Unveil the extraordinary tales of performers who stole the show under the circus tent. From bearded ladies to living skeletons, these extraordinary figures defied societal norms, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sideshows. Their real and astonishing tales reveal the diversity and complexity within the realm of circus performances.

Alice Elizabeth Doherty

Marvel at the extraordinary life of Alice Elizabeth Doherty, the real-life circus marvel! Born on March 14, 1887, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alice was no ordinary soul. Afflicted with hypertrichosis lanuginosa, she sported a captivating two-inch-long blonde mane all over her body, making her a truly unique spectacle. Exhibited by her parents from the tender age of two, Alice became a sideshow sensation, touring the Midwestern United States alongside Professor Weller's One-Man Band.

Despite her reluctance for showbiz, Alice's luscious hair grew to astonishing lengths, reaching 9 inches by her teenage years. Yearning for a life beyond the spotlight, she bid farewell to the circus in 1915. Tragically, Alice succumbed to bronchial pneumonia in Dallas, Texas, on June 13, 1933, leaving behind a legacy as a remarkable circus oddity.

Myrtle Corbin

Born on May 12, 1868, in Lincoln County, Tennessee, Myrtle defied nature as a dipygus, boasting two pelvises and captivating inner legs alongside the outer ones. Despite her unique challenges, she joined the sideshow at 13, earning the moniker "Four-Legged Girl from Texas." Myrtle's fame led to imitations, perplexing even medical journals with terms like "dipygus dibrachius tetrapods" and "'posterior dichotomy,' subvariety schizorachis."

Beyond the spotlight, she embraced family life, marrying at 19 and raising four daughters and a son. Dr. Lewis Whaley's documentation of her extraordinary pregnancy thrust her back into medical attention, highlighting her resilience and intelligence. Tragically, she passed on May 6, 1928, in Cleburne, Texas, prompting protective measures like a concrete-covered casket. Myrtle Corbin's legacy endures as a captivating circus tale, fascinating minds with her extraordinary journey.

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