Armless wonder

Armless wonder

An Armless Wonder was a person without arms who was exhibited, usually at a circus sideshow. Typically (but not exclusively) a woman, she would perform various tricks using her feet and toes, such as smoking a cigarette or writing. Frequently, she would have a supply of visiting cards which, for an extra charge, she would sign with her feet and give to onlookers.

Whilst such exploitation of disabled people would not be acceptable today, the Armless Wonder was often one of the most highly-paid people of the sideshow. In times when the exposure of even a female ankle was considered risqué, a pretty young woman who performed feats of dexterity with her toes would inevitably attract a great deal of interest.

Performers

Examples of Armless Wonders of the early 20th century are Frances O'Connor and Martha Morris, both of whom also appeared in the 1932 film, Freaks. Another example from the late 19th century was Anne Leak who usually included a few simple lines of verse when she signed her visiting cards, such as the following:

"So you perceive it's really true,"
"When hands are lacking, toes will do."

Examples of male Armless Wonders are Carl Unthan and Charles B. Tripp.

External links

* [http://showhistory.com/Limbless.html Limbless at ShowHistory.com]
* [http://www.quasi-modo.net/Limbs_Torsos_Armless.html Limbs, Torsos, and Armless at Quasi-Modo.net]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Charles B. Tripp — Autographed photo of Charles B. Tripp Charles B. Tripp (July 6, 1855–January 26, 1930) was a Canadian American sideshow performer known as the Armless Wonder . A native of Woodstock, Ontario, Tripp was born without arms, but learned to use his… …   Wikipedia

  • Freaks — Infobox Film name = Freaks caption = Theatrical release poster director = Tod Browning producer = Tod Browning writer = Tod Robbins starring = Wallace Ford Leila Hyams Olga Baclanova music = cinematography = Merritt B. Gerstad editing = Basil… …   Wikipedia

  • Circus skills — See also: Circus, Sideshow, and Contemporary circus. Circus skills are a group of pursuits that have been performed as entertainment in circus, sideshow, busking or variety/vaudeville/music hall shows. Most circus skills are still being… …   Wikipedia

  • Frances O'Connor (performer) — Frances Belle O Connor (September 8, 1914, in Granite Falls, Minnesota, ndash; January 30, 1982, in Long Beach, California, California), born entirely without arms, made her living by appearing in various circus sideshows as the armless wonder or …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Tripp — may refer to: Charles B. Tripp, Canadian American sideshow performer, known as the Armless Wonder Charles Nelson Tripp, Canadian American geologist, early bitumen/oil producer Charles R. H. Tripp, British academic who specializes in the Near East …   Wikipedia

  • World Circus Sideshow — The World Circus Sideshow was a sideshow owned and operated by Professor Samuel Wagner from 1922 to 1941 on Surf Avenue, Coney Island, New York.Known as The Godfather of the Coney Island Freak Show, Wagner was a contemporary of other sideshow and …   Wikipedia

  • Browning, Tod — orig. Charles Albert Browning born July 12, 1880, Louisville, Ky., U.S. died Oct. 6, 1962, Malibu, Calif. U.S. film director. He was a circus performer and vaudeville comic before joining the Biograph film studio in 1915. He wrote several… …   Universalium

  • Catwoman — For other uses, see Catwoman (disambiguation). Catwoman Cover to Catwoman: Nine Lives of a Feline Fatale (June 2004), depicting various Catwoman costumes from the character s history. Art by Brian Bolland …   Wikipedia

  • Pingu episodes series 4 — This is an list of episodes with synopses for series 4 of the stop motion animated television series Pingu . =Series 1 (1986 1991)= =Series 2 (1991 1994)= =Series 3 (1994 1996)= =Series 4 (1998)= Pingu s DisadvantagePingu is out on his sledge. He …   Wikipedia

  • Geoffrey Chaucer — Chaucer redirects here. For other uses, see Chaucer (disambiguation). Geoffrey Chaucer …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”