In the 1800s, “freaks”, or rather those who were different from the definition of “normal”, were used for getting people’s attention. Businesses and event planners would invite these extra-ordinary people to their businesses, homes, and events in order to draw a large crowd of curiosity seekers. Newspapers from this time period were filled with ads promising readers a chance to see the weird and wonderful.
Here are some of the ads that were published in the newspapers during the 1800s.
Tom Thumb and Others
Published in The New York Herald, July 01, 1844:
“Tom Thumb and all his relations lost in the shade! — The Infant Sisters, now performing at the American Museum, have taken the rag from the General! These little wonders appear to day at 3-1/2 and 8 o’clock, P.M., assisted by the Orpheans, Mr. and Mrs. Western and others (including giants), and we advise our readers to speculate two shillings worth.
“This is positively the last week of the Dwarf and Giantess at the New York Museum, as they depart to fulfill engagements contracted some time since. Every body who has seen Tom Thumb – and who has not? – ought in justice to behold the lapland Dwarf, who is as old as the General, and three inches shorter. An inch, by the standard of which they are measured, is equal to a foot in ordinary sized persons.”
Tallest Man at 8 Feet
Published in The Carbon Advocate, January 03, 1874. The “Giant” is given no name:
“Hausman & Kuhns Have on exhibition the Tallest Man in the world! Just eight feet, in his boots! Free Exhibition, Day and Evening.
“This Giant has been induced to remain with Hausman & Kuhns (at an enormous expense) during the Holidays, and our citizens should lose no time in visiting this wonderful piece of humanity. The Giant has with him all kinds of articles manufactured in his native country, which he will gladly exhibit ands sell to the people of this neighborhood. A special invitation is given to all children to attend.”
Hausman & Kuhns was a store located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania.
A Tale of Two Dwarfs
Found in The New York Herald, July 02, 1844:
“They have a dwarf at the New York Museum, to be seen for one shilling. There is also a dwarf at the American Museum; and, because he is twice as big as the other, they charge two shillings!”
Sword Swallower
Found in an article in The Carbon Advocate, June 06, 1874:
“CURIOUS PERFORMANCES — Signor Beneditti and Mr. J.B. Johnson, members of Schumann’s Transatlantic Novelty Company have been astonishing our citizens by the difficult feats they perform. Signor Beneditti appeared before a large class at the Jefferson Medical College and performed some difficult feats of sword swallowing thrusting as many as six swords in his throat at one time. Another feat consisted of thrusting a very heavy musket with bayonet attached down his throat, he swallowing the entire bayonet 16 inches in length, and then without placing his hands to the musket, he slowly bent his body until he let the weapon assume a horizontal position. He also swallowed a Spanish saber twenty nine inches in length. The opinion of the professors was that the blade displaced the stomach partially, tilting and passing on the left side of it. Mr. Johnson’s performances include smoking, eating, and drinking under water, and remaining under the water for about three minutes at one time. All these performances he faithfully carries out. The smoking under water is done by inserting the lighted end of the cigar in his mouth and ejecting the smoke from his nostrils.”
