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Beowulf says on 8/Feb/10
Coke Machine
Were you near enough to get an approximation of his height?
Peachey says on 8/Feb/10
Just seen 2 women ... who towered above me in our local Tesco. I am 6 feet and had to look up. Think they were sisters. Coke Machine says on 7/Feb/10
I saw Chris Lister late last year... walking about.... Beowulf says on 6/Feb/10
Coke Machine
If you are from/in Leeds is Tall Chris Lister still thereabouts? Etchey says on 6/Feb/10
Coke Machine. As it happens, it was saturday last, when I saw the tall woman in Leeds. Coke Machine says on 5/Feb/10
Truthfinder/Etchay.... it sounds like the woman I spoke to in 1999... I am 6ft tall and the top of my head reached the tip of her nose..... was it Saturday you saw her? Jellymonster says on 4/Feb/10
If anyone doesn't know, Jonathan Larson's birthday is today, and he made the pulitzer prize winning musical, Rent. Sadly, he died at age 35 from Aortic Dissection from Marfan Syndrome..does anyone know how tall he was??? Etchey says on 4/Feb/10
Truthfinder. Her hair was very dark, and she must have been 6'6" or 6'7" and I would say in her forties. Truthfinder says on 4/Feb/10
What colour was her hair Etchey? I know of one in Leeds who is aged about 43, who is about 6'6" or a bit taller and has black/dark hair..... Rita says on 4/Feb/10
Chaz, better do your math again. There is only 2 inches difference, not 1'2". But your point is well taken. Jun says on 4/Feb/10
A Japanese giant woman Michiko Hashimoto of Hokkaido, who was alive in 19th century, has been described as 7 feet 5. Have not found any more about this person. chris says on 3/Feb/10
Mask - WOW, who's the giant chinese couple? Do you have names and heights? Shoe sizes? Is there an online translator that can translate the article? Etchey says on 3/Feb/10
Last weekend, I noticed a woman in Leeds city centre. I am six four and she was taller. Chaz says on 3/Feb/10
aramx how is 7'11.8''a lot less than than 8'1''It's only 1'2''You do not seem to grasp GBW avarage is height over the day,3 laying down 3 standing up the reason is to take out the freek high and low measurements,it is very impotant to do the laying down ones because most of these giants are not in the best health,can not stand up fully with bad hips joints etc,remmber even giants like Chris Greener who had good health for meny years was only 7'4.9''in the evening,even Channa was only 7'6.75''evening when in good health,Kosen has had a hip op and leaning on a stick all day.like I said 7'11''standing is what I would expect,I would think morning laying down over 8'2''. aramx says on 2/Feb/10
Good point, but that vid does prove that Kosen is not 8'1" standing normally doesn't it? btw, 243 CM is not almost 7'11"! 242 cm is 7'11 1/4" so yeah do your math! That's 7'11.8 " but it is still a lot less than a flat 8'1"! mask says on 1/Feb/10
I guess it's Lock:
Click Here Chaz says on 1/Feb/10
aramx,I would not take too much notice of that vid, they say 233cm is 7'6'' when it's 7'7.33''allso 243cm is allmost 7'11''which is what I would expect from a standing one off measurement,from a 8'1''giant. aramx says on 30/Jan/10
This is a pretty interesting recent vid (one of the few made from this year) of Sultan Kosen. It states that Kosen was actually measured at 243 cm in NY in public! So that refutes anyone who actually says he was measured 8'1" there!
Click Here Jerome says on 30/Jan/10
Yesterday, I saw a huge black woman in the Kings Cross area of London. At 6'1 and 200 pounds, I am no small fry myself, but the woman, who walked past me was a lot taller and had to be a good bit heavier. Highman says on 29/Jan/10
The Tallest Man:
We know John F. Carroll was real. Amazing we only have two photos of him - unbelievable. Any live near Buffalo that can go to the library for us? Grosmont says on 28/Jan/10
vonderburg, I can't read that story either, but if it's the Ethiopian who was the Emperor's umbrella carrier (or some such post), he wasn't a "poor fella", he was a murderer. Vonderburg says on 28/Jan/10
I can't read that story on the the executed Ethiopian Giant that anonymous posted by anonymous. When I zoom in it becomes illegible - does anyone know anything about this poor fella? Boxerwhiteray says on 28/Jan/10
Chris Greener at over 7 ft 6 was England and Britain's tallest man for about forty years. For many years George Gracie of Forth in Lanarkshire was Scotland's tallest man at 7 ft 3. Big George weighed 476 pound at one time and
wore size 18 shoes. The genial Scot - who I met a good number of times was billed by his promoter as "The Gentle Giant". The second tallest man in Scotland was then Hugh Gracie "Huge Hugh" who was George's younger brother and 2 1/2 inches shorter than George. During the 60s and 70s Guinness listed Jim Cully "The Tipperary Giant" at 7 ft 2 as Ireland's tallest man. However back then - I noticed they never had an entry for a current tallest Welshman. That always stuck in my crop - as someone surely had to be. Boxerwhiteray says on 28/Jan/10
I remember reading an article about a promoter wanting to arrange a wrestling match between Big Ted Evans and Fernand "Atlas" Bachelard. Though never found out if the event ever took place. Although both of them did take part in wrestling for a while. Another tall wrestler was Big Jim Cully "The Tipperary Giant" who was born in 1926. He was billed at 7 ft 7 but was really 7 ft 2 and around 273 pounds. Cully also had a few boxing matches. Conal Cochrane says on 28/Jan/10
Book about Arthur Caley/Routh Goshen. Sounds interesting.
Click Here Anonymous says on 28/Jan/10
Johnny C is still listing Grady Patterson. aramx says on 28/Jan/10
Yeah Koehler had very bad posture. His posture is very similar to Ross Sambridge who would be a legit 7 footer (and not just 6-10) if it wasn't for spinal curvature. Rob C says on 27/Jan/10
His name is Kewal Shiels-Mohar. Rob C says on 27/Jan/10
There's this 7'4" 210 lbs basketball player from Victoria, Australia playing in Elsworth College in Iowa, USA. The Tallest Man says on 27/Jan/10
Birrowmar: Yes it is true. Grady Patterson was a hoax:
Click Here Big Show says on 27/Jan/10
Birrowmar says on 26/Jan/10
I have recently heard that Grady Patterson is a hoax or a fraud. Is this true???
The whole Grady Patterson thing was a hoax (and a pretty good one I might add). The pictures were photoshopped. Boxerwhiteray says on 27/Jan/10
The Tallest Man
Regarding Annelies(Annie) Haase-Kaatje van Dyk. Would just like to draw your attention to one of the photos displayed on your site-which may not be her.
In this case - whilst I am not certain - but the same picture is displayed on
Tom Hernandez site as Londy. As you know a famous Giantess from Germany.
Click Here
Londy is another - who is a bit of an enigma. Generally known as Eleanor Wagner
but sometimes as Eleanor Laura Wagner and has been called Laura Wagner.
Sometimes the spelling varies and has been Waigener or Waginer. In the early days she was marketed as a Vienesse but later became known as Londy and Miss Londy. Because she spent a long spell at Dreamland in Coney Island - she became known as The Dreamland Giantess but was sometimes promoted as The Wonderful
Giantess. She was billed at 8 ft but one postcard of her at 19 years of age was marked on the back 7 ft 1. 280 pounds. One later postcard said 7 ft 4 and 336 pounds. I am not certain of her exact height - but the weights given are probably about right. Shortly before britain declared war on Germany - I think
it would be 1938. Londy was appearing in Britain with The Bertram Mills Circus.
She appeared at the famous Olympia in London and several other places. After
that time. I have not came across any more references to her so far. I wonder
if she returned to her native land during the war. Other than Londy another
famous tall lady who appeared at Dreamland was Dora Helms. Another thing about
Dora. I read a book about Frederick Kempster - in which it tells you that he met and fell in love with a German tall lady called Brunhilde. That would have
have to be Dora. However the outbreak of World War One put paid to their liason. Grosmont says on 27/Jan/10
Why all this discussion about Koehler? When he was alive, Guinness, in listing him as an 8 footer, made it quite clear that the measurementit was assuming a normal spine. Nippu says on 26/Jan/10
I also belive that Koehler actually never stands 8´2. But might be really close in 70´s if he could stand up straight. Chaz says on 26/Jan/10
Don Koehler's standing height was 7'10''you can see the other 4''from the hump on he's back. mytg8 says on 26/Jan/10
JT says on 25/Jan/10
Click Here (assuming the other guy is a legit 6’0” as claimed)
However….Click Here I have some doubt about Koehler’s true height as well. To me, he usually looks in the 7'9" range though his posture can be terrible.
Yes,if he was stretching the facts back in the 1950s, did he somehow convince Guinness he was over 8 feet in the sixties? Usually at that time, GBR backed up their research on giants, but Koehler was a personable fellow and Guinness did need a 8 footer for their book after Myllyrinne died in 1963.
I generally agree about his true height. In the early 1970s Guinness did say his standing height was about 7'10"--maybe that was his real height. 7-9 or 7-10. Birrowmar says on 26/Jan/10
I have recently heard that Grady Patterson is a hoax or a fraud. Is this true??? Mister G says on 26/Jan/10
Don Koehler was 8-2, He was listed as such by Guinness, He may have reduced to 7-10 as he got older. But he was 8-2 at his peak. Archie says on 26/Jan/10
There have been scant reports of british women, who have exceeded 7 feet in recent years. One example being Julie Till of Stroud, Gloucestershire at a reported 7 feet 3. Another being Margaret Harvey of London and Berkshire, who was said to be 7 feet 1. Whether either is still alive, I cannot say. As well as these two, there have been reports of others in the region of 7 feet. Steeplejack says on 26/Jan/10
Rita, Bolton is a town in Lancashire, England. Grosmont. I'm not joking. There were a woman called Elsie, when I were a lad, and she were tall allright. My dad and his brothers, they were all tell men. Uncle Charlie, he were 6 ft 4 and nowhere near as tall as Elsie. By gum, no lad. juncai zhang says on 26/Jan/10
How tall is Is Huang Chang-Chiu? Goller says on 26/Jan/10
According to Otto Kobaltz, who was a Customs Official, Kaj van Dyk, was called
Annaleese Haase. She lived in Berlin and her travel documents stated that her height was 7'4. But when she appeared at Oktoberfest, Munich, one of the
greatest Kermis (Fair or Carnival) in Germany. Then she became a whole foot taller. JT says on 25/Jan/10
mytg8 says on 24/Jan/10
Another early fifties article claiming Don Koehler was 8-2:
Click Here
The tall club he joined said he was 7-7 at that time and reached 8-2 in the early sixties. That was confirmed by Guinness in their 1965 edition.
I'm beginning to wonder if Koehler was yanking our collection chains and actually never reached 8 feet at all
Click Here (assuming the other guy is a legit 6’0” as claimed)
However…. Click Here I have some doubt about Koehler’s true height as well. To me, he usually looks in the 7'9" range though his posture can be terrible. Grosmont says on 25/Jan/10
Rita, I think steeplejack is joking! Look at the fake rough grammar - "there were". Rita says on 25/Jan/10
Steeplejack: And Bolton is where??? Anonymous says on 25/Jan/10
The GBR said that Koehler had a standing height of 7-10. Aucky says on 25/Jan/10
Have there been any giantesses from New Zealand. I have never heard of any, but surely, there would have been. mytg8 says on 25/Jan/10
"collective chains" I meant. Truthfinder says on 25/Jan/10
From what I have read, either Geraldine Walton (who is either 6'8 or 6'9) or Sarah Roberts, 6'8, or Sarah Foley, 6'8, unless there is one alive taller.... Boxerwhiteray says on 25/Jan/10
Click Here
Van Droysen Sisters. Elsa Van Droysen otherwise Katja Van Dyke(Annie Haase)wore
size 16 shoes and weighed 362 pounds. Hilda Van Droysen otherwise Brunhilde
(Dora Helms) was believed to have weighed 390 pounds at one time. Her daughter
Ruth was also supposed to have been a giantess - One report accords her with
her having attained 6 ft 7 by 17. Korker says on 24/Jan/10
Who is the tallest woman, alive in the UK. Any of you fellows know? mytg8 says on 24/Jan/10
Another early fifties article claiming Don Koehler was 8-2:
Click Here
The tall club he joined said he was 7-7 at that time and reached 8-2 in the early sixties. That was confirmed by Guinness in their 1965 edition.
I'm beginning to wonder if Koehler was yanking our collection chains and actually never reached 8 feet at all. Steeplejack says on 24/Jan/10
There were a tall woman in Bolton, she must have been nigh on 7 feet, i would say. mask says on 24/Jan/10
I don't know who is this:
Click Here
I only know he should be billed at 7'4" Highman says on 24/Jan/10
Interesting the Tallestman site lists an article about Bud Rogan wherein it states Guinness has him as the 4th tallest human of all time. I thought only Wadlow was taller.
The medical article on John F. Carroll was interesting too.
Too bad no one from Buffalo on this board....there HAS TO BE MORE PICS OF CARROLL!! HE ran for Alderman in Buffalo! Alegzhandurr says on 23/Jan/10
I saw a woman in Derby, shortly before Christmas, who was a lot more than six foot six. This woman was middle aged, with longe blonde hair and was well proportioned. Conal Cochrane says on 23/Jan/10
Click Here
Matthew Langmaid who was Wales' tallest man, has passed away, he was only 41.
I wonder,if anyone knows, who will now be the tallest man, from the principality. Coke Machine says on 23/Jan/10
Is that her name Ann? Yes it could be her, unless there is another 6'6 woman in Leeds with dark hair... Bottle Top says on 23/Jan/10
Must be some tall ladies in Yorkshire. I am 6 ft 2 and saw a redhead in Batley, West Yorks, who must have been five inches taller. She was probably in her late thirties and 6 ft 7 and guessing 220 pounds. Basil says on 23/Jan/10
Is it possible, that one of you guys could post a picture of the giant Ben Hicks. Coke Machine says on 22/Jan/10
Yes it sounds very much like her.... I haven't seen her since late 2006 though..... LoftyLadyLiker says on 22/Jan/10
Coke Machine. I have never seen 6'8" Geraldine Walton of Doncaster. But her name appears on several tall lady lists. Tyke says on 22/Jan/10
Truthfinder/Coke Machine
It was 1990, when I saw the tall woman in Hyde Park, Leeds. She was in her early 20s then. I did see another lady of similar height in Kippax, about 5 years back. Coke Machine says on 22/Jan/10
The woman with dark hair in Leeds said that her dad was 5ft 11in, her mum was 5ft 7in, her younger sister was 5ft 4in. However, disappointingly, her shoe size was only a 8..... Coke Machine says on 21/Jan/10
Tyke - I got talking to the woman with dark hair in WH Smith's in Leeds in 1999, so it is 11 years ago now. We were both stood upright, and the top of my head reached the tip of her nose. I am exactly 6ft tall. Truthfinder says on 21/Jan/10
How long ago Tyke? Her name is Ann and she would be about 43 now.... it could very well be her yes.. she's probably the tallest woman in Leeds.... Tyke says on 21/Jan/10
Coke Machine. I once saw a woman in Hyde Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
She would have been about 6 ft 6 and had dark hair. Could have been the same woman, you mentioned. The Tallest Man says on 21/Jan/10
6 (new) Gabriel Monjane pictures added: Click Here Coke Machine says on 20/Jan/10
Is that her name? It would be about seven or eight ago when I last saw her...... she had glasses on... LoftyLadyLiker says on 20/Jan/10
Coke Machine. The 6'8" lady that you mention at Doncaster (Yorkshire, Gt Britain) surely would have been Geraldine Walton. Pierre says on 20/Jan/10
Tallest lady, I have seen, was 6 fet 6 tops. Boxerwhiteray says on 20/Jan/10
Click Here
Grosmont
House of Deception. Sideshow Performers. Rosa Wedsted (Margarete Wedstedt) also
says 1881-1903. Rita says on 19/Jan/10
Coke Machine: Country locations please! This is an international board. Grosmont says on 19/Jan/10
Boxer, the reason I asked is that I have in my records the original Johnny C listing, which read "1881- fl 1903" and I wondered if perhaps you'd remembered the dates and forgotten the "fl". It would be surprising if she died at 22, as she looks so normal for a giant. For instance, her hands aren't disproportionately large. I'll put "1903(?)" in my list! Kurt says on 19/Jan/10
In Potsdam, I saw a young woman of great height and build. Must be one of the tallest ladies in Germany. It is here where King Frederck, had his regiment of giants. Boxerwhiteray says on 19/Jan/10
Grosmont
Cannot be 100 per cent. But what I have in my records is Rosa Wedsted 1881 - 1903. Coke Machine says on 19/Jan/10
The tallest female I have ever met was in Doncaster at 6'8" and another in Huddersfield, the same height. Though I met two in Leeds. One was 6'7" and the other called Ann, with black hair, who is about 43, is 6'6"... Saraband says on 19/Jan/10
Mask
Click Here
That list you posted is worth checking out. I have come across this list before. Grosmont says on 19/Jan/10
Boxer, is that definite, that Wedsted died in 1903? It's the first time I've ever seen a date for her death. Boxerwhiteray says on 19/Jan/10
Click Here
ug 0079 was not made for Rosa Wedsted. Rosa died 1903. This poster was made for
Dora Helms. Dora was billed as Riesen Dora and Riesenbackfisch Dora, in her early career. Just look at the close up of the poster and early photo of Dora.
Click Here juncai zhang says on 19/Jan/10
Is Huang Chang-Chiu the tallest natural giant, or is it still Xi Shun? mask says on 18/Jan/10
Click Here(scroll down to go on) aramx says on 18/Jan/10
Grsomount. Yes they should have at least made a cast of the skeleton because it was inevitable that they would have lost the body eventually. Boxerwhiteray says on 18/Jan/10
Click Here
I came across that image of Rogan a couple of years back and posted it here then. Cup Cake says on 18/Jan/10
I recently met a woman of 6'5 and she is one tall lady. Though I once saw a woman at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, who was considerably taller. Grosmont says on 18/Jan/10
The Irish protests about Byrne are probably connected to the fact Ireland is a strongly Catholic country. I think I'm right in saying Catholics believe in the resurrection of the body and thus disapprove even of cremation (as if God couldn't reconstitute ashes!). A plaster cast of the skeleton would be acceptasble from a scientific viewpoint, I suppose. After all, the dinosaur bones in museums are casts, not the actual fossils. It's a pity Birmingham university didn't make a cast of Jane Bunford's skeleton (I assume they didn't?) Boxerwhiteray says on 18/Jan/10
Grosmont
I have seen that image of Mariedl somewhere before. It stated that this was what she looked like before the relentless progress of acromegaly had taken it's toll and distorted her features. It would be excellent to get a verification date and would be interesting to know how long it took for her features to be altered. As you state - it is tragic. Anonymous says on 17/Jan/10
Time might be running out to see Byrne's skeleton..
Click Here mask says on 17/Jan/10
look at the pic at right on the top:
Click Here
I think that man could have been Felipe Birriel even though I'd must be mistaken! Grosmont says on 17/Jan/10
Boxer, I raised the question of that "Mariedl" picture on the TallestMan site, and he (TallestMan) doubts that it's Fassnauer. I have a horrible suspicion it is. We need to know the date of that photo, and the earliest date when she appeared strongly acromegalic, but we probably never will. How long would it have taken for the acromegaly to become so pronounced? If it is Mariedl, how very tragic. Boxerwhiteray says on 17/Jan/10
Click Here
0065 This is Maria Fassnauer - before Acromegaly changed her features.
0078 This is definitely Annie Haase or Kaatje (Katya) I know she used the name Sofia at one point in her career. Glover says on 16/Jan/10
Click Here
Was this guy a giant? Me thinks he is just a tall guy. The Brotton Bandit says on 16/Jan/10
Grosmont: I do not have any evidence of photos of Cooper, to show you. All I can tell you, is that I went to see an exhibition of photos of local characters.
That was many years ago. But the photo of giant Henry Cooper, did not at all resemble the ones, that have been attached to articles about Cooper. Someone said that those pictures, were of a man called Ben Hicks. I repeat that Hicks and Cooper looked nothing alike. You can take my word or not. Boxerwhiteray says on 15/Jan/10
Vondenburg
I have been hoping to find a photo of Ruth Syre - so far without success. Of course it is possible that if she did tour - she may have used a different name. To the best of my knowledge - when the United States entered the war Dora
- Ruth and Katja left for Germany. I did hear tell that Dora and Ruth sometimes appeared together in the 40s/50s. Katja continued working into the 60s.
Norfolk giant Robert Hales had a 7 ft 2 inch sister Mary - she weighed about
231 pounds. Another of his sisters Anne was 6 ft 9 and weighed about 301 pounds. Grosmont says on 14/Jan/10
Brotton Bandit (or anyone)- we are still waiting for evidence regarding the "real" Henry Cooper! Vonderburg says on 14/Jan/10
Vondenburg
Are you aware that Werner Syre and Dora Helms had a daughter called Ruth. She was born about 1920 and was said to be 6 ft at 14. As far as I know - she had reached 6 ft 7 by 17. Just wondering if you knew of her.
Nope. Had no idea their union was blessed with children. I agree with The Tallest Man that Dora was no more than 6'10" and maybe a little less. Hard to tell with Skirts/Dresses hiding heels of shoes. Some pics Kaatje seems 8-12 inches taller-- others not so much. Click Here Giantesses are even more maddening in trying to nail down heights than Giants. But it's fun to debate!
If their daughter was 6'7" at 17 (circa 1937) - I gotta believe she toured with someone - no? Any pics of her? aramx says on 14/Jan/10
Nippu says on 12/Jan/10
Mostly Koehler look like 7´8-7´10 tall. Monjane look taller? Of course Koehler had very bad posture.
Yes Monjane looks taller than Koehler, but that was because the people around Koehler were probably taller and also Monjane didn't have spinal curvature. Koehler is AT LEAST as tall as Monjane. Could somebody show me which pics are of him at his peak height? Nippu says on 14/Jan/10
Grosmont: Yep u are right. It´s just my bad English. Koehler nose is his shoulder level. So he lost inches of his height. Boxerwhiteray says on 14/Jan/10
Vondenburg
Are you aware that Werner Syre and Dora Helms had a daughter called Ruth. She was born about 1920 and was said to be 6 ft at 14. As far as I know - she had reached 6 ft 7 by 17. Just wondering if you knew of her. Boxerwhiteray says on 14/Jan/10
Click Here
Interesting book about Sylvia Hardy - which I have just found. Boxerwhiteray says on 14/Jan/10
Vondenburg
I got quite a bit of information on Sylvia Hardy from Maine. Sylvia was said to have been properly measured and was 7 ft 6 and weighed as much as 400 pounds.
She did tour for a while with Barnum and others. She was advertised at 7 ft 10
and 8 ft tall. Her mother ran a boarding house and Sylvia helped out. She was very interested in spiritualism. Sylvia did not stay in showbiz as long as some of her contemporaries. Whilst there are lots of photos of say Ella Ewing and Anna Swan - I have seen just a few of Sylvia. She was born in 1826 and died on August 25th 1888. juncai zhang says on 13/Jan/10
How tall is Huang Chang-Qiu? Is he really 7'11"? Anonymous says on 13/Jan/10
Boxerwhiteray - see here: Click Here Boxerwhiteray says on 13/Jan/10
Click Here
Sylvia Hardy is another giantess - who I am interested in. There do not seem to be many photos of her. Somewehere in my collection - though I do have quite a good one - which I obtained from the Farm Museum in Wilton. Maine. Here is a sketch. Scroll down. Anorak says on 13/Jan/10
Cooper and Hicks do look the same, where then, is the real Cooper's photo. Boxerwhiteray says on 13/Jan/10
Vondenburg
Have you any information on Eliza Simpson "The Quaker Giantess". She was reported to have married Robert Hales "The Norfolk Giant". But I believe this
was probably a publicity stunt. Some sources say that Simpson came from Pennsylvania - but elsewhere it has been reported that she came from Bantry -
Ireland. Someone mentioned that she was Irish - but went to Pennsylvania. A
Physician in Ireland was supposed to have measured her and recorded her height as 7 ft 2 - but she was exhibited at an advertised height of 8 ft. Interestingly
the tallest of Hales' sisters Mary was also 7 ft 2 but exhibited at an advertised height of 8 ft. It did cross my mind at one point - could Simpson
have actually been Mary as the dimensions of the women seemed to match. Though
I decided that it must have been coincidence as Mary had in fact died before
Robert and Eliza had met. Whilst Robert is well known - Eliza remains something of an enigma. Grosmont says on 12/Jan/10
Nippu, Koehler didn't have "bad posture". He had spinal curvature.
Brotton Bandit, I've heard that before, but please tell us where WE can see a picture of the real Cooper. Nippu says on 12/Jan/10
Mostly Koehler look like 7´8-7´10 tall. Monjane look taller? Of course Koehler had very bad posture. Starbrite says on 12/Jan/10
Who were William Olding and Bob Collins. Is the guy in the angel costume either of these or someone different. How tall were Olding and Collins? Boxerwhiteray says on 12/Jan/10
Click Here
Grosmont
Scroll down for images of Shade Shields and his wife Ruth. As you know - she was
Christiana Dorothea Dunz and originally from Germany. She was perhaps best known as Annie O' Brien. The Brotton Bandit says on 12/Jan/10
Harry Alexander Cooper also known as Henry Cooper and Ben Hicks look nothing like each other at all. Unfortunately pictures of Hicks have been used for Cooper. Why, I do not know. I have seen the real Cooper's image, and he is nowt like Hicks. Boxerwhiteray says on 12/Jan/10
Vondenburg
George Parsons and Patrick O' Brien are one and the same. That is him in those photos. As a younger man - he does somewhat resemble George Auger. But it is Parsons. Grosmont says on 11/Jan/10
Vonderburg, you know you said William Olding would have been too young to be the chap dressed as an angel? Well I've got the original entry for Olding from Johnny C's list, and he says the man was born in 1914! Vonderburg says on 11/Jan/10
Boxerwhiteray - UG 41 and 42 might be Parsons - by goodness - they should be Parsons given the name - but I think they might be a young and just starting out George Auger. Click Here Vonderburg says on 11/Jan/10
Annie was widowed by O'Brien/Parsons and then married Shields in 1890. Click Here
Boxerwhiteray - I want UG 41/42 to be Parsons - because honestly, do we need a third Giant Patrick O'Brien in the mix? but Look at these pictures of Parsons - Click Here - The nose on UG 41/42 is much bigger, and the giant seems taller and broader in the shoulder than Parsons. Maybe I'm crazy. Boxerwhiteray says on 11/Jan/10
Click Here
Having closely looked at 0041 as well as 0042. Definitely George Parsons. Boxerwhiteray says on 11/Jan/10
In previous posting I made reference to Patrick Murphy. That was incorrect. I
meant Patrick William O' Brien who was really George Parsons. Boxerwhiteray says on 11/Jan/10
Click Here
Vondenburg
According to the Bogdan Book and various other sources Shade Shields was supposed to have married Christiana Dororhea Dunz. Otherwise Annie O'Brien and was also known to be called Ruth Shields. However whether they divorced or whether it was just a showbiz stunt I am not sure. It seems like she was married to him - but later was supposed to have married Patrick Murphy - who was really George Parsons and may have been the man on photo of unknown giant
0042.
Grosmont
I always thought Abomah was American. But someone on this site suggested that she was born in England. Not sure and am keeping an open mind. But years ago I read a book about the showman David Prince Miller. At one time he had in his employ a 7 feet tall giantess - who was not named. She left the show - but left some of her clothes behind. Miller himself was said to have blacked himself up and wearing a costume of hers and standing on a chair - passed himself off as the giantess. This gaff was supposed to have worked. It crossed my mind - who was the real giantess. Maybe it was Abomah. The time period and height seem to be about right. Boxerwhiteray says on 11/Jan/10
Vondenburg
I read the Bogdan book about 3 years ago. The author claimed that James G. Gilbert was a very elaborate hoax. He mentions that the Shields brothers were
recruited and groomed as professional giants. Also he speaks of one of the brothers (probably Shadrack "Shade Shields") who appeared as Gilbert. Also the
photographs featured on the Tom Hernandez site are included in the book. I have also heard it said that there were four real Shields brothers. But sometimes one of them was not available and another tall guy would stand in for him.
Picture 0050 left hand side. Could be Landon Middlecoff.
Click Here
Think I have seen picture 0050 somewhere before as Landon Middlecoff and Silas Bishop. Grosmont says on 11/Jan/10
The Gilbert affair would indeed be a long gaff, but they have happened. Look how long it was before it became widely known that the Hugo brothers of France were really the Ugo brothers of Italy. For how long were Henri Cot and Joseph Dusorc thought to be two different people? Annie Haase of Germany spent her career as Katja Van Dyk of the Netherlands, complete with an attributed birthplace in that country. Arthur Caley of the Isle of Man morphed into Colonel Routh Goshen. There has recently been much discussion of Henry Cooper and Ben Hicks, who may or may not have been the same man. I gather that Vonderburg is going to provide more information about Gilbert, so I'll say only that the gaff wouldn't have been the funniest thing that ever happened. By the way, I seem to remember someone here saying Abomah was very likely born in England. Anyone heard anything more about that? Vonderburg says on 10/Jan/10
Gilbert was not a Shields Brother - Click Here Vonderburg says on 10/Jan/10
Here's Gilbert's obit in the New York Tims. Click Here Still could be a gaff - but if so it's the best complete impersonation of a non-existent giant by a "real" one. If Gilbert was a Shields brother in Blackface for 13 years - it would have had to have been Shade - as the rest had retired by 1890. I can't see the round faced Shade Shields as the Ectomorph Gilbert - can you? Vonderburg says on 10/Jan/10
If it was a show-biz gaff - it was a heck of a long one and extraordinarily elaborate. Perhaps Bogdan was wrong? James G. Gilbert "a Mulatto" of Chatham, NC was on tour in 1882 (Listed at 7'). Click Here He had an obituary in the Chicago Tribune in 1895 (when Hernandez said he died) Click Here
That's all pretty elaborate for a gaff, if you ask me. (there was a marriage too in 1893.) A 13 year gaff while having another career as a Shield Brother? Maybe, but that's tough to swallow. That's a long-long time to appear in blackface and perpetuate a gaff. jamie says on 10/Jan/10
tallkid, the Europeans are also giving the chinese some competition. Laszlo Dobos from Hungary is 7ft2 and just turned 16 in December, Luca Sauro is a 7ft 15 year old from Italy, Laurence Watsham from England is 13 and almost 6ft9 and 15 year old Giannis Dimakopoulous is 7ft1 from Greece. A South African boy (Jacobus Coetzer) was reported to be 7ft1 last year at age 14, but I haven't seen any reports since - I hope he has stayed in good health Boxerwhiteray says on 10/Jan/10
Vondenburg
Picture 0042 may be George Parsons. Boxerwhiteray says on 10/Jan/10
Vondenburg
Guy right hand 0050 loks like Silas Bishop. Grosmont says on 10/Jan/10
In that picture "Gilbert" has perfectly Caucasian features, and could easily be a white man in blackface makeup. Of course some black Africans have "Caucasian" features, but would they have a name like Gilbert? The only African country I can think of whose inhabitants have British names is Sierra Leone, where the names are usually Scottish, but they are racially negro.
I can't remember where I first saw that picture of "Olding" as an angel, but it had a caption identifying him as Olding and stating the function for which he was so dressed. Unfortunately I don't recall the date given. I can't even find the picture on the infuriating Quasi-modo site, which must be the hardest to navigate on the entire internet. Boxerwhiteray says on 10/Jan/10
Vondenburg
I have seen that picture in the Angel costume listed as William Olding. He died in 1942.
Trust me that picture of Gilbert is not an Afro American at all. It is a showbiz gaff. It is one of the Shields brothers blacked up. I read all about it in this book.
Click Here
It could be either Leah or Ella. But I have seen somewhere listed as Leah. Vonderburg says on 9/Jan/10
Boxerwhiteray - that can't be William Olding - picture was taken in mid thirties - Olding was too young. Can't be Collins either. Mystery.
J.G. Gilbert (and UG 0046) was african-american. Tom Hernandez identifies this very picture as James G. Gilbert. Click Here Shields Brothers were all caucasian.
Leah May is a good guess - so is a young Ella Ewing. TheTall Kid says on 9/Jan/10
Danimal says on 8/Jan/10
TheTall Kid says on 7/Jan/10
I've heard of this kid named Zhun Zheng who's 14 and already 7 foot 1 but only 180 lbs. That's taller than me( I'm only 6'7''). However, I doubt he's only 14 and the 7 foot claim doesn't seem all that legit. Anyone else know about this. Also, there is another kid from China named Li Li ming who's 7 foot 4 at only 15 but isn't as skinny as Zhun Zheng. Anyone else heard about this. Also Yao ming's wife is expecting a baby, How tall will he/she grow to be?
Only 6'7"? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?
Danimal, no it is not a joke, I'm 15 years old and 6 foot 7. My parents are 6 foot 6 and 6 foot and since I'm this tall, I'm not use to seeing ppl younger than me SIGNIFICANTLY taller than me. However, I'm not sure if I'll grow anymore since my groeth rate has slowed down a bit. Boxerwhiteray says on 9/Jan/10
Click Here
Mention of Ginny Bunford taking part in a pageant. Whilst I have heard it said
that Ginny was sometimes known as The Cadbury Giantess - because she did work for the chocolate manufacturer - I have my doubts that she was the person who visited Australia. Rita says on 9/Jan/10
I believe Sandy did meet Don Kohler but am not positive. Will ask her brother if he remembers that. He was usually with her on her PA's, altho he would have been pretty young at the time. Alonzo says on 9/Jan/10
What age would Ricki Covette, be now.
Does anyone know the name of a giantess nicknamed (The It Girl of the Tall Ladies) Boxerwhiteray says on 9/Jan/10
Click Here
0046 not Bob Collins. It is William Olding of Glasgow. He was 7 ft 6.
0038 J.G. Gilbert. This was an alias. He was one of the Shields Brothers.
0046. Believe that this is a young Leah May. Anonymous says on 8/Jan/10
Carolina Rascon:
Click Here Danimal says on 8/Jan/10
TheTall Kid says on 7/Jan/10
I've heard of this kid named Zhun Zheng who's 14 and already 7 foot 1 but only 180 lbs. That's taller than me( I'm only 6'7''). However, I doubt he's only 14 and the 7 foot claim doesn't seem all that legit. Anyone else know about this. Also, there is another kid from China named Li Li ming who's 7 foot 4 at only 15 but isn't as skinny as Zhun Zheng. Anyone else heard about this. Also Yao ming's wife is expecting a baby, How tall will he/she grow to be?
Only 6'7"? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke? Vonderburg says on 8/Jan/10
More trolling through Mask's discovery of Google's News Archives. The findings are amazing. Even the most obscure giant can be found - save for one. That being John F. Carroll. Very, Very, odd that you can't even find a mention of him. But have a look at the other discoveries-- Click Here xei says on 8/Jan/10
leyre Carrascosa 16 years 2.00m
Click Here TWL says on 8/Jan/10
For Hoot. Sorry if I have omitted anyone. These spring to mind.
American ladies of over 7 feet.
Sandy Allen 7.7 1/4
Sylvia Hardy 7.6
Ella Ewing (estimates vary) 7.6 max and 7.4 1/2 min
Delores Pullard 7.5
Lea May 7.2 Champagnole says on 8/Jan/10
Corry and Rita
As far as I know, Sandy met Big Don Koehler. He was taller than her. chris says on 8/Jan/10
Rita - was it possible Sandy met Don Koehler, the 8 ft 2 Tall Club member from Chicago? I think he died in the early 1980s chris says on 7/Jan/10
mask - how do I enlarge those old newspaper articles to read them? when I click on them it takes me to the next page.... TheTall Kid says on 7/Jan/10
I've heard of this kid named Zhun Zheng who's 14 and already 7 foot 1 but only 180 lbs. That's taller than me( I'm only 6'7''). However, I doubt he's only 14 and the 7 foot claim doesn't seem all that legit. Anyone else know about this. Also, there is another kid from China named Li Li ming who's 7 foot 4 at only 15 but isn't as skinny as Zhun Zheng. Anyone else heard about this. Also Yao ming's wife is expecting a baby, How tall will he/she grow to be? Grosmont says on 7/Jan/10
Mask, did you notice that the Iranian giant's name was an anagram of "Lofti"? Rita says on 7/Jan/10
Corry, I'm really not sure Sandy met anyone taller. I know she met Chris Greener, who was close to her height, and she liked him, although she wasn't interested in dating him. She met several tall women through the Tall Clubs but no one near her height, that I know of. Wish I could be more help. Brumber says on 7/Jan/10
Truthfinder
Gran lived somewhere near Ginny, but did not attend the same school or work with her. I remember Gran told me that Ginny took part in some local pageant and think this was either just before or after 1st World war. Rita says on 7/Jan/10
OK Anonymous, you're forgiven. If Sandy was still here, she'd give you a head noogie you'd never forget! BTW, why not give yourself a name? There could be several people posting under "Anonymous" and it helps with responses. The Fugitive says on 7/Jan/10
One time, I saw Ricki Covette and she may have been 6 ft 8 in her very high heels, but barefoot, I would say 6 ft 4 is about right. The tallest dame, I ever saw was Amaleen Baker "The Tall Gal". Amaleen was almost 7 ft 1 and weighed about 350. Her shoes were size 21. Hoot says on 7/Jan/10
Could anyone compile a list of american women of 7 feet and over. Were there that many. Jaale says on 7/Jan/10
You know, I see many pictures of Katja van Dyke and Dora Helms. Came across a site that had them only 3 inches in difference. But in some photos the 2 women look more like 9 inches to almost a foot in their difference. I would think that
there must be more than 3 inches seperation. Corry says on 7/Jan/10
Rita. Did Sandy ever meet anyone taller than herself, when she was at peak height? Did she ever meet another bonafide giantess? Rocco says on 7/Jan/10
Lowdowner. Thanks for that information on Ricki Covette. mask says on 7/Jan/10
Guys you missed this:
Click Here
Click Here
Iranian giant Mamhoud Lotfi article and video! Truthfinder says on 6/Jan/10
Brumber, did your Gran live near Ginny Bunford or did she go to school with her or work with her? Anonymous says on 6/Jan/10
Hutch - That was Bunford. Has anybody the 'Cadbury Giantess' photo? It was taken in Australia in c1920 and shows the Cadbury Stand at a traders' fair (or something like that). It has appeared on the internet. I did not know Bunford worked for Cadbury at the time and did not make the connection (also I never imagined she would travel to Australia, since I read she was a recluse, but this is now known to be false). chris says on 6/Jan/10
Lowdowner: you're absolutely correct about Ricki Covette's true height. I have old clip of her when she was on the old game show To Tell the Truth. In it, she stands next to a man who's 6 ft 10. She's wearing what I would estimate are 2 1/2 inch heels, and she's a good 5 or 6 inches shorter than he is. I was estimating her height at 6 ft 3, but I'd believe 6 ft 4. Anonymous says on 6/Jan/10
Aramx and Rita...I'm sorry for posting that. I was just typing stuff in that I'd erase later and just happened to accidentely hit "enter." I didn't think it would go through because I didn't type a name in. I am truly, very sorry. Rita says on 6/Jan/10
Anonymous: Sandy would never want me to do what? Write about her in a tall forum? LOL, guess again. She was my friend for 31 years, I know her family and I wrote a book about her, which she heartily approved of. If that makes me a stalker, well, here's your sign. Click here: Click Here Grosmont says on 6/Jan/10
Anonymous, I'm sure Rita will answer for herself, but I (and no doubt most others here) are aware that she was a longtime close friend of Sandy. Anyway, how do you define a "stalker"? You can't stalk someone when they're dead! Hutch says on 6/Jan/10
I'm sure, that I read about a young girl, who fell from a tree, and after that began to grow at an alarming rate. Not sure who, this was. Mirrh says on 6/Jan/10
Does anyone have information on an Indian giantess, who is taller than Svetlana Singh. Rumour, ther is a taller woman alive in India. Anyone able to confirm. Lowdowner says on 5/Jan/10
Rocco - I too would love to know if Ricki Covette is still with us as we lost touch around 12 years ago when she made changes to her life by moving from LA and going into real estate. We corresponded for a couple of years until 1999 and during this time she sent me some signed photos and a fascinating CV with her media appearances. Also included were personal details including her vital stats in which she stated her true height as 6ft 4in. This came as a real surprise as her earlier publicity had constantly claimed (and still does) that she stood 6ft 8in. When I asked her about this discrepancy she remarked that there was "this tall girl thing" during the fifties and so she took to wearing very high heels so that when someone was introduced to her she stood up as tall as possible before quickly sitting down again! Apparently this created the illusion of being 7 feet tall in her heels and so the perpetuated myth was born. Very disappointing to say the least but that is what the lady said. Anonymous says on 5/Jan/10
Aramx, why do you care that there's a 7ft. guy at the mall? It's just a 7ft. guy; no one cares! And Rita, you're a Sandy Allen stalker! You know that Sandy would never want you to do this Grosmont says on 5/Jan/10
Mask, I love the item on Boling. It says he was 7 ft 8.5 in tall, they amputated his legs, and now he's exactly 7 feet tall. Boy, he must have been a sight to behold! A giant with legs 8.5 inches long. Rita says on 5/Jan/10
In the Sandy Allen / Alam Channa pic that Mask posted, the woman standing next to Sandy in the photo is Darlene, her sister. Thanks Mask! |
