I found your website by happy surprise, and am enthralled by your caring and thoughtful portraits of people who I am only just beginning to learn about and appreciate. I bought a book at an estate sale called Pictorial History of the American Circus published in 1967, © 1957, and am fascinated by the whole enchilada, particularly the wonderful freaks.

I am sure you know of Count Orloff, the transparent man, and wonder if I shall see a portrait of him one day? He fascinates me the most, along with Jonathan Bass.

So, thank you for educating me about this fantastic genre. I like to think about these performers, and I admire them for their open way of handling very difficult issues that I myself don't know if I could so easily endure.

Written on the back is “Uncle Noble, Aunt Mary, and baby Bernice age about 6 months.” Your website is the first I've seen of the Winners, and I was curious to know if you know anything about them having a child. Or was baby Bernice plunked in the lap of her Aunt Mary?

Just an idle question, in a way, although it's a tantalizing shot and caption. One would think that such unusual people would have more written about them. There's more and more on the Internet these days, so maybe, in time, more complete bio's will show up.

I hear that she died, some time back.

Margaret's pitch involved her height (not weight, as she was a little chubby then), and family history. She'd been born in Denver (I think), to normal parents. Her father was a coal miner, and was deceased. She must have been touring for about 50 years, though she said that was her age. I think she was 23" tall.

Her mom toured with her. She was a skinny and tough old lady, who had smoker's cheeks, and wore those ugly mod hats, of the sort that ended up as uniform at McDonald's.

Margaret had a wonderful sense of humor, and often wanted to play some trick or other on the Baron (Wm Unks), who did fire and sword-swallowing.

Margaret and her mom lived at one end of an old trailer, painted purple in keeping with the Hoxie colors. The Baron and a few more show guys (including me) (not workingmen) lived at the other. There was a bathroom in between, but we never had water in it, and the door was usually locked.

One time I gave Margaret a boost, through the window, so she could shortsheet the Baron's bed.

Your site looks great! I hope all's well there!

I too am looking for any information on "Major Robinson", the little person who toured with Barmun's midgets. I am starting a family genealogy and learned that Major is a distant relative. As I studied your site I came across an inquiry by William McCarver. He attached a web page that was to contain the Major's photo. I attempted to open the page but was unsuccessful... Any help is very much appreciated. Thank you again.

One thing I came across was Ray [Myer]'s letter to dad ordering a book and picture. Written Nov. 16, 1934. Interesting in that it was written in green ink. I am sure that it is the first contact between the two of them.

In the letter Ray talks about spending the summer at Ripley's show at the World's Fair.

If it hadn't been for the infection in his foot, Robert Wadlow probably would have lived for several more years and would likely have surpassed the 9-foot mark. However, giants typically have fairly short lifespans, so it's difficult to predict how long Wadlow might have lived. Giants often develop severe arthritis, kidney and cardiac problems in their thirties.

Also, I don’t know why, but I’m particularly impressed by the image of the parrot in this one. His feathers just look so damned perfect!

Hope that helps. If you do turn up any more information, please let me know.

Do you know the reason why there are very few little people now who are not dwarfs? And why do they continue to have the appearance of a child even as older people? Is that a syndrome opposite of progeria?

Keep up the excellent work!

There are many medical reasons for dwarfism, but one of the factors that often produces the childlike appearance you mention is low levels of growth hormone. Due to lack of the necessary hormones many midgets never actually achieve sexual maturity, so they are physically children into adulthood. This is the reason many midgets maintain that youthful appearance even into old age. Hormonal dwarfism is now easily treated when diagnosed early.

Many of those who were officially called 'freaks' would rather have been accepted for what they were than undergo surgery in order to become 'normal'. I think too often we think we can 'fix' everything, but the world would be a very sad place if everyone were exactly the same.

Thanks for the reply. Great site, James.

I wanted to send you a short note to say that I enjoyed the photographs you took of WoW and I really enjoyed the Prodigies drawings / website. The website is gorgeous, and I think your drawings are wonderful and inspired.

Before this past weekend, I had never even thought of freak shows in any way. After seeing the WoW show, which seemed much scaled back from the one you saw, I have to say that I'm mesmerized. Partly it's the history — the whole traveling show — everything is not as it appears or is advertised tradition and partly it's the carnie life.

Anyway, thank you for your work. I think it's very witty and wonderful.

I also can share that on the back side of S. Hunter Smith's photo it mentions him playing the dulcimer and traveling with a Steroscopic Exhibition in 1864. Hopefully this might help you and you might be able to share some information with us.

The reason I'm writing is that I'm trying to research the Congress of Freaks 1929 photo from the Kelty book. I am specifically interested in the contortionist in the lower right corner of that photo. I have reason to believe that it may be my great grandfather. The same person appears in photos of two other years as well.

Do you know anything about the people in those photos that might help me solve this family mystery? If not, can you point me in the direction of someone who might know?

The reason for my searching is that a friend of mine is related to George Auger and we wanted to find out some more information.

I had just recently seen a photograph for sale on eBay of the same people! In the photo most of them have instruments, plus a full sized fellow with a violin. Thought you might be interested!

[On my site, you can see] Danoe the Juggling TV Clown posing with the world's smallest man, [Nelson de la Rosa], who hails from the Dominican Republic. Nelson is thinking about appearing in one of Danoe's three TV shows: The Danoe The Clown Show, the News from a Clown's Point of View or The Lighter Side.

Nelson De La Rosa is also know as "Mahow Mahow" and "The lil Dancing Man" and can often be seen dancing on Spanish television networks. In 1990, was certified by the Guinness Record Book as the smallest man on earth. When he was first examined in 1987, he weighed 15 pounds, his chest was 17.5 inches, and his waist 16 inches. He appeared in the films The Thriller and The Island of Dr. Moreau. By the time of the filming of The Island of Dr. Moreau he weighed 22 pounds. To book Nelson for birthdays, corporate outings, picnics, or film casting call him at 401-497-4167 or 401-241-6804.