Buzz
These performers came in all shapes and sizes, drawing our amazed stares and gasps, just as they were meant to. Ladies and gentlemen, and children of all ages, we present to you our list of the ten most remarkable attractions to ever grace the sawdust-filled rings of circus big tops and sideshows.
10. Middlebush Giant
Billed as the tallest man in the world, the Middlebush Giant was a giant of both size and story. Known as Arthur James Caley in real life, Barnum dubbed him Colonel Routh Goshen and spun numerous stories about his origins. He was supposedly discovered either on the streets of New York or while abroad, and his birth year was either 1827 or 1837—depending on which version of the tale you hear. The circus promoted him as being 7’11” tall and weighing 620 pounds, though his actual height was probably closer to 7’5”. He passed away in 1889 and is buried in Middlebush, New Jersey.
9. Mabel Stark
Though standing just five feet tall, the incredible Mabel Stark made her mark as the most renowned female tiger trainer in history. In the early 1920s, her act was the most beloved of all the animal performances at Ringling. In 1928, a slip in the muddy ring led to an attack by two of her tigers, who knocked her down and mauled her, inflicting deep wounds on her shoulders, chest, and limbs, and tearing muscles in her back, thigh, and hip. Despite requiring 378 stitches, she returned to the cage after just a few weeks, bandaged and walking with a cane. In 1950, another fierce attack by one of her tigers left her with 175 stitches in her arm. Yet Mabel, undeterred, spent an astonishing 57 years in the spotlight. She passed away from a self-inflicted overdose after being let go from her final job at JungleLand, a theme park.
8. Gargantua
Dubbed as 'the world’s most terrifying living creature,' the gorilla known as Gargantua the Great helped save the Ringling Brothers circus from financial ruin when he joined the show in 1938. The circus claimed that the scarred, menacing gorilla, captured in Africa as a young animal, harbored a hatred for humans, sparking widespread fascination. Initially called 'Buddy,' the gorilla was renamed Gargantua by new owners after a legendary giant from French literature, a name that sounded far more intimidating than 'Buddy.' Gargantua did have a supposed mate, Mrs. Gargantua, but their relationship remained non-existent, as he showed no interest in her.
7. Mario Zacchini
Wanted: A volunteer to be propelled explosively at ninety miles per hour from a cannon, soaring across a circus tent into a net. Mario Zacchini saw this as an opportunity and committed to the stunt, with himself and his four brothers spending years performing the dangerous act with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Although the Zacchinis openly acknowledged that their explosive cannon blasts were only sound effects, produced by igniting a small amount of black gunpowder, the secret behind the launching mechanism was never revealed. Mario frequently remarked, 'Flying isn’t the hard part; landing in the net is.'
6. Harry Houdini
One of the most renowned magicians in history began his career with the Welsh Brothers Circus in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1895. For 26 weeks, Harry Houdini and his wife, Beatrice, entertained audiences with songs, dances, and a trick known as 'metamorphosis,' in which the couple would swap places inside a locked trunk. As Houdini refined his vocal skills and stage presence, he also became a master of handcuff escapes. His growing expertise in escapism eventually propelled him into global fame, far beyond the circus arena.
5. Flying Wallendas
In 1922, Karl Wallenda formed a daring group called the Great Wallendas. They toured Europe performing thrilling acts such as creating a four-man pyramid and riding bicycles across a tightrope high above the audience. John Ringling, impressed by their performance in Cuba, hired them for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Wallendas made their debut in 1928 at Madison Square Garden, performing without a safety net due to an unfortunate mishap during transit. While the act was a huge hit, it wasn’t without risks. During a performance in Akron, Ohio, the troupe fell from the tightrope but miraculously remained unharmed. A reporter at the scene remarked, 'The Wallendas fell so gracefully that it seemed as if they were flying,' which is how they earned the name the Flying Wallendas. Sadly, many years later, on March 22, 1978, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Karl Wallenda tragically fell to his death from the high wire at 73 years old.
4. Zip the Pinhead
William Henry Johnson was, to put it kindly, an anomaly. While his body grew normally, his head remained unusually small and tapered to a sharp point. In Somerville, New Jersey, Van Emburgh’s Circus began paying his parents to showcase their son, billing him as a 'wild negro boy' who had been captured in Africa and placed in a cage. His unique appearance drew the attention of PT Barnum, who transformed his look by dressing him in a furry suit and styling his afro into a pointed shape that emphasized his sloped brow. Barnum gave him the name 'Zip the Pinhead.' Over his 67 years in show business, it’s said that more than 100 million people came to see Zip at the circus. His final words were, 'Well, we fooled 'em for a long time, didn’t we?'
3. Jumbo
On Easter Sunday in 1882, P.T. Barnum introduced Jumbo the elephant to New York City, perfectly timed for the grand opening of "the Greatest Show on Earth" at Madison Square Garden. In just the first six weeks, Jumbo helped the show generate $336,000 in revenue. At twelve feet tall at the shoulders and weighing in at six and a half tons, Jumbo became an iconic circus attraction in American history. In fact, the word "jumbo" in modern language originates from his name. Jumbo traveled in a private railroad car known as "Jumbo’s palace car," a lavish crimson and gold boxcar with grand double doors. Unfortunately, despite his immense popularity and size, Jumbo met an untimely death when a speeding freight train struck him on September 15, 1885, in St. Thomas, Ontario while he was being loaded onto his palace.
2. Emmet Kelly
Emmett Kelly’s most famous routine involved trying to sweep a spotlight into a dustpan on the Ringling circus stage. Between 1942 and 1956, he appeared as "Weary Willie," a classic tramp clown inspired by a Depression-era hobo. Unlike the more extravagant clowns of his time, Kelly’s style was understated—he wandered the arena dressed in tattered clothing and communicated with the audience through pantomime instead of words. Kelly passed away at the age of 80 from a heart attack in Sarasota, Florida, the long-standing winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
1. General Tom Thumb
In 1842, P.T. Barnum employed a four-year-old dwarf named Charles Stratton, who would go on to achieve worldwide fame as General Tom Thumb. Standing just 25 inches tall, Stratton embarked on a nationwide tour with Barnum’s circus, portraying characters such as Cupid and Napoleon Bonaparte. He also showcased his talents by singing, dancing, and participating in skits. In 1844, Barnum took him on a European tour, where he performed twice for Queen Victoria and became an international sensation. However, it was his 1863 wedding to Lavinia Warren, who stood at 2’8” while he had grown to 2’11”, that captivated the public. Barnum charged $75 per ticket, and the event saw 2,000 attendees, including congressmen, millionaires, and generals. During their honeymoon, the couple was even entertained by President and Mrs. Lincoln at the White House.
