Frank Lentini: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Showman}} |
{{Short description|Showman}} |
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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|name = Frank Lentini |
| name = Frank Lentini |
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|image = Frank Lentini Zusatzfuß (retouched).jpg |
| image = Frank Lentini Zusatzfuß (retouched).jpg |
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|caption = Photograph of Lentini as a child |
| caption = Photograph of Lentini as a child |
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|birth_name = Francesco A. Lentini |
| birth_name = Francesco A. Lentini |
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|birth_date = {{birth date|1889|05|18}}<ref name="official">{{official website|http://www.franklentini.it/english-version.html}}.</ref> |
| birth_date = {{birth date|1889|05|18}}<ref name="official">{{official website|http://www.franklentini.it/english-version.html}}.</ref> |
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|birth_place = [[Rosolini]], Italy |
| birth_place = [[Rosolini]], Italy |
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|death_date = {{death date|1966|09|21}} (aged 77)<ref name="official"/> |
| death_date = {{death date|1966|09|21}} (aged 77)<ref name="official"/> |
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|death_place = [[Jackson, Tennessee]], US<ref name="official"/> |
| death_place = [[Jackson, Tennessee]], US<ref name="official"/> |
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|height |
| height = 169cm (5 ft 6 in) |
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|spouse = {{marriage|Theresa Murray|1907|1935}}<ref name="official"/> |
| spouse = {{marriage|Theresa Murray|1907|1935}}<ref name="official"/> |
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|children =Josephine, Ned, Francis Jr and James<ref name="official"/> |
| children = Josephine, Ned, Francis Jr and James<ref name="official"/> |
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|partner = Helen Shupe (1935–1966)<ref name="official"/> |
| partner = Helen Shupe (1935–1966)<ref name="official"/> |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Francesco "Frank" Lentini<ref name="official" />''' (May 18, 1889 − September 21, 1966) was |
'''Francesco "Frank" Lentini<ref name="official" />''' (May 18, 1889 − September 21, 1966) was an [[Italian-American]] [[sideshow]] performer who toured with numerous circuses. Born with a [[conjoined twin]], Lentini had three legs. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Lentini was born at |
Lentini was born at 8 Gintoli Street, [[Rosolini]], [[Sicily]], on May 18, 1889. Delivered by midwife Maria Alberino, he was the fifth of 12 children (seven sisters and five brothers) in his family. Disgraced initially, his parents gave him into the care of his aunt, the wife of his uncle Corrado Falco.<ref name="official" /> At four months old he was sent to be examined by a specialist in [[Naples]]. By age five he was playing with other children and was able to straighten his third leg, but could not use it to walk.<ref name="official" /> He became known for having three legs, four feet, and two sets of genitals.<ref name=Trivia>{{cite book |last1=Wallechinsky |first1=David |last2=Wallace |first2=Irving |author-link1=David Wallechinsky |author-link2=Irving Wallace |title=[[The People's Almanac]] |year=1975 |chapter=Biography of Three-Legged Wonder Franceso A. Lentini Part 1 |chapter-url=http://www.trivia-library.com/b/biography-of-three-legged-wonder-francesco-a-lentini-part-1.htm |via=trivia-library.com |access-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-date=May 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508192533/http://www.trivia-library.com/b/biography-of-three-legged-wonder-francesco-a-lentini-part-1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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Lentini was born with a [[parasitic twin]]. The twin was attached to his body at the base of his spine and consisted of a pelvic bone, a rudimentary set of male genitalia, and a full-sized leg extending from the right side of his hip, with a small foot protruding from its knee. |
Lentini was born with a [[parasitic twin]]. The twin was attached to his body at the base of his spine and consisted of a [[pelvic bone]], a rudimentary set of male [[genitalia]], and a full-sized leg extending from the right side of his hip, with a small foot protruding from its knee. |
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==Sideshow career== |
==Sideshow career== |
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He was exhibited in numerous cities, including London, in 1897. When he was eight, Magnano, who ran a travelling puppet show, brought him to Middletown and Lentini's family moved to the [[United States]]. Lentini then entered the sideshow business as ''The Great Lentini'', joining the [[Ringling Brothers Circus]]. He gained US citizenship at the age of 30. His career spanned over 40 years and he worked with every major circus and sideshow including [[Barnum and Bailey]] and [[Buffalo Bill]]'s Wild West Show. Lentini was so respected among his peers that he was often called "The King". |
He was exhibited in numerous cities, including London, in 1897. When he was eight, Magnano, who ran a travelling [[puppet show]], brought him to Middletown and Lentini's family moved to the [[United States]]. Lentini then entered the sideshow business as ''The Great Lentini'', joining the [[Ringling Brothers Circus]]. He gained US citizenship at the age of 30. His career spanned over 40 years and he worked with every major circus and sideshow, including [[Barnum and Bailey]] and [[Buffalo Bill]]'s Wild West Show. Lentini was so respected among his peers that he was often called "The King". |
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| ⚫ | Lentini's normal legs were slightly different in length: |
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| ⚫ | Lentini's normal legs were slightly different in length: one was 99 centimeters and the other 97 centimeters. The third leg was only 91 centimeters and ended in a [[clubfoot]].<ref name=Trivia/> As an adult, his primary legs remained of different lengths while his extra leg was several centimeters shorter. He complained that, even with three legs, he still did not have a pair. In 1907<ref name="official"/> he married Theresa Murray, three years younger than him, and they had four children: Giuseppina (Josephine), Natale (Ned), Francesco (Frank) Junior, and Giacomo (James).<ref name="Barresi">{{cite news |last=Barresi |first=Mario |url=http://www.ragusanews.com/articolo/17157/l-uomo-di-rosolini-che-aveva-tre-gambe-e-due-paia-di-organi-genitali |title=L'uomo di Rosolini che aveva tre gambe. E due paia di organi genitali |work=ragusanews |date=August 29, 2010 |access-date=September 27, 2012 |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030537/http://www.ragusanews.com/articolo/17157/l-uomo-di-rosolini-che-aveva-tre-gambe-e-due-paia-di-organi-genitali |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> When Frank and Theresa separated around 1935, he began a new life with Helen Shupe, with whom he lived until his death.<ref name="official"/> Lentini died of [[lung failure]] in [[Jackson, Tennessee]], on September 21, 1966, at the age of 77.<ref name="official"/> |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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Jonathan Redavid portrayed him in the 2017 film ''[[The Greatest Showman]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.jonathanredavid.com/post_news/jonathan-redavid-is-the-3-legged-man-frank-lentini-in-the-new-film-musical-colossal-the-greatest-showman/ |title=Jonathan Redavid is The 3 Legged man Frank Lentini in "The Greatest Showman" |date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=February 4, 2018 |last=Leibovitz |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Leibovitz |journal=Jonathan Redavid}}</ref> |
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Frank Lentini is featured on the back cover of [[Seattle]]-based rock band [[Alice in Chains]]' [[Alice in Chains (album)|self-titled 1995 album]].<ref name="liner notes">Liner notes, ''Alice in Chains''. 1995.</ref> |
Frank Lentini is featured on the back cover of [[Seattle]]-based rock band [[Alice in Chains]]' [[Alice in Chains (album)|self-titled 1995 album]].<ref name="liner notes">Liner notes, ''Alice in Chains''. 1995.</ref> |
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Latest revision as of 20:42, 20 May 2024
Frank Lentini | |
|---|---|
 Photograph of Lentini as a child | |
| Born | Francesco A. Lentini May 18, 1889[1] Rosolini, Italy |
| Died | September 21, 1966 (aged 77)[1] |
| Height | 169cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Spouse |
Theresa Murray (m. 1907–1935) |
| Partner | Helen Shupe (1935–1966)[1] |
| Children | Josephine, Ned, Francis Jr and James[1] |
Francesco "Frank" Lentini[1] (May 18, 1889 − September 21, 1966) was an Italian-American sideshow performer who toured with numerous circuses. Born with a conjoined twin, Lentini had three legs.
Early life[edit]
Lentini was born at 8 Gintoli Street, Rosolini, Sicily, on May 18, 1889. Delivered by midwife Maria Alberino, he was the fifth of 12 children (seven sisters and five brothers) in his family. Disgraced initially, his parents gave him into the care of his aunt, the wife of his uncle Corrado Falco.[1] At four months old he was sent to be examined by a specialist in Naples. By age five he was playing with other children and was able to straighten his third leg, but could not use it to walk.[1] He became known for having three legs, four feet, and two sets of genitals.[2]
Lentini was born with a parasitic twin. The twin was attached to his body at the base of his spine and consisted of a pelvic bone, a rudimentary set of male genitalia, and a full-sized leg extending from the right side of his hip, with a small foot protruding from its knee.
Sideshow career[edit]
He was exhibited in numerous cities, including London, in 1897. When he was eight, Magnano, who ran a travelling puppet show, brought him to Middletown and Lentini's family moved to the United States. Lentini then entered the sideshow business as The Great Lentini, joining the Ringling Brothers Circus. He gained US citizenship at the age of 30. His career spanned over 40 years and he worked with every major circus and sideshow, including Barnum and Bailey and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Lentini was so respected among his peers that he was often called "The King".
In his youth, Lentini used his third leg to kick a football across the stage—hence his show name, the Three-Legged Football Player.
Lentini's normal legs were slightly different in length: one was 99 centimeters and the other 97 centimeters. The third leg was only 91 centimeters and ended in a clubfoot.[2] As an adult, his primary legs remained of different lengths while his extra leg was several centimeters shorter. He complained that, even with three legs, he still did not have a pair. In 1907[1] he married Theresa Murray, three years younger than him, and they had four children: Giuseppina (Josephine), Natale (Ned), Francesco (Frank) Junior, and Giacomo (James).[3] When Frank and Theresa separated around 1935, he began a new life with Helen Shupe, with whom he lived until his death.[1] Lentini died of lung failure in Jackson, Tennessee, on September 21, 1966, at the age of 77.[1]
Legacy[edit]
Jonathan Redavid portrayed him in the 2017 film The Greatest Showman.[4]
Frank Lentini is featured on the back cover of Seattle-based rock band Alice in Chains' self-titled 1995 album.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Official website.
- ^ a b Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Irving (1975). "Biography of Three-Legged Wonder Franceso A. Lentini Part 1". The People's Almanac. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2012 – via trivia-library.com.
- ^ Barresi, Mario (August 29, 2010). "L'uomo di Rosolini che aveva tre gambe. E due paia di organi genitali". ragusanews (in Italian). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ^ Leibovitz, Annie (August 13, 2017). "Jonathan Redavid is The 3 Legged man Frank Lentini in "The Greatest Showman"". Jonathan Redavid. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ Liner notes, Alice in Chains. 1995.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Lentini.
- James G. Mundie, "The Life History of Francesco A. Lentini, Three-legged Wonder" pitchbook pamphlet (with photos)
- J. Tithonus Pednaud, Francesco Lentini – The Three-Legged Man
- Frank Lentini at Find a Grave