Zip the Pinhead
| Zip the Pinhead | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
William Henry Johnson c. 1842 Liberty Corner, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | April 9, 1926 (aged 83) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | African American |
| Occupation | Freak show performer |
| Known for | performer with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey sideshows, entertainer at Coney Island |
William Henry Johnson (c. 1842 – April 9, 1926) known as Zip the Pinhead was an American freak show performer famous for his tapered head.
William Henry Johnson was born one of six children to a very poor African-American family. His parents were William and Mahalia Johnson, former slaves. As he grew, his body developed normally but his head remained small. His tapering cranium and heavy jaw made him attractive to agents from van Emburgh's Circus in Somerville, New Jersey. His unusual appearance caused many to believe that he was a "pinhead", or microcephalic. Microcephaly patients are characterized by a small, tapering cranium and often have impaired mental faculty. It is arguable, however, that William Henry was not mentally deficient.
William Henry's parents agreed to allow the circus to display him in return for money. He was billed as a missing link, supposedly caught in Africa and displayed in a cage. He was a popular draw, and his success led young William Henry's agent to show his charge to showman P.T. Barnum.
Barnum purchased the right to display William Henry Johnson from the circus and gave him a new look. A furry suit was made to fit him, and his hair was shaped to a tiny point that further accented his sloping brow. Finally, he was given the name, "Zip the Pinhead," the "What-Is-It?"
Zip's early performances were set against a background story. It was told to the audience that a tribe of "missing links" had been discovered in Africa, and that Zip was one of these. It was further explained that the "wild man", the "What-Is-It", subsisted on raw meat, nuts, and fruit, but was learning to eat more civilized fare such as bread and cake.
Zip would then be revealed in a cage where he could rattle the bars and screech. This act was tremendously successful for Barnum, and Zip was as big an attraction to his American Museum as the famous Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker.
In later years, Zip became more "civilized" in his act. He shared the stage with other anomalies, including his friends Jim Tarver, the Texas Giant; Jack Earle, the Tallest Man in the World; Koo-Koo the Bird Girl and many others. Zip also traveled extensively with the Ringling Brothers circus.
...
Wikipedia