Daisy And Violet Hilton Siamese Twins Circus Freaks Sideshow Real Photo Postcard
Violet and Daisy Hilton were conjoined twins, born in Brighton, England, in 1908, joined at the hips and buttocks. Exploited from birth, they were brought to the United States and forced into performance from a young age. By the 1920s and 1930s, they had become prominent figures in vaudeville, burlesque, and sideshow circuits across America, often billed as "San Antonio's Siamese Twins," reflecting their time performing in the city.
Their career reflected the era's complex fascination with human curiosities, yet also highlighted the deep exploitation faced by conjoined twins in entertainment. In 1931, the sisters successfully sued for their independence from their managers, gaining control of their finances and careers. They continued performing, starring in the controversial 1932 film *Freaks* and later in *Chained for Life* (1951), before eventually retiring from public life. This postcard likely dates from their peak performance years, capturing their public persona as resilient entertainers.
Their career reflected the era's complex fascination with human curiosities, yet also highlighted the deep exploitation faced by conjoined twins in entertainment. In 1931, the sisters successfully sued for their independence from their managers, gaining control of their finances and careers. They continued performing, starring in the controversial 1932 film *Freaks* and later in *Chained for Life* (1951), before eventually retiring from public life. This postcard likely dates from their peak performance years, capturing their public persona as resilient entertainers.
