ATTRACTIONS AT THE SHOW

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 5

ATTRACTIONS AT THE SHOW

GIANT WOMAN AND PIGMY MAN After an extensive tour of the world in search of new wonders for their sideshows, the well-known showmen Greenhalgh and Jackson, are again in Invercargill. They will present many new acts and features in their sideshows at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association show next week. Weighing 48 stone and standing eight feet two inches high, Princess Pontuss is the last of her tribe of Amazonian

headhunters. When only a mere child this huge woman was adopted by the missionaries in South America. Only a normal baby at birth, the Princess weighed 28 stone at the age of 16. It now takes 36 yards of material to make her a dress. Weird customs and tribal rites are related at every session by Princess Pontuss in perfect English— English that would make the finest elocutionist envious.

With her will appear Isom, the African pigmy man. During their performance the pigmy takes a butcher’s hook of steel, places it through his tongue, and lifts a 281 b weight on it. He also eats fire and walks on broken glass. AMERICA’S SMALLEST WOMAN An addition to the numerous attractions to be presented at the Invercargill show is Dollita, the little American cinema star —America’s sma 1 lest woman. This miniature Mae West from Hollywood has a charming personality, and will put expression into the famous line: “Come up and see me some time.” Dollita is just 20 years old, weighs 371 b, and stands only 28 inches high. Dollita was a favourite at the Sydney Royal Show, and she promises a novel and interesting performance. Dollita and Polly Moran are very close friends. THE PIG-A-DILLY CIRCUS Visitors to the show are assured of novel entertainment on visiting this wonderful animal show, presented by Miss Marjorie Van Camp, daughter of the original pig trainer, Captain Van Camp. The Pig-a-dilly Circus is literally full of surprises. Six little pigs that are positively human, form the cast of this show. There are pig clowns, comedians and acrobats. There are little pigs which entei’ sly grog shops, opening and closing secret doors to get in. Dempsey and Tunney, famous pig fighters, present the cleverest and the funniest act on the programme when they stage their comical boxing match. So realistic does this fight get that they stage a real knock-out in their miniature boxing ring at the conclusion of the fight. Visitors will be amazed at the high intelligence of these little pigs. It may be interesting to note that all these attractions will make a special appearance also at the Southland A. and P. Show on Tuesday and Wednesday next, and also at Wyndham today. QUEEN OF ANT-EATERS Princess Übangi, regent Queen of 200,000 tree-dwelling ant-eaters from the Belgian Congo, who will be appearing in person at the Southland show, is the smallest wpman alive, for she is only 25 inches tall and, while 32 years of age, is still unmarried. She turns the scale at 391 b. Übangi is a great dancer, an accomplishment of which she makes full use during the show period. Apart from a few words in English, she speaks no language but her own, and was accompanied to New Zealand by Lieutenant Geyser, an interpreter who speaks six native dialects. Übangi visited the recent Coronation celebrations, and attended the Archbishop of Canterbury’s dinner party, together with other non-European rulers. The princess also spoke over television at BBC. She has to be returned to her tribe, dead or alive, within two years, and is insured for £5OOO, or £2OO an inch. Übangi’s idea of a good meal is honey, nuts and white ants, of which a liberal supply has been brought with her. Special arrangements have been made for further supplies to arrive weekly. Show visitors looking for the unusual should not miss seeing this liliputian ruler. AMAZING AMERICAN SKATERS The New Zealand public has been particularly fortunate in having wellknown skating acts touring the past two seasons, but this season the finest and most daring skating act, the Amazing American Olympic champions, Rex and Rona Roff, have been induced to accept an outstanding offer made by C. J. Delaney, well-known Australian showman, to perform at the principal agricultural shows throughout the Dominion, and patrons can rest assured that for - sheer recklessness, speed and daring the Amazing Americans far surpass any other skaters in the world today. A most pleasing feature of their act is that the only time Miss Rona Roff’s skates are on the small platform is at the commencement and finish of each item, and with utter abandon to life and limb the Amazing Americans bring their act to a sensational conclusion, the like of which has never been attempted upon roller skates before. Visitors to the show should not miss the Amazing American skaters. WORLD’S TALLEST MAN Dennis O’Duffy, the Bft sJin Guardsman, the world’s tallest man, who will be appearing in person at the Southland show, arrived in Auckland by the Monterey on October 18, after appearing at the Perth Royal Show, Western Australia, which concluded on October 9. O’Duffy flew from Perth to Sydney to connect with the Monterey. He arrived in Australia by the Thermistocles, only a few weeks ago, after appearing at the Johannesburg Empire Exhibition. He first appeared at the Adelaide Royal Show, followed by the Melbourne Royal. Special accommodation has to be made when he travels by steamer. O’Duffy is 28 years of age, and was born in Cork, Ireland. He takes size 19 in shoes, and his hands are 134 inches long. O’Duffy has appeared before 6,000,000 people, and New Zealand will be the fifteenth country he has visited. GIANT HORSE In the side-show section of the show tomorrow and Wednesday, horse and animal lovers should see Big Toney.

He is billed as the tallest horse on earth. He weighs no less than one ton, and is 21 hands in height. It can readily be imagined that the boast is no idle one. The horse is 10 feet 2 inches in length, is now eight years old, and is strong and healthy. He is a beautiful bay, with plenty of bone, blood and quality. He was bred in Scotland, imported to Queensland at the age of three years, and was imported to New Zealand last October.

PAMBO, THE SNAKE MAN

There arrived in Wellington by the Awatea on October 11 Pambo, one of Australia’s outstanding snake experts, with his collection of deadly Australian snakes, which include the venomous brown, black, and copperhead. Pambo has had 20 years’ experience in handling venomous snakes, and has been bitten no less than 500 times during that period. He claims he has an antidote that is infallible and sells his cure wherever he goes in Australia, though New Zealand will not be requiring his cure; as, fortunately, there are no snakes here.

Much trouble and expense were necessary before Pambo was able to obtain the necessary permission to bring his collection to New Zealand. This, however, was eventually obtained for a limited period. Pambo will be showing at the forthcoming A. and P. Show on a specially-constructed raised platform, from which, in comfort, people can look into the pit of death, where he will entertain with his strange and dangerous pets. The snakes will be shown during the day only.