Human Oddities

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Johnny Eck began work as a carnival freak in 1923, at the age of 12. He toured with his physically normal twin brother, Robert, to heighten the amazement of the audience. What was Johnny billed as? "The Seal Boy" "The Alligator-Skinned Boy" "The Boy With Three Legs" "The Half Boy"

2. Jeannie and Al Tomaini billed themselves as "The World's Strangest Married Couple". What was so odd about them? They were a "giant" and a "half girl". She had a beard and he had breasts. They were a "fat lady" and a "thin man". She was 7'4" tall, and he was only 3'2".

3. Frank Lentini had three legs, all of different lengths. He walked on the longer, primary pair of legs, and used the third, vestigial leg to kick a ball as part of his show. But Frank had an additional topic he liked to address in his "pitch cards". What was it? Strong religious faith The plight of poor Italian immigrants. The importance of education Health and hygiene

4. Millie and Christine McCoy were conjoined twins, billed variously as "The United African Twins" and "The Two-Headed Nightingale". What did they do with the considerable sum of money they earned in show business? They established a school for children with disabilities. They were irresponsible with money and died penniless. They founded a retirement home for other "human oddities". They set up a family farm for themselves and their 14 siblings.

5. Julia Pastrana was born in Mexico in 1834. She had a beard and an excessive growth of thick, black hair all over her body. Her act consisted of singing and dancing, as she was said to have a lovely voice and graceful form. What is so unusual about the most popular photograph of Julia, in which she wears a beautiful embroidered dress and a fierce, proud expression? She was dead when the picture was taken. It was the only object saved from the first fire to destroy P.T. Barnum's American Museum. It was the first photograph ever published of a "human oddity". The photo was taken by Queen Victoria, who was as curious about the camera as she was about her visitor.

6. Charles Sherwood Stratton went from obscurity to fame under the tutelage of showman P. T. Barnum. Barnum created a persona for Stratton, managed to secure an audience with Queen Victoria, and even orchestrated Stratton's wedding to the lovely Lavinia Warren (Bump). What was the stage name Barnum gave to Charles Sherwood Stratton? Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy General Tom Thumb Krao the Missing Link Lionel the Lion-Faced Man

7. Rosa and Josefa Blazek were born in Czechoslovakia in 1878. Joined at the hip, they performed a musical act. What did Rosa do in 1910 that shocked the world and added to the twins' ability to draw a crowd? She married their manager, Gustav Popovitch. As a publicity stunt, she sued her sister for "divorce". She penned a tell-all autobiography. She had a baby.

8. Bill Durks was billed as "The Two-Faced Man". How many eyes did he have? Two Four Three One

9. Grady Stiles Jr. was born with ectrodactyly, a genetic condition that causes the fingers and toes to fuse, giving the hands and feet a clawlike appearance. But Grady Stiles Jr. made headlines for something totally unrelated to his condition and his career. What did he do? He robbed a bank. He patented the first electric streetlight. He murdered his daughter's fiancée. He located the wreck of the Andrea Doria.

10. Robert Pershing Wadlow, the tallest man ever, didn't like the indignity of the circus or sideshow, but still had to find a way to meet the expenses of putting clothes and shoes on his 8'11.1" frame. Since his enormous size made most jobs impossible, what did Robert end up doing to earn money? He toured the country as a spokesman for the company that made his size 37 shoes. He became a house painter and window washer. He toured the country giving lectures on the causes and types of giantism. He would sell his clothes and shoes to collectors as he outgrew them.