At the 1934 World’s Fair, Robert Ripley – of the famed Ripley’s ‘Believe It Or Not’ empire – unveiled to the public his very first Odditorium. Previously, Ripley was known for his “Believe It Or Not” comic strip in newspapers. However, his World’s Fair Odditorium featured real anatomical curiosities and the most spectacular of his presentations was an infant girl named Betty Lou Williams.
Betty Lou Williams was born Lillie B Williams in Albany, Georgia on January 10, 1932. She was the daughter of a poor farming family and the youngest of twelve children. She was also born attached at the side to a parasitic sibling that consisted of two legs, one tiny arm-like appendage and a more developed arm with three fingers. Despite the fact that the head of her twin was embedded deep within her abdomen, Betty Lou was a very healthy girl and doctors proclaimed that there was no reason she could not live a long and healthy life.
She was originally discovered at the age of one by a professional showman named d*ck Best. Best changed the name of the little girl to Betty Lou – perhaps in an attempt to promote the parasite as a male, a lie that was popular in parasitic twin displays – and he began to display the infant in his New York Museum. It was there that she drew the attention of Ripley.
Working for Ripley, at the age of two, Betty Lou made an astounding $250 a week. As she grew into adulthood, she made over $1000 a week. With her earnings she purchased a 260 acre ranch for her parents and sent all eleven of her siblings to college.
The jump in Betty Lou’s earnings was due in part to the fact that, as she matured, she developed into quite an attractive woman. Her beauty and generosity drew many male suitors and, at the age of twenty-three, she became engaged to one of her admirers. However the husband-to-be was little more than a heartbreaking thief. He left Betty Lou taking a great deal of money with him and, distraught over the breakup, Betty suffered a severe asthma attack at her home in Trenton, New Jersey.
Betty Lou suffocated to death at the age of twenty-three.
someone mentioned that little Ernie from Canada was the saddest posting. I must say this one is. Not simply because of the darling two-year old picture, but because of her life. I was happy she was able to provide for herself and her family. How sad such a kind heart would be broken. The saddest of all is your last line. Suffocation? How does that happen? Was it the head inside her chest or was it intentional on her part?
I take it she suffocated from the asthma.
I felt compelled to do some research about this person because of a photo I found of her in my deceased Aunt’s possessions. I thought to myself wow she seems like an interesting person to read about. I’m not sure how old she is in my picture but she’s featured wearing a bathing suit and she speaks a little about her life. It’s wonderful she was able to provide for her family the way she has. This is something I’m still trying to do. The woman is definitely an inspiration.
Omg dude… The other twin wasn’t alive was it?!?!
Oh wait. It was parasitic. That means it’s dead. How sad. :(
Nowadays, parasitic twins can be routinely amputated and tossed down the incinerator shaft -unless reason is felt to study the blighted object.(For some reason the parasite is always anencephalic and is not conscious, let alone intelligent, let alone planning to conquer the world !). Also midgets can be routinely treated with the growth hormone their pituitaries aren’t bothering to produce. Sideshow mutants are thus becoming ever rarer. On top of that, sideshows are becoming frowned on, so these poor “experiments” and “practical jokes of God” are finding employment difficult.
i hope her (suitor) met a very ugly fate
I’m an Albany native and have lived most of my life here. I’m now 52 years old. I just heard of Ms. Betty Lou Williams this weekend. Her name should be more well-known here. She was obviously a beautiful person.
The name of her suitor should be infamous.
I really like your post. Does it copyright protected?
expectacular
Betty lou is a great example of why these acts felt it was a kick in the teeth when the public didn’t want them “exploited” any more. Betty was able to buy homes and what ever else she needed by displaying herself as a FREAK. She was wealthy + happy due to her work in sideshow!
wow even though she is not perfect she still can survive for 23 yrs she is very lucky until that dog , hill billy money digger ..showed up he ended her life …
Do you think that if her “suitor” had known that taking her money
and breaking heart would have killed her, he still would have done it?
so sad..
Ongelofelijk verhaal .goed dat in deze tijd medisch veel meer mogelijk is!
En dat mensen niet mee zo naïef zijn.
Hoop dat haar verloofde geen geluk heeft gehad met haar geld.
This is a relative of mine. Such a sad life but she did some good with her money helping her family.
very good book
According to the Ripley biography, she wasn’t pursued by Ripley, but by C.C. Pyle.
Pyle worked for Ripley
I had the pleasure of meeting Betty Lou in Chicago at an exhibit. I was fifteen and it was 1956. She was so sweet and unaffected by her fame. She spoke with me for a little while after the “show” when she came out front in a maternity outfit to cover her “twin”. I never have forgotten her, even though I cannot remember the place where I saw her. I immediately remembered our meeting when I read this posting! R.I.P. Miss Betty Lou!
[…] Betty lou williams – ripley's four-legged wonder – circus Betty lou williams was born lillie b williams in albany, georgia on january 10, 1932. she was the daughter of a poor farming family and the youngest of twelve children.. […]