Undated photograph of Paul Paulo with Zip the Pinhead. Paul Herold (September 27, 1874 - August, 1939) was born in Germany and claimed that he had a constant growth until the age of 21. He finished 8 terms of elementary school at the age of 14, and then s
Undated photograph of Paul Paulo with Zip the Pinhead. Paul Herold (September 27, 1874 - August, 1939) was born in Germany and claimed that he had a constant growth until the age of 21. He finished 8 terms of elementary school at the age of 14, and then spent 4 years as a carpenter. He was rejected for military service at the age of 20 because of a heart condition. He began travelling and exhibiting all over Europe. He married in 1911 to a Viennese singer, who was of normal height. He travelled to the USA in 1921 and worked in circuses, carnivals, freak shows. He died at the old Showman's League Hospital in Chicago in August of 1939 at the age of 64. Though billed as a giant there is no record of his height. Zip the Pinhead, real name William Henry Johnson (1842 - April 9, 1926) was an African-American freak show performer. His unusual appearance caused many to believe that he was a pinhead, or microcephalic. When he was signed by Barnum a furry suit was made to fit him, his hair was shaped to a tiny point, and he was given the name, Zip the Pinhead, the "What-Is-It?" Microcephaly patients are characterized by a small, tapering cranium and often have impaired mental faculty. It has been argued that he may not have been a true microcephalic. According to the interview with his sister, Zip's last words to her were "Well, we fooled 'em for a long time, didn't we?" It is estimated that during his 67 years in show business, Zip entertained more than one hundred million people. He was termed "The Dean of Freaks". His funeral was attended by the greatest side show acts of the days
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Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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