displayed a giant woman, and in 1896 he traveled around with a "hairy woman", but he also continued to work as a magician. In 1896, he and his wife were divorced. Niels Jacobsen Letort travelled around Denmark, and in 1899 he toured further into Malmö and other areas of Sweden, where he became very popular. In October, 1900 he returned to Denmark, but didn't receive as much publicity there as he did in Sweden. He returned to Sweden, and toured as far as Finland, where he didn't receive quite the success that he did in Sweden. He even performed at the Follies-Bergère in Paris (he was well-known even in France and could speak some French). Letort was very elegant - tall, with pointed mustache, white tie with diamond pin, and rings on his fingers. At a performance in Gävle, Sweden in 1901, Letort met a French engineer, showman, fellow magician and mechanic, Joseph Couprant, who was showing "living picture" films. They decided to join up, so Couprant could strengthen Letort's program by showing films. They opened a business for photographic articles in Stockholm, where they started the "American Theater", Stockholm's first "standing theater". Letort thrived here also, together with his second wife and assistant, Miss Hetty Dené Moore, who was English, 22 years younger than Letort, whom he had met during a tour to England, fell in love with, and married. In May 1902, Letort and Couprant moved to Göteborg, Sweden, where they opened the first cinemagraphic theater in the city and combined variety acts with film. Letort and Couprant returned to Stockholm where they continued their photo business. 1904 Letort moved to Malmö and became the city's movie pioneer. After a while, be moved back to Copenhagen, where he also became a movie pioneer. Letort had made good money as a magician, but had even better success with the new film industry. Around 1910, Letort and his wife moved to her homeland of England. In 1924 the couple moved back to Odense, Denmark, where Niels died on February 7, 1929 at the age of 73. His wife lived until May 12, 1962. Seeking photos and more information.
9th & Arch Museum Ninth and Arch Museum Ninth and Arch Dime Museum	Opened 1869 Reopened 1883 Reopened 1885 Sold 1910	Ninth and Arch Dime Museum Ninth and Arch Streets Philadelphia, PA (USA)	Ninth and Arch Dime Museum For more than half a century, the corner of 9th and Arch streets sustained Philadelphians with opportunities for diversion, education and voyeurism. The public came and went - and so did the owners. First was Colonel Joseph Wood in 1869, fresh in town having been burnt out of his Chicago emporium. The Colonel opened the doors on a relatively simple affair: menagerie plus performance space, and called it Colonel Joseph H. Wood's Museum. By 1883, the venue re-launched under the new ownership. Hagar, Campbell & Co. New Dime Museum advertised "Entertainment Designed Expressly for Ladies and Children," and claimed they had the "only great show in town." It featured everything from "Barnum's Original Aztecs," the "Che-Mah Chinese Dwarf," the "Cannibal Fan Child," the "Living Skeleton" and the "White Moor." Hagar and Campbell piled on the attractions, adding "Dens of Serpents," "the Merry Monkeys", Punch and Judy, Johnson's Original Tennessee Jubilee Singers, and "a multitude of other attractions." (.pdf) Even so, audience demands and museum costs, proved too high. The Dime Museum soon changed hands again. This time, Charles A. Bradenbaugh re-invented the destination as the 9th and Arch Museum. And this time, place and the public connected. Bradenbaugh kept the audiences coming from 1885 to 1910. What would a visitor see behind Bradenbaugh's colorful facade? "On the first floor," Joseph Jackson says, "there were numerous forms of apparatus for testing grips, lungs, lifting power, etc. On the second floor were cages of monkeys, a prairie dog village, and a few other menagerie specimens. The third floor provided a lecture hall packed with a series of platforms, with living "human freaks." Regulars came to know "The Skeleton Man," "The Fat Woman," the "Real Zulus," "The Human Bat," "The Bearded Lady," "The Elastic-Skin Man," "The Glass Eater," "The Sword Swallower," and "The Dog-Faced Boy." Every hour, the gawking public would be invited back down to the main auditorium where they'd sit for a popular play that, no matter the length of the original, was condensed into forty minutes, give or take. In the 1890s, Bradenbaugh dabbled in movies, allowing his visitors to enjoy that emerging medium. But the Dime Museum's array of 19th-century offerings remained a complicated and layered activity for the public. The simpler experience of the 20th century movie house required, and got, a venue all its own. A decade into the new century, Bradenbaugh saw the writing on the wall and sold out. Soon enough, the new owners of the 9th and Arch Museum recognized the same reality and did their best to turn it into an opportunity. In 1911, the museum's new manager, T.F. Hopkins, and his press agent, Norman Jeffries, engineered (literally) a favorite local legend: the Jersey Devil. After giving birth to her 12th child, the story goes, "Mother Leeds" declared that the 13th, if she had it, would be the Devil. Lo and behold, one dark and stormy night in 1735, Mrs. Leeds gave birth to her 13th. As promised, it immediately transformed into "a creature with hooves, a horse's head, bat wings and a forked tail." The newborn "growled and screamed, then killed the midwife before flying up the chimney. It circled the villages and headed toward the Pines." According to Andrea Stulman Dennett in Weird & Wonderful: the Dime Museum in America, the headlines screamed: "The Fabulous Leeds Devil Reappears after an Absence of Fifty Years." A "monster with long hind legs, short forelegs, a tail, horns on its head and short wings" had reportedly been captured by a farmer in New Jersey - after a terrific struggle - and would soon be "placed on exhibition at the Ninth and Arch Museum." "Caught!!! And Here!!!! Alive!!! THE LEEDS DEVIL, read Hopkins and Jeffries posters. Swims! Flys! Gallops! Exhibited securely chained in a Massive Steel Cage. A LIVING DRAGON more famous than the Fabled Monsters of Mythology. Don't Miss the Sight of a Lifetime." In fact, the museum's short-lived center of attention was a kangaroo with wings attached. And the audiences this mutant marsupial drew to 9th and Arch kept the doors open for only a few more weeks. The day of the Dime Museum had passed. Frank Dumont soon bought the building for his thriving troupe of minstrels. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers at Ninth and Arch Dime Museum. Sword Swallowers at 9th and Arch Dime Museum 1869: Opens under Colonel Joseph Wood 1883: Sept 3: Opens under Hagar, Campbell & Co. 1885: Opens under Charles A. Bradenbaugh 1895: Mar 3-17: Delno Fritz 1895: Oct 13: Delno Fritz 1895: Dec 15: Delno Fritz 1896: Dec 13: Delno Fritz 1897: Oct 10: Delno Fritz 1897: Nov 7: King Sabro 1898: ? 1899: April 2: Victorina 1901: October 17: Victorina 1903: Mlle Amy 1905: Marie DeVere 1908: Marie DeVere 1909: Marie DeVere 1910: Frank Dumont buys building for his troupe of minstrels Ninth & Arch Museum (1885-1910) Delno Fritz (12-15-1895) Ninth & Arch Museum History
Austin & Stone's Museum Austin & Stone's Dime Museum	Performances 1895-1902	Austin & Stone's Dime Museum Boston, MA (USA)	Austin & Stone's Dime Museum, Boston, MA Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers at Austin & Stone's Dime Museum. Sword Swallowers at Austin & Stone's Dime Museum 1895: Sept 9-13: Chevalier Delno Fritz 1896: July 7-Aug 2: King Sarbro 1897: Feb 7: Delno Fritz and Mlle. de Aldine 1901: March 27: Victorina 1902: Feb 2: Victorina 1905: Marie DeVere 1906: Marie DeVere 1907: Marie DeVere 1910: Marie DeVere
Frank A. Robbins Shows Frank A. Robbins Circus	Tours 1890s-1915	Frank A. Robbins Shows Jersey City, NJ (USA)	Frank A. Robbins Show Frank A. Robbins was only 15 when he joined his first circus in 1870. During his youth he worked for a year for PT Barnum's occasional partner, George F. Bailey, and for Barnum himself from 1876 to 1878. Robbins started his own circus in 1881, and achieved immediate success. Six years later, when he toured southern Ontario, he had 100 performers in the show, some of whom doubled as stage hands and workmen. There were perhaps another 50 employees and animal handlers, and a few advance men who would place advertisements, tack up posters, and rent suitable grounds for the show. An interesting aspect of the Robbins troupe was that it was racially mixed, with several blacks working as performers, stage hands, and labourers. This may have caused some difficulties in some locales in both the United States and Canada. The Robbins show toured using 36 railway cars, which often meant two trains on the lightly-constructed Canadian Pacific line through Mount Forest. By comparison, the Barnum & Bailey Circus, at its largest, required more than 100 cars, and usually moved in three or four trains. Robbins advertised a two-ring show, not quite in the league of Barnum's three-ring extravaganza, but sufficient to keep the attention of even the most jaded of spectators. Taking a cue from Barnum, Robbins' promotion material promised more than he delivered. His advertisement for the Mount Forest show claimed 13 elephants would perform, and the illustration showed eight of the pachyderms waltzing in the ring. According to circus historians, the Robbins Circus had only six, but a Mount Forest reporter swore that he counted nine of them. Likewise, the posters claimed the circus carried three bands of musicians, but reporters present at Mount Forest counted only two. During the latter decades of the 19th century a number of circus performers built up great reputations. They would sign with one of the touring circuses for a season. The next year they might sign again. Just as often, they would accept an offer from a rival operator. Robbins had several first-rank performers when he visited Mount Forest. Most famous was Charles W. Fish, who had an international reputation as a trick bareback rider. His act included various jumps on and off his horse, and impressive acrobatics on the horse that seemed to defy gravity. After a couple of years with Robbins he joined the Ringling Brothers circus, remaining with that show until his death in 1895. Two other famed equestrians with the Robbins show were the Jeal sisters, Linda and Eleanor (who billed herself as "Elena Jeal"). The show included the obligatory snake charmer, several gymnasts, and a trick marksman. Staging shows day after day in different towns required an impressive amount of planning, co-ordination, and precise timing. For the performances on the Canadian Pacific branch through Mount Forest, the train or trains arrived in town no later than 6am. The members of the circus crew and the performers, at least 150 in number, had to be provided with breakfast. The cooks not only had kitchen duties, but they had to keep the larder in their dining car stocked and replenished. While some of the crew unloaded the tents and the equipment needed for the performance, the animal handlers dealt with the animals. Elephants and horses had to be fed before helping to put up the tents, and the other animals had to be fed and groomed as well. The animals and equipment would be assembled for a parade that commenced at 10am. The grounds opened at 1pm, and crowds were welcome to look at sideshow attractions until the first performance at 2pm. It lasted about two hours. Some of the performers and labourers tried to catch an afternoon nap, and then readied themselves for a second show. The gates opened at 6pm, with the performance an hour later. By 10pm, the dismantling operations were underway. Some of the crew had slept during the day: taking down and setting up was largely a night job. Everything would be packed and aboard the train by 2am if everything ran properly. Sometimes there were problems. The men worked by torch light and had to watch their steps and movements. Sometimes the weather didn't co-operate. Wind and rain could make the dismantling of tents a difficult chore, and could delay the departure. A couple of hours later it all began again. The Robbins circus of 1887 had a smaller tent that displayed various exotic animals in their cages. It rivalled some zoos, with various mammals, reptiles, and birds. Some of the animals would perform at the shows. The main tent had two rings and a central platform, almost entirely surrounded by seats. Robbins took special care to provide comfortable seating, something not done by most rival circuses. The show opened with Alna Danjanet, a snake charmer. Andrew Gaffney, a strongman, followed her, impressing the audience by juggling cannon balls. One of the elephants performed comic stunts between the other acts, which greatly amused the audience. The other elephants performed several routines and drills, including dancing in pairs. Charles Fish, the star of the show, followed the elephants, riding around both rings as he performed tricks on his horse. Then came Chevalier Paine with his pistol and rifle, giving an impressive demonstration of trick shooting. Some observers thought that Fish and Paine could have offered a good show all by themselves. Mount Forest's editors were impressed with the show, and regretted that it had not attracted a full house. The Mount Forest Representative's man thought it was the best show ever offered in that town. There was only one unfortunate incident at the Mount Forest performances. A lout named Tom Hill, from Normanby Township, attended the circus amply filled with whiskey. He objected to black performers and stage hands, and began following them around, hurling insults and ridicule, and challenging them. Several took him up on the offer. Bruised and bleeding, he was barely able to stumble off the grounds after receiving a severe pounding. Hill was further enraged when the local constable refused to lay charges against the circus men. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers at Frank A. Robbins Show. Sword Swallowers with Frank A. Robbins Show: 1881: Frank A Robbins starts Robbins Circus Shows 1898: Charles Griffin 1909: Marie DeVere 1910: ? 1911: Marie DeVere, Lady Marguerite Margaret Davis 1912: Route: Marie DeVere 1913: Route: ? 1914: Route: ? 1915: Route: ? 1915: Business bad, closes early in Sept, Winter quarters: Trenton, New Jersey. 1915: Sept 20: Horses sold at auction in New York by Fiss Doeur & Carroll 1915: Frank A. Robbins retires from circus business 1920: October 10, 1920: Frank A. Robbins dies Frank A. Robbins Circus Side Show banner (c 1905-1915)
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show	1883 Tours US 1903-06 Tours Europe 1907-1911 Tours US 1913 Bankrupt 1914-15 Joins Sell-Floto	North Platte, NE Cody, WY (USA)	Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show captivated audiences for a total of 30 years from 1883 to 1913. After opening on May 19, 1883 in Omaha, Nebraska, the show traveled on a nearly perpetual tour all over the east of America. In 1887, "Buffalo Bill" Cody took the show to London as part of the American Exhibition in celebration and the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria. The entire troop of 200 passengers, including 97 Natives, 181 horses, 10 mules, 4 donkeys, 18 buffalo, 10 elk, 5 longhorn Texas steers, 2 deer, and the Deadwood Concord stagecoach crossed the Atlantic on several ships. In 1887, Queen Victoria requested and attended a command performance of the show at Windsor Castle. In October 1887, Buffalo Bill's Wild West show closed its successful London run after more than 300 performances with more than 2.5 million tickets sold. The show continued on to Birmingham and Salford near Manchester, where it stayed for five months before returning to the US in May 1888 for a short summer tour. Buffalo Bill's Wild West returned to Europe in May 1889 as part of the Exposition Universelle in Paris, France. When the show opened in Paris on May 14, 1889 as part of the Universal Exhibition, ten thousand spectators gave it an enthusiastic reception. The tour moved to the South of France and Barcelona, Spain, then on to Italy. While in Rome, a Wild West delegation was received by Pope Leo XIII. Buffalo Bill was disappointed that the condition of the Colosseum did not allow it to be a venue; however, at Verona, the Wild West did perform in the ancient Roman amphitheater. The tour finished with stops in Austria-Hungary and Germany. In 1891 the show toured cities in Belgium and the Netherlands before returning to Great Britain to close the season. The show's 1892 tour was confined to Great Britain; it featured another command performance for Queen Victoria. The tour finished with a six-month run in London before leaving Europe for nearly a decade. In 1893, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, draws a crowd of 18,000, the largest ever, at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. James Bailey becomes involved in 1898, and begins employing sword swallowers starting in 1898-1899. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show tours Europe again from 1903 to 1906, beginning with a return to England in December 1902 with a fourteen-week run in London, capped by a visit from King Edward VII and the future King George V. The Wild West Show traveled throughout Great Britain during the 1902-03 tour as well as the 1904 tour, performing in nearly every city large enough to support it. The sword swallower for the 1902 and 1903 tours was Professor Charles E. Griffin. The sword swallower for the 1904 tour was 19 year old Mighty Ajax. The 1905 tour began in April with a two-month run in Paris before moving into the rest of France, where it performed mostly one-night stands, concluding in December. The final tour of 1906 began in France on March 4, and quickly moved on to Italy for two months. The Wild West Show traveled east: performing in Austria, the Balkans, Hungary, Romania, the Ukraine and Russia, before returning west to tour in Poland, Bohemia (later Czech Republic), Germany, and Belgium. The sword swallower during the 1906 European tour of Germany, Poland and Russia was probably Polish or Russian sword swallower Julian Putzkewitsch. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show toured the US from 1907 to 1911. The show was declared bankrupt in 1913. In 1914 and 1915, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show joined the Sells-Floto Circus to become the combined Sells-Floto Circus and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. In 1916, an elderly Buffalo Bill toured with Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show. On January 10, 1917, Buffalo Bill Cody died in Denver, CO. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Sword Swallowers with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show: 1883: May 19: Show opens in Omaha, Nebraska 1887: Tours UK 1888: May: Returns to US, short summer tour in US 1889: Show returns to Europe to tour France 1890: Entire cast in Milano Italy 1891: Show tours Belgium, Netherlands, and Great Britain 1892: Show tours Great Britain 1893: Exhibited at Chicago World's Fair to crowds of 18,000 1898: James Bailey becomes involved in show 1899: Route: Sword swallower: Victorina 1900: ? 1901: ? 1902: December: Show tours Europe, starts with 14-week run in London 1902: Sword swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin in Europe 1903: Sword swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin in Europe 1904: Sword swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin in Europe 1904: Sword swallower Mighty Ajax in Europe 1905: Sword swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin in Europe 1906: Professor Charles E. Griffin Manager in Europe, Sword swallower: Julian Putzjewitsch 1907: Sword swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin 1908: ? 1909: ? 1910: ? 1911: Sword swallowers Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin 1913: Show declared bankrupt 1914: Joins Sells-Floto Circus to become Sells-Floto Circus Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1915: Sells-Floto and Circus Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1916: Buffalo Bill tours with Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show 1917: Jan 10: Buffalo Bill dies in Denver, CO
Unknown Sword Swallower	Born c 1855 Died 1885	(England)	According to the book "Bizarre Medical Abnormalities", Gross speaks of a 30 year old sword swallower in 1885 who was in the habit of giving exhibitions of sword-swallowing in public houses, and who injured his esophagus to such an extent as to cause abscess and death. According to a March 3, 1885 article in the New York Sun, "The professional sword swallower does not pursue his business, as it is supposed, with impunity. A sword swallower lately died of hemorrhage in an English hospital, and the medical opinion seems to be that all of these men trifle with and shorten their lives." Seeking photos and more information on 1885 sword swallower death. British sword swallower dies (pre-March 1885)
Signor Bartino	Performed 1885	Johnson, Simpson & Co.'s Consolidated Circus and Museum Wa-Keeney, KS (USA)	According to an August 15, 1885 article in the Western Kansas World, "Johnson, Simpson & Co.'s Consolidated Circus and Museum will exhibit at Wa-Keeney, Saturday, August 22nd, afternoon and evening. This combined organization contains twenty-five of the most prominent artists in the arenic profession. ...In the museum department will be found Madame Devere, the Kentucky Bearded Woman, (her first name was either Janice or Jane Devere, born in 1842 from Brooksville KY, and her career into the 1900's as she performed with the Campbell Bros Circus in 1905. - Could she be a relative of Marie Devere?); Sylvia Zobriskie, the Circassian Lady, the wild men of Borneo, Signor Bartino, the Fire Eater, sword swallower and magician, Col. Johnson, manager." Seeking photos and more information. Signor Bartino (8-15-1885)
William Griffin Bill Griffin N.J. Rogers	Performed 1871-1889 Injured July 1, 1889 Arrested Feb 1, 1890 Injured July 11, 1903 Died July 13, 1903	Sautelle Circus Santa Cruz, CA San Francisco, CA Bridgewater, ME (USA)	William Griffin began sword swallowing around 1871. According to a July 1, 1889 article in the San Francisco Chronicle, "William Griffin, who for the past eighteen years has been eking out a precarious existence as a sword swallower, very nearly came to grief yesterday afternoon out on the beach near the Cliff House. He had been amusing people all morning, and at about 2:30 o'clock had three swords down his throat, the largest measuring twenty-eight inches, when he commenced to cough, and when he withdrew them, they were covered with blood. The exhibition stopped immediately, and Griffin started to crawl back to his room on Howard, near Sixth. There he became very sick, and about 9 o'clock last night he was brought to the receiving hospital for treatment. Dr. Enright examined the man and found that his throat was ulcerated, and that the sword had lacerated it. He was given medicine and sent back home." According to an article that ran the next day in the July 2, 1889 Santa Cruz Sentinel: "A Sword Swallower's Feat." "William Griffin, who follows the profession of sword-swallowing for a living, came to grief at his last performance, and had to be taken to the Receiving Hospital for relief. Griffin has an abnormal breadth of throat, combined with an exceedingly elongated person, and the feats he is in the habit of performing are astonishing by reason of the length and sharpness of the knives and swords that he uses. On Saturday night he surpassed himself by swallowing a sword at least three feet long, with the result that he injured some internal organ, and yesterday hemorrhage resulted which nearly finished his career as a freak. The amount of blood which was discharged from his stomach so weakened him that when taken to the hospital he fainted away, and was with great difficulty revived. He was relieved by the Hospital Surgeon. Griffin formerly resided in Santa Cruz." According to a San Bernardino CA Daily Courier article dated February 1, 1890, "A man named Griffin, belonging to a traveling circus combination, was arrested yesterday, at Colton, on a message from the Chief of Police of Los Angeles, being wanted in that city on a charge of petit larceny. Griffin is a sword-swallower and is accompanied by a small boy who, he claims, is his son. An officer will arrive from Los Angeles this morning to return him to that city." One man drawn to Sig Sautelle's Circus was N. J. Rogers, whose stage name was William Griffin. Sword swallowing was his talent. No one knows what his full name was, or where he came from. He died on July 13, 1903 as a result of an injury from swallowing swords two days earlier on July 11, and he is buried in Bridgewater, Maine. At the time of his death, he was estimated by Dr. A. E. Schriver, who recorded his death, to be about 45 years old, and identified him as "White." According to an article dated July 20, 1903 in the Janesville Daily Gazette: "Bridgewater, Me: Bill Griffin, a sword swallower died here from injuries received while doing his turn in the side show of a circus which showed here. Griffin was using a long knife when his foot slipped and the knife pierced his windpipe. He died after intense suffering." According to a July 23, 1903 article in the Bangor, Maine Daily Commercial: "A Portland Paper Pays Tribute to Memory of Bill Griffin, Late of Sautelle's Circus. The Knife-swallower in Sautelle's Circus cut himself accidentally while swallowing a sword last night, and bled to death internally. It is believed his name was William Griffin. The late Mr. Griffin deserved more than he got but he should have been in better business. He was an honest swallower of cold steel, but his very skill, the valuable abnormality of his gullet, the amazing quality of his nerves -- they all served to obscure his fame from the understanding of a grossly superficial public." Could William Griffin of Santa Cruz CA have been the same sword swallower as Bill Griffin who died in July 1903 in Bridgewater, Maine? Seeking photos and more information on sword swallower Bill Griffin. Sword Swallower William Bill Griffin Timeline: c. 1871: Began sword swallowing 1889: June: Injury in San Francisco CA 1890: Arrested in Colton CA 1903: Performed with Sig Sautelle's Circus 1903: July 11: Injury 1903: July 13: Died in Bridgewater, Maine William Griffin injury (7-1-1889) William Griffin injury (7-2-1889) Griffin arrested in Colton CA (2-1-1890) Bill Griffin obituary (7-20-1903) Bill Griffin obituary (7-23-1903)
Chas. E. Griffin Charles E. Griffin Mons. F. Le Costro Monsieur F. Le Costro Yankee Yogi Professor Griffin Prof Chas. E. Griffin Prof Charles E. Griffin Professor Chas. E. Griffin Professor Charles E. Griffin Charles Eldridge Griffin	Born June 16, 1859 Married c 1897-1898 Performed 1889-1907 Died Jan 3, 1914	Hilliard & DeMott's Circus Paris Pavilion Shows Pullman & Mack's Circus Sells Brothers Circus Hurlburt & Hunting Circus Bob Hunting Circus Frank A Robbin's Circus Ringling Brothers Circus Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Albia, IA Baraboo, WI (United States) (Europe)	Charles Eldridge Griffin was born on June 16, 1859 in St. Joseph, MO, the oldest of ten children born to John W. H. Griffin and Fannie H. Griffin (Some inaccurate accounts erroneously claim he was born in New York City on December 17, 1862). Throughout his lifetime, Griffin performed as a lecturer, magician, illusionist, conjurer, yogi, ventriloquist, contortionist, fire-eater, sword swallower, hypnotist, and manager with a variety of shows, including Bob Hunting Circus, Ringling Brothers Circus Sideshow and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. By 1862, his family had moved to Albia, Iowa, while Griffin was a child. His father John W. H. Griffin (1833-1916) was Monroe County Superintendent of schools and county clerk of courts. His mother Fannie Hall Morse (1836-1913) was a musician, and Charles and his 3 siblings were outgoing extroverts with a penchant for performing (his brothers Frank S. Griffin (1869-1927) and Fred I. Griffin (1873-1928) later worked in the circus business, and his sister became a popular platform speaker). At the age of 16, Charles Griffin toured school houses, town halls, and county fairs with his own "one man valise troupe" where he probably began to perfect his talents as a magician and ventriloquist. In 1881, Griffin joined Hilliard & DeMott's Circus as a magician and lecturer. After it folded in 1881, he traveled to France at the age of 22 to become general manager of the Paris Pavilion Shows. Little is known about Griffin's time in France, but he resurfaces in the United States two years later with Pullman and Mack's Circus as "The Comic Yankee Conjurer" throughout its short-lived existence in the 1884-1885 season. In 1885 Griffin joined the Sells Brothers Circus as a "lecturer in side show and featured in concert (Fire Act)." In 1886, he left Sells Brothers to become a member of of the newly formed Hurlburt & Hunting Circus in New York City (later known as the Bob Hunting's New York Circus). 1886 marked a crucial turning point for Griffin, as he left Sells Brothers to join the newly formed Hurlburt and Hunting Circus in New York City, which would later be known as Bob Hunting's New York Circus. During the twelve years that he spent with Hunting, Griffin set up his own New York Conjuring College and added writing and publishing to his growing list of accomplishments. The first of many instruction manuals that he was to produce for aspiring circus performers was his self-published (1887) Griffin's Book of Wonders. A year later, the first of his two memoires (1888) Traveling with a Circus: A History of Hunting's N.Y. Cirque Curriculum for Season 1888, came off the Van Fleet presses in New York. These were followed by booklets on snake charming (1890), using dumb bells (1890), conjuring (1896 & 1897), How to be a Contortionist (1896), fire eating (1896) and The Showman's Book of Wonders (1897), a compendium on "magic, ventriloquism, fire eating, sword swallowing and hypnotism". The entrepreneurial Griffin was publisher for all but one of these which were sold on site at the circus for 10 cents a copy. In 1889, at the age of 26, Griffin began performing as "Professor Griffin, the Yankee Yogi, Magician and Sword Swallower" on the Bob Hunting Circus according to the 1889 Hunting route book, and he was also listed on the Bob Hunting Circus program as "Manager All Privileges". The front of the program offers for sale a "Large book, 10 cents" that Griffin wrote that teaches "Magic, Ventrioloquism, Fire Eating, Sword Swallowing, and Hypnotism". In the 1892 Hunting route book, Griffin is listed as the "Illusionist and Ventriloquist", and he was also known to have performed as a fire-eater. In the 1890s, Griffin published the "Showman's Guide", the "Showman's Book of Wonders", and he was the founder of Griffin's Conjuring College in New York City. In 1896, Griffin published a booklet entitled "How To Be A Contortionist! Bending Made Easy: A Practical Self-Instructor by a Well-Known Professional". On October 28, 1889, Charles E. Griffin and Mlle. Olivia the Snake Charmer were both working on "Prof. Charles E. Griffin's & Co's Bohemian Glass Blowers and Wizard Novelty Artists" in New Castle PA, according to the New Castle PA Daily City News dated October 29, 1889. Griffin worked with the Bob Hunting Circus for 12 years from 1886 to 1898 where he eventually owned and operated the sideshow. In 1898, he held a similar position with the Frank A Robbin's Circus. It was during this time around 1897-98, that he met a young snake charmer named Olivia who worked with the show as "Octavia, The Serpent Enchantress". The couple married in 1897-98, with Charles Griffin at about the age of 39, and Olivia about the age of 16-17 (born c 1882). In 1899, Griffin became stage manager with the Ringling Brothers Circus Side Show based in Baraboo, WI, where he worked for 4 years from 1899 to 1902 as magician, ventriloquist, as well as "Lecturer and Sword Swallower". Griffin's wife Olivia also worked with the show as Octavia, "The White Witch" or as a snake charmers as "Octavia The Serpent Enchantress" (1901), while his brothers, Frank Griffin and Fred Griffin worked with the show, with Fred's wife Julia performing as a mind reader. In the Ringling Brothers Route book of 1901, Chas. E. Griffin is listed as sword swallower, and his wife Octavia is listed as the "Snake Enchantress". At the end of Ringling Brothers 1902 season, James A. Bailey, who was a major owner of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, visited the show in Canton Ohio in June of 1902 and invited Griffin and his wife and family to tour with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Europe. In December 1902, the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show sailed for England. On March 16, 1903, Griffin's family left Albia, Iowa for New York to join the show in England (Ottumwa Daily Courier dated March 16, 1903). On March 28, 1903, Griffin, his wife Olivia and son set sail for Liverpool England on the Cunard steamer Etruria to join Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Manchester England. After landing in Liverpool England, Griffin and his family joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Manchester, where Griffin began performing his "Yankee Magic" in the sideshow as the "Yankee Yogi and Conjuror" with his son, while his wife Olivia performed as Mademoiselle Octavia the Yankee Snake Charmer (photo taken c 1903 by W. Davey, in Islington, a borough of London England). In 1904, when manager Lew Parker decided not to rejoin the show for the 1904 British tour, Griffin was a ready-made replacement as manager for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. In 1904, Griffin took over as manager of the show. In April 1905, the show opened in Paris where it ran through June 4, 1905. From November 1905 through March 1906, the show wintered in Marseilles France. 1905 pitchcard shows Prof. Griffin swallowing three swords with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in France in 1905, and his wife Olivia's pitchcard featuring Mademoiselle Octavia the Yankee Snake Charmer. The final season for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Europe opened on March 4, 1906. During the 1906 season, the show toured Italy, Hungary, Russia, Germany, and Belgium. In 1906, Chas. Eldridge Griffin is listed as "Supt. of side shows" with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the New York Clipper Directory of Show People published on July 7, 1906. The sword swallower during the 1906 European tour of Germany and Russia was probably Polish or Russian sword swallower Julian Putzkewitsch. The Griffins returned to the United States on October 20, 1906 aboard the steamer Lucania at New York, when the age of Charles Griffin was listed as 47 and his wife Octavia as 24. After returning to the US, Griffin began writing the book "Four Years in Europe With Buffalo Bill" in late October 1906. Shortly after arriving back in the US, Griffin suffered a mild stroke. However, he rejoined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for the 1907 season. Griffin's wife Octavia worked with the Jones show late in 1906 or possibly 1907, and possibly with the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Ranch Show. In the fall of 1907, Charles Griffin returned to Albia, Iowa, where he focused on writing and publishing, occasionally entertaining local residents with performances at Albia's Opera House. In 1908, he finished writing the book "Four Years in Europe With Buffalo Bill", of which 500 copies were published in Albia, Iowa in 1908. According to the February 22 1908 Billboard, "Charles Eldridge Griffin, side show manager, does not return to the Buffalo Bill Show this season. Charlie is at present at Sulphur Springs, Ark. Mr. Griffin is writing a book, which will describe the experiendes encountered during his four years' tour with the "Bill" Show. Mrs. Griffin, known as "Octavia," and in France as "la Charmeuse de Serpents graceuse de Buffalo Bill," is with her husband and will not be on the road the coming season. Mr. Griffin will probably be interested in the privileges at Edson Park, Ark., having an option on Moving Pictures, Gypsy Camp and Snakes." In 1909, Griffin suffered a stroke, and in 1912, he suffered a third stroke only a few days before Christmas, 1912. In 1914, Griffin suffered a more serious stroke, and died in Albia, IA on January 3, 1914 at the age of 54. He was survived by two daughters, Mrs. Maizie Finch, of Sloatsburg, New York and Miss Albia Morse Griffin, of Norfolk, Va.; three grandchildren; his father, John W. H. Griffin, of Albia, Iowa; five brothers, W. B. Griffin, of Albia, Frank S. Griffin, of Kansas City, Mo., Harry A. Griffin, of Denver, Colo., Fred I. Griffin, of Albia, Iowa, and Dr. John M. Griffin, of Des Moines, Iowa; three sisters, Mrs. Lina M. Low, of Bells, Texas, Miss Lucia B. Griffin, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Anna L. Jones, of Albia, Iowa. Charles Eldridge Griffin is buried at Oakview Cemetery in Albia, Monroe County, Iowa. Griffin's name also appears in the list of persons associated with Buffalo Bill Cody, referencing Sarah J. Blackstone's book "Buckskins, Bullets, and Business: A History of Buffalo Bill's Wild West" (Greenwood Press, 1986), though he and his autobiography are only briefy mentioned there. More substantial information was found in the William F. Cody Collection in an article from Palimpsest by H. Roger Grant, based on interviews with Charles Griffin's nephew, John W. Griffin. It is titled "An Iowan, with Buffalo Bill: Charles Eldridge Griffin in Europe, 1903-1906., is 13 pages long, and references Griffin's stage and pen name of Mons. F. Le Costro. In the booklet, Griffin gives instructions for both fire eating, and nine books listed that he authored for vaudeville acts. Seeking photos and more information. Charles E. Griffin Timeline 1859: Born June 16, 1859 in St. Joseph, MO 1862: Family moves to Albia, IA 1870: Lives in Albia, Monroe County, Iowa 1875: Tours schools, town halls, and county fairs at 16 as a "one man valise troupe" 1880: Lives in Troy, Monroe County, Iowa 1881: Joins Hilliard & DeMott's Circus as magician and lecturer 1881: Becomes general manager of Paris Pavilion Shows in France 1884-85: Pullman & Mack's Circus as "The Comic Yankee Conjurer" 1885: Joins Sells Brothers Circus as side show lecturer and fire act 1886: Leaves Sells Brothers Circus, joins Hurlburt & Hunting Circus in New York 1887: Bob Hunting's New York Circus as magician and sword swallower 1887: Publishes Griffin's Book of Wonders 1888: Bob Hunting's New York Circus as magician and sword swallower 1889: Bob Hunting's New York Circus as magician and sword swallower 1889: Oct 28: Prof. Charles E. Griffin's & Co's Bohemian Glass Blowers and Wizard Novelty Artists with Mlle Olivia in New Castle, PA 1890: March 3: Prof Griffin's Bohemian Glass Blowers with Mlle Olivia at Salem, OH 1892: Feb 11-22: Charles Griffin's Bohemian Glass Blowers at Riddle's Opera House, Altoona, PA 1892: Bob Hunting Circus as illusionist, ventriloquist, and fire-eater 1893: Jan 9: Prof Chas Griffin & Co's Bohemian Glass Blowers in Newark, OH 1896: Publishes booklet on contortion 1897: Publishes The Showman's Book of Wonders 1897-98: Owns and operates Bob Hunting Circus sideshow 1897-98: Marries Olivia, snake charmer Octavia 1898: Operates Frank A Robbin's Circus sideshow 1899: Becomes stage manager with Ringling Brothers Side Show Baraboo, WI 1900: Ringling Brothers manager, lecturer, sword swallower, ventriloquist, magician 1901: Ringling Brothers manager, lecturer, sword swallower, ventriloquist, magician 1901: Ringling Brothers Mlle Octavia, Snake Enchantress 1902: Ringling Brothers manager, lecturer, sword swallower, ventriloquist, magician 1902: Ringling Brothers Mlle Octavia, Snake Enchantress 1902: Dec: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show sails for England 1903: March 16: Griffin and family leave Albia Iowa to join Buffalo Bill Show in UK 1903: March 28: Griffin, wife Olivia and son set sail for Liverpool on Cunard's Etruria to join Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1903: July 24: Sword swallower Griffin and Serpent Enchantress Mlle Octavia with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Yeovil UK 1904: Griffin manages Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Manchester England 1905: April-June 4: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Paris France 1905: Nov: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show winters in Marseilles France 1906: March 4: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show tours Italy, Hungary, Russia, Germany, and Belgium 1906: October 20: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show returns to New York 1906: Census lists Chas. E. Griffin as "Mgr Priv" & "Supt Side Shows", Buffalo Bill, Frank Griffin: Ticket Seller 1906: Begins writing book "Four Years in Europe With Buffalo Bill" 1906: Suffers mild stroke 1907: Rejoins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1907: Fall: Returns to Albia, IA 1908: Charles and Octavia Griffin in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas 1908: Finishes writing "Four Years in Europe With Buffalo Bill", published in Albia IA 1909: Suffers stroke and paralysis 1912: Suffers stroke a few days before Christmas 1913: July 2: Mother Fannie Griffin dies in Albia, IA 1914: Jan 3: Charles Griffin suffers stroke and dies in Albia, IA at age 54 1916: March 30: Father John W.H. Griffin dies in Albia, IA Professor Griffin (1889) With Mlle Olivia in New Castle PA (10-28-1889) With Mlle Olivia Snake Charmer Salem OH (3-1-1890) Olivia Griffin as Octavia, Serpent Enchantress (c 1898) Olivia Griffin as Octavia, Serpent Enchantress (c 1898) Professor Griffin with Ringling Bros (c 1900-1901) Olivia Griffin, Mademoiselle Octavia with Ringling Bros (1901) Griffin and family leave Iowa for UK with Buffalo Bill (3-16-1903) Mlle Octavia Olivia Griffin, Buffalo Bill's Yankee Snake Charmer (1903-05) Mlle Octavia Olivia Griffin, Buffalo Bill's Yankee Snake Charmer UK (1903-04) Mlle Octavia Olivia Griffin, Buffalo Bill's Yankee Snake Charmer UK (1903-04) Mlle Octavia Olivia Griffin, Buffalo Bill's Yankee Snake Charmer (1903-05) Prof. Griffin with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show France (1905) Charles E. Griffin (1908) Charles E. Griffin (1908) Charles E. Griffin gravesite, Albia Iowa
Dan and Greta Champion Sword Swallowers of the World	1880s-90s?	(USA)	An undated pitchcard by Burrell circa 1880s-1890s shows what appears to be a sword swallowing husband and wife team that billed themselves as "Dan & Greta, Champion Sword Swallowers of the World" Greta also did a double turn not only as a sword swallower, but also as a Circassian beauty. Seeking photos and more information. Circassian sword swallower Greta and husband Dan (18??) Sword Swallowers Greta and Dan (photo back) (18??)
A.E. Welsh Circassian Sword Swallower	Performed 1880s-90s?	New York, NY (USA)	The "Circassian Beauty", "Circassian Woman" or "Circassian Girl" was a "made" human oddity from the 19th century, also known as a "Moss-Haired Girl". In actuality, true Circassians are a Caucasian people, a North Caucasian ethnic group native to Circassia, who were living in the Caucasus region before being displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus region in the 19th century, especially after the Russian-Circassian War in 1864. The term "Circassian" includes the Adyghe and Kabardian people. Today there are about 700,000 Circassians remaining in historical Circassia (the republics of Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and the southern half of Krasnodar Krai), as well as a number in the Russian Federation outside these republics. The Circassians mainly speak the Circassian language, a Northwest Caucasian language with numerous dialects. The Circassians also speak Turkish and Arabic in large numbers and various other languages of the Middle East, having been exiled by Russia to lands of the Ottoman Empire, where the majority of them live today, and to a lesser extent neighboring Persia, where most of them came either deported en masse by the Safavids and Qajars, or to a lesser extent as muhajirs in the 19th century like in Ottoman Turkey. The predominant religion among Circassians is Sunni Islam. P.T. Barnum exhibited his first "Circassian Girl" in 1864, and after that many other Dime Museums and sideshows followed suit. The pitch that usually accompanied the act involved kidnapping by "Arabs" and being forced into harem life, followed by a harrowing escape resulting in refuge in the sideshow. In order to create a "Circassian Girl" for sideshow exhibition, a white woman would stiffen and bush her hair in the style of the 'Afro' hairdo, which was held in place by the use of beer. (In reality, the sideshow fantasy "Circassian" hairstyle bore no resemblance whatsoever to actual true Circassian hairstyles.) "Circassian" Sword Swallower A.E. Welsh was photographed by Charles Eisenmann in New York, probably in the 1880s-1890s. While it was somewhat common to see "Circassian" women who worked as snake charmers in the late 1800s, it was extremely rare to find a "Circassian" who worked as a sword swallower. It is unknown if any "Circassian Sword Swallowers" could actually swallow a sword, and this article from 1874 implies that the sword swallowing might have been more of an attention-grabbing tease than an actual performance part of the show. Could this an unknown Circassian sword swallower be a later photo of A.E. Welsh? Seeking photos and more information. A.E. Welsh A.E. Welsh (enlarged) A.E. Welsh (face close-up) A.E. Welsh signature Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower with sword Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower with sword Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower with sword Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower, later A.E. Welsh? Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower, later A.E. Welsh? Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower with sword (Eisenmann) Unknown Circassian Sword Swallower with sword (Eisenmann) Mlle Zenobia, "Circassian Sword Swallower" McGinley Show (1874) Description of Circassian Sword Swallower Clark St. Chicago (6-9-1874) Circassian sword swallower Greta with husband Dan (18??)
Patrick Mulraney Patrick Mulroney	Died June 29, 1891	Columbus, OH (USA)	According to an obituary in the NY Times dated June 29, 1891, "COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 29, 1891 -- Patrick Mulraney, a juggler and sword swallower, injured himself fatally yesterday during his performance at Olentangy Villa. Instead of using the slender sword he was accustomed to, Mulraney took for use in his sword swallowing act a violin bow. Twice he essayed to swallow this, but failed each time, desisting on account of the intense pain caused by inserting the bow in his throat. He immediately commensed vomitting blood, and continued to have these paroxysms until this morning, when he died." According to an article in the June 30, 1891 Indianapolis News, "At Columbus, O., Patrick Mulroney, a sword-swallower, died from the effects of putting a violing bow down his throat." Seeking photos and more information. Patrick Mulraney obituary (1891) Patrick Mulroney obituary (6-30-1891) Patrick Mulraney obituary (6-30-1891) Sword swallower dies by violin bow
Cavaradassi	Performed Jan 17, 1892	Doris Museum in Eighth Avenue New York, NY (USA)	According to the January 17, 1892 New York Sun: "In the curio halls this week (of the Doris Museum in Eighth Avenue) are the Patagonian giant with two heads; Cavaradassi, contortionist and sword swallower; Cavalier and Brunhilda, albino twins, Seeking photos and more information..
Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museums	Opened 1880 Opened Clark Street Opened State Street 1893 Opened others	Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museums Globe Dime Museum Clark Street State Street Chicago, IL Milwaukee, WI Cincinnati, OH Louisville, KY St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN Cleveland, OH (USA)	Kohl & Middleton's State Street Globe Museum, located on State Street in Chicago, included a curio hall, and was opened to the public by George Middleton and C.E. Kohl. In 1880 George Middleton went out with Adam Forepaugh's circus, and just before the season closed, headed to New York and started a dime museum. Having an acquaintance with curiosities, and managed a circus as well as the side shows, Middleton was familiar with how to run a side show, Middleton rented a room and opened up a dime museum, one of the first in the United States. It proved a success from the start. Middleton continued for about two years, then gave away his dime museum to go back on the road with a circus. Middleton went out the following season with John O'Brien's circus, which was not very successful. The circus left a trail of plunder behind to pay off debts or as security for debts incurred, that reached from St. Louis to Winnipeg, where Middleton met C.E. Kohl and formed a partnership. Kohl and Middleton decided there was an opening in Chicago for a dime museum, so they formed a co-partnership and Middleton went on to Chicago to find a location, which he found at 150 West Madison Street, just east of Halstead. It was an instantaneous success, and operated there many years. The next year they opened a Dime Museum at 150 Clark Street, which was also very successful. During the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, they opened the State Street Dime Museum at 300 State Street, which was also a success. They also established Dime Museums in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Cleveland. All except Cleveland paid handsomely, which was their only failure in the dime museum business. For three weeks in the late summer of 1895, Kohl & Middleton's Clark Street Dime Museum in Chicago was among the first entertainment venues to show projected moving pictures, featuring the Latham's Eidoloscope. According to the Augist 12, 1908 Chicago Tribune, Milse the sword swallower performed at the Chicago Dime Museums with Mrs. Clifford. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers at Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museums. Timeline of Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museums 1892: May 8: Globe Dime Museum Chicago Cliquot 1892: May 15: Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum Cincinnati Cliquot 1893: Opened State Street Globe Museum during Chicago World's Fair 1894: April 8: State Street Globe Museum Dick Adams 1894: Oct 22: Clark Street Dime Museum Victorina with earliest-known performance by young magician "Houdin" 1895: April 21: State Street Globe Museum Delno Fritz 1895: May 8: Clark Street Museum Delno Fritz 1895: Late summer: Clark Street Dime Museum first to show moving pictures 1902: April 13: Sword swallower Prof. De Roche Middleton's Clark Street Museum Chicago IL 1908: Milse performed at Chicago Dime Museums with Mrs. Clifford Cliquot at Globe Dime Museum Chicago (5-8-1892) Cliquot at Kohl & Middleton's Dime Museum Cincinatti (5-15-1892) Dick Adams at Kohl & Middleton's State Street (4-8-1894) Victorina with Houdin at Kohl Chicago (10-22-1894) Delno Fritz at State Street Globe Museum Chicago (4-21-1895) Delno Fritz at Clark Street Museum (5-8-1895)
Harry Davis Eden Musee and Family Theatre	Opened Sept 5, 1892 Fire 1897	Harry Davis Eden Musee & Family Theatre Locust Street near Third Street Harrisburg, PA (USA)	Harry Davis Eden Musee and Family Theatre, located at Green Avenue and Eleventh Street in Pittsburgh, included a menagerie, a curio hall, and Theatorium, and was opened to the public on September 5, 1892 by Harry Davis, Manager of the 5th Avenue Museum in Pittsburgh. Born in Black Friar's row in London in 1861, Harry Davis came to Pittsburgh as a boy in 1870. His father, a millwright, came to Pittsburgh to help create the first tin-plate mill in America. Davis grew up in the Strip District and attended O'Hara public school until the age of 11 when he took a job in a florist shop. He worked as a traveling carnival barker before he became a promoter in Pittsburgh. In the 1880s his first profitable enterprise was promoting sporting events called "walking matches" at the old Grand Central rink on Penn Avenue. Using his $900 in profits he leased the O'Brien Dime Museum on Fifth Avenue renaming it the Eden Musee. The Musee offered a freak show museum and a Theatorium where lecturers and musicians performed. Earning $20,000 a year in ticket sales, Davis continued to invest in Pittsburgh entertainment, and Pittsburgh became one of the most important theatre centers in the country when 25,000 to 30,000 people attended his downtown theatres daily. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers at Harry Davis Eden Musee Harrisburg. Timeline of Harry Davis Eden Musee and Family Theatre 1892: Sept 5: Eden Musee opens under Harry Davis 1892: Sept 15: Cliquot 1892: Dec 31: Cliquot 1893: Dec 31: Delno Fritz 1894: Jan 8: Delno Fritz & Maud Churchill 1894: Oct 29-31: Delno Fritz & Maud Churchill 1894: Dec 22: Delno Fritz 1897: Fire Cliquot at Harry Davis Eden Musee (12-31-1892) Delno Fritz at Harry Davis Eden Musee (1-8-1894) Delno Fritz & Maud Churchill at Harry Davis Eden Musee (10-29-1894) Delno Fritz & Maud Churchill at Harry Davis Eden Musee (10-30-1894) Delno Fritz & Maud Churchill at Harry Davis Eden Musee (10-31-1894) Delno Fritz at Eden Musee (12-22-1894)
Annie Roy Anna Roy Anna E. Roy Mrs. Rob Roy Annie Wiser Anna Elizabeth Wiser Anna Elizabeth Wright "Albino Sword Swallower" "White Madagascar Moor"	Born March 15, 1863 Married 1891 Performed c 1893-1897 Died Nov 8, 1941	Barnum & Bailey Circus Ringling Brothers Circus (USA)	Annie Roy was one of the first female sword swallowers with Ringling Brothers Circus and Barnum and Bailey circuses in the mid 1890s. Born an albino as Annie Elizabeth Wiser on March 15, 1863 (probably in Cochrans Mills, PA) of John Wiser (1829-1909) and Martha Frick Wiser (1827-1909), Annie was the sister of albino entertainer Lewis Wiser (born Aug 25 1865 in Cochrans Mills, PA photo at 30, died 1951), who may have later reinvented himself to become known as "Unzie The Albino". In 1891 at about the age of 28, Annie Wiser was married to an albino gentleman of Scotch-Irish descent named Rob Roy or Robert Roy. In actuality, this albino was said to be born as John Campbell in Glasgow, Scotland around 1861, and when he started in show business, he took the name of the famous Scottish folk hero, Rob Roy. However, Rob Roy himself later states in a 1916 letter that he was born in New York City. In 1893, Annie was listed in the Barnum and Bailey Circus route book as the "White Madagascar Moor", a "silent stander", an albino who could pose as statuary without the white makeup. Annie appeared for Ringling Brothers Circus as the "White Madagascar Princess", her description in the 1893 Official Program tying her skin tone to classical themes and beauty. "In appearance, Annie resembles very much the sculptured female godliness of Grecian art. Her snow white hair and alabaster complexion, together with her graceful form, if clad in flowing robes of white, such as Grecian maidens wore in ancient times, would make an excellent imitation of marble." Other photos show Anna and Rob Roy together in 1893 and 1894. In 1894, Rob Roy was listed with Ringling Brothers Circus, and a photo of Annie and Rob was featured in the Ringling Brothers World's Greatest Shows route book. On March 26, 1894, the albino couple gave birth to their first and only son in Pennsylvania, also albino, who they named King Charles Roy, possibly in honor of Charles I the king of Scotland. King Charles Roy was promoted as "The First Albino Born in the US" of albino parents because at the time it was thought that albino parents always had normal-pigmented children. (Rob Roy letter) Between 1894-1897 Rob Roy performed as "The Albino Dislocationist" with Barnum and Bailey Circus, and then from 1897-1901 he performed with Barnum and Bailey in Europe. (Delno Fritz was featured as the sword swallower with Barnum & Bailey during this period in Europe, and there is no mention of Annie Roy during this period). In a May 21, 1903 article in "The Realm Magazine of Marvels", Rob Roy and sword swallower Mlle Edith Clifford were featured together with Barnum and Bailey Circus, and in 1904, Rob Roy and Mlle Edith Clifford were featured together on a Barnum and Bailey poster in Madison Square Garden, NY. In 1911, Rob Roy, the Albino Wonder was featured on the Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side Show. In a letter dated March 15, 1916, albino Robert Roy writes to Dr. C. B. Davenport in New York: "Dear Sir: I received your kind letter and cheque. I give you permission to use the manes[sic] of myself and family along with the photographs. Mr. Robert Roy - Mrs. Annie L. Roy - and son, King Charles Roy. But do not forget to mention in your book that King Charles Roy is the first and only Albino child born in the United States of Albino Parents, as we have no record of any other. Both his mother and himself were born in the state of Pennsylvania. I was born in New York City. If there are any other particulars you would like to know, I shall be glad to inform you. Yours respectfully, Robert Roy." (No further information on Rob Roy found after 1916). In 1912, Anna Roy bought a farm in Crawford County, PA which she later gave to her son King Charles Roy. King Charles Roy was known as "The First Albino Child Born of Albino Parents in the US.". He performed with various circuses as an "Albino Contortionist", and was good friends with Frank Lentini, the "Three Legged Man". There is a story that one of King Charles Roy's children was born on the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train that later had a wreck at 4am on June 22, 1918 in Ivanhoe near Hammond IN, and King Charles was presumed dead, although he later turned up alive. In fact, King Charles' oldest son was born in a hospital, and the rest were born at home, and King Charles Roy's bags made it on the train, but he somehow missed the train which led to the speculation of his demise in the accident. On December 8, 1926 King Charles Roy was married to his first cousin Minnie Belle Wiser (born 1904 in Apollo, Indiana County, PA, died 1991), daughter of his uncle George Wiser. The firstborn child of King Charles and Minnie Roy was Prince Everett Roy who was born on August 28, 1927 at Dreamland Circus Side Show, Coney Island, New York. (This information came from Minnie Roy's own journal written in her own hand-writing that she kept from 1927 until 1932). The couple had nine children, six of whom had the albino trait. In 1928, King Charles and Minnie bought a house in Jamestown, PA, and retired from the circus in 1932. In 1938-39, Annie Roy moved in with her son King Charles Roy. According to her obituary, on November 8, 1941 at 10:30 am Annie Roy died at the age of 78 in Jamestown, PA. Her obituary and the deed to the Jamestown house list her name as "Anna Elizabeth Wright". Anna E. Roy is buried in Park Lawn Cemetery in Jamestown, PA. Annie Roy had two sets of swords and bayonets, one with a pearl handle, and another etched with a lion's head. Annie's swords were sold by Glenn Roberts around 2002 or 2003 in Sharon PA in a time of hardship to pay bills, and they are now owned by Lyle Tuttle. Annie's son King Charles Roy owned several businesses including a barbershop and the Jamestown Bait Hatchery which he owned and operated for 35 years before retiring in 1960. King Charles and Minnie had 9 children, 6 of whom were albinos, and 3 who were not. King Charles Roy died on February 26, 1980 at the age of 86 in Jamestown, Pennsylvania. Surviving are his wife, the former Minnie B. Wiser, whom he married Dec. 8, 1926; five sons, Prince E., Raymond J., Russell E., and Larry L., all of Jamestown, and Richard C., Beaver, Pa.; four daughters, Mrs. Harold (Alice) Hoover, Mercer; Mrs. Ed (Helen G) Salisbury, Harker Heights, Texas; Mrs. Ray (Evelyn R.) Smith, Erie; and Miss Juana J. Roy at home; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Seeking photos and more information on Anna Elizabeth Wiser Wright, Annie Roy. Anna Wiser Annie Roy Timeline 1863: March 15: Born Annie Elizabeth Wiser in Cochran Mills, PA 1865 (69?): Brother Lewis Wiser born in Cochran Mills, PA 1891: Married to albino Rob Roy 1893: Barnum and Bailey Circus route book as "White Madagascar Moor" 1894: March 26: Albino son King Charles Roy born 1894: Rob Roy with Ringling Brothers Circus, Annie and Rob featured in Ringling Brothers World's Greatest Shows route book 1894-1897: Rob Roy performed as "Albino Dislocationist" with Barnum and Bailey Circus 1897-1901: Rob Roy performed with Barnum and Bailey in Europe 1903: Rob Roy and Mlle Edith Clifford featured with Barnum and Bailey 1904: Rob Roy and Mlle Edith Clifford featured on Barnum and Bailey in Madison Square Garden, NY 1911: Rob Roy at Dreamland Circus Side Show Coney Island NY 1912: Anna Roy buys farm in Crawford County, PA, gives to son King Charles Roy 1916: Rob Roy writes letter about albinism 1926: Dec 8: King Charles Roy marries first cousin Minnie Belle Wiser 1927: King Charles Roy works with Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side Show 1927: Aug 28: Prince Everett Roy born to King Charles at Dreamland Circus Side Show Coney Island NY 1928: King Charles and Minnie buy a house in Jamestown, PA 1932: King Charles Roy retires from circus life 1938-39: Annie Roy moves in with her son King Charles Roy 1941: Nov 8: Annie Roy dies at the age of 78 in Jamestown, PA 1960: King Charles Roy retires after 35 years from Jamestown Bait & Hatchery 1980: King Charles Roy dies at the age of 86 in Jamestown, PA Annie Wiser Roy Annie Roy Annie Roy Louis Wiser at 30 Lewis Wiser "Unzie The Albino" Rob Roy Rob Roy Rob & Annie Roy, Ringling Routebook (1893) King Charles Roy Rob Roy letter (3-15-1916)
Chicago World's Fair	1893	World's Columbian Exposition Chicago World's Fair Chicago, IL (USA)	Between May 1, 1893 and October 31, 1893, an estimated 27 million people attended Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition -- officially planned to celebrate the European discovery of the New World -- and marvelled at the Exposition's neo-classical vision of ordered community, cultural displays, and artistic exhibits. The World's Columbian Exposition, situated on a 1.3 mile long strip in Jackson Park, Chicago, and introduced a wealth of inventions to America and the world. It was at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair that sword swallowing was first introduced to America at large, and it was here that sword swallowing first became accepted as popular in America by being one of the hit features of the fair. Groups that featured sword swallowers at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 may have included Carl Hagenbeck's Circus, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show that gathered crowds up to 18,000. The Chicago World's Fair became so popular in 1893, that it was later replicated again with the Chicago World's Fair of 1933-1934 where sword swallowing was again one of the most popular highlights.
Dick Adams	Performed April 8, 1894	Kohl & Middleton's State Street Globe Museum Chicago, IL (USA)	According to an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune dated April 8, 1894: "Chauncey Moreland and his wife, known in museum circles as the "married mastodons," will make their first appearance at Kohl & Middleton's State Street Globe Museum this week. Other attractions will be the black Sampson, Charlie Adams, the armless painter, and Dick Adams, a sword swallower." Seeking photos and more information. Dick Adams at Kohl & Middleton's (4-8-1894)
Lieutenant J. J. Hooper The Champion Sword Swallower	Performed May 20, 1894	The Midway Plaisance Picayune, LA (USA)	According to an article in the Times-Picayune dated May20, 1894: "As the entr' act Lieutenant J.J. Hooper, "the champion sword swallower" performed some wonderful feats" at The Midway Plaisance in Picayune, Louisiana. Seeking photos and more information. Lt. J.J. Hooper at The Midway Plaisance (5-20-1894)
August Reicke	Born 1844 Attempted suicide Oct 31, 1894	New York, NY (USA)	According to an article in the Alexandria Gazette dated October 31, 1894: "A Sword Swallower Out of Work - August Reicke, a professional sword swallower, 50 years old, has not had work in his line for some time. He had a family to support at 16 Willet Street, and he became despondent. Monday night he took an old cavalry sabre blade twenty-three inches long and started to plunge it down his throat. His hand was not steady and the sword cut his throat. The pain made him cry out, and, whirling it around his head, lunged about the room. The screams of his wife and children startled one of the tenants in the house, who peeped in the door. Seeing Reicke with the sword in his hands and the wife and children in fear, he slammed the door and ran yelling to the street for a policeman. Officer Fallon opended the door of Reicke's room and saw him swing the sword. "What are you trying to do?" asked Fallon. "I've killed seven people and have buried their bodies, and I'm ready for more," Reicke replied. He was sent to Bellevue. -New York Herald" Seeking photos and more information. August Reicke attempts suicide (10-31-1894)
Albert Heiling Albert Heling	Born Aug 24, 1873 Injured Jan 26, 1895 Died Jan 27, 1895	Lee's Circus Muskegon, MI (USA)	According to an article in the NY Times dated Jan 27, 1895: "MUSKEGON, Mich., Jan. 26 - Albert Heiling aged twenty-one, while practicing a sword-swallowing act, drove the sword into his stomach beyond his reach. Physicians were called and cut him open as the only means of recovering the sword. Heiling may die." According to an article in the Abilene Daily Reflector dated January 28, 1895: "Albert Heiling, a professional fire eater and sword swallower, in practice in his room inserted an 18-inch sword in his throat and started to put in a seond. The latter struck the end of the first, driving it below the palate into the stomach. Then he climbed a ladder and called for help over the transom and afterward walked nine blocks to a doctor's office and then home. His recovery is doubtful." According to the January 28 1895 St. Paul Globe: "Albert Heiling, a professional fire eater and sword swallower, recently with Lee's circus, swollowed an eighteen-inch sword at the opera house last night while practicing for the Elks minstrels, and will probably die. In order to do the work better, Heiling locked himself in a room by himself and proceeded to put three swords down his throat. He had inserted one safely, but the second sword struck the end of the first, driving it below the palate into the stomach. Then he climbed a ladder and called for help over the transom. Heiling afterward walked nine blocks to a doctor's office and then home. An operation was performed by Drs. Denslow, Garber, and Vanderlaan. Believing the point to be at the base of the stomach, they made an incision there, but Heiling had walked so far the sword had sunk into the lower abdomen, necessitating another incision. Heiling is twenty-one years old, and though he is strong, his recovery is doubtful." According to an article in the Edenton NC Fisherman and Farmer dated Feb 8, 1895, "At Muskegon Michigan, Albert Heiling, who swallowed an eighteen-inch sword while practicing for an amateur entertainment, died in terrible agony. His intense suffering turned his hair from a dark brown to a light grey." Albert Heiling died on January 27, 1895 in Muskegon Michigan at the age of 21, and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Muskegon, Michigan, USA, Plot: 4-18-1. His parents, August and Katrina Heling were both born in Germany. Seeking photos and more information. Albert Heiling injury article (1-1895) Albert Heiling injury article (1-28-1895) Albert Heiling injury article (1-28-1895) Albert Heiling death article (2-8-1895) Albert Heling grave site
James Reilly	Attempted suicide Feb 27, 1896	Clark and Polk Streets Chicago, IL (USA)	According to an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune dated February 29, 1896: "Detective arrests James Reilly because his act resembles suicide. James Reilly is a professional sword swallower. On Thursday evening (February 27, 1896), he was entertaining a crowd at Clark and Polk streets when Detective John McMahon thought the man was about to commit suicide and arrested him. Justice Richardson discharged him." According to an article in the March 4, 1896 Bangor Daily Whig and Courier: "A Chicago dispatch says James Reilly, a sword swallower, had the laugh on Detective John McMahon in Justice Richardson's court at the armory. Reilly was arrested last night with his outfit of swords in a satchel. He visited Clark street as soon as he emerged from the train and was soon in a happy frame of mind. At Polk street he undertook to entertain a crowd of several hundred persons by his mystifying feats. Detective McMahon came along just in time to see Reilly place a huge sword in his mouth to swallow it. McMahon rushed through the crowd and grasping the surprised Reilly, said: "Come along now, my man; you can't commit suicide while I'm around, and in the presence of so many people." In vain, Reilly protested that he could swallow a dozen swords at once, but he carried off to the Harrison street police station. To-day McMahon explained to Justice Richardson that he saved Reilly from committing suicide. Reilly explained to His Honor his profession, and loud was the jeering and laughter the officer was forced to submit to from his brother officers." Seeking photos and more information. James Reilly arrested for attempted suicide (2-29-1896) James Reilly article (3-4-1896)
King Salvo King Sabro King Sabbro King Sarbro Prof. Sarbro Senor Sarbro Signor Sarbro Professor Sarbro	Born c. 1854 Performed July 1896-1897	Huber's 14th Street Museum Austin & Stone's Museum Clark's Combined Shows Atlanta Exposition 9th & Arch Museum Barcelona (Spain)	King Salvo the sword swallower was featured at Huber's Fourteenth Street Museum in New York on July 5, 1896. On July 27 and 30, King Sarbro, champion sword swallower performed at Austin & Stone's Museum in Boston. On July 31, 1896, King Sabbro the sword swallower was featured as appearing soon with Clark's Combined Shows in St. Genevieve, Missouri. On August 1-2, 1896, King Sarbro was featured at Austin & Stone's in Boston. According to an article dated December 17, 1896 in the Charlotte Observer: "Prof. Sarbro, of Barcelona Spain, arrived here yesterday, and last night, at Dr. Hawley's office, gave an exhibition of sword swallowing. Dr. E. C. Register was an interested spectator. The professor is a great one. Given an army sabre 34 inches long, he swallowed 29 inches of the blade. He swallowed a strip of iron three feet long and bent it in his throat. He swallowed swords of various lengths, allowing different ones in the audience to draw them out. There is no trick about the business, Sarbro being a real sword swallower. Dr. Register said he had heard and read of these artists, but this is the first one he has had personal knowledge of. Sarbro is 42 years old. He was at the Atlanta Exposition." On November 7, 1897, King Sabro was advertized at 9th & Arch Museum in Philadelphia PA. Seeking photos and more information. King Salvo at Huber's 14th Street Museum (7-5-1896) King Sarbro Austin & Stone's Museum (7-27-1896) King Sarbro Austin & Stone's Museum (7-30-1896) King Sarbro Austin & Stone's Museum (8-1-1896) King Sarbro Austin & Stone's Museum (8-2-1896) King Sabbro at St. Genevieve MO (7-31-1896) King Sarbro in Charlotte NC description (12-17-1896) King Sabro at 9th & Arch Museum (11-7-1897)
W.H. Turner William H. Turner William Henry Turner One-Armed Sword Swallower	Born 20 Feb 1845 Performed 1890s-1930s Photo July 1, 1938 Died 8 June 1941	Lebanon, MO (USA)	William Henry Turner was born on February 20, 1845 in New York state. After voting for Abraham Lincoln, serving in the Union Army, and working with the circus, one-armed Union Army veteran sword swallower W.H. Turner was still amusing audiences by swallowing swords at the age of 93 on July 1, 1938 at the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Originally from Lebanon, MO, Turner was a a former circus performer and member of the George G. Meade Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a Justice of the Peace, a Police Judge and Recorder for Leclede County MO, and Republican, and was proud of the fact that he had voted for Abraham Lincoln. On Sunday morning, June 8, 1941, Turner sat on the porch of his Lebanon, MO home listening to the choir of the Christian Church across the street. He died quietly and peacefully at the age of 96 on June 8, 1941. He is buried in the Lebanon City Cemetery in Lebanon, MO. Seeking photos and more information. WH Turner (1938) WH Turner (info) Obituary article (6-1941)
Hope F. Roland J.B. Roland A. Tyers	Performed 1897 Died July 18, 1897	Prince Albert, Sask Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)	"Hope F. Roland, of Prince Albert, an amateur sword swallower, who came to the city last Thursday to obtain an engagement at the fair, died Sunday morning (July 18, 1897) at the General hospital. On Friday afternoon he was giving a private exhibition of his powers, and he successfully performed a number of his acts; he then attempted to swallow a long sharp edged sword; unfortunately he allowed it to go too far, with the result that he injured himself internally. Upon withdrawing the weapon, he immediately commenced to vomit blood. He was removed to the General hospital, where little hope was entertained of his recovery, owing to the doctors being unable to get at the seat of his injuries. He suffered uncomfortably and continued to vomit blood until the end came. The deceased came to Canada only a short time ago, and was engaged in farming, and he intended to give up this work, and follow sword swallowing profession. He has a brother at Ellisboro, who has been communicated with in regard to the funeral arrangements. The dead man was registered at the Clifton house, where his effects are at the present time." This information from an article in the Winnipeg Tribune dated July 19, 1897. Another article in the July 20, 1897 Ottawa Journal stated: "Winnipeg, Man: J.B. Roland, of Prince Albert, who has gained some repute as an amateur sword swallower, arrived in this city a few days ago, and to keep in training practised swallowing swords quite frequently. On Friday, he made some slip which caused a rupture of some of his internal organs. He was taken to the general hospital, where he suffered intense agony. Owing to the strange manner in which the injury was inflicted, the doctors could do nothing for the man, and he died Sunday." "The remains of the late A. Tyers, the unfortunate sword swallower, were forwarded to Portage la Prairie to-day for interment" according to the July 28, 1897 Winnipeg Tribune. Seeking photos, dates, and more information.
Bizarre Medical Abnormalities	Published 1897	(USA)	According to the book "Bizarre Medical Abnormalities" published in 1897: "There are many cases on record in which injury to the stomach has been due to some mistake or accident in the juggling process of knife-swallowing or sword-swallowing. The records of injuries of this nature extend back many hundred years, and even in the earlier days the delicate operation of gastrotomy sometimes with a successful issue, was performed upon persons who had swallowed knives. The physiologic explanation of sword-swallowing is quite interesting. We know that when we introduce the finger, a spoon, brush, etc. into the throat of a patient, we cause extremely disagreeable symptoms. There is nausea, gagging, and considerable hindrance with the function of respiration. It therefore seems remarkable that there are people whose physiologic construction is such that, without apparent difficulty, they are enabled to swallow a sword many inches long. Many of the exhibitionists allow the visitors to touch the stomach and outline the point of the sabre through the skin. The sabre used is usually very blunt and of rounded edges, or if sharp, a guiding tube of thin metal is previously swallowed. The explanation of these exhibitions is as follows: The instrument enters the mouth and pharynx, then the esophagus, traverses the cardiac end of the stomach, and enters the latter as far as the antrum of the pylorus, the small culdesac of the stomach. In their normal state in the adult these organs are not in a straight line, but are so placed by the passage of the sword. In the first place the head is thrown back, so that the mouth is in the direction of the esophagus, the curves of which disappear or become less as the sword proceeds; the angle that the esophagus makes with the stomach is obliterated, and finally the stomach is distended in the vertical diameter and its internal curve disappers, thus permitting the blade to traverse the greater diameter of the stomach. According to Guyot-Daubès, these organs, in a straight line, extend a distance of from 55 to 62 cm., and consequently the performer is enabled to swallow an instrument of this length. The length is divided as follows: Mouth and pharynx.....10 to 12 cm. Esophagus.................25 to 28 cm. Distended stomach.....20 to 22 cm. Total..........................55 to 62 cm. These acrobats with the sword have rendered important service to medicine. It was through the good offices of a sword-swallower that the Scotch physician, Dr. Stevens, was enabled to make his experiments on digestion in 1777. He caused this assistant to swallow small metallic tubes pierced with holes. They were filled, according to Reaumer's method, with pieces of meat. After a certain length of time, he would have the acrobat disgorge the tubes, and in this way he observed to what degree the process of digestion had taken place. It was also probably the sword-swallower who showed the physicians to what extent the pharynx could be habituated to contract, and from this resulted the invention of the tube of Faucher, the esophageal sound, lavage of the stomach, and illumination of this organ by electric light." Diagram of Sword Swallower (1894) Diagram of Sword Swallower (1897)
Frank Skerbeck Frank Sherback	Born June 15, 1847 Learned 1859 Married 1869 Performed 1859-1898 Died June 15, 1921	Skerbeck Family & Co. One Ring Circus Dorchester, Wisconsin (USA)	Frank Skerbeck (or sometimes Frank Sherback) was proprietor and manager, and performed sword walking and sword swallowing on the Skerbeck Family and Co. One Ring Circus. Frank Skerbeck was born in Austic, Austria, on June 15, 1847, and learned sword swallowing at the age of twelve in 1859 and entered the circus ring. Skerbeck always laid claim to the fact that he was the first man to perform this feat, which was never disputed. On Feb. 22, 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tillie and 16 children were born to them, eight of who are dead and eight living; three sons, Joe, Gust and Frank, and five daughters, Antonette, Annie, Clara, Amanda and Pearl. The Skerbeck family resided in the village of Dorchester, Wisconsin during the winter and were on the road with their amusement company in the summer. Notes from the Skerbeck Family and Co. One Ring Circus: "We are in our third week since our opening at Dorchester, Wisconsin, playing the northern part of Wisconsin for four weeks longer, then on boat runs in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. We have the Dwyer Bros.' balloon ascension and parachute jumping. . . . Frank Skerbeck is proprietor and manager; Joe Skerbeck, equestrian director; Gus Skerbeck, bareback rider; Anton Skerbeck, principal clown; Miss Mandy Skerbeck, contortion; the Skerbeck children, Frankey and Perine, acrobatic and ground and lofty tumbling; Prof. Williams and his trained horse; Billy Morrow and his troupe of dogs... Johnny Fox, equilibrist; Dwyer Bros., balloon ascension. Sideshow under the management of Prof. W. R. Jones: W. R. Jones, magician, ventriloquist and orator; Mrs. Vida Jones, mind reading and second sight; Miss Clarrie Skerbeck, snake enchantress; Frank Skerbeck, sword walking and sword swallowing. Concert, under the direction of Johnny Fox: Johnny Fox, jig dancing on his hands; the Nelsons, John and Ella, musical turn; Fred Given, black face comedian; W. R. Jones and Nida, in afterpiece. Band: Prof. Joe Nerda, leader, with six people; Slim Davis, boss canvasman with fourteen assistants; Joe Berey, boss cook with four flunkeys. We eat on lot, sleep at hotels." New York Clipper, May 28, 1898, p. 213. During wedding festivities of his granddaughter, Tillie Sebold, on his 74th birthday, Frank Skerbeck in his genial way, suggested a ride to add to their joy riding on his merry-go-round at Oshkosh. During the ride, he quietly slipped away into the land where trouble never follows, and died on his 74th birthday on June 15, 1921. He is buried in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery, Dorchester, Clark County, Wisconsin. Seeking photos and more information. Frank Sherback death (6-17-1921)
Deodata	Performed 1900	(Italy)	Deodota, an Italian magician, was also a sword-swallower of more than average ability who performed around the turn of the century. He finally succumbed to the lure of commercialism, and ended up in the jewelry business in the "downtown district" of New York City. Seeking photos and more information.
Pierre Deunsch Max Rinaldini	Performed 1890-1910s?	Great Britain, UK	An undated pitchcard features sword swallower Pierre Deunsch / Max Rinaldini as "l'Artist Celebre et incomparable" who performed in Great Britain in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Seeking photos and more information. Pierre Deunsch / Max Rinaldini (1890-1910?)
Maxini Hettwery Schwert- und Degenschlucker	Performed 1902	Leipzig, Riesa (Germany)	An undated pitchcard features Schwert- und Degenschlucker Maxini Hettwery who performed in Germany in 1902. Seeking photos and more information. Maxini Hettwery pitchcard (1902) Maxini Hettwery pitchcard back (1902)
Sells Floto Circus Floto Dog and Pony Show Sells-Floto Circus & Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Sells-Floto Circus	1902 Founded 1906 Added Sells 1914-1915 Added Buffalo Bill 1929 sold	Denver, CO (USA)	The Sells-Floto Circus was started in 1902, and was originally named the Floto Dog and Pony Show. Harry Heye Tammen (1856-1924) and Frederick Gilmer Bonfils (1860-1933) became the owners of the "Denver Post" newspaper in 1895. Besides owning the Denver Post, Tammen and Bonfils decided to start a circus in 1902. The circus was called the "Floto Dog and Pony Show". The name Floto was selected because Tammen liked the name of the Denver Post's sports editor "Otto Floto". Unlike most other circuses of the day that had to start small and work their way up, this circus had the financial support of the Denver Post from the beginning. It was not until four years later in 1906 that the word "Sells" became part of the name. This is the year when Willie Sells was added to the show. In 1906 Tammen and Bonfils hired William Sells to manage the show. The "Sells Bros Circus" (no relation to William Sells), had toured from 1871 to 1895, and had developed a well known named in the US, and Tammen, wanting to take advantage of the "Sells Bros." name and reputation, renamed his show the "Sells Floto Circus". In 1909, the Ringling Brothers, who now owned the "Sells Bros Circus" title sued Tammen and Bonfils in an effort to stop them from using the Sells name. The circus was ordered not to use images of the original Sells Brothers Circus in their advertizing. In July 1913, after a successful run since 1883, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody's "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show" went bankrupt. After the bankruptcy, Tammen hired Cody to perform, featuring Buffalo Bill Cody in the 1914 and 1915 seasons, so the circus was renamed to the "Sells Floto and Buffalo Bill Circus" for the 1914 and 1915 seasons. When the Sells Floto Circus absorbed Buffalo Bill's Wild West Shows, it became a true "combined" show. In 1918, circus entrepreneurs Jeremiah Jerry Mugivan and Albert C. "Bert" Bowers bought the Sells-Floto Circus and "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show", adding them to a long list of circuses they owned, including Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, and John Robinson Shows, as well as the Yankee Robinson Circus in 1919. In 1919, Mugivan and Bowers asked Ballard to join them, and the trio formed the American Circus Company. In 1929, the successor company of the American Circus Corporation was sold by Jeremiah Mugivan, Bert Bowers and Ed Ballard to John Nicholas Ringling of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, along with Sells-Floto Circus, Al G. Barnes Circus, Hagenback Wallace Circus, John Robinson Shows, and Sparks Circus for $1.7 million, creating a monopoly of traveling circuses in America. Sells-Floto later became the concessions department of Ringling Brothers Circus, along with Hagenback Wallace Circus, who made the floats and other equipment. Ringling Bros continued to operate the Sells-Floto Circus until1938. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers with the Sells or Sells-Floto Circus. Timeline/Sword Swallowers with Sells-Floto Circus: 1895: Tammen and Bonfils become the owners of the "Denver Post" 1902: Start "Floto Dog and Pony Show" 1906: William Sells manages the show 1906: Renamed Sells Floto Circus 1909: Ringling Brothers sue Tammen and Bonfils to stop using Sells name 1914: Hire Buffalo Bill Cody, rename to Sells Floto and Buffalo Bill Circus 1915: Sells Floto and Buffalo Bill Circus 1919: American Circus Corporation buys Sells Floto Circus and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1922: The Great Lorenzo is sword swallower with Sells-Floto Circus 1924: Cuban Mack is sword swallower with Sells-Floto Circus 1929: American Circus Corporation buys "Sells Floto Circus" 1938: Mimi Garneau is sword swallower with Sells-Floto Circus 1938: Sells-Floto Circus closes
Veno The Electric Sword Swallower Nelson C. Barned	Born 1884 Performed 1904 Married 1905 Daughter in 1913 Lived in NJ in 1930	Barnum & Bailey Circus Essex, NJ (USA)	Nelson C. Barned performed as "Veno" the Electric Sword Swallower with Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1904. Nelson C. Barned was born in 1884, was married at 21 (in 1905?), had a daughter named Isabelle Dora Barned Vogler (1913-2005), and lived in Essex, NJ in 1930. Seeking photos and more information.
Enno Strauss-Hassan Enno Strauss-Hanson "The World's Youngest Sword Swallower"	Performed c. 1905	England (UK)	Enno Strauss-Hassan (or Hanson) was one of England's greatest sword swallowers, and at one time, was known as the "World's Youngest Sword Swallower". He was even x-rayed early in the 1900s, possibly as early as 1905. He was also one of the first to experiment with swallowing glass neon tubes, which eventually killed him. Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Enno Strauss-Hanson (c. 1905)
Julian Putzkewitsch Julian Putzjewitsch Der Russische Schwertschlucker	Performed 1904-1906?	Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Lübeck (Germany)	According to a German postcard from Lübeck Germany, Julian Putzkewitsch or Julian Putzjewitsch performed as "Der russische Schwertschlucker Konkurrenzolos auf dem ganzen Kontinent im Wild West Zirkus Bill Daberkow", ("The Russian Sword Swallower concurrently running the entire continent with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Circus"). The postcard shows a sword swallower in Russian costume. Julian Putzkewitsch was billed as coming from Russia and probably toured on the 1906 European tour of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Post card printed in Lübeck Germany. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallower Julian Putzkewitsch with BBWWS. Julian Putzkewitsch postcard (c 1906)
Miss La Rue Miss LaRue	Performed 1906	Thos. L. Finn & Co New United Shows Hoosick, NY (USA)	Miss La Rue was the sword swallower in the 1906 Thos. L. Finn & Co's New United Shows. The New United Shows (later "Thomas L. Finn's Great Eastern Shows") were based in Hoosick NY and managed by Thomas L. Finn. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallower Miss La Rue with Thos. L. Finn & Co's New United Shows.
Otto DeVarre Sword Swallower & Sword Walker	Performed 1908-1910	Campbell Bros Circus Campbell Bros Consolidated R.R. Show (USA)	Otto DeVarre was a sword swallower and sword walker who performed in 1908 and 1909 with Campbell Bros Circus and had a pitchcard out around 1910. According to the May 8, 1909 Billboard magazine, "Otto DeVarre joined Campbell Bros Circus in Kansas City, MO in April (1909) making this his second season with the show." Otto DeVarre postcard (c. 1910) Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Sword Swallower Otto DeVarre timeline: 1908: Campbell Bros Circus 1909: Campbell Bros Circus 1910: Postcard
Abdullah Hatschi Equilibristischer Schwertschlucker-Akt	Performed 1909	(Germany)	Abdullah Hatschi was a sword swallower in Germany apparently in the late 1800s. He would balance chairs upon the swallowed sword down his throat. His pitchcard read "Abdullah Hatschi - Equilibristischer Schwertschlucker-Akt in höchster Vollendung" ("Abdullah Hatschi - Balancing sword swallower act at it's finest") Seeking photos and more information. Abdullah Hatschi balancing chairs on swallowed sword (3-21-1909)
Paul Manelli Avaleur de Sabre	Performed 1890s-?	(France)	Paul Manelli was a French speaking sword swallower who swallowed a bayonet attached to the barrel of a gun that was fired, shooting the bayonet down his throat. Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Paul Manelli pitchcard (c 1890s?)
Unknown French Sword Swallower Avaleur de Sabre	Performed 1910	(France)	An unknown French sword swallower was photographed sword swallowing in 1910. Seeking photos, dates, and more information.
John DeLisle John H. DeLisle John Hyacinth DeLisle Blind Sword Swallower	Born Jan 11, 1869 Married 1907 Performed 1912 Died June 24, 1937	St. Louis, MO (USA)	John DeLisle was born John Hyacinth DeLisle to Lizzie Pidgeon on January 11, 1869 in Illinois. DeLisle was blind most, if not all of his life. DeLisle spent much of his life in and around St. Louis MO as early as 1904, was married to Nettie Lieberman in 1907, and lived in St. Louis until his death there on June 24, 1937. An article in the September 18, 1912 St. Louis Star and Times reports, "He now is with a traveling show. He swallows swords and walks on swords." By the time of this article in 1912, DeLisle was 43 years old and had two sons, Lloyd DeLisle (born 29 Dec 1906; died 31 Aug 1987) and William Francis DeLisle Sr. (born 14 May 1910 in St. Louis, MO; died 29 Nov 1979 in Lutesville, MO). John DeLisle's wife Nettie Lieberman DeLisle (born in Iowa 5 Jan 1880; died in St. Louis 11 Dec 1955) was also blind and would read a Braille bible on St. Louis street corners to raise money to help supplement their income. John DeLisle died at the age of 68 in St. Louis, MO on June 24, 1937 (some reports claim June 20, 1937), and is buried in the St. Matthew Cemetery at 4360 Bates Street in St. Louis, MO 63116. DeLisle's great grand-daughter said, "There was always talk of Carnival people in our family, but we didn't know many details." Seeking photos, dates, and more information. John DeLisle Timeline: 1869: 1 Jan: Born in Illinois to Lizzie Pidgeon 1904: Living in St, Louis, MO 1906: 29 Dec: Son Lloyd Hyacinth DeLisle born 1907: Marries Nettie Lieberman 1910: 14 May: Son William Francis DeLisle born in St. Louis, MO 1912: Swallows swords and walks on swords with traveling sideshow 1914: Son Edward Everett Delisle born 1920: Prohibition violation in St. Louis, MO 1937: 24 June: John DeLisle dies at 68 in St. Louis, MO 1955: 11 Dec: Wife Nettie Lieberman DeLisle dies in St. Louis MO
Kitty & Antonio Reggiardo "Les Reggiardos" Kitty Reggiardo Eugenie Kate Reggiardo Eldica Evelyne Kitty Reggiardo Kitty Reggiardo Mclean Kitty Mclean Antonio Reggiardo Antonio Reggiardo Jr. Antonio Aldophus James Reggiardo "Australian Cinquevalli"	Antonio Reggiardo b 1844 Antonio Adolphus James b 1875 Kitty Eldica b 1885- Performed 1890s-1914 Antonio Adolphus d 1922 Kitty Mclean d 1929 Antonio Reggiardo d 1934 Matilda Kate Reggiardo d 1936	Brennan's Gaiety Theater The Theatre Royal The Tivoli Theatre Antonio's Suprise Circus British/Australian Music Halls (UK) (Australia)	Kitty and Antonio Reggiardo were a brother and sister sword swallowing duo who performed in British and Australian music halls in the late 1890s to the start of World War I in 1914 under the name "Les Reggiardos". Their father, Antonio Reggiardo (1844-1934), was an Italian animal trainer born in 1844 in Genoa, Italy, who owned a small circus, "Antonio's Temple of Wonders". Antonio married Kate, an English sword swallower. Their son, Antonio Aldophus James Reggiardo Jr was born in Sydney Australia in 1875. His sister, Eugenie Kate Reggiardo (or Kitty Eldica Evelyne Reggiardo) was born in Victoria Australia in 1885. The family lived for a time in England when the children were young, and it may have been in England that Kate taught her children their sword swallowing skills. There is mention that mother Kate took the children to perform in "All Sparrows Halls" when they were young, and other music halls in Britain and Vaudeville in the US. The younger Antonio Reggiardo developed remarkable skills as a juggler, performing tricks such as the "Human Billiard Table", and was often billed as the "Australian Cinquevalli". For her sword swallowing act, Kitty swallowed swords and electric lights. For his sword swallowing act, Antonio would swallow a bayonet attached to a rifle, then pull the trigger, driving the blade home. Together the siblings performed as a duo as jugglers and sword swallowers with Antonio's Surprise Circus, performing in Brennan's Gaiety Theater (Dublin? or London?), Theater Royal, and other theaters and music halls around Britain, Ireland, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. The family lived in New Zealand for a time where they met Lex Mclean the Scottish Hercules, who married Kitty. Kitty gave birth to their son Antonio Lex Mclean in 1905 (1905-1977), and stopped performing soon thereafter, while her brother Antonio Reggiardo continued performing as a solo act. The family eventually settled in Melbourne Australia. There were two big theatrical companies in the area at that time, The Theatre Royal and The Tivoli, and they would perform for the theatres and music halls in the winter and with the circus in the summer. Their busiest periods of work seemed to be during the1890s, with Kitty retiring about 1910, and Antonio retiring around 1918-19. The Reggiardo siblings both contracted tuberculosis and eventually died in Melbourne in the 1920s, Antonio Adolphus in 1922 (09/06/1922), and Kitty in 1929. Their father, Antonio Reggiardo Sr. died in 1934 at the age of 90, and was interred at the Coburg Cemetery on March 3, 1934, and Matilda Kate Reggiardo died in Melbourne in 1936. The Reggiardos are buried in the Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Kitty Reggiardo reclining (c. 1900-1905) Kitty Reggiardo with sword (c. 1900-1905)
Karmi Kar-mi Prince Karmi Prince Kar-Mi Kar-mi Victorina Joe Van Victorina Joseph B. Hallworth Joseph Bryant Hallworth Miss Victorina Kitty Fisher Kitty Fischer Katie B. Fischer Kitty Fisher Hallworth Kitty Fischer Hallworth Katie Fisher Hallworth Katie Fischer Hallworth Kitty Katie B. Fischer Hallworth Katherine Bertha Fischer Katherine Bertha Fischer Hallworth The Victorinas The Victorina Show The Victorina Troupe The Great Kar-mi Troupe	Born April 29, 1872 Born Feb 27, 1880 Married Oct 15, 1891 Performed 1890-1914 Katie died April 8 1953 Joe died June 25 1958	Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Berlin (Germany) Lowell, Massachusetts (USA)	The Victorinas were a performing husband and wife team in the 1890s, where husband Joe Van Victorina (better known as "Kar-mi") and wife Miss Victorina (Katherine, Katie Fischer or Kitty B. Fischer) both swallowed swords in their acts. In the highlight of his act, Kar-mi would swallow a loaded gun barrel, and while it was down his throat, would shoot a cracker off a man's head, while Miss Victorina was said to have swallowed a record 16 swords at once around the turn of the century. In one of Miss Victorina's early photos from the 1890s (possibly while she was still working in Berlin?), the caption says in German: "Victorina - Die berühmteste Schwert-Verschlingerin in der Welt" ("Victorina - The Most Famous Sword Devourer in the World!") In 1899, the Victorinas put out a "Text Book On The Art of Sword Swallowing - Explaining How To Do It Sixteen Different Ways" with some mythical tips on how to swallow swords, some written in an untranslatable ancient script. The Boston Herald of December 28th, 1902, described Victorina's performance: "By long practice she has accustomed herself to swallow swords, daggers, bayonets, walking sticks, rods, and other dangerous articles. Her throat and food passages have become so expansive that she can swallow three long swords almost up to the hilts, and can accommodate a dozen shorter blades." On one occasion, while Miss Victorina was sword-swallowing in Boston, a sword pierced a vein in her throat. The blade was half-way down, but instead of immediately pulling it out, she pushed it further in. She was laid up in a hospital for 3 months after this performance. But who were KAR-MI and Miss Victorina? KAR-MI was the stage name of performer Joe Van Victorina, born Joseph Bryant Hallworth (1872-1958), an itinerant entertainer who worked in Wild West shows, circuses, dime museums, riverboats, vaudeville, movie houses, and other venues from the 1890s up until World War I. In actuality, the more accurate answer is more complicated and less than precise. Magic historians and enthusiasts know KAR-MI from the many vintage posters, theater cards, and ephemera that often appear on the antiques market. The posters present KAR-MI as the prince of India and high priest of conjurers and spirit workers. They advertise a number of KAR-MI's sword-swallowing, knife-throwing, mind-reading, and conjuring feats, proclaiming "Swallows a loaded gun barrel and shoots a cracker from a man's head," "KAR-MI was buried alive for 32 days," and "Swallows a table leg two feet long." Other posters refer to KAR-MI, his wife, and two sons as the Victorina Show or Victorina Troupe, in which Miss Victorina swallows swords and razors. Still other posters advertise motion picture shows featuring spectacular train wrecks and automobile accidents of cars "traveling at 1,000 mph!" Aside from the exaggerated posters and Hallworth's reminiscences that appeared in the early 1950s, not much reality is actually known about KAR-MI. Joseph Bryant Hallworth was a native American born April 30, 1872 to Thomas Leigh and Anna Harriet Hallworth in Chelsea Massachusetts. The story that Joseph Hallworth told about himself and his showbiz family always began with his claim to have learned to read at the age of three, as his parents worked in the field of public education. At four years old, he claimed to have read the Bible, and at six years old, he claimed to have read the classics and had an "intimate knowledge of Shakespeare, Fielding, Byron, Swift, Balzac, and many others." (Remember, he was an entertainer, and nothing entertains as well as a good story.) In 1886, Hallworth ran away from home at the age of 14, and for a few years, worked out West in British Columbia as a fur trapper, prospector, and cowboy. Hallworth began his show business career in a "one-ring wagon circus in Kansas", and went on to perform as a "sharp-shootin', knife-throwin' cowboy in a medicine show," then with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and eventually worked his way in to the Chatham Square Museum in New York. According to the Who's Who in America: HALLWORTH, Joseph Bryant, author; b. Chelsea, Mass., Apr. 30, 1872; s. Thomas Leigh and Harriet Anna H.; ed. pub. schs.; married New York, Oct. 15, 1891, Katie B. Fischer. Ran away from home at 14, traveled all over West as cowboy; became engraver 1892; now engaged in Vaudeville magic, travelling with his family known as "Victorina Troupe of Hindoo Wonder Workers." Author: Arline Valerie, P3. Address: Belle Av., Lowell, Mass." After marrying young Katie B. Fischer (Katherine Bertha Fischer, better known as Kitty Fisher), a German sword swallower from Berlin, on October 15, 1891 in Manhattan, New York, Hallworth became an engraver in 1892. Soon thereafter, Hallworth and his wife began performing together as "Kar-mi" and "Miss Victorina" in traveling shows as "The Victorinas" or "The Victorina Troupe", adding song-and-dance routines, snake charming, fire eating, and fortune telling, along with acts of magic, illusion, and mind-reading. Fischer was born in Germany where she claimed to have learned sword swallowing at the age of 12. Their sons joined the family business too - one dressed as a female assistant to assist in KAR-MI's illusions, the other as the young Hindu beauty that KAR-MI appeared to make float in midair. According to an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune dated October 21, 1894: "Lady Sword Swallower, and Houdin, Magician" at Kohl & Middleton's Clark Street Dime Museum in Chicago. In Chicago Miss Victorina had an even narrower escape. One day while performing at the Dime Museum on Clark Street with a very young Harry Houdini, Victorina passed a long thin dagger down her throat. In withdrawing it, the blade snapped in two, leaving the pointed portion some distance in her passage. Dropping the hilt on the floor, she leaned forward, and placing her finger and thumb down her throat, she succeeded in catching the end of the blade and pulled it out. In 1898, the Hallworths gave birth to their daughter Pearl. According to the Philadelphia Times dated April 2, 1899, "First Appearance in America of Victorina The Viennese Venus, the Only Woman Sword Swallower in the World" at Ninth and Arch Dime Museum in Philadelphia, PA. In 1899, the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Route book lists Sword Swallower: Victorina as their sword swallower On May 27, 1901 and February 2, 1902, the Victorinas were booked at Austin & Stone's Museum in Boston. On October 17, 1901, Victorina was featured at the 9th and Arch Museum. In 1910, "Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Hallworth and son performed together in Vaudeville". In 1914, Joseph B. Hallworth was recorded as being buried alive for 32 days in Chicago. Joseph Hallworth ended his performance career when his two sons were drafted to serve in World War I. The Hallworth family retired to the small town of Lowell, Massachusetts where Hallworth returned to printing and engraving. On April 8, 1953, Katie Bertha Fisher Hallworth died at the age of 73, and was buried in Forest Dale Cemetery Malden, MA. On June 25, 1958, Joseph B. Hallworth died at the age of 86, and was buried next to Katie in Forest Dale Cemetery Malden, MA A collection of KAR-MI props and posters are housed in the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester New York. All the information about KAR-MI - including his own account - is fascinating because it gives context to the collection of Kar-mi props and posters, and a better understanding of sensationalist marketing, showmanship, and public entertainment in the early 20th century. On the other hand, KAR-MI's life story may be as much an illusion as KAR-MI's act itself. Seeking photos and more information. Joe Hallworth (1872-1958) and Katie Bertha Hallworth (1880-1953) are buried in Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden, MA Joseph and Katie Hallworth Timelines 1872: Joseph Bryant Hallworth born April 29-30 in Chelsea MA 1880: Katherine Bertha Fischer born Feb 27 in Berlin Germany 1886: Joseph runs away from home at age 14 1880s: Chatham Square Museum New York 1891: Oct 15: Marries German sword swallower Katie Kitty B. Fischer in Manhattan NY 1892: Joseph becomes engraver 1890s: Begin performing as Karmi and Miss Victorina, The Victorinas 1894: Oct 22: Victorina with earliest-known young magician Houdin at Kohl & Middleton's Clark Street Dime Museum Chicago 1898: Daughter Pearl born 1899: Publish the booklet "Textbook on the Art of Sword Swallowing" 1899: Mar 7: Huber's Museum NY 1899: April 2: 9th and Arch Museum Philadelphia PA 1899: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1900: Huber's Museum NY 1901: May 27: Austin & Stone's Museum Boston 1901: Oct 17: 9th and Arch Museum Philadelphia PA 1902: Feb 2: Back from Europe, at Austin & Stone's Museum Boston 1910: Perform with son in Vaudeville 1914: Joseph buried alive for 32 days in Chicago IL 1914: Sons drafted into WWI 191?: Retire in Lowell, MA to printing and engraving 1953: April 8: Katie B. Hallworth dies, buried in Forest Dale Cemetery Malden, MA 1958: June 25: Joseph B. Hallworth dies, buried in Forest Dale Cemetery Malden, MA Kar-Mi Flyer (1890s) Miss Victorina (1890s) Miss Victorina (1890s) Miss Victorina holding sword (1890s) Miss Victorina (1890s) Miss Victorina swallowing 10 (1890s) The Victorinas? (1890s) Victorina's Booklet (1899) Kar-Mi Poster (1899) Kar-Mi Poster (1899) Victorina at Austin & Stone's Boston (5-27-1901) Victorinas at Austin & Stone's Boston (2-2-1902) Kar-Mi Poster (1914) Kar-Mi Poster (1914) Kar-Mi Poster (1914) Kar-Mi Poster (1914) Kar-Mi face Prince Kar-Mi Joe Victorina (Joseph Hallworth) Joseph B. Hallworth Who's Who bio Kar-Mi props
Joe Riley "Sensational Sword Swallower" Joseph Riley Fleming	Born c. 1866 Performed 1898-1914 Lived to 1929 Died ?	Andrew Downie Circus Hillburn, NY Ramapo, NY Rockland County, NY (USA)	Joe Riley was born as Joseph R. Fleming around 1866 in Hillburn, NY where he lived most of his life with the exception of when he was on the road performing with his own show or on vaudeville. Joe started out as a pencil artist and did some of his best artwork around 1892. His first stage performance took place around the time of the Spanish-American War in 1898 when he was 32 years old. According to his pitch card, he was known as the "Sensational Sword Swallower", and his act was described as "presenting a realistic and thrilling scientific exhibition in the art of "Swallowing of the Swords", also carving-knives, daggers, shears, saws, cimeters (sic), curved swords, bayonets and other allied props and various other articles of steel without any deception at all." In 1905, the New York Clipper Directory of Show People published May 20, 1905 states that "Joe Riley is with the Andrew Downie Circus, doing his sword swallowing act in the side show, also his Irish specialty and rapid picture drawing act in the concert. He reports success, also that the show is doing a very nice business, despite the past recent cold and rainy weather." Riley's performing career ended in 1914 during World War I when his eyesight began to grow dim and he began to go blind. In 1929 when he was 63 years old and living in Ramapo, NY, an article was written about him that said that he was totally blind and had learned Braille, learned how to walk with a white cane, and was survived by only one brother. It is not known exactly when he died. Seeking photos and more information. Joe Fleming art (1892) Joe Fleming art (1892) Joe Fleming art (1892) Joe Riley pitchcard Joe Riley article (1929) Joe Riley article (1929)
Jose Rodrigue Gerra Basque Avaleur de Sabres	Performed 1920s?	(Spain? France?)	Jose Rodrigue Gerra was a Basque sword swallower, probably from near Castile Spain who may have performed in France in the 1920s. Seeking photos and more information. Jose Rodrigue Gerra (c 1920s)
Huber's Museum Huber's 14th Street Museum	Opens 1888-1890 Closes 1910	Huber's 14th Street Museum 106 East 14th Street Greenwich Village New York, NY (USA)	Huber's 14th Street Museum operated at 106 East 14th Street in Greenwich Village, New York under the management of owner George F. Huber. From 1888 to 1910, Huber's 14th Street Museum was home for variety and freak shows that included sword swallowers such as Cliquot (1893), Delno Fritz and Maud Churchill (1894-1896), King Salvo (1896), and Marie DeVere (1905), before Huber sold it in 1910 to Albert Lüchow to become Lüchow's Restaurant. Later in the early 1920's, another museum with a similar name, Hubert's Dime Museum, opened in Manhattan on 42nd Street near Times Square which operated into the 1960s, also featuring freaks and well-known sword swallowers. See also Hubert's Dime Museum on 42nd Street. Seeking photos and more information. Sword Swallowers at Huber's 14th Street Museum: 1888: Huber's opens 1891: Harry Houdini performs at Huber's early in his career at age 17 1893: Dec 5: Chevalier Cliquot 1893: Dec 12: Fred McLone, Cliquot 1894: August 25: Delno Fritz and Maud Churchill 1894: Sept. 2: Delno Fritz and Maud Churchill 1895: Aug 25: Delma Fritz and Maud Churchill 1896: February 9: "Delmo Fritz" 1896: July 5 : King Salvo 1899: Mar 7: Mlle Victorina 1900: Dec 4: Mme Victorine 1900: Dec: Mlle Victorina 1903: Mar 1: Neeme, Sword Swallower 1903: Mar 15: Mlle. Amy 1904: Feb 9: Mlle. Amy 1905: Marie DeVere 1908: Feb 8: Edith Clifford and The Cliffords 1909: March 7: Edith Clifford and The Cliffords 1910: July 15: George F. Huber sells Huber's Museum to Albert Lüchow to become Lüchow's Restaurant Early Huber's advertisement The Cliffords at Huber's (3-7-1909) Huber's Museum Sold (7-16-1910)
Delno Fritz Delmo Fritz Delma Fritz DeLno Fritz Delano Fritz Will Fritz Chevalier Fritz Prof. Delno Fritz William Delno Fritz Wm. Sherman Fritz William Delano Fritz William Sherman Fritz Delno William Sherman Fritz	Born February 16, 1871 Learned 1882-92 Performed 1893-1925 Married 1894 Injured 1894-5 Divorced Mar 9, 1896 Married Sept 1899 Wife died 1920 Died July 14, 1925 Buried July 16, 1925	Sultan's Retreat New York Harry Davis' Eden Musee Huber's 14th St. Museum Ninth and Arch Museum State Street Globe Museum Clark Street Dime Museum Austin & Stone's Museum Wonderland Musee & Theatre Miller Bros 101 Wild West Ranch The Hippodrome New York The Olympia London Barnum & Bailey Circus Greater Norris & Rowe Circus Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Hagenbeck-Wallace Al G. Barnes Circus John Robinson Circus Side Show Dreamland Theatre Pittston E. K. Fernandez Shows Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus The World Museum Los Angeles Ashley, Wilkes-Barre, PA Los Angeles, CA London, England Wilkes-Barre, PA (USA)	William "Delno" Sherman Fritz (1871-1925) was born on February 16, 1871 in Ashley, Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre, PA, one of 17 children of the family of Martha Stevens Fritz (of Hallsetown, Cornwall, England 1846-1915), and Nathan Delong Fritz (1838-1919). (William Delno Fritz had a younger brother named Nathan D. Fritz Jr. who was born in Ashley PA (1886-1953), and a younger sister named Ada Fritz (1873-?) who married Robert Price in 1893 to become Mrs. Robert Price, mother of sword swallower Edna Price. Delno Fritz claimed to have learned sword swallowing in 1882-83 at the age of 11 from his father Nathan Delong Fritz, who was reportedly also a sword swallower. But coincidentally around 1882-83, at the age of 11, Delno Fritz lost a leg while hopping a freight train in Wilkes-Barre, PA, so for the rest of his life, he wore a wooden leg and walked with a cane. Perhaps Fritz' fascination with sideshow skills became his focus during his recovering period after his train injury. The earliest known photo of Fritz in 1887 at the age of 15 shows Fritz holding a cane in his right hand and what may be another cane or simple fire-eating torch in his left hand, and is enscribed on the back side, "Delno Fritz, Wm. Sherman Fritz, Fire Eater, 1887", but makes no mention of Fritz as a sword swallower. Fritz also claimed to have studied sword swallowing later in the early 1890s (1892?) under Chevalier Cliquot when they both worked together at the Wonderland Museum in Scranton, PA. Fritz' first published performance as a fire eater and sword swallower was on Sept 6, 1892 at the age of 20, and at the Harry Davis Eden Musee in Harrisburg, PA (Cliquot performed there 9 days later on Sept 15, 1892). The two performers were constantly competing and performing within days or weeks of each other in performances, medical examinations and competing stage shows at theaters, medical centers and Dime Museums in Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, and eventually throughout the rest of their lives as far away as England. On January 29, 1893, sword swallower "Will Fritz" performs with Evaleen as a "curious constellation" in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Fritz must have been playing with variations of his name at this early time in his career. In August and September 1893, Delno Fritz was featured as the fire eater at Sultan's Retreat in New York. According to an article published on January 13, 1894 in the Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, PA): "In the curio hall of the Harry Davis' Eden Musee, Coffey, the dude skeleton, will hold receptions, as will Delno Fritz, a famous sword swallower." According to an article in the New York Evening World dated August 25, 1894, "Manager Huber, at the Fourteenth Street Museum, promises for the coming week, Prince Tinymite, "the smallest living man on earth;" the Cranks Convention, Delma Fritz and Maud Churchill, sword swallowers; Ida Smith with a den of alligators, and others..." According to an article in the NY Times dated Sept. 2, 1894: "Huber's 14th St. Museum - First apprearance here of LEONZO BROTHERS and their famous company of players in the grand local drama, The Dog Spy. A great production, curio halls, HINDOO GIANTS 8 feet tall, PRINCE TINYMITE, 19 years old and 21 inches high, MICHAEL Strong Man, Prof. HORN trained birds, DELMO FRITZ and MAUD CHURCHILL, sword swallowers, EMMA BROWN, spotted girl, ROSE CALLAHAN, bearded lady." Another article from the Sept 2, 1894 New York Sun reports performing at Huber's 14th St. Museum "Delmo Foutz and Maud Churchill, sword swallowers". While performing together sometime between September and November 12, 1894, sword swallower Delno Fritz married 16-year-old actress Maud Churchill at the New York City Hall. On November 12, 1894, the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reported that Prof. Delno Fritz was heading to the Wonderland Musee and Theatre in Philadpelphia, PA with his new wife Maud Churchill to perform there the week of December 3-7, 1894. "Mr. Fritz intends to retire in the near future, as his feats are injuring his health." In late 1894 or early 1895, Fritz suffered a serious injury while performing in Boston, MA. According to the March 3, 1895 Philadelphia Times, "Delano Fritz, the sword swallower who nearly bled to death in Boston a few weeks ago, has recovered and will be seen for the first time since the accident" at the Ninth and Arch Museum in Philadelphia. On May 8, 1895, Delno Fritz was featured at Clark Street Dime Museum in Chicago. After working closely with or competing with Chevalier Cliquot in Pennsylvania and Chicago, it appears that in September of 1895, Fritz decided to begin to market himself as an exotic Frenchman from Paris and take on a title similar to that of "Chevalier Cliquot" by calling himself "Chevalier Fritz". From September 9th-12th, 1895, "Chevalier Fritz", the "Parisian Sword Swallower" was featured at Austin and Stone's Museum in Boston according to articles in the Boston Post. An article dated September 12, 1895 reports that "Chevalier Fritz" swallowed ticking watches and eleven swords at once at Austin and Stone's Museum in Boston. On September 28, 1895 a drawing of "Chevalier Fritz" was featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer dated Septmeber 28, 1895. (A few weeks later, Chevalier Cliquot was also featured in Boston swallowing fourteen swords at once). On October 13, 1895, Delno Fritz was again featured at Ninth and Arch Museum in Philadelphia according to an ad in the Philadelphia Times dated October 13, 1895. On November 22, 1895, Delno Fritz was featured at Park Street Opera House in Bordentown NJ. In December 1895, Delno Fritz was again featured in the curio hall of the Ninth and Arch Museum in Philadelphia, according to an article in the December 15, 1895 Philadelphia Times: "Delno Fritz, who is beyond question, the most daring and versatile of living sword-swallowers, will raise a big crop of goose flesh upon everybody with sufficient hardihood to gaze upon his blood-curdling performances. Some of the razor-edged weapons which Delno Fritz thrusts down his throat are long enough to penetrate several inches beyond the stomach. A startling climax to his act is the firing of a heavily loaded gun, balanced upon a sharp bayonet, which rests in Fritz' interior." According to an article in the February 4, 1896 Scranton Republican, "Maud Fritz, better known locally as Maud Churchill, through her counsel, Mr. Scragg, asked for a divorce from William Fritz. She is an actress and he also connected with the stage. They were married in City Hall, New York in 1894, and she now desires a separation because of alleged cruelty. The father and mother of the petitioner allege that on one occasion Fritz and his wife started to quarrel before them and then retreated to another room. They heard her scream, and rushing in, found Fritz choking her. When he was reprimanded, he said he could do as he pleased with her, kill her if he wanted to. The father swore that he heard Maud say in the presence of her husband that she was locked in a room in Boston without food for three days and three nights (Sept 9-12, 1895?) and had to pawn her watch and opera glasses to keep from starving. Fritz explained this by saying that he went out with the boys and got drunk, played poker and lost all his money." On March 9, 1896, their divorce was final according to an article in the April 16, 1896 Scranton Tribune. One month later, on April 14, 1896, Maud Churchill was remarried to Conductor Wm. C. Edwards by Rev. L.C. Floyd in Scranton, PA according to an article in the Scranton Republican dated April 17, 1896, and the April 16, 1896 Scranton Tribune: "William C. Edwards and Miss Maude Churchill were united in marriage Tuesday evening (April 14, 1896) by Rev. L.C. Floyd, D.D. presiding elder of the Binghamton district, at her home, 102 Adams avenue. The bride, though only 18 years old, was divorced on March 9, 1896 from William Fritz, an actor, who ill-treated and abandoned her, making her condition intolerable and life a burden. Mr. Edwards is a conductor in the employ of the Scranton Traction company, and lived at 520 North Bromley avenue." According to an article dated February 9, 1896 in the New York Times, "Delmo Fritz" performed at Huber's 14th St. Museum in New York with Eli Bowen the legless wonder. In 1896, Delno Fritz was featured as the sword swallower with Barnum and Bailey Circus. On February 7, 1897, the Boston Post reports about upcoming shows at Austin & Stone's Museum in Boston, "Chevalier Fritz will be an attraction. Chevalier is a sword-swallower, not one of the every-day sort, but a sword swallower who doesn't stop with one sword, but who actually swallows a dozen at one time. He has been a long-time attraction at the London Aquarium where he acquired the name of the human ostrich. Fritz also borrows watches from persons in the audience, and they slip into his stomach as easily as the swords. Patrons of Austin & Stone's Museum will have the chance to see a man swallow watches this week, for the management has secured for one of its attractions the famous Chevalier Fritz, whose feats at swallowing swords, watches, rapiers, razors, and stilettos have made him a world-wide reputation. Chevalier Fritz's watch swallowing got him into serious trouble at the London Aquarium, where he was for a long time one of the leading attractions. It is the chevalier's custom to borrow a watch and chain from someone in the audience when he does the act. On the occasion referred to, he was given a large gold watch, attached to a light chain. The chevalier promptly swallowed the watch, holding onto the end of the light chain until as many as desired had place their ears to his chest and heard the ticking of the watch within. Then the chevalier pulled gently on the chain to bring the watch to the surface, so to speak, when, to his horror, the chain broke. But Fritz was gritty. He told the audience that the watch was stuck in his stomach, and that he would have to cut his act short. He was in a delicate situation, and the audience realized it, but they were more excited than he. A physician was sent for, and with a long pair of forceps he extracted the watch from the man's stomach. Such an operation would have half-killed an ordinary man, but it did not disturb Chevalier Fritz, the sword swallower. He smiled as he passed the watch back to its owner, and said he hoped it would keep as good time as before. It did, and the owner afterward told the sword swallower that he was proud of showing his friends his watch, the only one that had ever been taken from a man's stomach by a physician. Chevalier Fritz does his remarkable work with the greatest nonchalance. He is the prince of sword swallowers, and he does not expect his swallowing will ever lead him to a "cure", as his wonderful throat does not suffer at all from the tax he puts upon it. The chevalier is attended at each performance by a very handsome woman, Mlle. de Aldine." On October 25, 1897, a farewell party was thrown in Ashley, PA for "Sword Swallower Smith" before Fritz left to join Barnum & Bailey Circus in Europe according to the October 26, 1897 Wilkes-Barre Evening News. The Wilkes-Barre Record dated October 26, 1897 reported, "Last night a surprise party was given by Mrs. Humphreys of Wilkes-Barre to her brother, Delano Fritz of Ashley, the noted sword swallower upon the eve of his departure for Europe with the Barnum & Bailey show. Humphreys's Wilkes-Barre Mandolin Club furnished the music and there were many of Delano's friends from all over the valley present." On March 10, 1898, the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal published a story called "Two Curious Freaks" which was taken from the Feb 2, 1896 article published in the Lancet magazine, which included an "account of two sword swallowing performers (Delno Fritz and Young Herrmann the Expansionist) with the Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Olympia" in London (December 27, 1897 to April 2, 1898?). According to an 1898 review in Gaillard's Medical Journal (Volumes 68-69, page 286): "One of the entertainers, whose name is Delno Fritz, is a sword swallower, and asserts that he can swallow longer swords than have ever been swallowed before... To those who know the surface markings of the abdomen and the situation of the stomach it is a little short of apalling to see this man pass a sword down his gullet until the hilt impinges upon his teeth and then withdraw the weapon and demonstrate by outside measurement that in the erect posture the point falls some inches below the usual line of the curvature of the stomach. What really happens, of course, is that Delno Fritz has learnt, consciously or unconsciously, to stretch the somewhat loose and elastic tissues between the lips and the cariac orifice of the stomach, so that these tissues will lie along his blunted sword in a condition of extension, while a protruded chin assists in the prolongation of the pharynx. It should be added that the solidity of the weapon with which the feat is performed is beyond question." During the winters from December of 1897 to April of 1898, and December of 1898 to April of 1899, Barnum and Bailey Circus wintered at Stoke-on-Trent England, and the show was booked at the Olympia in London. Then from April 1898 to November 1898, and again in 1899 Barnum and Bailey Circus toured throughout England and Wales (Scotland in September and November 1899). and then settled in for the winter at their winter quarters each winter at Stoke-on-Trent, England. In 1898-99, Fritz taught sword swallowing to 13 year old Edith Clifford who would go on to become a famous sword swallower with Barnum and Bailey Circus in her own right. On May 5-6, 1899, the Barnum and Bailey Circus performed in Nottingham, England and travelled between cities on 4 huge trains, each with 17 carriages, with Delno Fritz as the featured sword swallower. According to an article in The English Illustrated Magazine, Delno Fritz had "been swallowing swords, bayonets, and such delicacies for 14 years (since 1885?). His first appearance, at the age of 11, was made with his father, for Fritz inherits his peculiar appetite, his father having been a famous swallower of swords, walking-sticks, and umbrellas. Fritz is a devoted cyclist, and something of an amateur baseball player." During this time, Fritz was known for swallowing a bayonet attached to a rifle, which when fired, would drive the sword down his throat. While touring in Scotland in 1897, Delno Fritz met his future wife, Maude D. Auldin in her hometown of Paisley Scotland, where they were later married, probably while the show was in nearby Glasgow Scotland from September 25-29, 1899. Fritz was photographed on October 3, 1899 in Scotland. According to the 1901 British Census in England, Delno Fritz was listed as a 29 year old US citizen, married, with his occupation listed as "Music Hall Artist" in Lockwood, Yorkshire, England. According to a June 25 1907 Pittston Gazette article, "Mrs. Delno Fritz, wife of Prof. Delno Fritz, arrived in Ashley yesterday morning (June 24, 1907), from Paisley Scotland, where she was born and raised, having met the professor in her native land ten years ago when he was on a tour of the world with the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Prof Fritz settled in Scotland and stayed there managing a theater for nine years, coming home to Ashley about two months ago, and his parents prevailed upon him to stay there. Mrs. Fritz assisted her husband in his act, that of sword swallower and fire eater." According to the October 3, 1908 Billboard: "Delno Fritz, sword swallower, with the Miller Brothers' 101 Ranch, will return to Europe at the close of the present season. He has made arrangements to furnish an attraction for the Waverly Market Annual Winter Fair at Edinborough, Scotland." According to a Janurary 23, 1909 article: Performing at the Star Rink in Chanute Kansas on January 25, 1909: "Maud DeAulden and Delno Fritz in their sensational novelty acts." According to the November 29, 1909 Daily Times of New Philadelphia, OH, "Maud D'Aldin and DeLno Fritz, The Great European Novelty Act" were booked at the Bijou November 29, 30 and December 1, 1909. According to the April 25-26, 1910 US Census of the Norris & Rowe Circus during its 2 day stay in Louisville, KY, Delno Fritz was working in 1910 with the Greater Norris & Rowe Circus, he was 39 years old, and had been married for 11 years since 1899. (Greater Norris & Rowe Circus operated from 1902 until May 9, 1910, when, due to "Bad weather, poor business, salaries and debts unpaid, show attached, shipped to Peru, Indiana, where it was sold in lots by the Peru Trust Co" Col. Ben. E. Wallace, of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus had the Norris & Rowe train with all equipment taken to Peru, Ind., and the property was offered at auction sale in June, and another sale in August 1910). According to the May 20, 1911 New York Clipper, Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin, performed as sword swallowers with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1911. Also in this issue: "It is rumored about the show that Delmo Fritz has discovered the fountain of youth. He seems to be growing younger day by day. It may be caused by the recent purchase of a toupee that fits so well that it looks natural, which is rather unusual." On February 2, 1912, Delno Fritz and Maude D. Auldin performed in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Later in 1912, Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin or Mlle. D'Aulin were booked as sword swallowers on the Hagenbeck-Wallace Sideshow where they performed "Sword and Gun Manipulation" together in 1912. In 1915, Delano Fritz and Maud D'Auldin were featured as sword swallowers on the Al G. Barnes Circus. An article in the Los Angeles Times dated Feb 1, 1916 states, "Mrs. Francis Fritz (38 years of age) who makes her living by shoving swords down her throat at Brook's Museum, No. 116 South Main street, early last night swallowed one sword too many and landed in the Receiving Hospital. The sword swallower declared last night that for over twenty years she had been entertaining people by swallowing swords and knives and never before injured herself. But last night, after she had swallowed and then pulled a long sword from her throat, Mrs. Fritz discovered that she had been injured, and was taken to the Receiving Hospital and later to the County Hospital, and according to doctors, she is in a serious condition." In 1916, Delno Fritz and Maud D.Auldin were featured as sword swallowers on the John Robinson Circus Side Show, while their 17-year-old niece Edna Price was featured as "floating lady". According to the October 25, 1917 Pittston Gazette, "The World's Greatest Sword Swallowers Maude D'Auldin and Delno Fritz in the Most Wonderful Act Before the American Public Today!" at Dreamland Theatre, Pittston, PA. Delno Fritz was also a personal friend of Harry Houdini, who in his 1920 book "The Miracle Mongers", wrote about Fritz, "Delno Fritz was not only an excellent sword-swallower, but a good showman as well. The last time I saw him he was working the 'halls' in England. I hope he saved his money, for he was a clean man with a clean reputation, and, I can truly say, he was a master in his manner of indulging his appetite for the cold steel." Fritz had family in the UK, as his mother Martha Stevens Fritz was born in Cornwall, England. During his time in the UK, Delno Fritz bought and owned a few theatres in Scotland during the ten years he lived in the UK. In 1920, Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin were featured at World's Museum in Philadelphia, PA. In 1920, Fritz's wife Maude D'Auldin died from a sword swallowing accident caused by a nicked blade during a command performance onboard a ship before the King and Queen of England. Fritz then taught sword swallowing to his 21 year old niece Edna Price around 1920. According to family stories, in the 1920's, when his niece Edna wanted to go out on a date with someone that "Uncle Delno" did not approve of, Edna would hide his wooden leg in order to make her escape. According to circus route books, Fritz and Price performed together with the Al G. Barnes Circus during the 1920 and 1923 seasons, and with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1923 and 1924. According to ship's records, Delno Fritz departed on the ship "Manao" from San Francisco, California on December 7, 1921, and arrived in Honolulu Hawaii on December 14, 1921. According to an article on page 24 of the March 2, 1922 Wilkes-Barre Record in Wilkes-Barre, PA: SWORD SHIMMIES IN HIS ESOPHAGUS! "Delno Fritz, formerly of Ashley, PA now in Honolulu, Performing When Wave Hits Ship. Delno Fritz, who arrived this morning on the Manao with a troupe of entertainers, is billed as the 'world's greatest sword swallower.' But sword swallowing and the swells of the briny deep don't go well together, Fritz reports. He tried it out on the trip down. Monday night Fritz was displaying his ability before an admiring audience on the Manao. He had managed to stow away 18 or 20 inches of sharp steel sword. Then the Manao hit a big swell, and the sword did something it does not do when the performer is on terra firma. Fritz isn't sure what it did - but he is certain it did something. He will have an x-ray photograph taken today to determine whether he was injured when the sword and the swell jumped in unison.". According to the October 21, 1922 Billboard: "Delno Fritz, well known sword swallower, who recently completed an eight months' engagement in Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands, under the management of E. K. Fernandez, has joined his niece, Edna Price, who is with the Ringling-Barnum Circus." A Los Angeles Times article dated Dec 7, 1924 stated, "Los Angeles is to have a school for sword swallowers. Delno Fritz, internationally known eater of steel, has come to Los Angeles to settle down after years with circuses and carnivals. He is preparing to open a class teaching how to swallow swords. His primary classes for beginners will start with table knives and desk shears, with advanced courses to be given later in actual consumption of full-length army sabres. At present he is enrolling his classes at the World Museum, opposite the Rosslyn Annex on Main street, where he is also giving demonstrations in the art to curious spectators." Apparently Fritz' time in Los Angeles California landed him some movie roles in Hollywood. In 1925, "Delmo" Fritz was featured as the sword swallower in the Tod Browning film "The Unholy Three" (released August 16, 1925) (photo) with Lon Chaney. (Actor Lon Chaney took a fascination to sword swallowing and learned sword swallowing from Delno Fritz in 1925, and performed it in the film "West of Zanzibar" (1928)). Delno Fritz was also featured in the film "The Man Who Laughs" (photo) that was released in 1928. In May 1925, Delno Fritz returned home to Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania to rest. From June 5 to July 14, 1925, Fritz was treated in his home on 311 South Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania by Dr. Fred Tongue. On July 14. 1925, Delno Fritz died in his Wilkes-Barre home on 311 South Street from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 54 according to information provided by his sister Mrs. Robert Price on his death certificate. Some reports indicate Fritz had developed a case of pneumonia that developed as a result of a screw that came loose and lodged in his lung while testing a bronchoscope for doctors in Philadelphia Pennsylvania that developed into pleurisy. According to Fritz' obituary in the July 15, 1925 Wilkes-Barre Record: "NOTED CIRCUS PERFORMER DIES. William Sherman Fritz Mystified People Throughout the World With Sword Swallowing Act. Operated Theatres Abroad. Ran Away from Ashley Home When Boy of Eleven Years to Follow Chosen Career. William Sherman Fritz, internationally known in the vaudeville and circus worlds as Delno Fritz, formerly of Ashley, died yesterday afternoon at 1:15 o'clock in Wyoming Valley Homeopathic Hospital after a ten weeks' illness. He was the son of the late Nathan and Martha Fritz, of 27 Green Street, Ashely. Delno Fritz was perhaps one of the greatest showmen that Luzerne County ever produced; a man who followed the trail of canvas and sawdust from coast to coast and into every civilized country on the globe. During his career as a circus performer, he gained the distinction of being the original and greatest sword swallower in the world. He appeared before many of the Europe's nobility and during his stay in Europe, operated several theatres. Fritz was the son of the late Nathan and Martha Fritz of Ashley, and at the age of eleven lost a leg on Ashley planes. A few months after the accident a traveling troupe appeared in which there was a Mexican, who claimed to be a sword swallower. Fritz, like many a boy, crawled under the canvas and watched the performance. He returned to his home and conceived the idea of swallowing swords. He first tried to force lead pencils down his throat, and finding it difficult, hoaxed his parents into believing he had a sore throat and had them use a spoon during the examination as mothers do when their children are afflicted. Finally he found that his throat responded and that he could swallow the handles of a spoon without suffering ill effects. In company with another boy who later became a physician, Fritz ran away to Philadelphia. Delno's father went to the museum where he was appearing and brought his son home. Three times the lad ran away and when he was sixteen years of age, he told his parents he intended to win fame in the career he had chosen. His parents gave their consent and he started on his travels which ended at his home town yesterday. One of his early triumphs was with the Robinson Circus in the west when in the days of the real "wild west", the cowboys dashed on the showgrounds threatening to "shoot the show up." Robinson, the owner, informed the cowboys that if they had a man in their midst who could do "as one of his men could, they could have the show." The test was on. Fritz was ordered to the ballyhoo and while the circus crowd looked on, he swallowed not only one but several swords. The feat won the day and peace for the circus." "From the Robinson shows he joined Barnum and Bailey and it was with that circus that he leaped into fame. In those days, the people believed sword swallowing a hoax, but such is not the case. Rather it is a bonafide act. The Hippodrome, goal of all performers, threw open its doors and Fritz appeared there for a long time, amazing the New Yorkers. He traveled with circus after circus and then accompanied Barnum & Bailey on a tour of Europe. While in Europe, the late Queen Victoria commanded the amazing American to appear before her and the royal family. His act, at that time one of the most mystifying won the favor of the queen and he was "made" in Europe. He leaped into favor, left the circus and appeared in all the principal theatres. Later he became owner of several theatres, but this did not stop him from journeying from country to country. He went so far as to swallow watches, rods with electric bulbs attached, sharp, long swords, and repeatedly appeared before scientists who heard the watches ticking, saw the gleam of light through his throat and recognized it as real. Following his return to America, he continued to follow the circus life until he was taken ill of pleurisy in Philadelphia ten weeks ago. Fritz was brought home. While ill here at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Robert Price, 311 East South street, Ringling Brothers circus appeared here and all the prominent performers and managers visited their companion. He recovered sufficiently to walk to Public Square, but suffered a relapse, a clot formed on his brain, and he was removed to Homeopathic Hospital where he passed away surrounded by all his close relatives. He has appeared in this city in theatres and with circuses and is well known by the older amusement seekers of the country. During recent years his partner has been his niece, Miss Edna Price, of this city. She was notified of his death yesterday and is hastening here from Detroit, where Ringling Brothers circus is appearing." According to an article in the Gettysburg PA Times dated August 1925, "Sword Swallower Buried Near Town Where He Was Born -- Wilkes-Barre, Pa. -- In a grave here overlooking the town where he was born and where he obtained the inspiration that made him a world figure, the body of William Sherman Fritz, sword swallower and premier circus performer, now rests. Fritz, whose feats thrilled thousands including such distinguished heads as Queen Victoria of England, died from complications developing from an attack of pleurisy." Delno Fritz was buried on July 16, 1925 in the Fritz family plot in Ashley Cemetery (Maple Hill Cemetery?) in Luzerne County near Wilkes-Barre, PA. Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Delno Fritz Timeline 1871: Born February 16 1871 in Ashley Wilkes-Barre PA 1882: Lost a leg hopping a train in Ashley PA at age 11 1882-3: Learned sword swallowing at age 11 (?) 1887: Earliest known photo as fire eater at age 15 1891: Aug 18, 25: New York Times 1892: Studied sword swallowing under Chevalier Cliquot 1892: Sept 6: Wonderland, Scranton, PA 1893: Jan 29: "Will Fritz" and Evaleen perform in Wilkes-Barre, PA 1893: Sept 2: Sultan's Retreat New York, NY 1893: Dec 31: Harry Davis' Eden Musee Harrisburg, PA 1894: Jan 8: Harry Davis' Eden Musee Harrisburg, PA 1894: Jan 13: Harry Davis' Eden Musee Harrisburg, PA 1894: Marries actress Maud Churchill in New York City Hall 1894: Aug 25-26: Huber's Museum New York with Maud Churchill 1894: Sept 2: Huber's Museum New York with Maud Churchill 1894: Oct 30: Harry Davis' Eden Musee Harrisburg, PA with Maud Churchill 1894: Dec 3-7: Wonderland Musee Theatre Philadpelphia, PA with wife Maud Churchill 1894: Dec 22: Harry Davis' Eden Musee Harrisburg, PA 1894-95: Serious injury in Boston 1895: March 3-17: Ninth and Arch Museum Philadelphia PA 1895: April 21: State Street Globe Museum Chicago, IL 1895: May 8: Clark Street Dime Museum Chicago, IL 1895: Sept 9, 12: Chevalier Fritz at Austin & Stone's Museum Boston 1895: Sept 28: Cincinnati Enquirer 1895: Oct 13: Ninth and Arch Museum Philadelphia PA 1895: Nov 22: Park Street Opera House Bordentown NJ 1895: Dec 13: Ninth and Arch Museum Philadelphia PA 1895: Dec 15, 17: Ninth and Arch Museum Philadelphia PA 1896: Feb 4: Maud Churchill files for separation 1896: Feb 9: Huber's Museum New York 1896: March 9: Divorced from Maud Churchill 1896: April 14: Maud Churchill remarries 1896: Dec 13: Ninth and Arch Dime Museum Philadelphia PA 1896: Barnum & Bailey Circus with Young Herrmann US 1897: Feb 7: Austin & Stone's Museum Boston with Mlle. de Aldine 1897: Barnum & Bailey Circus US tour 1897: Oct 10: Ninth and Arch Dime Museum Philadelphia PA 1897: Oct 25: Farewell party in Wilkes-Barre, PA 1897: Oct 26: Leaves Ashley PA for European tour with Barnum & Bailey Circus 1898: Barnum & Bailey Circus in England 1898: April 2: Final show of Barnum & Bailey Circus at Olympia before touring UK 1899: Barnum & Bailey Circus Olympia in London 1899: May: Barnum & Bailey Circus Nottingham England 1899: Teaches sword swallowing to Edith Clifford in London England 1899: Sept: Marries Maud D. Auldin in Scotland 1901: Lives in Yorkshire, England 1907: April-May: Returns from 10 years in England and Scotland 1908: Miller Bros 101 Wild West Ranch European tour England, Germany 1908: Miller Bros 101 Wild West Ranch Ponca City, OK 1909: Jan 4: Delno Fritz & wife send greetings from Mercado Calina, Mexico (12-1908) 1909: Jan 25: Star Rink Chanute KS with Maud DeAulden 1909: Waverly Market Winter Fair Edinborough, Scotland 1909: Nov 29: Bijou New Philadelphia, OH with Maud D'Auldin 1910: April 25-26: Greater Norris & Rowe Circus Louisville KY 1910: May 9: Greater Norris & Rowe Circus closes 1911: Mar 3: Reidsville, NC with Maud D'Auldin 1911: May 20: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Maude D'Auldin 1912: Feb 2: Savoy Theater Wilkes-Barre PA with Maude D. Auldin 1912: Hagenbeck-Wallace Sideshow with Mlle. Maud D'Aulin 1915: Al G. Barnes Circus with Maude D'Lean 1915: Mother Martha Stevens Fritz dies 1916: Feb 1: Brooks Museum, Maud D'Auldin injured 1916: John Robinson Circus Side Show with Maude D'Lean & Edna Price 1917: Oct 25: Dreamland Theatre, Pittston, PA with Maude D'Auldin 1919: Sept 30: Father Nathan Delong Fritz dies 1920: Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin at World's Museum, Philadelphia, PA 1920: Maude D'Auldin dies from sword swallowing injury on King's ship in England 1920: Teaches niece Edna Price 1920: Al G. Barnes Circus with Edna Price 1921: Dec 7-14, 1921: Sails to Honolulu Hawaii, works with E. K. Fernandez 1922: May 2: Lihue, Hawaii with E.K. Fernandez 1922: Sept: Returns by ship from Honolulu Hawaii 1922: Oct: Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus with Edna Price 1922: Dec 9: Returns by ship from Port au Prince Haiti to New York NY 1923: Al G. Barnes Circus with Edna Price 1923: Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus with Edna Price 1924: April 9: Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus with Edna Price 1924: Dec 7: Opens sword swallowing school at World Museum Los Angeles 1924-25: Films "Unholy Three", "Man Who Laughs" 1925: May: Returns home to Wilkes-Barre, PA 1925: Dies July 14. 1925 in Wilkes-Barre, PA 1925: Buried July 16. 1925 in Ashley, PA 1925: "Unholy Three" released August 16, 1925 1928: "Man Who Laughs" released Delno Wm Sherman Fritz, fire eater at 15 (1887) Early Delno Fritz (c 1890-91) Fritz at Wonderland Scranton (9-6-1892) Delno Fritz at Sultan's Retreat, NY (9-2-1893) Fritz at Harry Davis Eden Musee Harrisburg (1-8-1894) Delmo Fritz & Maud Churchill at Huber's NY (9-2-1894) Delmo Foutz & Maud Churchill at Huber's NY (9-2-1894) Delno & Maud at Eden Musee Harrisburg (10-29-1894) Delno & Maud at Eden Musee Harrisburg (10-30-1894) Delno & Maud at Eden Musee Harrisburg (10-31-1894) Wonderland, Phila, PA with wife Maud Churchill (11-12-1894) Fritz at Eden Musee (12-22-1894) Delano Fritz at Ninth and Arch (3-3-1895) Delno Fritz at State Street Globe Museum Chicago (4-21-1895) Delno Fritz at Clark Street Museum Chicago (5-8-1895) Chevalier Fritz Parisian Sword Swallower, Austin & Stone's Boston (9-9-1895) Chevalier Fritz at Austin & Stone's Boston (9-12-1895) Chevalier Fritz, Cincinnati Enquirer (9-28-1895) Delno Fritz at Ninth and Arch (10-13-1895) Delno Fritz at Bordentown NJ (11-22-1895) Delno Fritz at Ninth and Arch (12-15-1895) Separated from Maud Churchill (2-4-1896) Delmo Fritz at Huber's Museum New York (2-9-1896) Divorced from Maud Churchill (3-9-1896) Maud Churchill remarries (4-14-1896) Delno Fritz at 9th & Arch (12-13-1896) Delno Fritz and cane with Barnum/Bailey (1896) Chevalier Fritz with Mlle de Aldine at Austin & Stone's Boston (2-7-1897) Delno Fritz at 9th & Arch Museum (10-10-1897) Fritz Leaves Ashley PA for Barnum Bailey European Tour (10-26-1897) Gaillard's Medical Journal (1898) Delno Fritz (1898-99) Delno Fritz with Barnum/Bailey in England (1899?) Delno Fritz (1899?) Delno & Maud move to PA (6-25-1907) Delno & Maud in Mercado Calina Mexico (12-1908) Delno Fritz & DeAulden, Chanute KS (1-23-1909) DeLno Fritz & Maud D'Auldin, Bijou, New Phila, OH (11-29-1909) Delma Fritz & Maud D'Aldin, Reidsville, NC (3-3-1911) Delno Fritz & Maud DeAuldin Wilkes-Barre PA (2-2-1912) Mrs. Fritz injury (2-1-1916) John Robinson Shows program (1916) Delno Fritz & Maude D'Auldin, Dreamland Theatre, Pittston PA (10-25-1917) Delno Fritz in Lihue Hawaii (5-2-1922) Delno & Edna with Ringling Brothers (4-9-1924) Delno Fritz with Ringling Bros (1924) Delno Fritz article (12-7-1924) Delno Fritz in Man Who Laughs Delno Fritz in Unholy Three (1925) Delno Fritz face with toupee (1925) Delno Fritz death certificate (7-14-1925) Delno Fritz Obituary (7-15-1925) Delno Fritz Obituary (7-15-1925) Delno Fritz Obituary (7-15-1925) Delno Fritz Obituary (7-15-1925) Delno Fritz Burial (8-15-1925) Delno Fritz IMdb listing
Edith Clifford Mlle. Edith Clifford Mille Edith Clifford Nellie Clifford Edith Morris Edith Holmes Edith Bauer Edith W. Bauer Miss Edith Holmes Edith W. Clifford Bauer "Champion Sword Swallower of the World"	Born Nov 22, 1886 Performs 1899-1922 Marries 1901 Thomas Holmes dies Feb 1910 Marries April 18, 1912 Retries 1922 Dies Sept 3, 1942	Barnum & Bailey Circus Walker's Museum Chicago Dime Museums Huber's Museum Great Wallace Shows Gollmar Bros Circus Hippodrome Boston Great Clifford Circus Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus Boston, MA Massillon, OH Canton, OH (USA)	Edith W. Clifford was born in London England (some reports list Boston Massachusetts) on November 22, 1886 (some reports 1884) to Captain John Clifford and Emily Rivers-Clifford, who later emigrated from London England to Boston Massachusetts. According to Clifford, her father was Caption in the 2nd Life Guards, and she taught herself sword swallowing at the age of 12-13 in 1897 using her Captain father's military sword, with tips from sword swallower Delno Fritz who was the sword swallower with Barnum & Bailey Circus in London England in 1897-1899. (Clifford's history of her learning sword swallowing at 13 in London). Edith Clifford was said to be "generously endowed" and "possessed of more than ordinary personal charms, a refined taste for dressing both herself and her stage, and an unswerving devotion to her art", and she "perfected an act that found favor in the Royal Courts of Europe". Clifford performed under the name "Mlle. Edith Clifford, Champion Sword Swallower of the World", and was said to have swallowed 18 to 20 inch blades without a problem, and longer blades up to 26 inches long, as well as 10, 16, and up to 24 swords at one time. From 1897 to 1901, Mlle Edith Clifford was featured as the sword swallower with Barnum & Bailey Circus in Europe. In 1900, Mlle Edith Clifford was featured with Barnum & Bailey Circus in Germany at the age of 14. Edith Clifford posed for a photo swallowing 3 swords at a studio in Stuttgart Germany, probably during their time there September 24-27, 1900. In 1901, at the age of 15, Clifford married 33-year old Thomas Holmes (born in Copenhagen NY in 1859, died Feb 22 1910) who worked for Barnum and Bailey Circus under the stage name "James Morris" or "James Maurice" as the "Elastic Skin Man". They adopted the stage name "The Cliffords", and the couple joined Barnum & Bailey Circus at their winter quarters in Vienna Austria sometime between November 25, 1900 to February 24, 1901, where Edith became famous for swallowing razor blades, scissors, saw blades and bayonets. The couple worked with Barnum & Bailey Circus for five years from 1901 through 1906. During this time, they had two daughters, Margaret Emily Holmes (1903-2003) and Edith Holmes (1906-?). In 1902, Edith Clifford performed with Barnum & Bailey Circus in France. In a May 21, 1903 article in "The Realm Magazine of Marvels", Clifford and albino sword swallower Rob Roy were featured together in the Barnum and Bailey Circus. On June 3, 1903, in Providence RI, 15-year-old Edith Clifford gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Margaret Emily Holmes (later Mitchell) (1903-2003). According to the December 6 1903 Boston Post, featured at Walker's Museum Boston, "In the curiou halls will be seen the Cliffords, L'Aveleuse de Sabres, in their highly sensational sword swallowing exhibition. Miss Clifford is the only lady who swallows a bayonet, having attached it to a loaded canon, and while the canon is supported by the bayonet that is down the throat the piece is discharged. James Morris, the famous elastic skin man is also featured." In 1904, Edith Clifford and Rob Roy were featured together on a Barnum and Bailey poster in Madison Square Garden, NY. Apparently Thomas Holmes also learned sword swallowing, as Thomas was also sometimes billed as "swaller of swords" and the couple was billed as "The Cliffords, sword swallowers". According to the February 24, 1906 New York Clipper, "The Cliffords, sword swallowers, and James Morris, Elastic skin man, have signed with the Great Wallace Shows for next season." Sometime around 1906, the couple apparently gave birth to their second daugther Edith W. Holmes in Pawtucket, RI. In the February 23, 1907 New York Clipper: "Notes of Gollmar Bros' side show for next season: The side show for next season will be much larger and grander than Gollmar Bros. have ever attempted in the past. As the side show is strictly in keeping with the big show, everything is gilt edged. Our top is 60 feet, with two 30s, twelve feet stage, fourteen paintings and three boxes. Roster includes: James Morris, elastic skin man, and Mille Clifford, sword swallower, who is a feature. Conceded by press and public of both hemispheres to be the greatest act in her line ever seen. Side show band will consist of 6 mouth pieces and 2 drums. Taking into consideration that Gollmar Bros.' Shows consists of 25 cars, this undoubtedly will make the strongest side show ever carried by a firm of this size." According to the November 9, 1907 Bilboard: "The Cliffords, sword swallowers, closed with the Gollmar Brothers' Show, and will open in vaudeville November 25 at the Palace Theatre, Memphis, Tenn." In 1908, The Cliffords worked with Gollmar Bros Circus again with James Morris as the elastic skinned man, and with "Mlle. Clifford, sword swallower, in gorgeous costume". According to an article from Billboard dated April 25, 1908, Edith Clifford mentored her pupil Marie DeVere in sword swallowing: "The Cliffords, sword swallowers, were presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers during their engagement at the Hippodrome, Boston, Mass., while Mlle. Clifford was presented with a beautiful pearl ring by her pupil, Marie DeVere." According to the July 11, 1908 Bilboard: Working on the 1908 Gollmar Bros. Side Show was Mademoiselle Clifford, sword swallower, James Morris, elastic skin man. According to the Augist 12, 1908 Chicago Tribune, Milse the sword swallower performed at the Chicago Dime Museums with Mrs. Clifford.According to the December 26, 1908 Bilboard: "The Cliffords, sword swallowers, have been engaged with the Gollmar Brothers Circus for season of 1909, their third year with that show." On March 7, 1909, The Cliffords were engaged to perform at Huber's Museum in New York, according to an article in the March 7, 1909 New York Sun. In the 1909 season, "Nellie Clifford" was featured as sword swallower with Gollmar Bros Circus. According to the November 20, 1909 Billboard: "The Cliffords, sword swallowers, closed a successful season with Gollmar Bros. Show. They open in vaudeville at Huntington, Ind., week of November 22 (1909)." In 1910, Gollmar Bros Circus featured the sword swallower as "Edith Morris" (since she was married to Thomas Holmes, also known as "James Morris"). Then according to the March 7, 1910 Indianapolis Star, Elastic Skin Man, known in professional life as James Maurice, known in real life as Thomas Holmes, died at Carney Hospital in Boston after being sick for six months. He and Miss Edith Clifford were married on a European tour (1901?), and he built a home in Pawtucket, RI, where his two little girls were brought. While Holmes/Morris had earned good money in his time with Barnum and Bailey, his popularity dwindled and due to a slight drinking and gambling problem, he took a second job as a barber opening a shop in New York City. According to an article in the Feb 26, 1910 Cambridge Sentinel: "David Corcoran, the undertaker of Boylston street, was called upon to take care of the body of Thomas Holmes, famous in former years as Barnum's "elastic skin" man, who died this week at the Carney Hospital. Mr. Holmes, who has won fame as "swaller of swords," directed that the body be sent to Pawtucket for burial." According to an article in the New York Clipper, dated March 19, 1910: "Thomas Clifford, husband of Edith Clifford, the sword swallower, whose death was noted in last week's Clipper, passed away Feb. 22, 1910 at the Carney Hospital, South Boston, Mass., from paralysis of the bladder and kidney trouble. He was born in New York State, forty-two years ago (1868?), and for twelve years he traveled with the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and for years with the Wallace Show. Under the name of James Maurice, the "Elastic Skin Man," he traveled for the past three years with Gollmar Bros.' Show, and was re-engaged with them for the coming season. In private life he was known as Thomas Holmes. Interment was in the family plot at Pawtucket, R.I. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, four brothers and three sisters." According to the April 8, 1911 Billboard: "While Mlle. Clifford, the celebrated sword swallower, was in Pawtucket, she purchased the Conway's Circus property, and had it shipped to her winter quarters in Canton, Ohio. She intends to put a one-ring circus show on the road about June 1. It will be known as the Greater Clifford Shows. Roster of the Great Clifford Circus: Mlle., Karl A., Walter J., Jno. F., Clifford and Stephen A. Clifford, owners; Karl A. Clifford, manager; Mlle. Clifford, treasurer; Jno. Clifford, advance agent and press representative; Walter Clifford, equestrian director; Stephen Clifford, boss hostler; Jno. Bauer, privileges; Ralph Tiese and R. Landes, candy butchers; Carl Bauer and Walter Miller, front door; Steve Cross, boss of properties; Bill Tetlow, ring maker; George Tetlow, reserved seats; S. Brodie, boss canvasman; Edith Holmes, wardrobe lady; Joe Cross, chandelier man. The performers include the Original Zanton Bros., ring gymnasts; Mlle. Clifford and Company, sword swallowers; LaJones, wire artists; Zanzar Bros., acrobats and hand balancers; Two Wirtzs, contortionists; House and House, double trapeze; Hart and Hiff(?), revolving ladder; Snipe, Hook, Bushey, Bowery and Sikes, clowns. K. A. Clifford, manager of the Great Clifford Circus, has purchased another baggage wagon. The show is in winter quarters at Canton, Ohio. Steve Cross, clown, late of the Gollmar Bros.' Circus, has signed for the coming season with the Great Clifford One Ring Circus. The Zanzar Bros., acrobats and equilibrists, will this season be with the Great Clifford Show." Billboard, April 8, 1911, p. 24. On April 18, 1912, Clifford was married in her second marriage to Karl Andrew Bauer (1887-1962), a German circus trapeze artist, who performed under the name Signor Zanton, and who served as Edith's assistant when the couple married, performing together under the stage name "The Cliffords". According to an article dated April 18, 1912 in the Salem OH News: "CANTON, April 18 --Mlle Clifford, the sword swallower, whose every day alias is Miss Edith Holmes, and Signor Zanton, the acrobatic hand balancer, known here as Karl Bauer, were married Thursday morning in St. Peter's Catholic Church here. Although the ceremony was commonplace, the romance which preceded it in the sawdust rings of Barnum & Bailey's Circus was thrilling enough to satisfy even a sword swallower. While mademoiselle was swallowing any number of jagged swords, some said to be 20 inches long, Signor Zanton, arrayed in red tights, was balancing a lighted lamp on the end of one finger in the main ring. They fell in love." Apparently the Great Clifford Circus never materialized as Edith had planned. In 1912 and 1913, The Cliffords worked for Gollmar Bros Circus again, and wintered in Canton, Ohio. According to a January 18, 1913 Billboard article: "Mlle. Clifford, sword swallower, wintering at Canton, Ohio, will again be with Gollmar Bros. Circus the coming season." During this time, Edith's two daughters Edith and Margaret grew up with an aunt in Pawtucket, RI. On September 27, 1917, Mlle Edith Clifford was again featured with Barnum & Bailey Circus in Atlanta, GA. According to the May 18, 1918, Billboard: "Barry Clifford, husband of Mlle. Clifford, sword swallower, has charge of the door with the Barnum & Bailey annex." In the spring of 1919, Barnum & Bailey Circus combined with Ringling Brothers Circus to form the combined Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus with their big debut in New York City featuring sword swallower Mlle Edith Clifford. Harry Houdini visited the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus to see one of Clifford's performances on March 29, 1919, where Clifford swallowed a bayonet that was shot down her throat with a gun. By this time, she had been sword swallowing for over 20 years. Clifford's show so impressed Houdini that he wrote about it in 1920 in his book "Miracle Mongers and their Methods": "The sensation of her act was when the point of a bayonet 23 1/2 inches long and fastened to the breech of a cannon was placed in her mouth and the cannon discharged with the recoil driving the bayonet down her throat". Clifford worked with the new combined Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1919, 1920, and 1921. It wasn't until she retired from performing in 1922 at the age of 36 after swallowing swords for 28 years that she and her husband Karl Bauer took her daughters home to live with them in Canton, OH. After moving to 3rd Street NE in Canton, OH, Clifford went by her married name Edith Bauer, and she and her husband Karl Bauer ran a corner grocery store under the name "Bauer Grocery". For the most part, Clifford remained anonymous and did not mention her circus history to most of her neighbors, but she received lots of visitors whenever Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to Canton in the 1930s and circus performers and sideshow acts would roam in and out of their home on Third Street NE. According to her death certificate, at the time of her death Clifford lived at 221 36th St. NW in Canton OH. She died at Aultman Hospital on September 3, 1942 at 7:48 am at the age of 55 of a "cancerous right ovary" that she had been treated for since May 1, 1942. She was buried on September 7, 1942 in West Lawn Cemetary in Canton OH. According to her obituary, Edith Clifford was active in the Women's Republican Club and other interest groups, but the obituary mentions nothing about her circus background. Her husband Karl Andrew Bauer was born in Germany December 23, 1887 and died in Canton, OH on January 2, 1962. In 1954, Karl Bauer served as Canton city councilman for 4 terms (1925-37) and as a Republican State Representative for Ohio (1942, 1946, 1950, 1952) (bio). The couple was survived by two daughters Margaret Emily Morris-Mitchell (born June 3, 1903 in RI, died at age 99 on Feb 4, 2003 in Leaburg OR) and Edith W. Holmes (b. 1906?) from Pawtucket, RI, and three grandchildren: Paul Spinden (deceased), Karl A. Spinden (born 1927, lived in Massillon OH), Grace Spinden (married name Underbrink, now living in California), Gloria Spinden (deceased, married name Lensman), and Delores Spinden (married name Belt). Clifford's grandson Karl Spinden, from Massillon, OH "doesn't remember his grandmother ever talking about her past in show business, and he never saw her swallow a sword. He worked in his grandparents' grocery store as a child, and knew her mostly as a typical nice, sweet grandma", but he keeps one of her swords in a closet at his home. Edith W. Clifford Bauer is buried at West Lawn Cemetary in Canton, OH, section M. Edith Clifford-Bauer swallowed a variety of swords, bayonets, a serpentine blade, large straight razor, giant hand saw, and a sword sandwich of up to 24 swords at once. The full collection of Clifford's swords, bayonet, saw, photos, and death certificate are owned by sword swallower Dan Meyer and are preserved in the archival collection of the Sword Swallowers Association Int'l Museum and Hall of Fame. From September 25, 2010 to January 9, 2011, Clifford's swords and artifacts were featured on display in an exhibit entitled "Science and the Circus" at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT, and in a lecture presented on Clifford's life, Dan Meyer swallowed many of Edith Clifford's swords, giant saw and straight razor. Meyer continues to swallow Clifford's giant hand saw and straight razor regularly in his act. Clifford was also immortalized in a documentary called Mysteries of Magic: The Impossible Made Possible, filmed in 1997 and put out in 1999 by the Discovery Channel featuring sword swallower Amy Saunders who played the part of Clifford. Seeking photos and more information. Edith Clifford Timeline: 1884?: Edith Clifford born in London (or) 1886?: Nov 22: Edith Clifford born in London? 1897-98: Teaches herself sword swallowing at 12-13 in London using Captain father's sword 1898: Learns from Delno Fritz in London at 12-13 1899: Joins Barnum & Bailey Circus in Vienna Austria at 13 1900: Performs with Barnum & Bailey Circus in Germany at 14 1901: Marries Thomas Holmes at 15 1901: Joins Barnum & Bailey Circus in Vienna at 15 1902: Barnum & Bailey Circus in France 1903: Featured with Rob Roy on Barnum & Bailey Circus US 1903: Swallowed bayonet shot down throat by cannon 1903: June 3: Daughter Margaret Emily Holmes born in Providence RI 1903: Dec 6-8: Walker's Museum with James Morris Boston MA 1904: Featured with Rob Roy on Barnum & Bailey Circus US 1905: Barnum & Bailey Circus 1906: Great Wallace Shows 1906: Gollmar Bros Circus 1906: Daughter Edith Holmes born in Pawtucket, RI 1907: Gollmar Bros Circus 1907: Palace Theatre Memphis, TN 1908: Feb 8: Huber's Museum, New York NY 1908: April: Hippodrome Boston, MA 1908: Gollmar Bros Circus 1908: Mentors Marie DeVere 1908: Aug: Milse performs at Chicago Dime Museums with Mrs. Clifford 1909: March 7: Huber's Museum, New York NY 1909: May: Gollmar Bros Circus 1909: November 22, Huntingdon, Indiana 1910: Feb 22: Husband Thomas Holmes dies in Boston MA 1910: Feb 26: Article on Thomas Holmes death 1910: Gollmar Bros Circus 1911: Gollmar Bros Circus 1912: April 18: Marries acrobat Karl Bauer at St. Peter's Catholic Church Canton OH 1912: Gollmar Bros Circus 1913: Gollmar Bros Circus 1914: Gollmar Bros Circus 1917: Sept 27: Barnum & Bailey Circus Atlanta, GA 1918: Barnum & Bailey Circus 1919: March 29: Harry Houdini watches Edith at combined Ringling Bros B&B Circus 1920: Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus 1920: US Census residence: Stark OH 1921: Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus 1922: Retires to Canton OH 1922-42: Runs grocery store, active in Women's Republican ClubCanton OH 1925-37: Karl Bauer serves as Canton city councilman 1942: May 1: Edith treated for cancerous right ovary 1942: Sept 3: Edith dies in Canton OH 1942: Sept 7: Buried in West Lawn Cemetary Canton, OH 1942: Nov: Karl Bauer elected Ohio State Representative 1946: Nov: Karl Bauer elected Ohio State Representative 1950: Nov: Karl Bauer elected Ohio State Representative 1952: Nov: Karl Bauer elected Ohio State Representative 1962: Jan 2: Karl Bauer dies in Canton, OH 2003: Feb 4: Daughter Margaret Emily Mitchell dies Edith Clifford Edith Clifford Edith Clifford face Edith Clifford with teddy bear Edith Clifford bloomers Edith Clifford bloomers Edith Clifford postcard standing (1898-99?) Edith Clifford postcard standing (1898-99?) Edith Clifford postcard autographed from London (1898-99?) Edith Clifford risque pose in bloomers (1900s-1910?) Edith swallowing 3 swords Edith Clifford swallowing 10 Edith Clifford swallowing 10 swords Edith Clifford swallowing saw Edith Clifford with saw Edith Clifford with saw Edith Clifford poster swallowing saw Edith Clifford swallowing bayonet with cannon (1903) The Cliffords at Walker's Museum Boston MA (12-3-1903) The Cliffords at Walker's Museum Boston MA (12-3-1903) The Cliffords poster (c 1901-1906) Huber's Museum, NY (3-7-1909) Edith Clifford on Messer's Chewing Gum (1910) Edith Clifford handbill (1910) Edith Clifford autograph Edith Morris with Gollmar Bros (1910) Edith Clifford face (1910) Thomas Holmes death (2-26-1910) Mlle Clifford with Barnum & Bailey (9-25-1917) Edith Clifford's history sword swallowing at 13 in London (5-4-1918) Edith Clifford in Hamilton Journal (1923) Edith Clifford-Bauer's death certificate (9-3-1942) Edith Clifford-Bauer's swords Grandson Karl Spinden with sword Dan Meyer swallowing Edith Clifford razor Dan Meyer swallowing Edith Clifford saw 100 years later (2010) Dan Meyer swallowing Edith Clifford hand saw Amy Saunders as Clifford swallowing razor blade (43 mpg) Edith Clifford-Bauer headstone Karl Bauer bio (10-30-1954)
Vsevolod Ivanov	Born Feb 12, 1895 Performed 1909-1916? Died Aug 15, 1963	Moscow (Russia)	Vsevolod Ivanov was born February 12, 1895 in a remote village near the border of Siberia and Turkestan. Ivanov ran away from home at the age of 14 around 1909, and led a picaresque life as a clown in a circus, a sword-swallower in county fairs, an itinerant salesman, and a manual laborer. In 1917 he joined the Red Army and fought in southeastern Russia, where the Civil War was particularly brutal. Considered one of the leading Soviet authors of the 1920's, his best work deals with guerilla warfare in Asiatic Russia after the 1917 Revolution, written in a vivid, exciting, colorful style. The novella "Armored Train 14-69" (1922), about a band of Red partisans laying siege to a White Guard locomotive in Mongolia, is viewed as his greatest achievement. It was adapted into a hit play that remained in the repertory of the Moscow Art Theatre for 70 years. He later noted, "I have travelled the road of death and my only joy is that I am still alive". By 1921 he was in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) and a member of Yevgeny Zamyatin's famous literary group, "The Serapion Brothers". Ivanov's early collections of short stories and novellas, "Partisans" (1921), "Colored Winds" (1922), "Skyblue Sands" (1923), "The Child" (1924), and "Exotic Tales" (1925), established him as a pioneer of Soviet prose. His descriptions of physical sensations are so intense that Zamyatin once joked, "Ivanov writes with his nostrils". With the rise of Stalinism in the 1930's, Ivanov was bullied into writing according to the demands of Socialist Realism, which made his work flat and pedestrian. Of his later books only the unfinished autobiographical chronicle "Adventures of a Fakir" (1935) has merit. (bio by: Bobb Edwards) Vsevolod Ivanov died August 15, 1963, and is buried in Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, Russia. Seeking photos and more information.
Mighty Haag Shows Mighty Haag Circus	Started 1890s Closed 1938	Mighty Haag Shows Mighty Haag Circus Shreveport, LA (USA)	Mighty Haag Shows - The Mighty Haag Circus was started by Ernest Haag (17 June 1866 - 1 Feb. 1935) in 1891 in Louisiana as a wagon show, and became one of the best known southern circuses, touring continuously for over 40 years from 1891 to 1935. At the time it was one of the largest traveling Circus in the United States. Ernest Haag Circus toured using a boat, carts, trains, horse pulled wagons and trucks. Early on, Haag bought a small tent and a few ropes for $20 from an old side-show man by the name of Squire Bowman and used it for a side show on fairgrounds while along the Red River at Shreveport, LA. He moved up to a floating flat barge, and eventually a two-wheel cane cart drawn by three mules under the name "The Big Show". In 1909, the show began using the name Mighty Haag Shows, and moved from wagons to rails. Hard times hit in 1914, forcing the show to return to wagons. In 1918, the circus began adding trucks for transportation. Mighty Haag Shows opened the 1920 season February 4 at Marianna, Florida, with more than one hundred horses and mules, eight trucks, four touring cars, and a menagerie consisting of eleven cages, three elephants, and two camels. By 1929 all wagons had been replaced by trucks. The 1921 show consisted of 28 wagons, 10 cages of animals, 9 trucks, and 6 passenger cars. Ernest Haag died February 1 1935 of heart failure at the age of 68, but his circus continued to show its southern route three more years until 1938. In January 1937, the name was changed to the Haag Brothers Circus. The brothers were actually cousins Roy Haag and Henry Haag; Henry Haag was Ernest's son and Roy Haag was Ernest's nephew. The Circus' last show was in 1939 in Climax, Georgia. According to the August 5, 1911 Billboard: "Roster of the side show with the Mighty Haag Shows: E. J. Kelly, manager and announcer; Mlle. Amaza, lady sword swallower; Del Fuego, fire king; Mrs. E. J. Kelly and her cockatoos". According to the October 17, 1914 Billboard: "Annie Christ, professionally known as Trixie Christie, is a new addition to the Oriental department of the Mighty Haag Shows. She joined at Middleton, Delaware. Margaret Davis is doing the sword swallowing in the Haag Auxiliary. Slivers Bowden, side-showman is the power of this department." In 1915, "Marguerite Davis, sword swallower, who was in the last season with the Mighty Haag Show, has signed with Howe's Great London Show". Sword swallower Charles Anderson also performed with the Mighty Haag Show, season unknown. Mighty Haag Circus Timeline: 1891: Started in Louisiana by Ernest Haag as a wagon show 1908: Mlle Amaza, Mrs EJ Kelly 1909: Moved from wagons to rails, begins using name Mighty Haag Shows 1909: Mlle Amaza, Mrs EJ Kelly 1911: Route Mlle Amaza, Mrs EJ Kelly 1912: Route, SwSw: Great DeVuell 1913: Route, Mlle Amaza, Mrs EJ Kelly dies 1914: Route Lady Margurite Davis 1914: Hard times hit, forcing the show to return to wagons 1918: Begin adding trucks for transportation 1929: All wagons replaced by trucks 1935: Feb 1: Ernest Haag dies of heart failure at the age of 68 1937: Name changed to Haag Brothers Circus 1939: Show closes after 43 years, last show in Climax Georgia
Vivian Myrtle Mourer Mrs. Vivian Groat Mrs. John L. Groat	Married Jan 6, 1911 Performed 1911	J. H. Eschman European Circus Eschman Shows Oelwein, Iowa (USA)	According to the March 4, 1911 Billboard: "John Laverne Groat, of Jamestown, N.Y., and Miss Vivian Myrtle Mourer, of Oelwein, Ia., were quietly married at Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 6, 1911. After the ceremony they received a reception at the headquarters of the J. H. Eschman European Circus, Mr. Groat having been in the employ of that organization last season. Mrs. Groat is a musician and sword swallower. They will both be connected with the Eschman Shows, season 1911." Seeking photos and more information.
Mlle. Amy Amy McAvoy Mrs. Thomas McAvoy Amy Murphy Mlle. Amy Murphy Mrs. Amy Murphy Mrs. Frank Murphy	Born c. 1885? Performed 1900-1914 Married 1913	Barnum & Bailey Circus Hagenbeck Circus Forepaugh-Sells Show J.T. McCaddon's Show Joe McCaddon's Great Int'l Circus Ninth and Arch Dime Museum Huber's Museum John Robinson Big Shows Hagenbeck-Wallace Show (USA)	In the early 1900s, a beautiful young European woman known only as "Mlle. Amy" and "Amy the sword swallower" worked with a number of shows, including Barnum & Bailey's 1900 tour in Germany, Forepaugh-Sells, John Robinson Big Shows, and Hagenbeck-Wallace. Between circuses, she also performed at the Ninth and Arch Dime Museum in Philadelphia and Huber's 14th Street Museum in New York City. While at Huber's, she appeared with numerous curious acts, such as Miss Welch, Ireland's long-haired beauty, Ferrari's troupe of trained rats, and Mme. Schell's performing lions. In 1900, the Barnum and Bailey Circus performed in Germany, and published the book "Das Buch der Wunder" ("The Book of Wonders"). Barnum and Bailey produced editions of the book in every country they visited, which sold for double the price of a program, and half the price of a medium-priced seat at the show. Mlle, Amy was featured as "the female sword swallower" in the German edition published in 1900 especially for Germany, and she was also featured on the Barnum & Bailey Circus posters in Germany in 1900. On February 9, 1904, "Amy the Sword Swallower" was the featured sword swallower at Huber's Museum in New York. In 1905, both the January 14, 1905 Billboard and the New York Clipper Directory of Show People published January 21, 1905 state that "Mlle. Amy, sword swallower, formerly of the Forepaugh-Sells Show, has signed with J.T. McCaddon's Show for the European tour." Joe McCaddon's Great International Circus left New York in April 1905 for a 5 year tour of Europe with a company of 427 performers, canvasmen, and other employees and landed in Dunkirk. However, in August 1905 the McCaddon show ran into a lack of interest from the French audience due to heavy competition from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and the Barnum and Bailey Circus that had saturated the European market over the previous year. The September 23, 1905 New York Clipper reported that starting August 17, 1905, the McCaddon Great International Circus was stranded for a few weeks in Grenoble, France, where the show was left in the hands of receivers, and many of the performers who saw ahead had already forsaken the show, including sword swallower Mlle Amy. Boss canvasman Thomas McAvoy was one of the 100 performers left stranded in Grenoble in 1905, while about 300 returned to New York in September 1905 on the ship Roma and a few others managed to land odd jobs on ships. According to the 1906 season Official Book of Tours of the Carl Hagenbeck Greater Shows, the sword swallower for the 1906 season of the Hagenbeck Shows is listed as M'lle Amy. In 1906, Mlle Amy is also listed as the sword swallower with the Hagenbeck Circus in the New York Clipper Directory of Show People published on February 10, 1906 and July 7, 1906. According to a December 1, 1906 Billboard article: "Mlle Amy, sword swallower, closed Nov. 7 with the Hagenbeck Show at New Orleans and is spending the winter in New York City, where she is entertaining her mother, who recently arrived from England." According to the February 23, 1907 Billboard: "With the John Robinson side show this season will be Cal Towers, manager; Prof. Harnmann, lecturer and magician; Pietro and Rasie Donatella, knife throwers; Miss Blaser, snake charmer; Mlle. Amy, sword swallower." According to a May 25, 1907, Billboard article: "Thomas McAvoy writes to state that Mlle. Amy is still his lawful wife, and that there has been no trouble whatever between them." According to a November 8, 1907 Billboard article: "Mlle. Amy, sword swallower, arrived in New York Oct. 27, after a season with the John Robinson Shows." In 1908 Mlle Amy sustained an injury. However, it wasn't from a steel blade, but rather from a steel pole. While performing with the John Robinson Big Show Side Show in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, heavy rains and winds blew the sideshow down into what was described as "a tangled mess." According to the June 27, 1908 Billboard, Mlle Amy was injured when a tent blew down during bad weather on June 13, 1908: "Mlle. Amy, sword swallower, was in the midst of the falling poles, and was badly bruised." Several performers were injured by the falling poles. A fortune teller, who didn't see the storm coming, suffered a bruised arm, the show's announcer was knocked unconscious, and Mlle. Amy was badly bruised and forced to walk with a cane for several weeks. According to the March 13, 1909 Billboard: "Roster of the John Robinson Side Show season 1909: Mlle. Amy, sword swallower." By 1913, Mlle. Amy appeared to have either added snake handling to her act or simply transitioned from swords to fangs after marrying Frank J. Murphy. In 1913, Mlle Amy performed with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show again, and the 1914 Hagenbeck-Wallace Show route book lists "Amy Murphy". Seeking photos and more information. Mlle. Amy Murphy Timeline: 1900: Barnum and Bailey Circus Germany 1901: Forepaugh-Sells Show 1902: Forepaugh-Sells Show 1903: Forepaugh-Sells Show 1903: Ninth and Arch Dime Museum Philadelphia 1904: Feb 9: Huber's Museum New York 1904: Forepaugh-Sells Show 1905: April-Aug: Joe McCaddon's Great Int'l Circus in Europe 1906: Hagenbeck Circus 1907: John Robinson's Shows 1907: Oct 27: Arrives in New York after season with John Robinson Shows 1908: John Robinson's Shows injured in blow down 1909: John Robinson's Shows 1913: Marries Frank Murphy 1913: Hagenbeck-Wallace Show 1914: Hagenbeck-Wallace Show
Maurice Eugene "Sword and Rifle Stylist"	Performed 1929-1939	Al G. Barnes Circus Cole Bros Circus (USA)	Maurice Eugene was known as the "Sword and Rifle Stylist". Eugene was best known for balancing swords and rifles and swallowing swords. In 1929, Eugene was the sword swallower with the Al G. Barnes Circus. In 1939, Maurice Eugene was featured as sword swallower with Cole Bros Circus. Seeking photos and more information. Maurice Eugene Eugene (1929)
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show	Started 1898 Toured Europe 1903-06 Toured US 1907-11	(Europe)	Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show first toured the US starting in 1883. In 1899, James A. Bailey of Barnum and Bailey Circus fame added his influence to the Wild West Show by hiring midgets, a giant, a snake charmer, a magician, and a sword swallower in the show for an additional admission charge. Professor Charles E. Griffin worked as the sword swallower and manager of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show sideshow when it toured Europe from 1903 to 1906, where he performed as the "Yankee Yogi and Conjuror", with his wife and son working with him. In 1904 the sword swallower with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Europe was "The Mighty Ajax". At some point in the European tour (1906?), Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show employed Russian sword swallower Julian Putzkewitsch. After returning to the US in 1907, Charles Griffin authored the book "Four Years in Europe With Buffalo Bill" which was published in 1908. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers with BBWWS. Sword Swallowers with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show: 1899: ? 1900: ? 1901: ? 1902: ? 1903: Professor Charles E. Griffin 1904: Professor Charles E. Griffin 1904: Mighty Ajax in Europe 1905: Professor Charles E. Griffin 1906: Professor Charles E. Griffin 1906: Julian Putzjewitsch ? 1907: Professor Charles E. Griffin 1911: Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin
Mons. Karlo	Performed 1905	Campbell Bros Consolidated R.R. Show (USA)	According to the New York Clipper dated June 17, 1905, Mons. Karlo was the sword swallower with the Campbell Bros Consolidated R.R. Show. Seeking photos and more information
Campbell Bros Circus Campbell Bros Consolidated RR Shows Campbell Brothers Great Consolidated Shows	Opened 1885 Operated 1885-1913 Disasters 1912 Bankrupt 1913 Closed 1920	Campbell Bros Circus Campbell Bros Consolidated R.R. Show Campbell Brothers Great Consolidated Shows Galesburg, IL Fairbury, NE Enid, OK (USA)	The Campbell Bros. Circus began in Galesburg, IL and was owned by Campbell brothers Virgil, Al, Charlie and Ed Campbell. The circus began wintering in Fairbury Nebraska in 1885. While the circus traveled over 20,000 miless extensively across the country, Fairbury was its seasonal home. The circus started with 30 horse drawn wagons and more than 100 personell. It grew to be a 40 car railroad show known as the Campbell Bros Circus Consolidated RR Show, and was advertised as the "second largest circus in America". The 1905 route book said the two-ring circus had 350 draft horses and was in its 11th successful year. The program shows "Madame DeVere" (probably Jane DeVere) as the bearded lady, and Mons Divolio as the fire-eater and sword walker, but there was no mention of a sword swallower. According to the New York Clipper dated June 17, 1905, Mons. Karlo was the sword swallower with the Campbell Bros Consolidated R.R. Show in 1905. According to the May 8, 1909 Billboard magazine, "Otto DeVarre joined Campbell Bros Circus in Kansas City, MO in April making this his second season with the show." The 1912 season was a disastrous one for the show, bad weather,fires and a train wreck plagued the circus. The following year banks foreclosed on outstanding loans and the show was forced into bankruptcy in 1913. The brothers' grandfather, Elisha Campbell and his four sons Bill, Fred, Bert and Ed bought the bankrupt circus and moved its headquarters to the family farm near Enid, OK. The circus continued for seven more seasons. Seeking photos and more information Campbell Bros Circus timeline: 1885: Campbell Bros. Circus starts in Galesburg IL and begins wintering in Fairbury NE 1904: ? 1905: Route book 1905: Sword swallower Mons. Karlo 1906: ? 1907: ? 1908: Sword swallowerOtto DeVarre 1909: Sword swallowerOtto DeVarre 1910: ? 1911: Route book No sword swallower listed 1912: Disastrous year, bad weather, fires and a train wreck plague the circus 1913: Banks foreclose on outstanding loans and the show is forced into bankruptcy 1920: Circus is bought out and continues on for another 7 years
The Amazing Hernando	Performed early 1900s?	Entertainment Troupe and Traveling Show Lynchburg, TN (USA)	According to a Jack Daniel's poster, the "Entertainment Troupe and Traveling Show" was scheduled to perform "starting Monday, June 16, for 6 days and nights in the square of Lynchburg, TN. (Courthouse chairs, 37 cents)" According to the poster, "The Amazing Hernando will shoot a gun while it is DOWN HIS THROAT! Hernando will load a gun with powder and ball, swallow the barrel two feet down his mouth, and then DISCHARGE THE GUN, breaking with a single bullet a small drinking glass placed upon the head of HIS OWN CHILD!" Note: This poster appears to be a fictional Jack Daniels promotional poster recreated to look like the traditional circus poster, but there is no proof the poster or "The Amazing Hernando" were in fact real. Seeking more information.
Paul Macini Paul Mancini	Performed c 1890s-1910s	(Italy? Germany?)	Sword swallower Paul Macini or Paul Mancini was featured on a German postcard circa late 1890s or early 1900s. Seeking photos and more information. Paul Macini (circa 1890s-1910)
Feretta The Man with the Iron Throat Der Mann mit dem eisernen Schlund Charles Feretta Charles Fred	Performed 1889-1910	(Germany)	In the December 17, 1889 El Paso International Daily Times and the January 1890 East Hampton NY Star, there were articles about "Feretta, The Man with the Iron Throat". In the September 22, 1891 Harper's Young People magazine, The Man With the Iron Throat was mentioned: "Of late years, the Man-with-the-Iron-Throat has attracted to himself considerable attention, for there lurks in human nature a depraved taste for the horrible." According to an article in the October 3, 1891 Cincinatti Enquirer: "Lee Van Hance has been telling Harper's Young People about the wonderful feats done by the Man-With-The-Iron-Throat. He had seen him thrust a solid steel sword twelve inches long down his throat, but thought it a mere trick of the stage. He says: Some time ago I struck up an aquaintance, first with the manager of the show and then with the sword-swallower himself, who was induced to give a private exhibition for my benefit. There was -- there could be -- no trick. The act was done too openly, too slowly, to admit of deception. I felt the sword when it was down the man's throat. "So now are you satisfied that the feat is square?" queried the sword-swallower. "Yes, but the pain in your throat must be considerable." "Once in a while I feel a little pain, and if it becomes too great, I always give up sword swallowing for a few days. No matter how easy the operation seems I never forget to go very slowly and very carefully. For it is only with extreme care that injury to the throat or stomach can be avoided. The muscles of my throat are now so hardened that they allow almost anything to go down. See here," said the sword-swallower, growing confidential, "I will show you something else." Taking a stone about the size of a small hickory-nut, he placed it on his tongue, rolled it around, made a pretense of chewing it, closed his mouth tightly, and the stone was gone. In like manner, two more pebbles were swallowed. "Do you keep them down and digest them?" I inquired. "Oh no; that is one of the secrets of our trade. Do the stones ever give me any trouble? Not at all. I have never been bothered with dyspepsia." Sword swallower Charles Fred was featured in a German postcard circa 1910 as "Der Mann mit dem eisernen Schlund" ("The Man with the Iron Throat"). Seeking photos and more information. Feretta The Man With The Iron Throat (12-17-1889) Feretta The Man With the Iron Throat (3-24-1890) Man With The Iron Throat in Cincinnati Enquirer (10-3-1891) Charles Fred postcard (c 1910) Charles Fred postcard (c 1910)
Slivers Bowden	Performed 1915	Mighty Haag Shows Barnum & Bailey Circus Omaha, Nebraska (USA)	According to the October 17, 1914 Billboard: "Annie Christ, professionally known as Trixie Christie, is a new addition to the Oriental department of the Mighty Haag Shows. She joined at Middleton, Delaware. Margaret Davis is doing the sword swallowing in the Haag Auxiliary. Slivers Bowden, side-showman is the power of this department." In 1915 Slivers Bowden, sword swallower, joined the Barnum & Bailey Circus in Omaha, Nebraska. Seeking photos and more information..
Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Great Wallace Show Zirkus Hagenbeck Cirque Hagenbeck J&G Hagenbecks Malabaren Truppe Carl Hagenbeck Circus Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show Carl Hagenbeck Trained Wild Animal Show Carl Hagenbeck's Greater Shows Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Hagenbeck-Wallace Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Circus	1884 Wallace Circus 1887 Zirkus Hagenbeck 1893 Chicago World's Fair 1903 Carl Hagenbeck Circus 1906 Carl Hagenbeck's Greater Shows 1907 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1913 Wabash River Flood 1918 Great Train Wreck 1918 Sold 1919 Sold 1929 Sold to Ringling Bros 1935 Splits from Ringling 1936 closed 1938 closed	Peru, IN (USA)	At its peak, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, based in Peru, Indiana, was the second-largest circus in America next to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Benjamin E. Wallace, a livery stable owner from Peru, Indiana, and his business partner, James Anderson, bought a circus in 1884 and created "The Great Wallace Show". Wallace bought out his partner in 1890 and the name was changed to the "B. E. Wallace Circus". In Germany, Gottfried Claes Carl Hagenbeck Sr (1810-1887) was a German fishmonger who had a side business of exhibiting exotic animals such as "Sea-Elephants". Carl Hagenbeck Sr had four sons who followed in his footsteps: Gustav, John, Wilhelm, and Carl Hagenbeck Jr. (1844-1913). Carl Hagenbeck Jr. became a world renowned wild animal trainer and merchant who sold animals to zoos worldwide and to showmen like P.T. Barnum. The Carl Hagenbeck Circus, "Zirkus Hagenbeck" or "Cirque Hagenbeck" was founded in Hamburg in 1887. In 1893, Carl Hagenbeck Jr. brought the Carl Hagenbeck Circus to perform at the Chicago World's Fair. From 1900 to 1906, J & G Hagenbeck's Malabaren Truppe (J & G Hagenbeck's Jugglers Troupe operated by John and Gustav Hagenbeck, half-brothers of Carl Hagenbeck) performed with a troupe of 65 South Indian jugglers, elephants, and at least two south Indian sword swallowers throughout northern Europe, in Germany, Netherlands, and with extended runs at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen Denmark. (photo "Last week of shows through Sunday September 6, 1903") An American version of the circus was created in 1902 when Carl Hagenbeck, John Havlin, Lee Williams and Frank Tate formed the Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show that toured the US in 1902, 1903 and 1904. In 1905, the name was changed to Carl Hagenbeck Trained Wild Animal Show, and in 1906, it became Carl Hagenbeck's Greater Shows. According to the February 24, 1906 New York Clipper, "The Cliffords, sword swallowers, and James Morris, "Elastic Skin Man", have signed with the Great Wallace Shows for next season." In 1907, Tate and Havlin conspired with Benjamin Wallace and merged the Carl Hagenbeck Shows with the B.E. Wallace Circus to form the combiined Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. Carl Hagenbeck was unaware of the sale/merger, did not agree to it, and sued to prohibit the use of his name, but lost his complaint in US court. On March 30, 1913, in the infamous Wabash River Flood of 1913 in Peru Indiana, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus lost 8 elephants, 8 performing horses, and 21 lions and tigers, inflicting losses totaling $150,000 upon Wallace's circus. Following the devastation of the 1913 flood, Wallace sold his interest in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus to Ed Ballard of French Lick, Indiana. Two weeks later, on April 14, 1913, Carl Hagenbeck Jr. died in Hamburg Germany. On June 22, 1918, another tragedy struck the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus when a locomotive engineer fell asleep about 4am in Ivanhoe near Hammond, Indiana, and ran his empty troop train into the rear of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train. A fire broke out from the kerosene lamps used for lighting the sleeping cars of the circus train. The fire quickly spread through the wood-constructed cars. As a result of the collision and subsequent fire, 86 people died and another 127 were injured. (photo) Many victims were burned beyond recognition. Most are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois in a section set aside as Showmen's Rest. In the spirit of "the show must go on", several competing circuses, including Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, lent equipment and performers to the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus so that only two performances were canceled as a result of the tragedy, the one in Hammond and the next stop in Monroe, Wisconsin. In 1918, after being plagued by disasters, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was sold. After the tragedy, circus entrepreneurs Jeremiah Mugivan and Bert Bowers acquired the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in 1918, adding it to a long list of circuses they owned, including Sells-Floto Circus and John Robinson Shows. A year later, in 1919, Mugivan and Bowers asked Ballard to join them, and the trio formed the American Circus Company. In 1929, the successor company of the American Circus Corporation was sold by Jeremiah Mugivan, Bert Bowers and Ed Ballard to John Nicholas Ringling of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, along with Al G. Barnes Circus, Sells-Floto Circus, John Robinson Shows, and Sparks Circus for $1.7 million. In 1935, the circus split from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey and became the Hagenbeck-Wallace and Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Circus, featuring sword swallower Prince Charles Prester in 1935. In 1936, the show did not tour, but resumed again in 1937 with sword swallower Prince Charles Prester. The Hagenbeck-Wallace and Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Circus finally ceased operations in 1938. The building that formerly housed the winter home of Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus now serves as the home of the International Circus Hall of Fame on the banks of the Wabash River in Peru Indiana. Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Timeline: 1884: B.E. Wallace and James Anderson form Great Wallace Show Peru IN 1887: Carl Hagenbeck Jr. creates Zirkus Hagenbeck in Hamburg Germany 1893: Carl Hagenbeck exhibits Hagenbeck Circus at Chicago World's Fair 1900: J&G Hagenbeck's Malabaren Truppe tours northern Europe 1902: Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show tours US 1903: 2 Indian sword swallowers perform with J&G Hagenbeck's Truppe at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen Denmark 1902: Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show tours US 1903: Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show tours US 1904: J&G Hagenbeck's Malabaren Truppe tours northern Europe 1905: J&G Hagenbeck's Malabaren Truppe tours northern Europe 1904: Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show tours US 1905: Renamed Carl Hagenbeck Trained Wild Animal Show tours US 1906: Renamed Carl Hagenbeck's Greater Shows tours US 1906: Mlle Amy Murphy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck Circus 1906: Edith Clifford is sword swallower with Great Wallace Circus 1907: Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus merge 1912: Delno Fritz/Maud D'Auldin perform with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1913: March 30: Wabash River Flood devastates circus in Peru IN 1913: April 14: Carl Hagenbeck Jr. dies in Hamburg Germany 1913: Mlle Amy Murphy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1914: Amy Murphy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1918: June 22, 86 die in Great Train wreck in Hammond, IN 1918: Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus sold to Mugivan and Bowers 1919: Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus owned by American Circus Company 1920: Millie Dearcy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1921: Milly Dearcy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1922: Milly Dearcy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1923: Milly Dearcy is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1923: Prince Laurie is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1929: John Ringling buys show, merges with Ringling Bros Barnum&Bailey 1930: Harry Lewiston manages sideshow, 1930: Show closes late August from poor sales due to Great Depression 1931: Route Line-up: Female sword swallower 1933: Señor Laraway is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1934: Señor Laraway is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1935: Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus splits from Ringling Bros 1935: Becomes Hagenbeck-Wallace Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Circus 1935: Prince Charles Prester is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace 1936: Closed - Circus does not tour 1937: Prince Charles Prester is sword swallower with Hagenbeck-Wallace 1938: Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus closes
Gollmar Brothers Circus	1891-1916	Baraboo, WI (USA)	Gollmar Brothers Circus wintered out of Baraboo, Wisconsin from 1891-1916. Walter, Fred, Charles, Ben, and Jake Gollmar were the proprietors. They were also known at one point as Gollmar Bros. and Schumann's Circus. According to the February 23, 1907 New York Clipper: "Notes of Gollmar Bros' side show for next season: The side show for next season will be much larger and grander than Gollmar Bros. have ever attempted in the past. As the side show is strictly in keeping with the big show, everything is gilt edged. Our top is 60 feet, with two 30s, twelve feet stage, fourteen paintings and three boxes. Roster includes: James Morris, elastic skin man, and Mille Clifford, sword swallower, who is a feature. Conceded by press and public of both hemispheres to be the greatest act in her line ever seen. Side show band will consist of 6 mouth pieces and 2 drums. Taking into consideration that Gollmar Bros.' Shows consists of 25 cars, this undoubtedly will make the strongest side show ever carried by a firm of this size." In 1908, the Cliffords worked again with Gollmar Bros Circus with James Morris as the elastic skinned man, and with "Mlle Clifford, sword swallower, in gorgeous costume". In 1909, "Nellie Clifford" performed as sword swallower with Gollmar Bros Circus. In 1910, the Gollmar Bros Circus featured the sword swallower as "Edith Morris" (since she was married to Thomas Holmes, who was also known as James Morris). According to the March 19, 1910 New York Clipper: "Thomas Clifford, husband of Edith Clifford, the sword swallower, whose death was noted in last week's Clipper, passed away Feb. 22, 1910 at the ?? Hospital, South Boston, Mass., from paralysis of the bladder and kidney trouble. He was born in New York State, forty-two years ago, and for twelve years he traveled with the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and for years with the Wallace Show. Under the name of James Maurice, "the elastic skin man," he traveled for the past three years with Gollmar Bros.' Show, and was re-engaged with them for the coming season. In private life he was known as Thomas Holmes. Interment was in the family plot at Pawtucket, R.I. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, four brothers and three sisters." In 1912, Edith Clifford was married in her second marriage to a German circus trapeze artist named Karl Bauer, who served as Clifford's assistant when the couple married, performing together with the Gollmar Brothers Circus under the stage name "The Cliffords" in 1912 and 1913. Sword Swallowers with Gollmar Brothers Circus: 1900: none listed 1907: Mille Clifford 1908: Mlle. Clifford 1909: Nellie Clifford 1910: Edith Morris 1911: Mlle Edith Clifford 1912: Mlle Edith Clifford 1913: Mlle Edith Clifford 1914: Mlle Edith Clifford
John Robinson's Shows	1842 begins touring 1929 bought by John Ringling	(USA)	The John Robinson Circus toured from 1842 until 1911 (69 years) and again in 1916, and it was one of the longest running family owned circuses in the United States. The circus was owned and managed by four generations of "John Robinsons". According to the The Annual Record of the John Robinson's 10 Big Shows for 1899 and 1900, the sword swallower was listed simply as "Iola". In 1929, the John Robinson Shows were purchased by the American Circus Corporation and later sold by Jeremiah Mugivan, Bert Bowers and Ed Ballard to John Nicholas Ringling of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey in 1929 for $1.7 million, along with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Al G. Barnes Circus, Sells-Floto Circus, and Sparks Circus. The Ringlings continued to operate the circus until 1938. John Robinson Side Shows Timeline:: 1842: John Robinson Circus begins touring 1869: Unknown sword swallower (article) 1881: Signor Forestell 1898: Leased by the Ringling Bros. Circus and managed by Henry Ringling 1899: Sword Swallower: Iola 1900: Sword Swallower: Iola 1905: Sword Swallower: Marie DeVere 1907: Sword Swallower: Mlle Amy 1908: Sword Swallower: Mlle Amy 1909: Sword Swallower: Mlle. Amy 1911: Route Sword Swallower: Great Lorenzo 1912: Show did not go out 1913: Show did not go out 1914: Show did not go out 1915: Show did not go out 1916: Purchased by Jerry Mugivan and Albert C. "Bert" Bowers 1916: Route Sword Swallowers: Delno Fritz and Maud D. Auldin 1919: Sword Swallower: Marguerite Davis 1920: Route Sword Swallower: Lady Marguerite Margaret Davis marries Jesse R. Fiedler on show 1923: Sword Swallower: Fred Marineau 1927: Route 1928: Route 1929: Route bought out by John Ringling 1930: Route
Al. G. Barnes Circus Al G. Barnes Circus	1895 Al G. Barnes Circus starts 1929 Bought by American Circus Corporation 1929 Merges with Sells-Floto, John Robinson Shows and Sparks Circus 1929 John Ringling merges with Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus 1931 Al G. Barnes Stonehouse dies 1938 Al G. Barnes Circus closes	Peru, IN (USA)	Alpheus George Barnes Stonehouse started the Al. G. Barnes' Circus in 1895 with a pony, a phonograph, and a stereopticon. In 1929, the circus was purchased by the American Circus Corporation and later sold by Jeremiah Mugivan, Bert Bowers and Ed Ballard to John Nicholas Ringling of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey in 1929 for $1.7 million, along with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Sells-Floto Circus, John Robinson Shows, and Sparks Circus. The circus finally ceased operations in 1938. Sword Swallowers with Al G. Barnes Circus: 1895: Al. G. Barnes' Circus started 1914: none listed 1915: Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin 1920: Delno Fritz and Edna Price 1922: Bob Roberts 1923: Delno Fritz and Miss Edna Price 1924: none listed 1925: The Great Laurie 1926: The Great Laurie 1927: Ethel Price Edna Price 1929: Maurice Eugene 1929: John Ringling buys American Circus Corporation, Al G. Barnes Circus, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Sells-Floto Circus, John Robinson's Circus, Sparks Circus & Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show 1931: Al G. Barnes Stonehouse dies 1938: Mimi Garneau 1938: Al G. Barnes Circus closes
Yellow Boy Chief Yellow Boy Chief Yellow Bear Prince Yellow Boy Pierce the Yellow Boy AJ Pierce A.J. Pierce A.J. Pearce Allen J. Price Allan J. Price Allen J. Pierce Albert J. Pierce Professor Pierce Professor A.J. Pierce	Born 1868 Performed 1904-1913 Injured April 15, 1908 Injured May 30, 1909 Died July 16, 1913	Young Buffalo's Wiild West Show Allman Bros Big American Shows Fairley's Museum Bismarck Hotel Trafalgar New York, NY Bangor, Maine Died Bismark, ND (USA)	In 1905, a Professor A.J. Pierce was the star sword swallower of a show run for several days out of a vacant storefront on Harlow Street in Bangor Maine. "He runs swords and small saws and scissors and bayonets down his throat until it seems that it must slash his vitals; but he gets through all right and smiles at the frightened spectators. He chews and swallows glass, eats hot pitch and rosin and sealing wax, swallows tacks and does other stunts that cause the observer to wonder what his insides are composed of... He finished his stunt by swallowing about 16 inches of a snake," wrote a reporter for the Bangor Daily News on Nov. 11, 1905. Pierce performed with two other colleagues who performed similar feats of daring. LaCrosse, the Human Stone Crusher, let people break stones on his stomach with a sledgehammer, while Madame LaMonte, the Hindoo rope juggler, freed herself after being bound in 50 feet of hemp. The show took place in East Market Square (near where City Hall is today) in what the reporter referred to facetiously as "the tenderloin," a reference to urban neighborhoods known for vice and graft. The show was operated by Professor H.H. Perkins, a scholar of bizarre amusements like his partner Professor Pierce. According to an article in the Mt. Carmel PA Daily News dated April 15, 1908, "Sword Swallower Ate One Too Many -- Waterbury, Conn., April 15 -- A.J. Pearce, a sword swallower, while swallowing a sword pierced his stomach, and the hospital doctors say he will die. Pearce is known as "Chief Yellow Bear" among circus men." An article in the NY Times dated May 30, 1909 states, "Albert J. Pierce of No. 2076 Lexington Avenue, a sword swallower, is in Harlem Hospital in serious condition. While doing his usual stunt in a Fourteenth-street show last night, the sword got too deep and cut the lining of his stomach. Dr. Cassini of the hospital says he is suffering from a gastric hemmorhage." In 1911 (and possibly 1912?), Yellow Boy was the sword swallower with Young Buffalo's Wild West Show out of Peoria, IL. According to an obituary for Allen J. Price in the Atlanta Constitution dated July 17, 1913: Sword Swallower Dead - Bismarck, ND, July 17, 1913 - Allen J. Price, 45 years old, sword swallower and snake charmer, died here yesterday from drug poisoning. It was learned some time ago that he sold his body to be delivered after death to a university at Baltimore. His widow lives in New York city. According to a July 26, 1913 Billboard article: Bismarck, N. D., July 18 (Special to The Billboard). "Albert J. Pierce, known as Prince Yellow Boy, sword swallower and snake charmer with the Allman Big American Shows, playing an engagement In this city this week, died here Wednesday morning from the effects of an overdose of morphine and hyoscine. The deceased was 45 years of age and a Frenchman by birth. A wife, who is a Chinese woman, and three sons survive him." According to a July 16, 1913 article in The Bismarck ND Daily Tribune: Albert J. Pierce, sword swallower with the Allman Carnival show in the city, died in a tent Wednesday morning about 7:30 from the effects of morphine poisoning. Pierce had been with this carnival company for the past six weeks and gave some startling demonstrations and also gave an exhibition with live snakes, but outside of the extremely large doses of morphine he had taken externally with a needle and hyoscine, he had taken internally in tablet form, his body seemed to be in a perfectly normal condition. He had been ill on Tuesday and while at a local hospital before he could be prevented, he took a dose of morphine large enough, it was said, to have killed six men. He had on a daily average used about 10 grains of either morphine or hyoscine, and always took extremely large doses, and he had kept up this habit for the past 24 years, but he took an overdose of morphine Wednesday morning and death ensued shortly afterwards. The manager of the carnival was with Pierce at the time of his death, and Dr. Smythe, the county coroner, had the body removed to the undertaking parlors of Traux Brothers where an autopsy was held and death was pronounced to have been caused from morphine and hyoscine poisoning. From what could be learned of Pierce's past history, he was 45 years of age and was a Frenchman by birth. He has a wife, a Chinese woman, who lives in New York City, which place is Pierce's home. He also has three sons there. At one time he had studied medicine and was well posted as to the uses of strong opiates. It seems that some time ago he had contracted with a large hospital in New York to have his body delivered there after his death, as that institution desired to make an examination of what effects these strong drugs have had. The management of the carnival is attempting, by telegraph, to locate Pierce's family and his body which has been embalmed will either be shipped back to New York or buried in Bismarck." According to an article posted Thursday, July 17, 1913 in The Bismarck ND Daily Tribune: "SWORD SWALLOWER DIED FROM USE OF MORPHINE. Had Been Giving Exhibitions With Carnival in Bismarck This Week. Was a Constant Slave to Drug Habit and Died From an Overdose. Autopsy Held and Embalmed Body May be Shipped to New York City. Pierce had disposed of all papers that would have given any information regarding his affairs, but the management of the carnival company knowing that New York City was his home, learned yesterday that Hotel Trafalgar in that city was his headquarters, and a message from the clerk of that hotel last night read as follows: "Chief of Police, Bismarck, N. D.: "I understand that John Hopkins University at Baltimore, Md. owns the body of Pierce the Yellow Boy, but I know nothing more." RAYMOND T. CONDON, Clerk, Hotel Trafalgar". It was stated last night that Pierce had often told of having sold is body to that university, and that he had some time ago received the sum of $500, and that his body was to be delivered there after his death. It was not certain last night just what would be done with the remains." According to a July 18, 1913 article in the Bismarck Daily Tribune: Prince Yellow Boy, the carnival freak, who died Wednesday morning from morphine poisoning, was buried Thursday afternoon in the Fairview Cemetery at Bismarck. No word could be received from his relatives in New York City as to the disposition of his remains, neither was there any response to a message sent to the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, which institution was supposed to have paid the Yellow Boy $500 for his body to be delivered after death, and it was decided that it was useless to hold his remains here any longer. Prince Yellow Boy's name was Albert J. Pierce, and he was probably one of the greatest freaks that ever gave an exhibition in this section of the country. He had a great layout of swords of all shapes and sizes, and gave some wonderful demonstrations in swallowing them. He was also a sensational snake charmer, and the day before he died, he received a consignment of new snakes from Texas. These snakes, without their fangs being removed, he handled in a most thrilling manner. These exhibitions he gave at Fairley's Museum here with the Allman Carnival company, and the doctors, as well as the general public who saw this man perform, were completely baffled. His outfit is still at the museum, and has been exhibited and explained every night by Mr. Fairley since Yellow Boy died. The expense of his funeral was provided for by Mr. Fairley personally." A.J. Pierece was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Bismarck, ND. The grave is unmarked and it's location is unknown. Seeking photos and more information. A.J. Pearce injury (4-15-1908) Albert Pierce injury article (1909) Albert J. Pierce obituary (1913) Allan J. Price obituary (1913) Allen J. Price obituary (1913) Yellow Boy Professor A.J. Pierce timeline: 1868: born c 1868 (in France?) 1905: Professor A.J. Pierce performs in storefront on Harlow Street, Bangor ME 1908: April 15: "Chief Yellow Bear", A.J. Pearce pierced his stomach, expected to die, Waterbury CT 1909: May 30: Albert J. Pierce injured, in Harlem Hospital NY 1911: performs as Yellow Boy with Young Buffalo's Wild West Show Peoria IL 1912: ? Young Buffalo's Wild West Show Peoria IL? 1913: June: performed for 6 weeks with Allman Bros Big American Shows in ND 1913: July 16: Prince Yellow Boy dies of overdose of morphine in Bismarck ND
The Great Lorenzo Dr. Pardo Dr. Benevente Pardo Lon Young	Performed 1908-22	Vaudette Vaudeville Theatre Lyric Theater Robinson's Famous Shows Family Sideshow Sells-Floto Circus> World's Fair Museum (USA)	According to the Chicago Englewood Economist dated November 10, 1908, the Great Lorenzo performed at the Vaudette Vaudeville Theatre in Chicago in 1908 as the "human gas jet". According to the Mattoon Illinois Journal Gazette dated April 12, 1909, the Great Lorenzo was featured as a "Novelty Fire Act" at the Lyric Theater in 1909. According to the New York Clipper, dated May 13, 1911, The Great Lorenzo performed as fire eater and sword swallower with Robinson's Famous Shows Family Sideshow in 1911. In 1922, Lorenzo was featured as the sword swallower with the Sells-Floto Circus on May 27, 1922 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. For two weeks in December 1936, the Great Lorenzo was featured as a mental mind-reader with the World's Fair Museum in Ogden, Utah, along with Capt. Albert Peterson, King of all Sword Swallowers, and 17 other freaks. According to an article dated December 1936, "Dr. Benevente Pardo, the Man with the Sixth Sense, professionally known as the Great Lorenzo, hails from Amsterdam Holland, but was reared and educated in Sumatra, the Dutch East Indies, one of Holland's richest possessions. It was there that Dr. Pardo learned the art of telepathy and of foretelling the future from the Hindus. Dr. Pardo became so efficient in this line of occult mysticism, that he was asked to perform before the queen of Holland, who later decorated him for his remarkable and astounding performances. He now delights American audiences on stage and radio by his accurate predictions and goes even so far as to call perfect strangers by their surnames without a word being spoken by the spectator. This remarkable man is now being consulted at the World's Fair Museum, 2646 Washington, where he tells one's past, present, and future accurately." Their run at the World's Fair Museum was extended until at least January 16, 1937. Seeking photos and more information..
Coney Island Steeplechase Park Luna Park Dreamland	Steeplechase opens 1897 Luna Park opens 1903 Dreamland opens 1904 Dreamland burns 1911 Dreamland Sideshow opens 1911 World Sideshow opens 1922 World Sideshow closes 1941 Luna Park damaged by fires 1944 Luna Park closes 1945 CIUSA Sideshow School opens 2001	Coney Island Steeplechase Park Luna Park Dreamland Circus Sideshows Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow David Rosen's Wonderland Circus Side Show George Hamid's Playland Circus Hubert's Museum Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore Coney Island Brooklyn, NY (USA)	Between 1880 and World War II, Coney Island in Brooklyn NY was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year. At its height, Coney Island contained three competing major amusement parks, Steeplechase Park and Steeplechase Circus Big Show (built in 1897), Luna Park (built in 1903), and Dreamland Circus Sideshow (built in 1904), as well as numerous independet amusements and ten-in-one sideshows operated in Coney Island, including Hubert's Museum, the Strand Museum, the David Rosen's Wonderland Circus Side Show, George Hamid's Playland Circus, and Sam Wagner's World Circus Freak Show Side Show. In 1880, the first "freak show" at Coney Island opened, and in 1897, Steeplechase Park opened with its Steeplechase Circus Big Show. In 1903, Luna Park amusement park opened in Coney Island. The golden age of the village's sideshows began in 1904 when Samuel W. Gumpertz opened Lilliputia, an entire miniature city scaled for its dwarf and midget inhabitants at Dreamland. Lilliputia became such a popular tourist attraction at Dreamland, that Gumpertz spend many years afterwards finding and promoting human oddities. Built partly on the grounds of Sea Lion Park (1895), Luna Park was one of the three original iconic large parks built on Coney Island. Luna Park was located on the north side of Surf Avenue on a site between 8th street, 12th street and Neptune Avenue. A pair of fires in 1944 damaged Luna Park, destroying much of it. It was not rebuilt and did not open for the 1945 season. After a legal battle and a third fire in 1946, the land was used for other purposes. The original Luna Park now houses a five building cooperative apartment complex and is still called Luna Park to this day. Dreamland was the grandest and most ambitious amusement park at Coney Island from 1904 to 1911. Opened on May 15, 1904, Dreamland was a park in which everything was reputed to be bigger and more expansive than in neighboring Luna Park. Dreamland was the last, and considered the grandest, of the three original iconic large parks built on Coney Island. The Dreamland Circus Sideshows were owned by the Dicker family, who also owned the hotel next to the park. There was also a display of baby incubators, where premature babies, triplets who were members of the Dicker family, were cared for and exhibited. The doctors advised the family of the new incubators, but because incubators were not approved for use in hospitals, the triplets were placed in the incubators in the side show, which was allowed. Two survived and lived on to have full lives until their death. In preparation for the 1911 season, Samuel W. Gumpertz (later director of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus) was put in the park's top executive post. The buildings, once all painted white in a bid for elegance, were repainted in bright circus colors. On the night before opening day over Memorial Day weekend, a concession called Hell Gate, in which visitors took a boat ride on rushing waters through dim caverns, was undergoing last-minute repairs by a roofing company that caulked several leaks with tar. At about 1:30 am on May 27, 1911, the light bulbs that illuminated the operations began exploding, possibly due to an electrical short. In the darkness, a worker kicked over a bucket of hot tar pitch, and soon Hell Gate was in flames. The ensuing fire quickly spread throughout Dreamland Park. The buildings were made of frames of thin strips of wood covered with a moldable mixture of plaster of Paris and hemp fiber. Both materials were highly flammable, and as they were common in the Coney Island amusement parks, fires were a persistent problem there. Because of this, a new high-pressure water pumping station had been constructed at Twelfth Street and Neptune Avenue a few years earlier, but on that night it failed. Water was available, but there was not enough to contain the fire that enveloped Dreamland. The Dicker family's adjacent hotel also burned down in this fire. Chaos broke loose as the park burned. As the single-armed Captain Bonavita the big cat trainer strove to save his big cats with only the swiftly encroaching flames for illumination, some of the terrified big cats escaped. A lion named Black Prince rushed into the streets, among crowds of onlookers, and was shot by police. By morning, the fire was out, Dreamland was completely destroyed, and about 60 animals had died. Early editions of the New York Times claimed the incubator babies had perished in the flames, but the paper later corrected their story and reported that all incubator babies had been saved by Sgt. Frederick Klinck of the NYPD, who made several trips into the burning structure to rescue the incubator babies. The owners of Dreamland had suffered a $3,500,000 loss and decided not to rebuild. More than 2500 people (1600 at Dreamland alone) had lost their jobs. The day after Dreamland burned to the ground in 1911, while the park's embers were still smoldering, the park's general manager, Samuel Gumpertz, pitched a tent on the still-smoldering soil and opened the Dreamland Circus Side-Show under a 40 x 80 foot tent along Surf Avenue. For more than twenty years, the Dreamland Circus Sideshow was the flagship for the world of sideshow. Whereas most sideshows offered up ten acts in their shows (which is why they are called "ten-in-ones"), the Dreamland show featured as many as twenty acts in each performance. Gumpertz had no trouble convincing Coney's freaks to join his operation. It was a matter of economics; they needed a job. Most preferred the low but steady seasonal pay versus being constantly on the road in search of more lucrative one night stands. Besides most freaks liked the sense of community, of living at Coney Island among their abnormal peers. Best of all he stroked their egos by treating them as something special and displaying them as something unique. It didn't matter if they were dwarfs, giants, ugly, amazingly obese, had three legs, no arms or legs; the public would pay money to stare at them and gaze in awe. The 1911 Dreamland Circus Side-Show exhibited Ursa the bear girl; Bonita, the Irish fat midget; Fatima, the the Nubian woman; Rob Roy, albino wonder; Captain Copp, human tattooed art gallery; Baby Alpine 615 pounds; Schrief Afendl, human salamander. The new Dreamland Circus Side Show became an instant success. From 1917 to 1926 the featured sword swallower with the Dreamland Circus Side Show was Mighty Ajax, the Arabian Sword Swallower, and in 1927, the Dreamland Circus Side Show featured Marie DeVere as sword swallower (dressed just like Mighty Ajax, the Arabian Sword Swallower!). The popularity of the freaks at Dreamland Circus Sideshow led to many other side shows at Coney Island. In 1917, Hubert Miller (or Hubert Muller) opened the first Hubert's Museum at the corner of Bowery and Henderson's Walk in Coney Island. In the early 1920's the Boardwalk was constructed and the beach expanded through filling. In 1925, the Thunderbolt roller coaster was constructed around, and through, the old hotel. As the building boom of the 1920's progressed buildings sprang up on the new Boardwalk concealing the older structures behind. The Kensington, hidden by the Lido building in front and surrounded by a working roller coaster was largely forgotten until the 1970s and 80s when the Lido was demolished and the Thunderbolt ceased operations. In 1922 "Professor" Sam Wagner opened the rival Sam Wagner's World Circus Side Show and World Circus Freak Show. Sam Wagner's World Circus Side Show was a sideshow owned and operated by "Professor" Samuel Wagner from 1922 to 1941 on Surf Avenue, Coney Island, New York. Other sideshows soon opened, including the Steeplechase Circus Big Show, George Hamid's Playland Circus, Hubert's Museum, the Strand Museum, the Mammoth Wonder Show, and David Rosen's Wonderland Circus Side Show. In 1929, Gumpertz left Coney Island to run Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus. David Rosen's Wonderland Circus Side Show displayed an array of living human oddities in 1930. However, starting in 1930, business dropped considerably during the Great Depression. While it was possible to attract 20,000 customers per day back in 1915, by the beginning of the Depression, showman were lucky to attract 8,000 customers a day. Showmen dropped their prices, but then the quality of the freaks began to suffer. It became hard to compete for freaks with the circuses and traveling carnivals. In the late 1930's Robert Moses, who was the New York City Parks Commissioner, tried to ban ballyhoo and outside lecturers. In 1938 three major sideshow operators were brought to trial for violation of the ordinance: Sam Wagner (World Circus Side Show), Dave Rosen (Coney Side Show), and Fred Sindell (Palace of Wonders Freak Show). Known as "The Godfather" of the Coney Island Freak Show, Sam Wagner endured a legal fight against the famed Robert Moses, who believed the age of sideshow entertainment was over and banned "Ballyhoo and Outside Lecturers", which eventually put the sideshows out of business. In 1955, David Rosen was still operating Wonderland Circus Sideshow and Palace of Wonders. Although there was much less interest in freaks, Rosen persisted for a few more years. According to the October 10, 1960 Billboard, in 1960, Sir Thomas Thomas was sword swallower with Dave Rosen Side Show at the New Jersey State Fair, and in October, the show then went into winter quarters at Coney Island. Over the decades, additional sideshows have worked at Coney Island, including John Bradshaw's Sideshow, Bobby Reynolds' International Circus Museum, and Dick Zigun's Sideshows by the Seashore. Human oddities who worked in circuses and other traveling shows enjoyed the relative stability and permanence of Coney Island. By the 1970's, the tradition of the sideshow in Coney Island had died out. But in 1985, Coney Island USA invited carnival showman John Bradshaw to perform for the Labor Day weekend. The shows were so successful that Bradshaw was invited back the following year to do a full summer season - and sideshow returned to Coney Island. Bradshaw brought a full troupe of sideshow acts with him, including such legendary performers as Melvin Burkhart and Otis Jordan. After five seasons, Bradshaw decided to not return. Today, Coney Island USA continues to produce its sideshow - very much as it had been produced 35 years earlier, since the turn of the last century. Today Coney Island is home to Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore. Founded in 1986, Sideshows by the Seashore was the brainchild of Dick Zigun who, as founder and artistic director of Coney Island USA (CIUSA) in 1980, is largely responsible for Coney Island's recent renaissance. Since its creation in 1986, the Sideshow has grown into an international hub for the weird under the guidance of its parent organization Coney Island USA, which is run out of the same building. The operation haas also taught sideshow skills since 2001 under the Coney Island Circus Sideshow School. For decades, the sideshows at Coney Island were legendary as seasonal homes for human oddities and sideshow freaks, including sword swallowers Milo Milse, Marie DeVere, the Mighty Ajax, Edna Price, Melvin Burkhart, Shumpert Eko, Slim Price, Bobby Reynolds, Baron Bill Unks, Frank Hartman, Lady Diane Falk, Todd Robbins, Fredini Kahl, Tyler Fleet, Heather Holliday, Adam Rinn, and many others. Seeking photos and more information. Sword Swallowers at Coney Island: 1897: Steeplechase Park opens 1903: Luna Park opens 1904: Dreamland opens 1910: Dreamland: Prince Milo Milse 1911: May 27, 1911 Dreamland fire breaks out 1911: Dreamland closes 1911: New Dreamland Circus Sideshow starts under tent 1916: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Marie DeVere 1917: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1917: Hubert Miller opened the first Hubert's Museum at the corner of Bowery and Henderson's Walk in Coney Island 1918: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1919: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1920: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1921: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1922: Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow opens 1923: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax, Marie DeVere 1924: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1925: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1926: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1927: Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow Mighty Ajax 1927: Dreamland Circus SideShow Line-up Marie DeVere, King Charles Roy 1927: Hubert's Museum Coney Island Line-up 1927: Prince Everett Roy born August 28, 1927 to King Charles Roy at Dreamland Circus Side Show 1928: Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow Mighty Ajax 1929: Gumpertz leaves Coney Island to run Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey 1930: Great Depression hits 1932: Dreamland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1937: George Hamid's Playland Circus: Edna Price 1937: Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow Edna Price 1938: Robert Moses attempts to ban sideshow ballies 1941: Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow closes 1944: Mammoth Wonder Show: Mighty Ajax 1944: Luna Park Wonderland Circus Sideshow: Mighty Ajax 1944: Luna Park damaged by 2 fires 1945: Luna Park closed 1955: Dave Rosen still operates Wonderland Circus Sideshow and Palace of Wonders 1960: Sir Thomas Thomas is sword swallower with Dave Rosen Side Show 1980: Dick Zigun founds Coney Island USA 1983: Coney Island Museum established 1986: Sideshows by the Seashore founded by Dick Zigun 1989: Sideshows by the Seashore: Lady Diane Falk 1990: Sideshows by the Seashore: Lady Diane Falk 1991: John Bradshaw Sideshow: Tisha Vudie 1991: Sideshows by the Seashore: Lady Diane Falk 1991: Sideshows by the Seashore: Baron Bill Unks 2001: Coney Island USA Sideshow School founded to preserve sideshow arts 2001: Coney Island Sideshow School: Todd Robbins, Dean of Sideshow School 2002: Coney Island Sideshow School: Todd Robbins, Fredini Kahl 2002: Adam Rinn learns sword swallowing at Coney Island Sideshow School 2007: Adam Rinn begins teaching sword swallowing at Coney Island Sideshow School 2021: Adam Rinn becomes Coney Island USA's new Artistic Director Dreamland Circus Sideshow Ajax with Dreamland Circus Sideshow (1920s?) Marie DeVere with Dreamland Circus Sideshow (1927) Dreamland Circus Sideshow (1931) video
Ajax Mighty Ajax Professor Ajax The Mighty Ajax J.M. Ajax Joe Milana Joseph Milana Joseph P. Milana The Pirate Ajax the Great Mexican Sword Swallower Arabian Sword Swallower King of Sword Swallowers King of Swords	Born 6 Dec 1884 Performed 1904-1959 Married 191? Married 4 Sept 1919 Died 27 April 1959	Miles Orton Big Southern Railroad Shows Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Texas Bill Wild West Side Show Hubert's Museum Boyd & Wirth's Circus International Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Coney Island Dreamland Circus Sideshow Mammoth Wonder Show Luna Park Wonderland Ripley's Believe It or Not! Surf Hotel Brooklyn, NY (USA)	The "Mighty Ajax" was born Joseph Milana of Italian descent on December 6, 1884 in Washington DC. According to 1900 US Census records, both of his parents were born in Italy, and his mother, Maria Milana became a US citizen in 1884, the same year that Joseph was born. According to 1900 US Census records, Joseph only received a 4th grade education. In the 1900 US Census, there is no mention of his father, but at the age of 15, young Joseph Milana was working as a "jeweller" in Brooklyn NY to help support his mother as the oldest of four children: Joseph Milana: 15, Salvatore Milana: 13, Kate Milana: 10, and Frank Milana: 6. (1896-1961) Sometime between 1900 and 1904, young Joseph started his career in entertainment as a pigeon trainer in New York "Dime Museums", and ended his career in variety shows as a "Punch and Judy man". In some articles, In a 1926 article, Ajax claimed to have taught himself sword swallowing by swallowing a knife at the age of 12, presumably around 1896. "When I was 12 years old, I went to a circus and saw a sword-swallower. I came home and swallowed a table knife. Easy." In other stories he indicated he learned sometime around 1903-1904 at around age of 19-20. His grandson, Joe Milani, says he learned by practicing with a stick. Joseph Milana is first listed as the sword swallower with the Miles Orton Big Southern Railroad Shows in the New York Clipper Directory of Show People published on March 5, 1904. (film c.1904-05) Later in 1904, the Mighty Ajax toured Europe with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at the age of 20 performing under the stage name as Mighty Ajax. the Mexican Sword Swallower. The earliest known photo of the Mighty Ajax, The Arabian Sword Swallower was taken around 1905, after he had just returned from touring Europe with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. According to the December 9, 1905 Billboard: "Notes from the side show of the Texas Bill Wild West Show. We have just closed our thirtieth week, during which time our roster has not changed. We have played twelve states and two territories. We expect to be out all winter. We have at present twenty-six people among whom are... Professor Ajax, Mexican sword swallower". When he performed his sword swallowing act, Ajax would stand on the bally, swallow a sword, and put it back in its scabbard. When audience members would claim, "Fake, fake!", Ajax would offer them a challenge: "If anyone doubts that I'm really swallowing a sword, bring me your own sword, and I'll swallow it, with the provision that if I swallow it, I get to keep it!" When Ajax performed for King George V of England, King George did not believe Ajax really swallowed the sword. So Ajax offered him his challenge. King George produced a sword, which Ajax carefully swallowed. As a result, the King was convinced, and Ajax was allowed to keep the King's sword. Ajax's first wife Marie (Riehl?) Milana also performed fire-eating and "double knife cutting" with him. The couple may have been married from around 1910 to 1918. Ajax's first son by his first wife Marie was named Bernie Milana, but he died of a head injury as a young man when he fell from a ladder and injured his head around 1917. Ajax performed in Vaudeville with Al Jolson and Eddy Cantor. Ajax was famous for his long run season after season at Coney Island's Dreamland Circus Side-Show. According to the June 2, 1917 Billboard: "Coney Island, N.Y. May 26 -- When one walks into the Dreamland Circus Side-Show, he is instantly struck with the idea that he is in a dream. In reality, and instinctively, he pinches himself to see if he is awake. The management of this famous side-show has certainly eclipsed all previous efforts, and the results have justified his efforts. Manager Salih walks around with a broad, good-natured smile these days, for altho the season is very backward and Coney Island has only had a day or two of decent weather, the Dreamland Circus Side-Show has been visited by everyone on the Island, and all visitors have to admit that it is the greatest ever. Here are the attractions: ...Ajax, sword swallower, Eli Bowen, legless man..." Ajax's Coney Island banner read, "Robert Ripley says, 'The only man in the world who can swallow a red hot sword!' " Ajax would heat up a sword in a charcoal fire until the sword was red hot, then put the sword in a scabbard and swallow both the sword and the scabbard at the same time. Ajax had to remove the sword quickly before it transferred the heat to the scabbard. According to reports, other sword swallowers later died while trying to imitate Ajax's feat. From 1917 to 1922, Ajax lived in Brooklyn and worked at Dreamland Circus Side-Show in Coney Island Brooklyn, NY. During this time, Ajax met 18-year-old Sarina Emmanuel, and on September 4, 1919, they were married. In 1921, Ajax's second son, Victor Milana was born. (Victor Milana lived until the 1970s, and is survived by his wife Vivian). In 1922, Mighty Ajax performed with Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus. On February 3, 1924, Ajax and Sarina gave birth to their third son, Richard Ernest Milana (1924-2012). In 1927, Mighty Ajax returned to perform with Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus (1927 line-up). In 1928, Ajax performed for Hubert's Museum in NY, and had an x-ray taken with a sword down his throat which was photographed by legendary circus photographer Edward Kelty in New York City. In 1932, Ajax the Sword Swallower was featured with Boyd & Wirth's Circus International. In 1939, Ajax was also known as "The Pirate" due to his distinctive trademark pirate bandana that he was known for wearing. The February-March 1939 issue of "Your Body" magazine featured an x-ray of Ajax with sword down his throat. According to the 1940 US Census, 55 year old Joseph Milana was married to 38 year old Sarina, when Ajax reported that he made $600/year working 10 hours/week and only 26 weeks per year (Comparatively, others in the 1940 Census report made $500-$700 per year working 50-52 weeks per year). According to a Sep 19, 1942 Billboard article: "World Circus Side Show employees helped Ajax, "King of Swords," and Sarina Milana, electric girl, celebrate their 23d wedding anniversary September 4th. Their two sons, Victor and Richard Milana, the former a staff sergeant at the Naval Military School, Washington, and the latter with the Marines abroad, sent wires of congrats." According to the June 10, 1944 Billboard, the Mammoth Wonder Show at Coney Island included Ajax the sword swallower in its 1944 line-up. In the 1940s, Mighty Ajax was able to swallow up to 5 swords at one time. According to a Coney Island article in the August 5, 1944 Billboard: "Two attractions named Ajax are confusing to associates. One is Ajax, the "King of Sword Swallowers" at the Mammoth, who says he came by the title first, and the other is a strong man and an accordian maker and player at David Rosen's Wonderland Circus Side Show in Luna. Both unrelated to the lightning god of ancient history..." According to a July 15, 1944 Billboard article on Coney Island: "Ajax has left the Mammoth Freakery and shelved sword swallowing to move into Wonderland to become a Frankenstein impersonator in place of Art Dorner who departed last week." In 1948, Ajax taught Slim Price how to swallow swords in a doorway between shows. According to a June 24, 1950 Billboard article: Coney Island "Ticket sellers are Amine Abbott, Joe Milana, (formerly AJAX, Sword King)..." According to an article in the 1952 Leatherneck: "Joseph Milana, whose circus name was Ajax, swallows a sword for fellow MCFA members". According to the July 12, 1952 Billboard, "Joseph (Ajax) Milana recently became a grandfather for the second time (June 20, 1952)". According to the July 4, 1953 Billboard, "Edith Purdin, inside lecturer at the Palace of Wonders celebrated the first anniversary of her grandson, Van Allen Milana, June 20, at the home of the youngster's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Milana, New York. Dad Victor is a TV engineer, and grandfather is Ajax, former sword swallower." In the mid-1950s, Ajax performed for Robert Ripley's Believe It or Not. According to a 1955 Ripley's article, "Mrs. Ajax also swallows hardware, but hers has jagged metal edges". According to the April 29, 1957 Billboard: "Roosevelt Field, huge shopping community on Long Island, started a six-day circus promotion Monday (April 22), with acts including several booked through Ray Beaudet. Included are ...Ajax, fire-eater and sword swallower. They put on 22 shows at five spots at the shopping center." According to Ajax's son, Richard Milana, the most swords Ajax ever swallowed simultaneously was 7 swords at once; he claimed Ajax never incurred any serious injuries from sword swallowing, as he was always very careful while sword swallowing. Joseph Milana lived for many years in the Coney Island Surf Hotel (built in 1903, abandoned for decades, demolished in December 2010). The Mighty Ajax was filmed around 1958. On April 27, 1959, Joseph Milana, The Mighty Ajax died in Brooklyn NY at the age of 74 after performing over 54 years. His obituary in the April and May 1959 Billboard states: "MILANA, Joseph, 74, known in outdoor show business as Ajax the Sword Swallower, April 27, in New York. He had spent a lifetime as an act and pitchman, much of it in the New York area working for Dave Rosen, Hubert's Museum, and Ringling in Madison Square Garden. Survivors include his widow, two sons, two grandchildren, a brother and a sister. Services May 1 in Brooklyn, with burial in Pinelawn Cemetery, Amityville, NY." Ajax is buried next to his wife Sarina (1901-1979) in Pinelawn Memorial Park Farmingdale, NY. When he died, Ajax's swords were willed to Jimmy Lucky Ball II, and before his wife Sarina died in 1979, she said "He sold his swords to a young fellow sword swallower" when his son Richard was in the military service. Some info courtesy of Ajax' son Richard E. Milana (1924-2012) and his wife Natalie Milana; Richard Ernest Milana was born Feb 3, 1924, graduated in 1950 from Cornell University, retired in January 1996 at the age of 82, died Jan 1, 2012 in San Diego, CA. His son, Ajax' grandson, Joseph Milana, was a physical engineer who graduated from Cornell in 1982 with a PhD from SUNY, Stony Brook on Long Island, who worked in high-particle research for very low pay--and left academia for industry. Other info courtesy of Ajax' grandson Van Milana, Brooklyn NY. Seeking photos and more information. Mighty Ajax Timeline: 1884: Dec 6: Joseph Milana born in Washington DC 1896: Claimed to have learned to swallow a knife at age 12 1900: Worked as jeweler in Brooklyn NY 1903-04: Learned sword swallowing at 18-19 1904: Miles Orton Shows 1904: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Europe 1904-5: Earliest known film of Young Ajax 1905: Earliest known photo of Mighty Ajax, The Arabian Sword Swallower 1905: Texas Bill Wild West Side Show 1910?: Marries Marie Milana 1917?: First son Bernie Milana dies 1917: Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side-Show 1918: Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side-Show 1919: Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side-Show 1919: September 4, 1919, marries Sarina Emmanuel 1920: Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side-Show 1921: Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side-Show 1921: Second son Victor Milana born 1922: Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus 1923: Coney Island Dreamland Side-Show 1924: Feb 3: son Richard Ernest Milana born 1924: Coney Island Dreamland Side-Show 1925: Coney Island Dreamland Side-Show 1926: Coney Island Dreamland Side-Show 1927: Coney Island Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow 1927: Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus 1928: Coney Island Sam Wagner's World Circus Sideshow 1928: Hubert's Museum NY 1928: Ajax X-ray photographed by Edward Kelty in NY 1932: Boyd & Wirth's Circus 1932: Jan 9: Circus Day at Grand Theatre, Coney Island 1932: Coney Island Dreamland Side-Show 1942: Dec 25: Son Victor marries Vivian on Christmas Day 1942 1944: Coney Island Mammoth Wonder Show 1944: Coney Island Luna Park Wonderland 1948: Taught Slim Price to swallow swords 1950: Coney Island selling tickets 1952: June 20: Grandson Van Allen Milana born in NY 1955: Ripley's Believe It or Not! 1958: Mighty Ajax filmed 1959: April 27: Mighty Ajax Joseph Milana dies at 74 in Brooklyn NY 1959: Joseph Milana buried at Pinelawn Memorial Park NY 1979: Wife Sarina Emannuel Milana dies 2012: Son Richard Milana dies Young Ajax (1904-05) Young Ajax (fim c 1904-5) Young Ajax (fim c 1904) Young Ajax (1905) Young Ajax (1905) Ajax (early) Young Ajax with sword shield Ajax Night at Coney Island (1927-28?) Ajax Night at Coney Island (1927-28?) Ajax Night at Coney Island (1927-28?) Ajax Night at Coney Island (1927-28?) Ajax Night at Coney Island (1927-28?) Ajax with Dreamland Circus Sideshow (1920s?) Ajax with Ringling Bros (1927) Ajax with Ringling Bros (1927) Ajax at Hubert's (1928) Ajax X-ray (1928) Ajax X-ray (1928) Ajax x-ray (1939) Ajax swallowing 5 (1940s) Mighty Ajax with sword pin (1940s) Mighty Ajax with sword pin closeup (1940s) Mighty Ajax at Ripley's party (1955) Joseph Milana gravesite Joseph Milana headstone
David Berlino (David Bäck)	Born 1886 Performed 1905-20 Died 1972	(Sweden)	David Bäck was born in Brevik, Skaraborg, Sweden in 1886, and performed throughout southern Sweden under the names "David Beck" and "David Berlino" as sword swallower, fire-eater and juggler with a circus he half-owned between about 1905 to about 1920. David Berlino Bäck died in Stockholm Sweden in 1972 at the age of 86. Sök efter fotos och upplysningen.
Dr. Max Cremer 1st Esophageal Electrocardiogram	1906	(Wales)	German doctor Dr. Max Cremer records the first oesophageal electrocardiogram performed in Wales which he achieved in 1906 after enlisting the help of an unnamed professional sword swallower. Seeking more information..
Ringling Brothers Circus	1907	(USA)	Ringling Brothers buys Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but tour separately until 1918.
Oesophagoscopy in a Sword Swallower	1908	Philadelphia, PA (USA)	According to an article in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences published in Philadelphia, PA in November 1908: Hald reports his observations in oesophagoscopy upon a sword swallower. The oesophagus had been very largely distended in consequence of the professional feats, and the cricoidean zone of the pharynx was patent and much larger than normal. There was an excoriation upon the posterior wall of the cricoid cartilage. Curiously, the patient could not support the examination any better than ordinary subjects, his oesophagus seeming to have become habituated to flat foreign bodies, but not to cylindrical ones. The mucous membrane was of a deep violaceous red, the result of chronic inflammatory condition, likewise the result of his sword swallowing. The tube could be introduced 45 cm. without reaching the cardia. Seeking more information.. Article (Nov 1908)
Edward Smith Edward Burnap Smith Edward Bernap Smith Edward Berner Smith Edward Bernard Smith	Born 1890 Performed 1900s-1918 Died September 22, 1946	Barnum & Bailey Circus Buffalo, NY Younkers, NY (USA)	Edward Burnap (or Bernap or Berner) Smith was born around 1890 either in New Jersey, or Buffalo, NY. He was orphaned at a young age when his parents were both killed in a train crash en route to the New Jersey Shore around 1893. He was very young when his parents died and he never really knew if his name was his real name from birth, an adoptive name, or one his circus family gave him. As a small child, he ran away from his adoptive family and joined Barnum & Bailey Circus as a water boy, possibly in or around Buffalo, NY. As he grew up in the circus, he learned to perform various circus acts, including trapeze artist (catcher), tightrope walker, sword swallower, fire eater and juggler. At a later time (early 1900's) Smith worked as a cowboy roping cattle in the western US in the off-season (perhaps when Barnum & Bailey returned to the US in 1902 and headed west in 1905?). Smith spoke an American Indian dialect fluently, possibly learned from his friend, a Chief of the Lakota or Nakota Sioux. He was also self-taught on 6 different musical instruments. Upon leaving Barnum & Bailey Circus, Smith worked briefly with a partner in Vaudeville. By 1918 he was no longer in show business. On June 19, 1918, Smith married Sarah Alice Noble and they resided in Harlem, NY, then Yonkers, NY with their daughter Alice, who was born in 1924 and died in 1988. Smith used to juggle milk bottles in the kitchen, and he taught his daughter Alice to walk a tightrope when she was a child. His daughter Alice Elizabeth Smith McCullough said he was very strong with dark features. Although he had been a strong man, Smith died of tuberculosis on September 22, 1946 at the age of 56 in Yonkers NY. He is buried in Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hartsdale, New York, Plot: St. Peter section, grave 224. Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Edward Burnap Smith
Otto Stiefel	Born Oct. 1886 Performed 1908 Died 1921	Edon, OH (USA)	Otto Stiefel was born in October 1886 in Edon, OH to Albert Stiefel and Emma Huber Stiefel. Otto Stiefel was featured as a sword swallower and blade walker in the Feb 29, 1908 New York Police Gazette. Otto Stiefel died in 1921 in Edon, Ohio, and is buried in Edon Florence Township Cemetery in Edon, Ohio. Seeking photos, dates, and more information. Otto Stiefel article (1908) Otto Stiefel grave
Johan Nestor Laaksonen	Born 1876 Performed pre-1906 Moved to USA in 1906 Died 1926	Turka [Finland] Quincy, MA Virginia, MN Brimson, MN (USA)	Johan Nestor Laaksonen was born in Turka Finland in 1876, and was a member of the Temperance Society there in his late youth. Johan's parents' had a farm in Rusko, Finland which provided only a low income. Johan had worked for awhile in the circus as a contortionist, sword swallower, tumbler, tight-rope artist, acrobat, and clown. Johan was also an actor, and he and his friend Rosa Lumme were typically cast in leading roles together, which led to them falling in love. Rosa was born in Finland about 1874. From her late youth, Rosa was also a member of the Temperance Society in Turka, Finland. Rosa was an actress, sang and eventually became director of the plays. Rosa also talked her father into joining the Temperance Society, which helped him overcome drinking alcohol. Rosa and Johan were married and Johan took over the director role once Rosa started having children. About 1906, Johan worked as a baker and borrowed money from fellow baker Gronlund to go to America. Gronlund came to America shortly after. Once in America in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Johan worked as a baker and directed plays at the Finnish Saima Hall. He managed to save enough to bring his family over within a year. In December 1907, Rosa and children started out for America from Turka, Finland. The children were ages: Urho 9, Ilmari 7, Irja 4 1/2, and Ilma 2. They took a train to Hanko to board a ship to Hull, England. At Hull, England they took a train to Liverpool to board the ship White Star Liner, Arabic. They arrived in America January 1908 and spent several days at Ellis Island. Johan then developed health problems working as a baker and had to quit baking. So Johan worked away from his family at the Finnish Cooperative Store while also directing some plays at the Finn Hall in Quincy, MA. The Finn Hall in Quincy then offered Johan a full-time directing job, so the family moved there. Rosa's brother Mauno was living in Virginia Minnesota and felt Minnesota was so much like Finland. Mauno convinced Rosa and Johan to move there. In spring 1912, Mauno sent a letter to Johan letting him know about opportunities in Virginia: business for sale and Virginia's Finnish Group needing a play director. Johan and his family moved to Virginia, MN in spring 1912 where they lived for about one year. Then on May 12, 1913. Johan, Rosa and family moved to a farm they bought in Brimson, MN, closer to the North Shore of Lake Superior. Johan Nestor Laaksonen died in 1926, and is buried in Brimson Cemetery in St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA. (For more extensive information on Johan and Rosa's life, read the book "Echos From the Past" by Irja Beckman) Seeking photos, dates, and more information.
William Meltons "Schwertkünstler"	Performed 1910	(Germany)	William Meltons performed in Germany as a "Schwertkünstler" ("Sword Artist") around 1910. Seeking photos and more information. William Meltons (1910)
Lawrence Bowden	Performed December 1913	LaSalle, IL Kenosha, WI (USA)	Sword Swallower Lawrence Bowden of LaSalle, IL made it on the front page of the Kenosha Evening News on Dec. 29, 1913. Accordint to the article, on Saturday evening, Dec. 27, 1913, Bowden dropped into a downtown saloon and began entertaining his fellow imbibers by swallowing pieces of metal found in the establishment. They were in awe, and Bowden decided to pass the hat so his new friends could show their proper appreciation. It was about this time that a police officer walked in and decided to haul Bowden in for vagrancy and for not having a license for his free show. Bowden was well dressed and had money in his pocket for the fine, but he declared that swallowing a sword was not a crime. The night sergeant at the desk convinced him to sleep it off in lockup, and, because Bowden was a little tired, he complied. On Sunday morning, Police Chief Owen O'Hare came to the station and saw there was an inmate booked on a charge of "sword swallowing." He immediately had Matt Zievers, the desk sergeant, send Bowden up from his cell. The newspaper reported what happened next: "Well, get busy and let's see you swallow some swords," the chief yelled, and without a sign of hesitation Bowden gulped down an old-fashioned broad sword and followed it with an army bayonet. The police were mystified, but Bowden declared that he had only begun. He continued to crowd away in his esophagus any number of things metallic, and finally he made the proposition to the chief that he would swallow eight swords at once, if liberty was guaranteed to him. "Get right to swallowing!" was the only reply of the chief, and Bowden picked up eight swords, and laying them blade for blade, he put them away in his gullet. "I guess there is no doubt but that you''re a real sword swallower,' declared the chief, and he got up and gave Bowden the hearty hand clasp of a brother and sent him on his way rejoicing." Seeking photos and more information.
Max Schlepsig	Performed 1913	(Germany) (Albania)	In 1913, at the time when Albania was looking for a king and hoped that prince Halim Eddine (Halim Etti), nephew of the sultan of Constantinople, would agree to ascend the throne, a 42 year old German, Otto Witte, circus clown and magician by profession who happened to resemble the prince, arranged to have a telegram sent from Constantinople to the head of the Albanian army announcing the arrival of the prince by boat. Witte and his accomplice, Max Schlepsig, a sword swallower promoted to "aide-de-camp" in the interest of the cause, disembarked at Durazzo (Durrës) dressed up in theatre uniforms, and inspected the Albanian guard who presented arms to them. A few days later, after establishing a harem of 25 women, the versatile circus performer and usurper Witte succeeded to be crowned King Otto the First of Albania on August 13th, 1913. The hoax lasted five days. The truth came out when Halim Eddine sent a telegram from Constantinople in which he said he was astonished to be crowned king of Albania without even being aware of it. With the assistance of the young women of the harem, Otto Witte and Max Schlepsig managed to flee from the palace just in time to escape on a fishing boat to Bari. Witte died in Hamburg, Germany exactly 45 years later on August 13th, 1958. Seeking photos and more information..
Anatomisches Wunder Anatomical Wonder	Performed circa 1916?	Circus Shumann Berliner Theater Berlin (Germany)	The Anatomisches Wunder (the Anatomical Wonder) was a German soldier and Schwertschlucker (sword swallower) who served in the German military in Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1. The Anatomisches Wunder performed for 15 days in the Berliner Theater, and for one month with Circus Schumann, and was photographed and x-rayed while swallowing a sword in uniform. According to the photo: "A talented member of Kaiser Alexander's Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr.1 demonstrates his talent for sword swallowing by downing a Hirschfänger, a long double-edged hunting knife used to kill deer and boar." Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1, (briefly Alexander-Regiment or Alexandriner) was an infantry regiment of the Guard Corps within the Royal Prussian Army and a Guards Grenadiers regiment of the Imperial German Army. After World War I, the regiment was demobilized on 27 November 1918). Could this have been Captain Heinrich von Bablitz or Paul Widowski? Seeking photos and more information. Anatomicshe Wunder mit Kaiser Alexander (c1916?)
Capt. Heinrich von Bablitz "Dare Devil Sensationest"	Performed ?	(Germany)	Sword swallower Capt. Heinrich von Bablitz was known as the "Daredevil Sensationest". Seeking photos and more information. Capt. Heinrich von Bablitz
P. Widowski Paul Widowski Paul Widowsky "World Champion Sword Swallower"	Performed 1890s-1930?	Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 68 IV Berlin (Germany)	Paul Widowski or Paul Widowsky was known as "World Champion Sword Swallower" of his time (also labeled "Schwertschlucker" or "Sword Swallower" in German). Widowski was listed in 1930 in a Berlin address book as "Paul Widowski, Artist, Pankow, Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 68 IV, Berlin". Paul Widowski was also listed as an artist in a 1943 address book as an Artist living at Kaiserstraße 145 in Mariends in Berlin. Could Paul Widowski have been the Anatomisches Wunder? Seeking photos and more information.. Paul Widowski (1890s) Paul Widowski Berlin Address (1943)
Borovik B. Ivanoff B. Ivanhoff Cossack Sword Dancer Kazakh Sword Dancer "World Champion Sword Dancer"	Performed 191?s-30s	Russian Royal Circus [Russia] Russian Tea Room New York, NY [USA]	Seeking information on Borovik, who performed as a sword swallower with the Russian Royal Circus and apparently left Russia at the fall of the Czar in 1917. It is not known for sure if he moved to or performed in the US. However, there was also a Russian Sword Swallower named B. Ivanoff or B. Ivanhoff, who was known as a "World Champion Sword Dancer" with a troop of Russian "Cossacks" or Kazakhs known for their demonstration of horsemenship and dancing, who performed at the Russian Tea Room in NY in the 1920s. Could this have been the same person? Or was this the "Flaming Dagger Dancer" Dimitry Matvienko who performed at the Casino Russe, 157 W. 56th St., located in the Carnegie Hall Building in New York City? Seeking photos and more information. Unknown Russian SwSw (1926) Russian Cossack B. Ivanhoff (1926) Russian Cossack B. Ivanoff Flaming Dagger Dancer Dimitry Matvienko
Alexander Joseph Dourof	Born 1881 Performed 1917?-40s? Died Jan 12, 1949	Russian Royal Circus (Russia) (Wales) London (UK)	Alexander Joseph Dourof was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1881 into the well-known Dourof Circus family. The Dourofs were initially animal trainers, and Alexander Dourof was allegedly one of the first trainers to train a bear without breaking its back. "The Dourof Family" performed as part of a non-staterun circus in Russia, and in the Russian Royal Circus until the Russian Revolution in 1917 when they escaped as refugees to the UK, settling for a short period in Wales. Their first performance in the UK was with a circus in Barmouth, Wales, and after a short time (the circus came to an end in Wales around 1925), the family later moved to England. Alexander was married to Sophia Elsa Dourof, who was born in Russia in 1888 and died in the UK in 1967. They had ten children who were born in various countries, with the eldest five becoming UK nationalized citizens, including a daughter named Sarah, and a son named Harry Phillip Dourof who was born in the UK and died in 1986. When they first landed in the UK, both Alexander and Sophia entertained British troops, as she was a tight rope walker and the eldest two children were performing acrobats in the ring. After immigrating to the UK, Dourof was required to join the military and was recruited into the Light Cavalry, where as an animal trainer, he handled horses with great skill, and as a sword swallower, he was a master with the saber. The Dourof family traveled together as a family circus and eventually settled down in Peckham England, where they were well-known and well-liked. There was a book written in Russian about Alexander Dourof and his family, but it is out of print and unavailable in English; There is also a plaque commemorating Dourof the sword swallower's assistance in the development of the stomach pump at the renowned Guys Hospital near London Bridge. The original 1943 film "The Man in Grey" (starring James Mason), featured Alexander Dourof in the background swallowing a sword during a carnival scene, although the original film was ruined, and the later version released on video does not include Dourof's scene. Dourof died in England at the age of 68 on January 12, 1949. Alexander Dourof and his wife Sophia are buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery in Honor Oak Park in southeast London. On his headstone, Dourof is hailed as being "A Great Showman and the Last of the Sword Swallowers". Seeking photos, dates, and more information Alexander Dourof - gravesite Alexander Dourof - headstone Alexander Dourof - face Sophia Dourof - headstone Sophia Dourof - face
Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show Miller Bros 101 Wild West Show Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Ranch	Began 1905 Toured US 1907-1916 Toured Europe 1908	Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Ranch Ponca, OK (USA)	The Miller Brothers 101 Ranch was founded in 1893 by Confederate Army veteran Colonel George Washington Miller on a 110,000-acre cattle ranch located near modern-day Ponca City in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma. The largest diversified farm and ranch in America at the time, the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch was one of the main focal points of the oil rush in northeastern Oklahoma, and the birthplace of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show. After Colonel George Miller died in 1903, his three sons, Joseph, George Jr., and Zack Miller took over operation of the 110,000 acre ranch. The Millers' neighbor Major Gordon W. Lillie, who performed as Pawnee Bill, motivated the Millers to produce a Wild West Show of their own. In 1905, the Miller brothers put on an exhibition which they called "Oklahoma's Gala Day" to demonstrate the western skills and horsemanship of their ranch hands and the local American Indian tribes. The "National Editorial Association" attended the event, and as a result, the show received much publicity across the nation. The Miller Brothers decided to make the transition from local shows to touring on the national scene. Based on the recent success of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and after the success of their initial exhibition, the Miller brothers decided to take their show on the road as a traveling wild west show. In 1907, Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show performed at the Jamestown Exposition in Virginia. Later in 1907, the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show began their tour in Brighton Beach, New York. Joe Miller, the eldest son, was an exceptional equestrian and star performer. During their first year on the circuit, the show had more problems than most in a business that was harsh even in the best of times. During their first year on the circuit, the show suffered a serious railroad accident, and later several members of their cast contracted typhoid fever. In 1908, after Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill combined their shows into an extravaganza that broke records at Madison Square Gardens in New York City, the Miller Brothers decided to follow Buffalo Bill's lead and take their wild west show abroad to Europe, a decision they would later regret due to unfortunate timing. In 1908, with tensions running high in Europe just before World War I, the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show landed in Europe. When the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show toured Germany, authorities arrested some of their Oglala Sioux performers on suspicion of being Serbian spies, and they were never seen again. Zack Miller managed to get the rest of his cast out of Germany via Norway, and then to England. In England, the British military confiscated most of the 101's horses, stagecoaches, and automobiles in preparation for the upcoming war, as tensions were building up to the pending World War. Once in London, Miller had difficulty finding a steamship that would sell his people passage. Finally, he obtained passage for his cast on an American ship. Once the cast returned to Oklahoma, the eldest brother Joe Miller refused to pay the Indian cast overtime. As a result, the entire Indian cast quit the show. After World War I began, the show took a hiatus from 1916 until 1925. By 1916, the two younger Miller brothers, George Jr. and Zack, gave up trying to work with their volatile older brother, Joe. George and Zack worked at the ranch, while Joe schemed to make the Wild West Show a financial success. In 1916, Joe Miller hired an out-of-work, ill and aging Buffalo Bill Cody to star in a World War I recruitment show called the "Pageant of Preparedness." Soon Cody quit the show; he died within a year. Still unwilling to let the show close, Joe Miller continued to operate on a smaller scale. When the 101 Ranch Wild West Show returned to the road in 1926, they ran in to grave financial difficulties, losing over $100,000 in 1926 alone. As the Great Depression began, the show went deeper into debt. In 1927, Joe Miller was unsuccessful in his attempts to sell his show to the American Circus Corporation. On October 21, 1927, Joe Miller died and on February 2 1929, George Miller died, leaving brother Zack to cope with the financial losses. The situation became overwhelming, and in 1931 both the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show and the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Ranch went into receivership. By 1932, most of the land on the 101 Ranch was owned by the Miller family, with other land leased from the Ponca, Pawnee, and Otoe Indians in Kay, Noble, Osage and Pawnee Counties of Oklahoma. Zack Miller tried to carry on alone, but in 1932, during the Great Depression, he filed for bankruptcy. The US government seized the show's remaining assets and bought 8,000 acres of the 101 Ranch. Most of the equipment and property were sold at auction in 1932. Completely broke, the 101 Ranch Show closed after the New York World's Fair in 1939. The 101 Ranch remained in the Miller family for almost 60 years. In 1952, Zack Miller died of cancer, and the ranch was subdivided and all of its buildings destroyed. In 2003, the ranch was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame. Reknowned cowboy Bill Pickett's grave and the White Eagle Monument are located on the ranch grounds. An 82-acre area of the ranch is a National Historic Landmark. Over the course of the show's history, the cast included Bill Pickett, Lillian Smith, Bessie Herberg, Bee Ho Gray, Tom Mix, Jack Hoxie, Mexican Joe, Ross Hettan, and an elderly Buffalo Bill. Sword swallowers with the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Ranch included Delno Fritz and Maude D'Auldin (1908), Sir Albert (1925), Milo Milse (1929), and Marie DeVere in early years unknown. Seeking photos and more information on sword swallowers with Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show. Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show Timeline/Sword Swallowers: 1893: Miller Brothers 101 Ranch founded by Colonel George Washington Miller 1903: Colonel George Miller dies; sons Joseph, George Jr., and Zack Miller take over 1905: Miller Brothers hold "Oklahoma's Gala Day" event 1907: Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show performs at Jamestown Exposition in VA 1907: Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show begins tour in Brighton Beach, NY 1908: Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show tours Europe 1908: Sword Swallowers Delno Fritz and Maude D'Auldin 191?: Sword Swallower Marie DeVere 1916: Elderly Buffalo Bill tours with Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show 1917: Jan 10: Buffalo Bill dies 1917: Show does not tour on road 1918: Show does not tour on road 1919: Show does not tour on road 1920: Show does not tour on road 1925: Sword swallower Sir Albert 1926: Miller Brothers buy Walter L. Main Circus equipment and goes back on road 1926: Miller Brothers Show loses over $100,000 1927: Joe Miller is unsuccessful in selling show to American Circus Corporation 1927: Joe Miller dies of carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage 1928: Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show Line-up 1929: Sword swallower Milo Milse 1929: George Miller dies 1931: Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show and Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Ranch go into receivership 1932: Most of the equipment and property are sold at auction 1939: 101 Ranch Show closes after the New York World's Fair 1952: Zack Miller dies of cancer 2003: The Miller Brothers 101 Ranch inducted into Texas Trail of Fame
Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus RBB&B "Big Bertha"	Purchased 1907 Combined Show 1918 Moved 1927	Baraboo WI Sarasota FL (USA)	In 1918, Ringling Brothers Circus and Barnum and Bailey Circus combine to become one combined show, Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus (RBB&B). Following the death of James Bailey in 1906, the Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus for $400,000 in 1907 but continued to operate the two circuses separately. By the second decade of the 20th century, the Ringling brothers' circus itself had swelled to employ more than 1,000 people who traveled with 16 camels, 26 elephants, and 335 horses on 92 railroad cars. In 1919, responding to labour shortages and complications with rail travel brought about by World War I, the Ringlings combined their two circuses into one, which they called Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. The consolidated circus employed more than 1,100 people, 735 horses, and almost 1,000 other animals, and traveled in 90-100 double-length train cars. On March 29, 1919, the combined "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows" debuted in New York City. The posters declared, "The Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows and the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth are now combined into one record-breaking giant of all exhibitions." In the 1920s the circus thrived under the direction of the last living Ringling brother, John Nicholas Ringling, who moved the winter home from Baraboo Wisconsin to Sarasota Florida in 1927. In 1929 John Ringling purchased the American Circus Corporation for $1.7 million, thereby absorbing five major shows: Sells-Floto Circus, Al G. Barnes Circus, Sparks Circus, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, and John Robinson Circus. During the Great Depression, the combined circus suffered financially, and by 1932 it had come under the control of its creditors. Following John Ringling's death in 1936, an internal struggle for control among the surviving family members ended when John Ringling North, the son of the only Ringling sister, Ida, came up with the funds necessary to buy back the circus. North sought to modernize the circus and borrowed from the aesthetics of Broadway and motion pictures. In 1938 North introduced Gargantua the Great into the circus's lineup and employed an audacious advertising campaign to transform the 460-pound (210-kg) lowland gorilla into the most famous circus animal of the 20th century, rescuing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey from looming bankruptcy in the process. On July 6, 1944, the infamous Hartford Circus Fire occured while RBB&B was performing in Hartford, CT. In 1951, Lady Patricia Zerm was filmed as the sword swallower with the 1951 edition of the Ringling Brothers B&B Circus in Cecil B. DeMille's film "The Greatest Show on Earth" which was filmed on location with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1951 and released in 1952. By the mid-1950s, competition from other forms of entertainment, high labor costs, and a lack of usable open spaces to stage such a large circus led Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to cease operations after giving what was thought to be its last performance on July 16, 1956, in Pittsburgh. On July 16, 1956, RBB&B gave its last performance under canvas and ended what was thought to be its last season. In 1957, however, the circus resumed operations after North entered into an agreement with concert promoter Irvin Feld, under which the circus continued performing - not under the big-top tent but in indoor facilities which Feld contracted. Without the need to put up and take down the tent, the circus was able to reduce costs and cut its workforce from 1,400 to 300 employees (including 80 performers). In the spring of 1957, RBB&B begins performing in auditoriums. In the fall of 1967, Irving Feld and his brother Israel Feld buy the RBB&B circus from the North and Ringling family interests for $8-$10 million, formally taking possession in a ceremony that was held in the Colosseum in Rome on November 11, 1967. In 1968, Irving Feld buys the German Circus Williams specifically to add its famous animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams to the Ringling roster. In 1968, RBB&B eliminates the sideshow and menagerie when RBB&B Circus moves into the new Madison Square Gardens above Penn Station. In 1968, Irvin Feld establishes "Ringling Brothers Clown College." In 1969, Ringling Brothers adds a second traveling unit, called the Blue Unit. In 1971 Mattel, Inc. buys the circus from Feld for $40 million, although members of the Feld family continue to manage it. In 1982 the Felds buy back the circus, which in 1984 becomes part of Feld Entertainment, headed by Irvin Feld's son, Kenneth Feld. In the decades to come, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey would continue to be managed and produced by members of the Feld family. In the 1990s it entertained audiences of 11 million attendees each year. In 2016, Ringling Brothers ceases using elephants in its shows. In 2017, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus closes after 146 years with its final performance on May 21, 2017 at the Nassau Coliseum. Sword swallowers with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus include Annie Roy, Charles Griffin, James "Daddy" Day, Capt. Fritz Lecardo, Edward Smith, Edith Clifford, Mighty Ajax, Delno Fritz, Edna Price, Joseph Grendol, Mimi Garneau, Lowell "Curly" Frisbie, Edward Willis, Alex Linton, Lady Patricia Zerm, Lady Beth Bancroft, Ricky Richiardi, Lee Bradley, Estelline Pike, Jim Lucky Ball II, Francis Doran, and Lady Sandra Reed Ringling Brothers Circus Timeline, Routes, Sword Swallowers: 1890: Route Sword Swallower Annie Roy? 1891: Route Sword Swallower Annie Roy? 1892: Route Sword Swallower Annie Roy? 1899: Route & Staff Sword Swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin 1900: Route & Staff Sword Swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin 1901: Route & Staff Sword Swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin 1902: Route & Staff Sword Swallower Professor Charles E. Griffin 1903: Route & Staff Sword Swallower: none listed 1904: US Route Sword Swallower ? 1905: US Route Sword Swallower ? 1906: US Route Sword Swallower ? 1906: Circus owner James Bailey dies 1907: Ringling Brothers buys Barnum & Bailey but tour separately 1907: US Route Sword Swallower Capt. Fritz Lecardo? 1908: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1909: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1910: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1911: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1912: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1913: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1914: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1915: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith?, Ching Ling Chinese Troupe 1916: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1917: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1918: US Route Sword Swallower Edward Smith? 1918: Ringling Brothers, Barnum, & Bailey Circus become combined show 1919: March 29 Houdini watches Edith Clifford perform with RBB&B 1920: Edith Clifford 1921: Edith Clifford 1922: Mighty Ajax 1923: Delno Fritz and Miss Edna Price 1924: Line-up: Delno Fritz and Edna Price 1924: Line-up: Delno Fritz and Miss Edna Price 1925: Line-up: Delno Fritz and Miss Edna Price 1925: July: Delno Fritz dies 1926: Rubel and Edna Price 1926: John Ringling abolishes animal acts 1927: Line-up: Mighty Ajax and Edna Price 1927: John Ringling moves winter quarters from Baraboo WI to Sarasota FL 1928: Balmung and Edna Price 1929: John Ringling buys and merges American Circus Corporation, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Al G. Barnes Circus, John Robinson Shows, Sells-Floto Circus and Sparks Circus with Ringling Bros Barnum&Bailey 1929: Line-up: "Glendol" (Joseph Grendol) 1930: Edna Price 1931: Line-up: Edna Price 1932: RBBB Circus comes under control of its creditors 1932: Line-up: Edna Price 1933: Line-up: Edna Price? 1934: ? 1935: Gendol 1936: Owner John Ringling dies 1936: Line-up: Mimi Garneau 1936-37: John Ringling North buys circus 1937: Line-up: none listed 1938: Mimi Garneau 1939: Mimi Garneau 1939: Miss Patsy Smith 1940: Alex Linton 1941: Miss Patricia Katts 1942: Miss Patricia 1942: possibly Curly Frisbie? or Edward Willis ? 1943: Miss Patricia Mrs. Speedy Smith 1944: Miss Patricia Katts and Miss Louise Long 1944: July 6: Hartford CT Fire 1945: Lady Patricia Zerm 1945: Alex Linton 1946: Alex Linton 1947: Alex Linton 1948: Lady Patricia Zerm 1949: Alex Linton 1950: Lady Patricia Zerm 1951: Lady Patricia Zerm filmed 1952: "Greatest Show on Earth" movie released 1952: none listed 1953: Lady Beth Betty Bancroft 1954: Lady Beth Elizabeth J. Bancroft 1955: Ricky Richiardi 1956: Ricky Richiardi 1956: Alex Linton 1956: July: John Ringling North orders RBBB to fold up tents, work arenas 1956: July 16: RBB&B gives its last performance under canvas in Pittsburgh PA 1957: RBB&B begins working arenas under promoter Irvin Feld 1957: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Garden 1958: Nate Eagles operates Ringling Side Show at Madison Square Gardens 1958: Estelline Pike/Jim Lucky Ball II at Madison Sq Gardens 1959: Dick Best operates Ringling Side Show at Madison Square Gardens 1959: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1960: April: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1961: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1962: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1963: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1964: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1965: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1966: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1966: Sir Thomas Thomas 1967: Estelline Pike at Madison Square Gardens 1967: Irving & Israel Feld buy RBB&B 1968: RBB&B Sideshow eliminated 1968: Irvin Feld establishes Ringling Brothers Clown College 1969: RBB&B adds a second Blue Unit 1969: Francis Doran neon tube burst in Houston 1971-82: RBB&B is owned by toy maker Mattel 1973: Lady Sandra Reed 1982: The Felds buy back RBB&B circus 2016: Ringling Brothers ceases showing elephants 2017: May 21: Closes after 146 years, final show at Nassau Coliseum Seeking more info on sword swallowers with Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus
Maude D'Lean Mlle de Aldine Maud D'Aulin Maud D'Auldin Maud D.Auldin Maud DeAuldin Maud D'Aulden Maude D'Auldin Mrs. Delno Fritz Mrs. Francis Fritz	Born c. 1878 Married 1899 Performed 1899-1920 Died 1920	Barnum & Bailey Circus Greater Norris & Rowe Circus Miller Bros 101 Wild West Ranch Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Al G. Barnes Circus Brook's Museum John Robinson Circus Side Show Dreamland Theatre World's Museum Phila (USA)	Maud D'Auldin (sometimes spelled Maud D'Aulin, Maud D'Auldin, Maude D'Auldin, Maud D.Auldin, Maud DeAuldin, Mlle de Aldine, Maud DeAulden, Maud D'Aulden, Maude D'Lean or Mrs. Maude Fritz) was born around 1878 in Paisley Scotland. In 1897, sword swallower Delno Fritz met Maud D'Auldin in Scotland while touring the UK with Barnum & Bailey Circus. In 1899, Delno Fritz married Maud D'Auldin in Paisley, Scotland probably between September 25-29, 1899 while Barnum & Bailey Circus was performing earby in Glasgow Scotland. The Fritz family lived in the UK another 8 years where Fritz bought and operated a few theatres, before they moved to Ashley Pennsylvania in June 1907. In 1912, the couple performed an act known as "Sword and Gun Manipulation" with the Hagenbeck Wallace Sideshow. In 1915, Delno Fritz and Maud D'Auldin were booked as sword swallowers on the Al G. Barnes Circus. In 1916, Maude D.Auldin and Delno Fritz were featured as sword swallowers on the John Robinson Circus Side Show, while their 17-year-old niece Edna worked as the "floating lady", according to the 1916 John Robinson Shows program. An article in the Los Angeles Times dated Feb 1, 1916 states, "Mrs. Francis Fritz (38 years of age) who makes her living by shoving swords down her throat at Brook's Museum, No. 116 South Main street, early last night swallowed one sword too many and landed in the Receiving Hospital. The sword swallower declared last night that for over twenty years she had been entertaining people by swallowing swords and knives and never before injured herself. But last night, after she had swallowed and then pulled a long sword from her throat, Mrs. Fritz discovered that she had been injured, and was taken to the Receiving Hospital and later to the County Hospital, and according to doctors, she is in a serious condition." Maud died in 1920 at the age of 42 after she and Delno Fritz gave a command performance onboard a ship before the King and Queen of England. It was her practice to pass out her sword to the crowd for examination so they could see that it was real. Apparently someone in the crowd nicked the blade which resulted in an injury that led to her death. Their niece Edna Price took up sword swallowing in 1920 and continued the act with "Uncle Delno" beyond his death in 1925. Seeking photos and more information. Maud D'Lean D'Auldin D.Auldin DeAuldin Timeline 1878: Born circa 1878 in Paisley Scotland 1897: Meets Delno Fritz with Barnum & Bailey Circus in UK 1899: Sept: Marries Delno Fritz in Paisley Scotland 1901: Live in Yorkshire, England 1907: April-May: Moves from UK to Ashley PA 1908: Miller Bros 101 Wild West Ranch Ponca City, OK with Delno Fritz 1909: Jan 25: Star Rink Chanute KS with Delno Fritz 1909: Waverly Market Winter Fair Edinborough, Scotland 1909: Nov 29: Bijou New Philadelphia, OH with Delno Fritz 1910: April 25-26: Greater Norris & Rowe Circus Louisville KY 1910: May 9: Greater Norris & Rowe Circus closes 1911: Mar 3: Reidsville, NC with Delno Fritz 1911: May 20: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Delno Fritz 1912: Feb 2: Savoy Theater Wilkes-Barre PA with Delno Fritz 1912: Hagenbeck-Wallace Sideshow with Delno Fritz 1915: Al G. Barnes Circus with Delno Fritz 1916: Feb 1: Injured at Brooks Museum 1916: John Robinson Circus Side Show with Delno Fritz & Edna Price 1917: Oct 25: Dreamland Theatre, Pittston, PA with Delno Fritz 1920: World's Museum, Philadelphia, PA with Delno Fritz 1920: Dies from sword swallowing injury on ship Mrs. Fritz injury (1916) John Robinson Shows program (1916)
Cuban Mack	Performed 1924	Sells Floto Circus (USA)	Cuban Mack was the sword swallower and knife thrower with the Sells Floto Circus on June 8, 1924 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Seeking photos, dates and more information.
Herschel Allen	Performed 1920s	Pennsylvania (USA)	Herschel Allen was a sword swallower with a circus in Pennsylvania in the 1920s. Seeking photos and more information.
William Moody The Sword Swallower	Born c. 1905 Injured 1928 Died Jan 2, 1928 Buried Jan 13, 1928	Kansas City, MO (USA)	According to an article dated January 2, 1928 in the Miami OK Daily News Record, "Kansas City: William Moody, 23 years old, a professional sword swallower, died today in a hospital where he was taken Friday after injuring himself with a butcher knife while demonstrating his ability in a restaurant. Influenza developed, and it was believed this caused his death." According to information listed on his grave site: "Unknown date of birth, "guess" of age on death certificate is 35 yrs. White male. His last residence is given as 505 Delaware. There is a "loft" currently listed for #505, 509 Delaware St., Kansas City, MO. Possibly same. Died of "Bilateral Lobar Pneumonia". Place of death is listed as Jackson County, Kansas City General Hospital, Kansas City. Occupation is listed as: "Showman". No next of kin listed. Burial Maple Hill Cemetery on 13 Jan 1928. Undertaker: Eylar Funeral Home, 1800 Linwood." Seeking photos and more information.
Anastasia Humeniuk Nellie Naska Anastasia Humeniuk Anastasia Lewchuk Nellie Lewchuk	Born July 20 1898 Married June 11, 1916 Performed 1920-1968 Died 1968	Lewchuk Vaudeville N.P. Lewchuk Sideshow Midway Lew'chuk's Midway and Shows Canora, Saskatchewan (Canada)	Anastasia "Nellie" Lewchuk was a trailblazer in the entertainment world and a pioneer of Canadian Vaudeville. Along with her husband, Professor Nikola Paul Lewchuk, their N.P. Lewchuk Sideshow Midway was Canada's largest travelling sideshow and performed around Canada from 1920 to 1968. And sword swallower Nellie was the star of the show, swallowing up to 7 swords at once. 'Anastasia "Nellie" Humeniuk was born on July 20 1898 in Yorkton, Orkney Saskatchewan Canada, in 1916, she married sideshow operator "Professor" Nicholas "Nikola" Paul Lewchuk at the age of 17 on June 11, 1916. Their honeymoon journey to Florida ignited a shared fascination with magic and traveling shows, inspiring the couple to establish Lewchuk Vaudeville in the 1920s as the first Western Ukrainian Canadian Vaudeville show. In 1902, Nicholas Paul Lewchuk, at the age of 6, boarded the S.S. Armenia and sailed with his parents and brother, from Ukraine to Canada, where the family planned to purchase an undeveloped parcel of land and start a new life. The Lewchuks landed in Halifax and made their way west, eventually settling in Yorkton, a small town located in what soon would become the province of Saskatchewan. Lewchuk spent his youth working on his family's farm and hungrily acquiring knowledge in public school and through independent study and correspondence courses. Over the years, he developed skills in a wide variety of areas, including photography, taxidermy, painting, motion picture operation, commercial printing, and record production. Lewchuk also developed an interest in magic and taught himself a few simple parlour tricks. As a teen, he successfully hypnotised a bird after reading a book on hypnotism. In 1914, after watching a touring magician perform in Vegreville, Alberta, Lewchuk was inspired to make magic his life's work. "Magical miracles were performed one after another, followed by thunderous applause," he wrote of the Vegreville performance, years later, in his self-published autobiography. "The stage setting and displays were wonderful to me, This was it! It was so fascinating that I decided, 'This is the life I want to have! I'll travel with my wife and perform in a magic and vaudeville show.' and learned to swallow swords. Although his magic and vaudeville training were well underway, Lewchuk spent several years working in the local Ukrainian theatre, where he was active acting, creating scenery, making costumes, and as a makeup artist. Lewchuk still needed a wife before he could put his plan fully into motion. In 1916, he noticed a young girl shopping for groceries with her family. The grocer told him they were the Humeniuks. Lewchuk soon paid a visit to the Humeniuk home and introduced himself to Anastasia, known as "Nellie". Nellie proved to be equally interested in Nikola, and after a brief courtship, the couple were married on June 11, 1916. Nellie was 17 years old. With a lovely assistant to help him, Lewchuk continued his studies of magic and vaudeville in preparation for the day he would perform his first show. "I visited fairs, theatres and any other place I could find to watch performance in all its details," he wrote. "I had met a few magicians . . . and explained to them my interest in magic. Usually they were friendly and free to swap ideas." Lewchuk perfected his show while continuing to work his parents' farm and by 1919 began hiring performers and stagehands, who he trained throughout the winter and following spring. The next year, he and Nellie, along with their new troupe, hit the road, touring the Prairies with a two-and-a-half hour show that utilized many of Lewchuk's talents, including magic, hypnotism, juggling, drama, tap, feats of strength, fire magic, and clowning. For years, the Lewchuk Vaudeville Company toured the Canadian Prairies and beyond. New performers were added to the act as each of Nicholas and Nellie's children became old enough to walk onstage. An entirely new show was created each season, with Lewchuk making all of the equipment, scenery, and costumes, as well as printing the company's posters and handbills. Nellie quickly came into her own as a performer, managing to remain unscathed while sitting in a box punctured by swords and excelling as a sword swallower to such a degree that she could swallow up to 7 swords at once, and was posthumously inducted into the Sword Swallowers Association International's hall of fame. Nellie's life was marked by creativity, resilience, and a commitment to spreading joy through performance. As the creative force behind their performances, Nellie mastered the dramatic art of sword swallowing, and was best known for swallowing 7 swords at once. Meanwhile, Nikola took on the stage persona of Professor Lew'chuk the Magician. Together, they transformed their passion into a dynamic traveling enterprise, later known as Lew'chuk's Midway & Shows. For decades, their productions captivated audiences across Ontario, the western provinces, and British Columbia. In 1938,Nikola earned formal recognition from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Lewchuk reinvested his profits, and by the 1940s had begun to build his own midway rides. The first attraction of what eventually became known as Lew'chuk's Midway and Shows was an aeroplane ride, powered by a belt that ran from the ride's shaft to the back wheel of Lewchuk's truck. Lewchuk's Flying Saucers, today known as the Teacups, gave the rider control of how fast they spun, via a central wheel. He also invented a mechanism that allowed previously stationary merry-go-round horses to move up and down. Lewchuk eventually added his first freak to the midway: a stuffed two-headed calf, which he displayed in a small tent. He later purchased a large collection of freaks of nature from a museum in Illinois, which he housed in a 32 foot long trailer, labelled "World-Wide Wonders" making it the largest freak exhibit of its kind on the road. By the late 1960s, Nellie and Nikola retired from the road, settling in Canora, Saskatchewan. There, they founded The Fun Spot, a permanent entertainment venue that charmed visitors until 1987, cementing their legacy as pioneers of magic and showmanship in Canada. Anastasia "Nellie" Lewchuk died on January 15, 1968 in Canora, Saskatchewan at the age of 69. She left behind a vibrant legacy of entertainment. By the time Lewchuk stopped touring after Nellie's death in 1968, Lew'chuk's Midway and Shows consisted of a stage show, several rides, a Ferris wheel, a freak museum, a live animal exhibit, and concessions. When he retired, Lewchuk opened The Fun Spot, a permanent fair on the property where he and Nellie had later settled in Canora Saskatchewan, allowing the general public to visit his museum, rides, and games, for years to come. Nicholas Paul Mirol Niellos Lewczuk Lewchuk died on 26 July 1989 at the age of 93. The Lewchuks were the parents of at least 2 sons and 6 daughters. In 1964, their youngest daughter, Sonia Lewchuk, gave birth to a son, Scott McClelland, who apprenticed under his grandfather Nikola every summer for fourteen years from age 11 to 25, and later became a sideshow performer and operator to carry on his grandparents' tradition. McClelland's Carnival Diablo opened on April 1, 1992, and soon became the biggest underground attraction in Calgary. Anastasia Nellie Lewchuck pregnant (1917) Anastasia Nellie Lewchuck (c 1925) Anastasia Nellie Lewchuck Anastasia Nellie Lewchuck Mrs. Nellie Lewchuck obituary (1968) Seeking photos and more information.
Sankala Bruno E. Sankala	Born 1889? Performed 1920s-30s Died after 1959	Kemi (Finland)	Bruno E. Sankala was born around 1889 and performed as a magician and fakir around 1920-30's. Finnish sword swallower Timo Tuomivaara met Sankala in Kemi's retirment home in 1959. Sankala was approximately 70 years old in 1959.
Joseph Francis Rupply	Born 29 Jan 1889 Performed ?? Died Feb 1967	Brooklyn, Kings, NY (USA)	Joseph Francis Rupply was born on January 29, 1889 to Fritz Rupply in Kings, NY. Both his father Fritz Rupply and mother were born in Switzerland. His first son Joseph C. Rupply was born on January 20, 1910, in New York, and died in July 1966. Between 1917-1920 Rupply lived in Brooklyn, Kings, New York. According to the 1920 Census, 30-year-old Joseph Rupply worked as a pipe fitter, and his wife Jessie Rupply (28) lived with him and their son Joseph Rupply Jr. in Brooklyn NY. On April 4, 1923, their second son Frederick Michael Rupply was born in Brooklyn Kings NY. According to census reports in 1925, 1930, 1935 and 1940, Rupply lived in Brooklyn Kings NY. According to the 1940 Census, 51-year-old Joseph Rupply worked as a machinist, and his wife Jessie Rupply (50) lived with him in Brooklyn NY. At one point he worked as a sword swallower with a circus. At another time, he owned a tavern in Goshen NY. Joseph Francis Rupply died in February 1967 in Hicksville, New York, at the age of 78. Seeking photos and more information.
Curly Brown Curley Brown The Sword Swallower	Born c. 1892 Performed 1922-28 Died April 2, 1943	E.E. Bonham Circus Prairie du Sac, WI (USA)	Curly Brown was the sword swallower and fire-eater for the E.E. Bonham Circus from 1922-1928. According to his obituary in the April 13, 1943 Chicago Daily Tribune entitled "Circus Pals To Bury Curly in Own Valhalla": "Curly Brown the Sword Swallower, is to get a burial today with the great and near-great of the circus and carnival world instead of an unmarked Potter's field grave to which his remains were apparently destined before some of his pals learned of his death. By action voted yesterday by directors of the Showman's League, Curly will be interned in Showman's Rest, a huge plot in Woodlawn Cemetery maintained by the league as sort of a Valhalla for distinguished members of the outdoor showman's profession. It is a 600 grave plot whose boundaries are marked by four huge granite elephants and 300 veterans of the sawdust rings and flying trapeezes of the outdoor circuits already are buried there. Curly died of pneumonia 10 days ago in a South State street hotel and his body was taken to the county morgue. Curly, 51, was alone in the world and there were no claimants to the body. Preparations for a Potter's grave burial were taking their routine course when members of the league heard of his death. Pall bearers will be clowns, performers, press agents, and bill posters who remember Curly as one of the best sword swallowers of them all." Curly Brown was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, IL. Seeking photos and more information.
Captain Peterson Capt. Albert Peterson King of All Sword Swallowers	Performed Dec 1936	World's Fair Museum Ogden, UT (USA)	Capt. Albert Peterson was featured as the "King of all Sword Swallowers" with The Great Lorenzo, the "mental marvel of Radio fame" and 17 other freaks for two weeks in December 1936 at the World's Fair Museum at 2464 Washington in Ogden, Utah. According to the February 18, 1939 Billboard Magazine, Captain Peterson was sword swallower for at least five weeks with the Kortes' Museum at the Kortes' World Fair in Minneapolis, MN in January-February, 1939. Seeking photos and more information.
Charles Anderson	Performed 1930s-1940s Died 1988	Tom Mix Mighty Haag Shows Texas Jack's Wild West Show Scranton Shrine Circus Carbondale, PA (USA)	Charles Anderson was a side show performer and concessionaire. He toured in the 1930s-40s as a sword swallower and bally performer with Tom Mix, Mighty Haag Shows (1930-1938?), Texas Jack's Wild West Show (1901-1905), and the Scranton PA Shrine Circus. Charles Anderson died in 1988 at Carbondale, Pennsylvania, according to Circus Report, June 27, 1988, p. 3. Seeking photos and more information.
Gene Hemingway Gene Hemmingway Eugene Hemingway Eugene B. Hemmingway	Born Dec. 28, 1896 Performed 1930s-1949 Died June 8, 1949	Los Angeles, CA (USA)	Eugene B. Hemmingway was born in South Carolina around 1893, and both of his parents were born in South Carolina. According to the 1930 US Census, Eugene Hemmingway was a veteran of World War I living in Los Angeles, CA, and working in "show business" as a sword swallower at the age of 37. In 1954 Gene Hemingway was featured in the Billboard Magazine 1954 Who's Who of the Circus as performing up to 1949. Eugene Hemmingway died on June 8, 1949, and was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA. Seeking photos and more information.
William Miller Sonny Miller William "Sonny" Miller Sonny the Sword Swallower	Performed 1923-33	Miller Circus Miller Bros Circus Miller Brothers Circus Miller Bros. Wild Animal Shows Alabama? (USA)	William "Sonny" Miller was a sword swallower and founder of the Miller Bros. Circus along with his brothers Earl Miller and Claude Miller. His wife Rose Miller was the snake handler and gypsy palm reader and fortune teller who went by the stage name "Madame Minge". or "Madame Menge". She also was the half snake/half woman attraction. Sonny Miller and his brother were horse traders in the south. On May 11, 1923, the Miller Bros. Wild Animal Shows played at DeQuoin, Illinois. On May 26, 1933, The Miller Bros. Shows played in Stockton, Missouri. At some point after the circus closed, an alligator from the circus was given to the Prichard Alabama Zoo, and he became quite old and a big attraction at the zoo. Seeking photos and more information.
Peter Kortos	Performed 1925	(USA)	In 1925, Peter Kortos was featured as the sword swallower in the Tod Browning film "The Unholy Three". (1925, MGM 76mins. 7 reels. BW. silent with tinted sequences, US). Seeking photos and more information.
Professor Wishart "Sword Swallower Extraordinaire"	Born c 1845 Performed 1926-1929?	Adelaide (Australia)	"Professor Wishart" was born around 1845 and performed sword swallowing in Adelaide Australia in 1926 at the age of 84 under the billboard "Professor Wishart, Sword Swallower Extraordinary, Entertainer to the Royalty and Crowned Heads of Europe and the East". In 1929, Professor Wishart was described as a thin old man with long gray whiskers who "dressed flashily, with glitter trousers, a red cummerbund and a green velvet jacket". He finished his act by swallowing a large tent peg. Wishart is mentioned in the book The Boy From Buninyong - The Life of an Australian Showman by Angela Badger. Seeking photos and more information.
Birkenshaw	Performed 1926-1929?	Adelaide (Australia)	Birkenshaw was an English escapologist and sword swallower who worked in Adelaide, Australia around 1926-29. He would escape from padlocked trunks and then swallow up to 5 swords at once. He taught Owen Lloyd how to swallow swords around 1926-27. Birkenshaw is mentioned in the book The Boy From Buninyong - The Life of an Australian Showman by Angela Badger. Seeking photos and more information.
Owen Rutherford Lloyd "The Boy From Buninyong"	Born 1907 Performed 1926-79 Died 1980s	Buninyong (Australia)	Owen Rutherford Lloyd was born in Buninyong, Australia in 1907. In the mid 1920s Lloyd turned to busking for his livelihood. He worked first as a fiddler with Dr. Richard Rowe and Mystic Mora, where he learned the skills of street busking. Then around 1926 at around the age of 19, he moved to Adalaide where over the course of a month he learned sword swallowing from the English escapologist and sword swallower "Birkenshaw". Lloyd learned how to swallow up to three swords at once, and eventually added swallowing a lit "narrow electric lightbulb" to his act. Lloyd and Birkenshaw performed together in Adelaide from around 1926 to 1929. During the course of his life Lloyd also learned fire-eating, illusions, animal training, and virtually every other act associated with show life. In the 1940s Lloyd toured with a circus to Durban, South Africa, and after returning, travelled to New Zealand, where he performed under the stage name "The Baron" and was both celebrated as a healer and condemned as a devil worshipper. Lloyd spent the last years of his life in Sydney, Australia busking by the El Alamein Fountain in Kings Cross. In 1979 he won the ABC "Best of the Buskers" competition, and in the early 1980s retired to Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand to spend his last few years living happily with his children. He later moved to Gisborne where he lived with his daughter Elizabeth until his death. He is buried in the Taraheru Cemetary in Gisborne, New Zealand. In 1993 a book was written about his life called The Boy From Buninyong - The Life of an Australian Showman by Angela Badger. It is known that he is survived Kupu Lloyd, and a granddaughter Patricia Lloyd. Seeking photos and more information. Owen Llloyd book
Christy Bros. Circus Christy Brothers Circus Christy Bros Minstrel Show Christy Hippodrome Shows Christy Bros. Circus Side Show Christy Brothers Circus Side Show Christy Brothers Circus Minstrel Side Show	Started 1910 Evolved 1914 Renamed 1919 Performed 1927 Closed 7 July 1930	Christy Bros. Circus Christy Brothers Circus Christy Brothers Circus Minstrel Side Show Galveston, TX (USA) South Houston, TX (USA)	The Christy Brothers Circus was founded in 1910 by George W. Christy as Christy Hippodrome Shows and Christy's Big Hippodrome Shows, but changed to a circus format in 1914 under the name Christy Bros. Circus. It evolved in 1919 to a railroad-car traveling circus, but was devastated by the Great Depression, finally ceasing operations in July 1930. The show initially operated as a two-car railroad-car show, featuring parade wagons purchased from Ringling Bros. Circus after their downtown parades were discontinued. The Christy Bros. Circus wintered in Galveston, Texas, and later in South Houston, where the owner, George W. Christy, built a home. Christy loved the city so much that when the circus closed, he chose to set up permanent residence in South Houston. Christy held on to several of his elephants and used them to help build Spencer Highway, and he later went on to serve two non-consecutive terms as mayor of South Houston. Christy's first elephant "Babe" was purchased from Mugivan and Bowers in 1920 for his 3-car show and to distinguish her from the many other "Babes" she was listed as "Caradini Babe" after the Vaudeville act she had originally been with. In 1924, the Christy Brothers Circus featured a sword swallower, specifically Mr. and Mrs. Lowery, as noted in a New York Clipper article from May 15, 1924. In 1924 George Christy started featuring a spec titled "Noah's Ark" as part of his show. Not only was it a great way to display the animals in his menagerie, but the religious theme was also a draw to the circus when it was in the Bible-belt. When the show was in Huntsville Alabama in November of 1924, a reporter for The Huntsville Times caught the show and described the grand entry as a "revelation" and said that it included the singing of "Rock of Ages" and a girl clinging to an old rugged cross. Later in the performance the entire cast sang the song "Jerusalem" which the writer said "gave an unusual religious aspect to the show." Of the 9 elephants, the three smaller ones "Dixie", "Myrtle" and "Venice" were imported by George Christy in 1925. On May 25, 1925, the show's trained wrecked just outside of Cardston Alberta Canada. G.W. Christy, being the showman that he was, set up the big top in a cornfield near the wreck and gave a performance while the rails were still being cleared. In 1925 and 1926, Christy operated a second unit named Lee Bros. Circus, but closed it after the 1926 season. In 1927, an Edward Kelty photo of the Christy Brothers Circus Side Show lineup listed H. Emgard as manager and featured the cast of the side show including a sword swallower swallowing a 27 inch saber standing in front of the banner "Christy Museum of Living Curiosities Big Double Annex". The spec "Noah's Ark" continued to be part of the Christy Bros. Circus until 1929. Beginning in 1929, the Great Depression was a difficult time for all shows on the road. The Christy Bros. Circus was no exception; Not only was the economy in bad shape, but weather was also a major factor. Christy and his loyal employees struggled to keep the circus on the road. The Christy Brothers Circus closed on July 7, 1930 after giving its final performance in Greeley, Colorado. After the close of the show, most of the equipment was sold in 1935 to Jess Adkins and Zack Terrell, who were framing their Cole Bros. Circus. Some of the parade wagons went to the Ken Mayner Circus. Christy kept his elephants and horses, the elephants were used to help build Spencer Highway in South Houston, Texas. After leaving the circus world George Christy became mayor of the City of South Houston serving from 1949 to 1951 and again from 1960 to 1964. George Washington Christy died August 07, 1975 in Houston Texas. Seeking photos and more information. Christy Bros 5-Ring Animal Show (1922) Christy Bros Noah's Ark (1924) Christy Brothers Circus (1927) Christy Bros Minstrel Show (1927) Christy Bros Circus (1929) Christy Bros Circus timeline: 1910: begins as Christy's Big Hippodrome Shows 1914: changed to a circus format as Christy Brothers Circus 1919: evolved to a railroad-car traveling circus 1924: featured a spec titled "Noah's Ark" 1924: sword swallower Mr. and Mrs. Lowery per New York Clipper article from May 15, 1924 1927: Christy Brothers Circus lineup featured a sword swallower 1930: July 7: Christy Bros. Circus closes 1949-51: George W. Christy serves as mayor of South Houston TX 1960-64: George W. Christy serves as mayor of South Houston TX 1975: Aug7: George Washington Christy dies in Houston TX
Balmung	Performed 1928	Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey (USA)	Balmung performed as a sword swallower with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1928. Seeking photos and more information.
Little Prince John H. Smith	Born c. 1915-1918 Performed late 1920s?	Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey (USA)	The Little Prince performed as a snake charmer and sword swallower with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus in the late 1920s or early 1930s. His real name was John H. Smith, he was African-American, he was a snake charmer and sword swallower, and he performed with Ringling Brothers Circus when he was 12 years old, approximately in the late 1920s, and with other shows after that. He also performed with a monkey named Bobo. Seeking photos and more information.
Ludvig Larsson	Born 1894 Performed ? Died 1980	(Sweden)	Ludvig Larsson was a Swedish sword swallower born in 1894 and died in 1980. Seeking photos and more information.
Olga Boyd	Performed 1920s	(USA)	Olga Boyd was a female sword swallower in the 1920's. Seeking photos, dates and more information. Olga Boyd
Nelson the Sword Swallower Professor Nelson the Sword Swallower J.P. Nelson ?	Performed 1921 Performed 1924 Performed 1927 Performed 1942-43	Santos & Artigas Circus Walter L. Main Circus Sparks Circus Sideshow World's Fair Museum (USA/Canada)	According to the November 5, 1921 Billboard: "The Santos & Artigas Circus opened at the Payret Theater, Havana, Cuba, October 7, to capacity business," and the sword swallower featured was Prof. Nelson, sword swallower. According to the Walter L. Main Circus Official Route Season 1924, the sword swallower is simply listed as Nelson. Nelson was also listed as the sword swallower on the Sparks Circus sideshow during the 1927 season. Could this be J.P. Nelson the sword swallower? According to the Feb 13, 1943 Billboard Magazine, Professor Nelson was the featured sword swallower on the line-up with the 1943 World's Fair Museum in Jacksonville, FL. The World's Fair Museum show ran for 8 weeks (early December 1942 to February 6, 1943), and was booked to continue its run until March 15, 1943. Seeking photos and more information. Nelson the Sword Swallower Timeline 1921: Nov 5: Santos & Artigas Circus at the Payret Theater, Havana, Cuba 1924: Walter L. Main Circus 1927: Sparks Circus Sideshow Prof. Nelson World's Fair Museum Billboard (2/13/1943)
Jack Lilja (Johann Lilja)	Performed 1920s-30s	(Australia)	Johann Lilija was a colorful character who came to Australia from his native Sweden in the early 1900's (around 1916?), where he became known as Jack Lilja. He became known as an accomplished circus performer and entertainer, sword swallower, knife thrower and part time tattooist, and performed into the 1930s. Seeking photos and more information. Johan Lilja Johan Lilja Johan Lilja
Capt. Fritz The Great LaCardo Capt. Fritz Lecardo Capt. Fritz Lacardo Fritz Le Cardo Fritz LeCardo Fritz Lacardo Fritz LaCardo Fritz Lecardo Tattooed Sword Swallower	Born 1876 Performed 1919-1959 Died Aprl 13, 1959	Ringling Brothers Sells-Floto Circus Mighty Haag Shows Frank Forest Museum San Francisco, CA (USA)	Fritz Lecardo was born in 1876 and performed as a sword swallower in 1919 and the 1920s under the name "Capt. Fritz Lecardo", and into the 1940s under the name "The Great LaCardo". LaCardo was known for swallowing a sword and hanging a chair over the hilt of the sword, and later for swallowing a neon tube. A September 1943 Billboard article states, "Fritz Le Cardo, who was released from a San Francisco hospital recently, has joined the Frank Forest Museum in that city as ticket taker." Fritz Lecardo's obituary in the April 13, 1959 Billboard states: "LECARDO, Capt. Fritz, tattooed sword swallower, knife thrower, and weight lifter with many major circuses and carnivals, April 13, 1959 at San Francisco. He made the trip to Europe with the Ringling Show and was with Sells-Floto, Mighty Haag, and other shows. He was a charter member of Showfolks of America." Fritz Lecardo is buried in Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, California, USA. The banner depicting The Great LaCardo, estimated at $4,000 to $6,000, was bid to $3,800, but apparently did not sell. It was offered by Pook & Pook of Downington, Pennsylvania, during an auction on September 8, 2011. Seeking photos and more information. Capt. Fritz LaCardo timeline 1876: Born 1919-43: Performed with Ringling Bros, Sells-Floto, Mighty Haag 1943: Hospitalized with injury in San Francisco 1943: Ticket taker at Frank Forest Museum San Francisco, CA 1959: Died April 13 at 83 in San Francisco, CA 1959: Buried at Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, CA Fritz Lecardo with chair (1920s) Fritz Lecardo with chair (1920s) Fritz LaCardo banner (1940-50s) Fritz Lecardo gravesite (1959) Fritz Lecardo headstone (1959)
Miss Vivian Lady Vivian Lady Vivian Dunning Vivian Dunning Vivian W. Dunning Vivian Mae Parish Dunning John Dunning Johnny Dunning John W. Dunning J. Miles Dunning, Jr. John Miles Dunning, Jr. John Wolcott Dunning, Jr. Champion Sword Swallower	Born 18 Dec 1900 (John) Born 21 Oct 1908 (Vivian) Performed 1920s-49 Died 22 Jul 1979 (John) Died 23 Sep 1998 (Vivian)	A.J. Budd's Shows Famous Circus Side Show Harry Lewiston's Traveling Museum Harry Lewiston's Big Circus Sideshow Harry Lewiston's World's Fair Freaks Bessie Bessette's Side Show Palace of Oddities Conklin and Garret Shows William Glick Shows Canadian National Exposition Johnny J. Jones Exposition Johnny J. Jones Carnival Jones Greater Shows Hennies Bros.' Shows Ripley's Believe It or Not! Dodson Imperial Shows Princeton, MN Charleston, SC (USA)	John Dunning Jr. was born on December 18, 1900 in South Carolina to John Miles Dunning (1880-1950). Vivian Mae Parish Dunning was born Vivian Parish on October 21, 1908 in Princeton, MN. When describing how she got into sword swallowing, Vivian Dunning said, "I came from Princeton, Minnesota. I got sick of farm life. One night I went to a dance in the town hall. There was a carnival In town. I met the sword swallower. He asked me to join the show. So I joined the show, first as an illusion girl, and then I married him. I thought working on a carnival show would be a pleasant way to see the world." Her husband, sword swallower John Dunning Jr, also doubled as the Iron Eyelid Man with hooks in his eyelids (he once dragged a car through Main Street using his eyelids), took Vivian under his wing, and taught her to swallow swords. Lady Vivian was friends with "Half Woman Half Man" Anna John Budd and performed in the 1920's and 1930's under A.J. Budd's Show the Famous Circus Side Show. Lady Vivian swallowed multiple swords, and would partially swallow a sword with a pistol mounted on the end of it which, when shot, would ram the sword down her throat. Lady Vivian was seen in a number of photographs swallowing swords with her contemporary sword swallower friend Mimi Garneau. According to the 1930 census, John Miles Dunning Jr. lived in Richland, SC. On March 2, 1931, John Miles Dunning Jr. and Vivian Parish Dunning gave birth to their son John Miles Dunning III in Charleston SC. In 1935, John and Vivian Dunning's residence was listed as Charleston, SC. In late 1937, Harry and Rose Lewiston left Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus to form their own organization, and brought several circus freaks with them, including Grace McDaniels the "Mule-Faced Woman", tattooed girl Stella Grassman, Clico the African pygmy, "Human Balloon" Art Hubbell, Disco the magician, Lady Johanna the mentalist, Melvin Burkhart the "Anatomical Wonder", who subsequently developed his "Human Blockhead" act while working in this show, and sword swallowers John and Vivian Dunning. Harry Lewiston's Traveling Museum (also known as "Harry Lewiston's Big Circus Sideshow", "World's Fair Freaks", and "Palace of Oddities") featured a variety of sideshow and freak performers, a "girlie show," and snakes. They initially paired up with the Conklin and Garret Shows and performed at venues throughout the United States and Canada, including the Canadian National Exposition. While Rose Lewiston ran her "Palace of Knowledge" at the New York World's Fair in 1939 and 1940, Harry Lewiston continued to take his Traveling Museum on tour, traveling with organizations including truck carnival William Glick Shows and Johnny J. Jones Carnival. Lewiston ran an enlarged side show, including his snakes, plus a freak animal show. While traveling with Jones in Warren, Pennsylvania on July 2, 1940, Harry Lewiston's sword swallower Lady Vivian Dunning was profiled in the local Warren Times-Mirror. According to the 1940 census, the John and Vivian Dunning family lived in St Andrews, South Carolina with two sons and a daughter. Lady Vivian also performed with the Johnny J. Jones Exposition, and with Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Canton, OH on Feb 7-8, 1941, where she swallowed neon tubes. A February 26, 1944 Billboard shows Vivian Dunning performing as sword swallower with Harry Lewiston's World's Fair Freaks in Ohio and West Virginia, with Charles Zerm as Superintendent. According to the August 12, 1944, Billboard: "CORP. JOHN W. DUNNING, formerly with Robert L. Ripley, Johnny J. Jones Exposition, Hennies Bros.' Shows, A. J. Budd and others, reported from Italy of entertaining the boys and amazing Arabs in his spare time by swallowing swords, eating fire and performing his iron-eyelid act. " According to the Sep 7, 1946 Billboard: "Line-up on Bessie Bessette's Side Show on Jones Greater Shows follows: Andrew Udseth, talker, Johnny Dunning, sword swallower." An ad in the March 26, 1949 Billboard shows John W. Dunning of Earlington, KY searching for additional sideshow acts. On June 23, 1949, a group portrait was taken of Roundy Couglin and members of the Dodson Imperial Shows at Camp Wawbeek, Wisconsin, where they had gone to entertain the 93 children camping there. Front row, left to right: Harold Saxton, driver; Flash Ford, tap dancer; Poodoo, fire eater; "Jigsaw" Jackson, dancer. Back row left to right: Joe LaCrosse, and Chuck Doring, drivers: Mrs. Goodman, Roundy's secretary; Butter Beans and Susie, comedy dance team; Mrs. Norman Wang, Fun Fund committee member; Roundy; Chick Franklin, manager of Imperial Shows; Harold Smith, water glass musician: John Perry, pianist; the Great LeRoy, magician; and holding five swords is John W. Dunning, Champion Sword Swallower. John Miles Dunning Jr died at the age of 79 on July 22, 1979, and is buried at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, SC. Vivian Mae Parish Dunning died on 23 September 1998 at the age of 89, and is buried next to John Miles Dunning Jr at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, SC. On April 18, 2002, their son, "John Miles Dunning III, 71, of Greensboro and Charleston, died peacefully Thursday, April 18, 2002, at his home in Charleston SC. We will celebrate John's completed life with a Mass to be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 22, 2002, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Greensboro. Interment will be private. John Miles Dunning, III was born in Charleston March 2, 1931, to the late John Miles Dunning, Jr. and Vivian Parish Dunning. He attended the Citadel and was the former owner of Guilford Galleries, Dunning Industries and Dunning Ltd. Mr. Dunning was very active in Greensboro Beautiful, a former member of the Eastern Music Festival Board of Directors, a member of Summit Rotary Club, and in 1968 was named the North Carolina Small Businessman of the Year. John was an active member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, collected classic automobiles, and enjoyed woodworking and golf. Mr. Dunning is survived by his loving wife, Linda "Sam" Dunning of the home; six children, sons, Gary Dunning and his wife Kathy of Hickory, Larry Dunning and his wife Patti , Dan Dunning and his wife Mary and John Dunning, IV; daughters, Janet Conger and her husband John and Joan Gail DesJardins, all of Greensboro; sister, Glenda Hauge of Charleston; two brothers, James H. Dunning of Greensboro and C. Wayne Dunning of Dallas, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and his friend and first wife, Lois K. Wold of Greensboro. Seeking photos and more information. John & Lady Vivian Dunning Timeline: 1900: 18 Dec: John Miles Dunning Jr. born in SC 1908: 21 Oct: Vivian Mae Parish born in Princeton, MN 1920s-30s: Lady Vivian with A.J. Budd's Famous Circus Side Show 1930: Vivian and John Dunning Jr. live in Charleston SC 1931: March 2: Son John Miles Dunning III born in Charleston SC 1935: John and Vivian Dunning live in Charleston SC 1937: Harry Lewiston's Traveling Museum, "Harry Lewiston's Big Circus Sideshow" 1939: "Palace of Knowledge" at NY World's Fair 1940: John and Vivian Dunning live in St Andrews, SC with two sons and a daughter 1940: "Palace of Knowledge" at NY World's Fair 1940: "Harry Lewiston's Big Circus Sideshow" in Warren, PA 1941: Feb 7-8: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Canton, OH 1944: Feb 26: Harry Lewiston's World's Fair Freaks in OH and WV 1944: Aug: Corporal John Dunning entertains troops while stationed in Italy 1946: John Dunning on Bessie Bessette's Side Show, Jones Greater Shows 1949: June 23: John Dunning on Dodson Imperial Shows 1979: 22 Jul: John Miles Dunning Jr dies at 79 in SC 1998: 23 Sept: Vivian Mae Parish Dunning dies at 89 in SC 2002: Son John Dunning III dies at 71 in Charleston SC Iron Eyelid Man John Dunning pulls Lady Vivian in wagon (1920s) Lady Vivian (1920s-30s) Lady Vivian with Mimi Garneau (20s-30s) Lady Vivian with Mimi Garneau (20s-30s) Lady Vivian with A.J. Budd Sideshow (20s-30s) Lady Vivian swallowing 3 swords (1930s) Rochester NY article (1939) Rochester NY article (1939) Warren Times-Mirror PA article (1940) Ripley's World Fair in Canton OH (2-3-1941) John Dunning (1949)
Leo The Italian Sword Swallower Leo Olivetai	1920s-30s? Injured March 1936	Philadelphia, PA (USA)	According to an article in the Greenville PA Record-Argus dated March 30, 1936, "Philadelphia -- It's real, genuine sword-swallowing when Leo Olivetai goes to work. Olivetai, a professional sword swallower, was being treated for an injury received while practicing. The blade he was swallowing pierced his chest wall." Seeking photos and more information on Leo Olivetai the Italian Sword Swallower. Leo the Italian Sword Swallower Leo Olivetai injury (3-30-1936)
Chief Willie Bowlegs Chief Willey Bowlegs Willy Bowlegs	Born Jan 31, 1896 Died Dec 5, 1964	Everglades, FL Ringling Brothers Chicago, IL (USA)	Willie Bowlegs was a Seminole Indian, alligator wrestler, sword swallower, knife thrower, and juggler who was born in the Florida Everglades on January 31, 1896 (or possibly 1894). His father was Willie Cornelius and his mother was Florida Tommy, who later became a Juvenile Judge in Illinois. He married his wife Irene Bowlegs Pyawassit in the Everglades, and they had one son named Buddy who died tragically in Louisiana in 1944. He performed as Chief Willie Bowlegs and traveled with various medicine shows and circuses including Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus out of Kansas. Willie Bowlegs also peddled a remedy that had his picture on the bottle, as well as other items from the trunk of his Cadillac, from Chicago to Del Rio, Texas. Although he was said to be Seminole, he dressed like a plains Indian, and was said to walk around in his Native American attire and full head dress in Cook County, IL. He and Irene lived in Chicago, IL for many years until his death on December 5, 1964. After a 35 year marriage to Bowlegs and 12 years after his death, his wife Irene Bowlegs was remarried to Wallace Pyawassit in 1976. Seeking photos and more information. Willie Bowlegs Willie Bowlegs
Lucky Ball Prince Lucky Ball John G. Ball John Gregory Ball World's Greatest Sword Swallower	Born 29 Dec 1898 Learned 1916 Married 1927 Married 16 Aug 1928 Refined 1933 Performed 1933-48 Married 11 Dec 1953 Died 5 May 1977	Tom Mix Circus Clark's Greater Shows Brodbeck & Schrader Shows Clyde Beatty Circus Royal American Shows Ripley's Believe It or Not Claysville, NY Utica, NY Hoxie, KS Wadsworth, OH (USA)	Lucky Ball was born John Gregory Lucky Ball to James B. Ball and Alice Bonfoy in Claysville, NY on December 29, 1898. In 1905, he worked as a child clown with his family on Ringling Bros Circus, and in 1916, he began learning the rudiments of sword swallowing over a period of 6 weeks. Over the years from the 1920's to the 1950's Lucky Ball worked with over a dozen circuses and sideshows including Tom Mix Circus in 1936, Clark's Greater Shows in San Diego in 1942, Brodbeck & Schrader Shows (1943?), Clyde Beatty Circus (1945?), and Royal American Shows (1946-47), besides being featured on Ripley's Believe It or Not! Ball originally worked as a child clown and later a big cat trainer, but after being injured in a big cat act, he began working full time as a sword swallower in 1933, after learning more tips from Alex Linton in 1933, when he began working under the name "Prince Lucky Ball". In the winter of 1927, Lucky Ball wintered in Hoxie KS where he fell in love with a local Hoxie girl named Estelline Lovin. During the winter of 1927 to 1928, Lucky taught Estelline how to swallow swords. On August 16, 1928, Lucky Ball married Estelline Lovin (who became better known later as Estelline Pike) in Hoxie Kansas. In the early 1930's Lucky Ball gave Alex Linton tips on how to swallow swords, although some sources say that Alex Linton gave tips to Lucky Ball in 1933. On June 28, 1935, his son Jim Lucky Ball II was born to Estelline Pike in San Diego, CA. In early 1936, Lucky Ball filmed "Poppy" with W.C. Fields The film was released in June 1936, In 1936, Lucky Ball is listed on the lineup in the 1936 route book as the sword swallower for the 1936 Tom Mix Circus. In 1936, Lucky Ball also filmed "Pennies From Heaven" with Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. The film was released in November 1936. In 1937, Lucky filmed "They Gave Him a Gun" with Spencer Tracy. The film was released in May 1937. Later in 1937, Lucky Ball appeared with Shirley Temple in the 20th Century Fox film "Wee Willie Winkie" under the stage name "Mohammed Ali" where he swallowed 3 swords at once. The film was released in July 1937. He later swallowed a record 16 swords in 1937, and was featured in the May 1937 "Look" magazine. In 1937, he was also photographed with actor George Bent. According to an article in the August 19, 1937 The Daily Courier: "Ball is a versatile fellow with the swords, and entirely self-taught. He practiced with the sword swallower's weapons until he could down a 26-inch blade with ease. Since then he has taught his wife to swallow swords and he himself has developed a side-line as a fire-eater." An article in the December 11, 1938 The Ogden Standard Examiner reports that Ball "...quit taming lions and started swallowing swords in 1933 after a lion seriously injured him. Ball cites the fact that not once since he started swallowing swords five years ago has he been bothered with a sore throat. His wife, one of the few women sword swallowers in the country, likewise has not suffered from throat trouble although she has unusually large tonsils." Around 1939, Lucky and Estelline split up, and were eventually divorced in the 1940s, possibly around 1946. According to a November 28, 1948 article in the Indianapolis Star, Lucky Ball taught sword swallowing to Hawaiiian sideshow dancer Maxine Logsdon in the mid-1940s. In the 1946-1947 seasons, Lucky Ball performed with Royal American Show. The last time Lucky Ball was known to have performed was at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchison KS in 1947. Lucky got out of show business in 1948, was remarried on December 11, 1953 to Pearl Irene Ball, and spent the last 20 years of his life working with Goodrich Tires in Akron OH. Lucky Ball was known for swallowing swords up to 26 inches in length, a large cork screw, neon tubes, and for sword swallowing while sitting down, and was recognized by his colleagues as "The World's Greatest Sword Swallower". Lucky Ball died at the age of 79 in Wadsworth Ohio on May 5, 1978 (some sources incorrectly cite 1977) near Akron OH. He was survived by his son, sword swallower Jim Lucky Ball II, his daughter Ramona, and another daughter. John Lucky Ball is buried at Rose Hill Burial Park in Fairlawn OH. Seeking photos and more information. Lucky Ball Timeline: 1898: Dec 29: Born John Gregory Ball to circus family in Claysville, NY 1905: Begins working with Ringling Bros Circus as a clown at age 7 with his family 1920s: Begins working with circuses as cat trainer 1927: Marries Mary Agnes Barron in Henderson County KY 1927: Winters in Hoxie KS, works for local farmer, meets Estelline Lovin 1927: Teaches Estelline Lovin (Estelline Pike) to swallow swords 1928: Aug 16: Marries Estelline Lovin (Estelline Pike) in Hoxie KS 1931: Jan 11: Birth of daughter Melba Ball 1933: Injured by lion, quits lion taming 1933: Learns sword swallowing tips from Alex Linton 1935: June 28: Son Jim Lucky Ball II born in San Diego CA 1936: Films "Poppy" with W.C. Fields (film released June 1936) 1936: Sword swallower with Tom Mix Circus 1936: Films "Pennies From Heaven" with Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong (released November 1936) 1937: Films "They Gave Him a Gun" with Spencer Tracy (released May 1937) 1937: Films "Wee Willie Winkie" with Shirley Temple under stage name "Mohammed Ali" (released July 1937) 1937: Swallows record 16 swords at once 1937: Photographed with actor George Bent 1937: Featured in Look Magazine 1939: Separated from Estelline Pike 1942: Clark's Greater Shows, San Diego CA 1943?: Brodbeck & Schrader Shows 1944: Aug 20: Divorced from Estelline Pike 1944: Meets Pearl Irene Blair at Summit Beach Park OH 1945: Clyde Beatty Circus 1946: Royal American Shows 1947: Royal American Shows in Hutchison KS 1948: Teaches sword swallowing to Hawaiiian sideshow dancer Maxine Logsdon 1948: Retires from show business, moves to Akron OH 1948: Takes up running a cleaning business with Pearl Irene Blair 1953: Dec 11: Marries Pearl Irene Ball in Summit OH 1978: May 5: Died at 79 in Wadsworth OH near Akron OH 1978: Buried at Rose Hill Burial Park, Fairlawn OH Lucky Ball in Wee Willie Winkie (2-11-1937) Lucky Ball with George Bent (1937) Lucky Ball article (8-19-1938) Lucky Ball article (12-11-1938) Lucky Ball swallowing 22 inch cutlass Lucky Ball (postcard) Lucky Ball (pitchcard) Lucky Ball (Ripley's Cartoon) Maxine Logsdon learned from Lucky Ball (11-28-1948) Lucky Ball remarried (12-11-1953)
Fred Marineu	Performed 1923	John Robinson's World of Wonders Peru, IN (USA)	According to the official John Robinson's Circus staff list, Fred Marineu was the sword swallower with John Robinson's Circus World of Wonders sideshow in 1923. Seeking photos and more information.
Bob Roberts Robert Roberts	Born May 25, 1875 Performed 1922-1936 Died June 4, 1936	Al G. Barnes Big 4 Ring Wild Animal Circus Carnival Sideshows Jacksonville, IL Milwaukee, WI (USA)	Robert Bob Roberts was born in Slatington, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1875, and performed as a carnival sideshow sword swallower for 14 years from 1922 to 1936. According to the 1922 Official Season Route Book and Itinerary of the Al G. Barnes' Big 4 Ring Wild Animal Circus, Bob Roberts worked as the sword swallower with the Al G. Barnes' Big 4 Ring Wild Animal Circus during the 1922 season. As part of his act, he would swallow a shotgun barrel and ignite a fuse, causing an audible explosion. Bob Roberts died at the age of 61 on June 4, 1936 in Jacksonville, IL from injuries sustained after his feat went wrong. His obituary was published in the June 5, 1936 Chicago Tribune entitled "Sword Swallower's Gun Fuse Backfire: He Dies": "Jacksonville, Ill, June 4 -- (AP) Bob Roberts, 61, sword swallower for a carnival, died today when his major trick backfired. His widow said that for 13 years he entertained crowds by swallowing a shotgun barrel and igniting a fuse that caused an explosion audible within the side-show tent. Tuesday night something went wrong and Roberts' stomach was burned." Robert Roberts died June 4, 1936 in Jacksonville, IL at the age of 61, and he was buried June 6, 1936 in the Jacksonville East Cemetery in Jacksonville, IL. His wife's name was Annette Roberts, and their home address was 1828 A. No 24th Place, Milwaukee, WI. Seeking photos and more information. Bob Roberts Obituary (6-1936)
Ray Murphy Rev. Ray Murphy Pastor Ray Murphy Evangelist Ray Murphy Rev. Ray D. Murphy Ray Daniel Murphy	Born 21 Feb 1910 Learned 1925-27? Married 27 Aug 1927 Performed 1925-30s? Ordained Nov 1934 Died 12 Jan 1960	Kansas City, KS Nampa, ID (USA)	Ray Murphy was a sword swallower who performed at carnivals in Kansas City in the 1930s. He went on to become a pastor and evangelist, and he would perform at teen summer camps. Ray Daniel Murphy was born on February 21, 1910 in the Ozarks of Garfield, Arkansas to Charles Murphy and Gertrude Toy-Murphy. He was the oldest of eleven children. He went to school through third grade and then quit, helping to raise money for the family as he could. When he was a bit older, sometime between 1925 to 1927, the family moved to Kansas City where the flamboyant, daring, charismatic young man did anything he could find to do, living wild and free. Ray somehow learned sword swallowing around 1925-27 at the age of 15-17, and began flitting from job to job entertaining at carnivals as a sword swallower and playing the guitar in bands. On August 27, 1927, he married the girl next door, a darling little flapper named Rose Madden when they were both 17 and living in Kansas City, Kansas. There are stories of jealousy and bar brawls and a guitar being smashed over the head of a man who flirted with Rose. The couple lived in Kansas City until 1940. In 1932, Ray settled down to life back in Kansas City. Ray still liked a good time, however, and one Saturday evening, having left the three babies that had come one right after another, home with family, Ray, Rose, and her sister Alice and husband Joe went out looki