Rare Photos From Circuses In The 1800s Expose A Grim Reality
In the 1800s, those who were shunned for their differences sometimes found themselves in the big top. The world of vintage traveling circuses could be entertaining, impressive, and even inspiring, but it could also be dark and demeaning. Now, rare photos from the Victorian era of traveling circuses reveal how these “circus freaks” actually lived, and who they really were behind the makeup and glitter.
The Bearded Lady
Meet Madame Devere, one of the most famous bearded ladies of the Victorian age! According to some accounts, her glorious beard measured an impressive 14 inches in 1884. Also known as the Kentucky Wonder, Madame Devere’s real name was Mary Ann.
Big Cat in the Big Top
What would a circus be without strangely well-behaved wild animals? It’s impressive to train a puppy, let alone a 400-pound lion with teeth intended to devour a gazelle. If this lion tamer is any indication, humans and lions can co-exist in harmony...as long as the lion never gets hungry.
The Tallest Man
Don’t be fooled by the generic-sounding name; at almost 8 feet tall and 525 pounds, this particular “tall man” was not to be trifled with. After Captain Martin Van Buren Bates fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, he traveled with P.T. Barnum and his band of circus performers.
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The Tallest Woman
According to legend, Anna Haining hit her growth spurt and just never stopped growing. At 7 feet 6 inches, there was only one man who captured Anna’s eye, and it was — you guessed it! — Martin Van Buren Bates. They were known internationally as “The Largest Married Couple in the World.”
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