Photos of Vermont’s Rutland Fair Freak Show in 1941

In September 1941, Jack Delano took these pictures of sideshow adverts, posters and billboards at the Rutland Fair, Rutland, Vermont (founded 1846) for the Farm Security Administration. The art is lurid, engaging and enticing. “Come see The Third Sex Family,” coos one. The Francos are here “in person”. And they’re largely nude. If that’s not enough flesh for you good folks, there are all manner of fat people to ogle.

The World’s Fattest Family are so fat you will need to stand far, far away to take in their gargantuan bulk in a single look. There’s Ruth the Acrobat, a full-figured rubber woman. There’s the Human Skin Bull, The 8-Footed Horse, The Pop-Eyed Cow, The Charlie Chaplin Chicken, a dog with two legs, a dog with five legs, a turkey with a human face (non freakish), human freaks, Backwards Boy, The Monkey Circus, The Human Block Head and “DAMES”. Always the DAMES.

Take a look:

 

Via: Library of Congress