“THE SIDE SHOW”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 259, 23 January 1928, Page 13

“THE SIDE SHOW”

A ROW OF FREAKS The greatest show on earth Is nearing completion. It is the Fields-Ches-ter Conklin comedy, “The Side Show.” It you doubt the merits of the show just picture in imagination this row of freaks lined up on the stage—the usual fat lady, human skeleton, giant and dwarf. It is. to be entirely conservative, a triumph of the casting director's achievement. Ann Magruder, the fat lady, responds to these modest dimensions: 3901 b. in weight, sft. Hill, tall, 7ft. 6in. waist measurement, 82in. around the chest. And she is philosophical. "Don’t worry about your weight,” said Mrs. Magruder. “Not once in 16 years have I been able to vary my weight bv more than a few pounds, no matter what I did. I’ve tried dieting, exercise and treatments, but nothing happens. Mow I eat just what I please and I’m just as happy as If I were a sylph.” ~ ' , Tobacco is blamed by the giant, John Aasen. for stunting his growth. He has smoked since he was six years old —he now is 27 —and he is only Sft. 9in high. He weighs 5031 b., has a chest measure of 61 inches, wears a 22 collar and 205 shoe. Aasen's grandfather, by the way, was the Norwegian giant at the Chicago world's fair, but he was not so large as John. The giant made his debut in moving pictures a few years ago as the featured giant in the Harold Lloyd comedy, “Why "Worry. Chester Moorten, the human skeleton, has been in moving pictures, mostly as an emaciated dope addict. He is 6ft. 3in. tall and weighs only 1401 b. His waist measurement is 2bm. and his chest 34in. The dwarf is the veteran of them all so far as service in the theatrical Held is concerned. He . , has hibiting his 4ft. of height and his 631 b. weight for 35 years in the show business The gigantic John Aasen is more than twice as tall as he and in bulk would make approximately six of hi no These “freaks” are not all of the either. There is Joseph Steresheff a strong man of Russian fceresntM » real contender * for sThl ™ n s shoe on t he .J!*sF I'haracters in the cast The -straight charade Luden , include Mar hivenile leads. John (Gians' «* —»»