We have all been there, a challenging calculus problem, a summary due on a book you read the first page of, or maybe even a presentation that you totally forgot about. Whatever the case, each of us can relate to faking it until we made it. Now my fast thinking may have earned me an A on a couple of unprepared assignments, but it never made me millions of dollars. John Keely’s did. His “invention” of the Keely motor, a machine said to harness power from “etheric force”, astonished the world and led wealthy investors to finance his endeavors. Keely appeared to work on his creation for most of his life, trying to “perfect” it year after year. However, the engine was never released for a slew of excuses and as more time passed the credibility of John Keely diminished. He is arguably one of the most successful con men in history.

Setting the Scene

John Keely was born on September 3, 1837 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.  He was an orphan who spent his life as a young man working a variety of jobs. His interests spanned from painting, orchestra, carpentry and he even worked as a mechanic. After nearly 40 years of odd end jobs, he announced his discovery of a life changing machine in 1872. His machine alleged an ability to produce an exponential amount of power using only water and vibrations. 

The “Science” Behind the Discovery

Keely’s invention was said to be able to harness power from water atoms to generate perpetual motion. It was a known fact by this time that molecules are constantly in motion. With this in mind, Keely’s theory was that if you could generate random vibrations in the water atoms, that you would be able to produce unlimited energy. Then if you could get a bunch of atoms to vibrate in unison, their “etheric force” could power a motor.

Like any good bullshitter knows, you need confidence and support to back up your claim. To gain this, John Keely went on a tour speaking on this life altering revelation. He was frequently asked how he discovered such a thing. He always claimed it just came to him one day while he was playing his violin.

Big Apple, Big Money

After his tour, Keely began looking for investors. He traveled to New York City where he invited wealthy potential investors to his hotel to discuss his plans. John paid for an expensive room with velvet chairs, really playing into the role of a smart and wealthy entrepreneur. Bankers, lawyers, and other rich fold from all around went to his suite and began investing in what they thought would be the idea to make them millions.  

Soon after he reached the one-million-dollar mark Keely formed his company, the Keely Motor company. The business grew to five million rather quickly and no one saw any reason not to trust the brainiac man. 

A Performance of a Lifetime

On November 10, 1874 Keely showed off the first full scale version of his machine. Eventually he would refer to his creation as the “hydro-pneumatic pulsating vacuo-motor machine”. Investors traveled from all over to Keely’s factory in Philadelphia, where they were able to see the magical invention in person. One spectator described the power of the Keely motor as “Great ropes were torn apart, iron bars broken in two or twisted out of shape, bullets discharged through twelve-inch planks, by a force which could not be determined.” Needless to say, the performance left investors star struck.

Even though he racked in the cash, Keely’s company showed no profit and paid no dividends. Instead, any money made was put into further research of the motor. During the 1880’s and 1890’s more inventions like the Graham Bell telephone began to surface. Even though these advancements became the new big breakthroughs, Keely continued to work on his product.

Fact or Fraud

Keely’s invention had people on both sides of the argument of whether this man was really valid. The Scientific American were amongst those skeptical of his work. They were a scientific news outlet who ran an article saying that it was compressed air and not etheric force that made his machine operational. Keely chalked their claims up to envy and kept his investors in the process. A huge supporter of John was a wealthy widow, Mrs. Bloomfield- Moore. She not only believed in the Keely Motor but provided John with a personal salary of 2,000 dollars. Until his death in 1898 Keely continued to make promises with no results. He never patented his invention and never left a blueprint. This has led so many to wonder was it even real?  Maybe in the next lifetime we can find the answer from the only man who  knows the real truth.

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There comes a time in every society’s history that people begin to ask why and rise up for what they believe in. Whether it is fighting for citizen rights as a whole, religious prejudice, or inequality of minorities, eventually enough becomes enough. For Victoria Hull, the injustice of women came earlier than the world expected. Her battle began in the 1870’s fighting for the ability to show the world just what women were made of.

“I Endeavor to Make the Most of Everything” – Victoria Woodhull

Victoria Claflin, later Woodhull, was born in Homer Ohio, in 1838. It was here in Homer that she received her early and only education at Homer’s Methodist Church school where she studied inconsistently for 3 years. Allegations that her father committed insurance fraud prompted the family to leave town and open a traveling medicine show. Their show focused around telling fortunes and selling homemade medicines. Victoria and her sister Tennessee played crucial roles in the family business and would later go on to pursue their own endeavors in the realm of traveling medicine.

When Victoria was only 15, she was married off to 28- year-old Canning Woodhull. Unbeknownst at the time Canning was an abusive alcoholic that would make Victoria’s life miserable for the years to come. Together they had two children who Victoria would support by working multiple jobs. While Victoria was out earning money, Canning had other ideas on how to spend his time. He spent his free moments with other women, many other women. Years went by before Victoria finally decided to end the abuse and neglect. In 1865, they divorced, and this was the point she really started advocating for the idea of free love. Free love was the concept that people should only remain with their partners as long as they choose to. Seems like a “duh” moment in our society now, but this was at the time divorcees were stigmatized and marriage represented almost an unbreakable agreement. The free love movement aimed to destigmatize divorce while simultaneously making it easier for women to leave their abusive partners. The details surrounding her marriage, working multiple jobs, standing up to her husband’s abuse, and adopting free love were her first big displays of feminism in a time where it was taboo to be a powerful woman.

“Why is Woman to Be Treated Differently? Woman Suffrage Will Succeed Despite This Miserable Guerilla Opposition.” – Victoria Woodhull

While working in spiritual medicine with her sister, Victoria was employed by Cornelius Vanderbilt who hired mediums in hopes of contacting his deceased wife. Under his employ, the sisters would receive financial advice. Using his guidance, the girls were able to quickly save a fund of 700,000 dollars. In today’s standards it would measure to about 15 million dollars. Rolling in money, Victoria and Tennessee opened their own brokerage, Woodhull, Claflin and Company in 1870. They became the first women to ever operate a financial firm on Wall Street. Though already an amazing feat, Victoria was not satisfied. She saw this as an opportunity to use her newfound success as a gateway in publicly fighting for her political agenda.

Soon after opening their brokerage, the pair also opened a publishing company. Their newspaper supported controversial topics of the time including free love, women’s suffrage, and better rights for workers and the poor. They also published the first English version of the “Communist Manifesto” and an account of the affair of minister Henry Ward Beecher. 

“I Ask the Rights to Pursue Happiness by Having a Voice in That Government to Which I Am Accountable” – Victoria Woodhull

Victoria Woodhull became involved in the women’s suffrage movement in 1869 while working for Vanderbilt. Quickly she became a key public speaker and appeared at multiple conventions. She made her big debut in history in 1871, when she testified for women’s suffrage before the House of Representatives. Joining her were prominent figures Susan B. Anthony and Isabella Hooker. They joined to declare that women should already have the right to vote per the 14^th and 15^th Amendments. History books would show their efforts unsuccessful.

Victoria Woodhull made history again just the next year becoming the first woman to ever run for president. The new Equal Rights Party had nominated her, and she chose her partner wisely selecting Frederick Douglas as her running mate. Unfortunately, her campaign was not taken seriously due to her young age and sex. After running her political reputation began to decline. She spent her final years in America working again for her publishing company, where another scandal would damage her to near bankruptcy. This decline led her to move to England. Here she again became involved in the women’s suffrage movement and published a journal alongside her daughter. Woodhull spent her later life in the English countryside until her death in 1927. In her 88 years of life, she was able to shock the world and still continues to be an inspiration to not only women but people everywhere.

The post Victoria Woodhull, Whose Existence Proves Women Can Do Anything first appeared on History In Memes.

Going out to the bars with friends and family is a universal experience that so many of us enjoy. If you have ever gone out you know when the music is good, the company is great, and the drinks keep flowing that sometimes practicality flies out the window. This temporary lapse of judgement can lead to some pretty regretful decisions. Whether its texting your ex, going home with that one person who will definitely look different in the morning, or a late-night food binge you’ll probably forgive yourself. However, the one thing that does not hang under the drunk excuse umbrella is drunk driving or trying to get home alone, too intoxicated to stand. Nowadays we are lucky enough to have Ubers and Lift that can save us from some pretty sketchy situations, but what happened before these innovations. Istanbul was early to the rescue in the 1960’s with their employ of basket men. Power to them because I already feel bad for Uber drivers, let alone having to carry a sloshed person on your back. It is truly a heroic deed.

The Idea Behind the “Kufeci”

In the Turkish language, “Kufe” translates to being so drunk you can not walk. They also have another saying “Kufelik Olmak” which means “needing to be carried home in a basket”. I do not know about you, but I am fully ready to adopt these sayings into my vocabulary. Next time my friend is stumbling out of a bar, I am just going to whip out “Kufelik Olmak” and maybe they will sober up. All jokes aside, these sayings are what landed Istanbul’s basket men the title of “Kufeci”.  Their transportation was widely used, and the basket men became a popular drunk service in Turkey for much of the 1960’s.

A Little Extra Pocket Money

Most of Turkey’s basket men had other day jobs, and solely carried drunken patrons home as more of a side job. It is said many of these hardworking individuals worked as porters in the daytime. It is crazy to think that when the sun was out, they were out slinging luggage and when it set, they switched their profession to carrying people. I also found it interesting that many of the basket men were not paid by the patron they were carrying home. Instead, they were employed by the taverns to complete the service. I think this is a great solution so people could get home safely and leave the bar so they could close on time. 

Overall, the idea behind the “Kufeci” definitely has merit. Drinking is a fun activity and when you are safe about it, it becomes that much more enjoyable. While I am glad that nobody has to break their back to take me home, I think it is a good reminder that we all need to be cautious during our good time. Even though the baskets do look spacious, I think I will stick to a designated driver on my next night out.

The post Too Drunk to Drive? Forget Ubers, Take a Basket Man Instead first appeared on History In Memes.

The Gerber brand has dominated the world of baby products for almost a century. A huge key to their success being the iconic image of the most “perfect baby”. In 1928, Gerber issued a contest looking for photos, drawings, paintings from everyday people of their adorable babies to face their brand. Unknowing of this contest that would happen a year later, Dorothy Hope Smith sketched a charcoal drawing of 4-month-old Anne Turner Cook. When the competition opened to applicants, Dorothy submitted her prized illustration. Her simple black and white sketch went up against elaborate oil paintings and other distinct works which led her to doubt her chances. However, in 1931 Gerber judges made the decision to trademark the image. Because the contest valued anonymity, the identity of Cook would not be unearthed until years later.

The Name Behind the Face

Ann says she was about 3 years old when she realized the Gerber baby that she had seen on so many food cans was her. She stated , “I was probably about 3 years old when mother pointed at a baby food jar and said that was my picture,” Cook told CBS Sunday Morning during 2013 interview. “I thought it was quite a lovely thing.” In the years to come, the identity would remain a mystery with the whole country asking the question “Who is the Gerber Baby?”. A poll was done across the United States with guesses stretching from movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and Elizabeth Taylor to Senator Bob Dole. By the time the poll was engaging the nation, Ann was teaching English at Tampa’s Hillsborough High School. Gerber released the name behind the angelic face in 1978 and Ann remembers the uproar that she received from her students. They were in wonder and could not stop asking question about her. In an interview she said, “And then I would say, ‘Now we won’t talk about this anymore,’ because I didn’t want it to monopolize the time I had with my students,”. After 26 years of teaching Ann retired in Florida and became a mystery novelist, entertaining more and more interviews in her later years.

Ann Turner Cook’s Legacy

Ann Turner was often asked about her feelings towards being such a well- known image. Luckily for her, she loved babies having four of her own. In an interview by the New York Post with Ann they shared, “That’s my immortality, yes,” she (Ann) laughed. “I’ve become a symbol for babies, which couldn’t be anything nicer than that.” On June 3, 2022 Ann died at 95 years old in St. Petersburg, Florida. Gerber issued a post on Instagram thanking her for representing everything their brand stood for, for the entirety of her life. They wrote “Gerber is deeply saddened by the passing of Ann Turner Cook, the original Gerber baby, whose face was sketched to become the iconic Gerber logo more than 90 years ago. “Many years before becoming an extraordinary mother, teacher and writer, her smile and expressive curiosity captured hearts everywhere and will continue to live on as a symbol for all babies,” the post continued. “We extend our deepest sympathies to Ann’s family and to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her ”

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With his Nazi regime, Hitler began his takeover in Europe towards the end of the 1930’s. The Nazi army invaded Poland in 1939 with ambitions for a more Aryan world. Quickly after the invasion, the German force created the Warsaw ghetto, where it began imprisoning Jewish people. Here at the Warsaw Ghetto those captured were worked, tortured, isolated, and displaced to concentration camps ruled by the German army. Irena Sendler born Irena Kryzanowska, was a social worker in Warsaw at the time. With help from other colleagues, Irena was able to save over 2,500 children from the ghetto. It is said that she single-handedly rescued 400.

A Legend in the Making

Irena Sendler was born on February 15, 1910 in Otwock Poland. Her parents Janina and Dr. Stanislaw Kryzanowski were proud members of the Polish Socialist Party. When she was 17, her father died of Typhus which he had contracted after treating sick patients his other colleagues would not. Irena says that his courage and kindness impacted her values for the rest of her life saying, “I was taught that if you see a person drowning, you must jump into the water to save them, whether you can swim or not.” This mentality would show throughout her time both at Warsaw University, and into the midst of WWII. 

A True Humanitarian

After her studies, Irena Sendler became a social worker, overseeing the Warsaw’s “canteens”. The canteens were programs that provided assistance like medicine and food to those in need. After the invasion by Germany, these canteens were used to aid the persecuted Jewish population. Because she was a social worker, Irena was able to enter the Warsaw ghetto. The exposure to the conditions led to her joining the Zegota, the council created to aid Jews. It was after she had joined the Zegota that her and two dozen of her colleagues made it their mission to save as many Jewish children that they possibly could.

While in the Ghetto

By 1940, the Warsaw Ghetto had 400,000 Jewish occupants crammed into a small locked region. The Warsaw Ghetto remained the largest of all the Nazi ghettos for the duration of WWII with its highest occupancy being 460,000 Jews. The ghetto itself had an area of 3.4 km2, which would mean around 9 people per room. The residents of the ghetto were limited to a staggering 184 calories per day, its occupants quickly becoming skeletons of themselves. Because of the horrid living conditions, thousands died per month from starvation and disease.

Robbing the Grim Reaper

Sendler and her colleagues began by saving Jewish orphans. They developed tactics to sneak the children out that included being carried out in caskets and potato sacks, some left in ambulances, and others escaped by utilizing underground tunnels. From there, the children were given new identities and Sendler used her background in social work, to place the kids in either non- Jewish homes or convents. Eventually as more and more destruction ensued, the Zegota switched its focus from orphans to all Jewish children. They would try and convince parents to let their children go, with the possibility that they could escape death. Many parents would agree. Irena would keep detailed documents in a buried jar of all those she aided in hopes that after the war she could reunite the children to their birth parents. Most did not survive to ever see their kids ever again.

Imprisoned

On October 20, 1943 the Nazi forces in Poland arrested Irena in suspicion of rescuing Jews. In Pawiak Prison, she was tortured in hopes that she would give up her colleagues. She never wavered and was sentenced to death. However, in 1944 she was released after her fellow members of the Zegota bribed the prison guards. Her time in Pawiak never lessened the value her father instilled in her. After her release, she continued her work saving thousands in the process.

After the War to End All Wars

In 1947, Irena married Stefan Zgrzembski, her second husband. They had 3 children together and lived happily until his death. After his death, she remarried her first husband but their marriage ended in divorce quickly after. In 1965, she was named “Righteous Among the Nations” by Israel’s Holocaust memorial organization for her work during the war. The recognition did not stop there. In 2003, Poland honored her with its Order of the White Eagle. This distinction is Poland’s highest order for both civilians and military for their merits. She was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 but did not win. Irena died in Warsaw Poland on May 12, 2008. She was 98 years old and died the biggest example of what it means to love others and fight for what you believe in.

The post Meet the Woman Who Helped Rescue 2,500 Jewish Children in WWII first appeared on History In Memes.

The Olympic games are built on the premise of showing up for your country and being proud of the land that you call your home. In 1936, the Olympics were held in a Nazi Berlin, Germany. 3 years before the start of what would be the deadliest war in history, infamous Adolf Hitler hosted the games to show just how powerful the nation he created had become. Under his leadership, the games were supposed to be a display of Aryan superiority that no one could surpass.Insert Jesse Owens, an African American track force to be reckoned with. That year he walked away with gold medals in the 100m dash, 200m, long jump and the 4 x 100m relay. He was the first American to ever win 4 medals at a single Olympics and his heroic performance was adored by both German and American people. This would be the first time America would trump Nazi Germany, the second coming years later with the fall of Adolf Hitler’s regime. 

A Remarkable Start for Owens

Jesse Owens was born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville, a small town in Alabama. He was the youngest of 10 children. Owens’ parents were sharecroppers and his grandparents had been slaves before the outlaw of slavery in America in 1865. Much of his early life in Alabama was spent going to primary school and picking cotton with his family.

When he was nine, his family moved to Cleveland Ohio in search of better opportunities. This move was concurrent with the Great Migration that was happening in the United States for the early decades of the 1900’s. Owens began working at a young age, and his work ethic was impeccable. He held jobs common in the Industrial North such as a steel mill worker, and loading freight cars. During this period of odd jobs, Jesse found his passion in running. 

He participated in junior high track at Fairmont Junior High School and excelled in running just as he done in his work. His coach, Charles Riley, would allow him to practice before school since Jesse worked after school. Owens would later attribute his success in track to the time he spent with Riley. His encouragement and coaching technique pushed Jesse to be the best athlete that he could be. 

Jesse continued running in high school where he first got national attention. He participated in high school track at East Technical High School in Cleveland where he tore previous records apart. At the 1933 National High School Championship in Chicago Illinois, Owens ran a 9.4 second 100 yard dash tying the world record. He also long jumped 24 feet 9.5 inches in the long jump.

Higher Education, Insane Records

Owens continued his education at the Ohio State University. His exceptional athleticism earned him the nickname the “Buckeye Bullet” and it was here that he won eight NCAA championships. Even though Owens was equal on the track he dealt with a very segregated, racist America. His athletic pursuits were without any scholarships so he worked part time and he had to use segregated hotels and restaurants for “Blacks Only”. 

On May 25, 1935 Jesse Owens solidified his place in history. During the Big Ten meet at Ferry field in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he set 3 world records and tied a fourth. He equaled the world record for the 100 yard dash at 9.4 seconds. Additionally he set the world record in the long jump (one that would last for 25 years), the 220 yard sprint and the 220 yard low hurdles.

Showing Up for His Country

Owens was originally not going to participate in the 1936 Olympic Games. He was convinced by the NAACP to declare that he would not be competing as long as minorities were being discriminated against. However, he ended up going.

Alongside his teammates, Owens traveled via the SS Manhattan and arrived in Germany. Here he was able to stay amongst his white partners. The next day the team traveled to the stadium. Jesse’s teammates still recall many of the girls in attendance muttering “Who is Jesse?:, “Where is Jesse?”. 

A fan favorite, Jesse competed in the 100m dash on August 3rd. He won gold with a time of 10.3 seconds defeating a college friend of his, Ralph Metcalfe. He continued his success the next day winning the long jump with an impressive 8.06 meters. On August 5th, he competed in the 200m sprint and received a time of 20.7 seconds. This was enough to defeat his fellow American competitor Mack Robinson. Almost a week after his first gold medal, Owens would win his fourth and final medal of the 1936 Olympic Games in the 4x 100 m relay. 

Owens had shown up for his country sweeping away the competition. Hitler received backlash in multiple American articles for not congratulating the American participant. In a response by Owens, he said that he and the German chancellor did share a wave once in passing but that was it.  Years later, Nazi minister Albert Speer would write that Hitler “was highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored American runner, Jesse Owens. People whose antecedents came from the jungle were primitive, Hitler said with a shrug; their physiques were stronger than those of civilized whites and hence should be excluded from future games.”

The Death of a Legend

In very yin and yang fashion, Jesse Owens’ incredible health declined due to his love of cigarettes. Once an incredible athlete with pristine lungs, Jesse became a pack a day smoker at the age of 32. In December 1979, he was hospitalized due to an aggressive form of lung cancer. He died at the age of 66 in Tucson, Arizona after he succumbed to the horrible disease. He was surrounded by his wife and family and was buried in the Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. 

4 years after his death, a street in Berlin was renamed in his honor. This was to commemorate the great display of athleticism during Germany’s arguable darkest time. He was also posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold medal in 1990. Many of the records of Jesse Owens have been broken in the years since his amazing career. However his stellar performance in both a broken America, and the hostile 1936 Olympic Games have earned him a spot in history that will last forever.

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Henry Behrens was said to be the smallest man in the world during the 1940’s- 50’s. The Guinness book of world records did not exist yet, but Henry was still quite the site to see. He was 30 inches tall and weighed a whopping 32 pounds. His small stature earned him a position in Burton Lester’s Midget Troupe, making a living by embracing his tiny size.

A Midget Mystery

In 1951, a man by the name, Jack Fullford of Worthing was crowned the smallest man in the world. A newspaper article by Argus was wrote decades later about Jack and what happened next was a real puzzler.

 A viewer sent in a newspaper clipping dating back to 1956 with the name Henry Behrens. With the same measurements, it was determined that Jack Fullford and Henry Behrens were the same man. A midget leading a double life, or at least a midget with multiple identities. To this day, Henry/ Jack’s need for 2 names remains an enigma.

Henry Behrens Moving to a Neighborhood Near You

Henry was born in Brazil but traveled all around the world while a member of Burton Lester’s Midget Troupe. He was accompanied on all of his travels by his wife, Emmie. Behrens must have been into taller woman because she came in at a staggering 10 inches taller. Barely 3 feet tall at 40 inches, Emmie also understood the struggles of midget life. Together they bonded over their similar situations and faced obstacles head on as a team.

Eventually the happy couple decided to settle down. After making their living on being small they settled for a normal size house in Worthing, England. Margaret Shaw was a neighbor of Henry and Emmie and still remembers the day they moved in. She said: “We were intrigued to see tiny little chairs and furniture being unloaded from the removal van. We assumed a family with children were to be our new neighbors. Little did she know a middle age couple was going to be the people sharing her neighborhood.

She was also stunned to see the size or lack thereof, of Henry’s shoes.  “I always remember seeing the very small pairs of white canvas shoes drying in the sun on the garden wall. I could hardly believe they belonged to a man with feet smaller than my four-year-old daughter.”

While living in Worthing, many photographs were taken of Henry. His small size next to normal everyday things led to comical imagery through drastic comparison. Some of these images included Henry dancing with a cat on his hind legs and standing next to an English officer. These photos have lasted the years and still evoke wonder.

The post Henry Behrens the Smallest Man in the World Proves Size Doesn’t Matter first appeared on History In Memes.

In 1945, the US 9^th Army captured German forces in Hessen, Germany in the midst of WWII. Amongst the soldiers was 16- year- old Hans Georg Henke who had served under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. This photograph taken by American photojournalist, John Florea, would provide insight into the conditions of Germany, and would represent the feelings of the German citizens in the final moments of the war. Looking into the backstory of this photo, there are conflicting accounts of how the events took place. The photojournalist and Hans- George Henke have both spoken about what really happened in those moments, and each one is just as chilling.

Joining the Luftwaffe

Hans- Georg Henke had a pretty devastating childhood. His father, a Communist sympathizer, died in 1938, when Hans- Georg was only 9. His mother died 6 years later leaving him and his two brother orphans. This destitution led Hans- Georg to desperately search for work to be able to provide for his remaining family. He decided to enlist in the German military specifically the Luftwaffe.

        The Luftwaffe was the aerial warfare branch of the German military. The passing of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI prevented Germany from having an air force. The Luftwaffe was created in defiance of this treaty in the interwar period between the World Wars. By the time of WWII, the pilots were some of the most skilled there have ever been and their technology was top tier. This allowed for multiple German victories via the Luftwaffe across Poland and Western Europe in the early 1940’s. At just 15 years old, Henke enlisted with these notorious pilots and began serving his country.

How Hans- Georg Henke Remembers the Photograph

The photo of the day Henke was captured shows his crying uncontrollably. Hans remembers this day as the one where the Soviets had advanced on the German position in Stettin where he was stationed with a battery of 88 mm guns. He recalls that his unit was forced back to Rostock but was ultimately captured.            

It was at this moment of defeat that he claims the photograph was taken. He states that his tears were the result of the realization that the world he had always known was dying and recalls his beaten down body, and tattered rags on his feet.

John Florea’s Recollection of the Day

The American photographer remembers a different tale of events. Florea alleges that he took the photographs while in Hessen, Germany after Henke’s unit was overcome by American forces. He also argues that it was not the feeling of defeat that brought Hans- Georg to tears but rather combat shock.

        Years later photos were compared between the photographs taken of Hans- Georg during the war and the village afterwards. The images of the building are definitely the same. Additionally, the discrepancy between the shoes worn on the feet of Hans- Georg have led to questions. Henke claims he wore rags, but the photos so clearly show him wearing boots. Was it really the shock that led him to believe something else, or could there be another reason to change the story?

Rewriting History

The thought of why change the story has led to vast speculation. However, there is one theory that many seem to agree on. Historians believe that the primary motive of Hans- George’s narrative lies with what he chose to do after the war. Post conflict, Henke joined the Communist Party and settles in East Germany. East German Communists thought that any person that had surrendered to the Americans during the war were a potential threat. To not be exposed, Hans- Georg likely changed his story from being captured by America to being overrun by Russian forces. Henke lived in Eastern Germany only sharing this account until his death in 1997.

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The first fat men’s club to form was the Fat Men’s Association of New York City in 1869. Acceptance into the organization represented status and pride for the participants and the concept grew tremendously in the years to follow. The likeness of such a club spread to countries far from the United States branching to places like France and Germany. The clubs provided an excellent way to network, show off their weight, and most importantly eat a ton of great food. The prideful members are remembered saying “We’re fat and we’re making the most of it!”. They wore their weight like a medal of honor and with all of the body positivity movements going on in the world today, I can say they were before their time.

What Exactly Do You Do in a Fat Club?

Fat clubs were like most clubs that you think of. They featured people with similar life experiences and interests who at the end of the day were looking for friendship. These clubs provided an outlet of fun for the overweight comrades and as stated before they were all over. Some common ones were the New England Fat Men’s Club the Jolly Fat Men’s Club, the United Association of the Heavy Men of New York State, the Heavy Weights, and a French club called the Les Cent Kilos (“The Hundred Kilos”).

            Membership into the club provided fun events that the participants could enter. A very popular one was weigh-in competitions. All of the men would line up and weigh themselves one after the other. This was a chance to put size to the test and the largest man would go home with a prize. Many of these weigh- ins were open to the public and people from far and wide gathered to see which plump man was going to win gold. The organizations also planned other events picnic excursions, a ball, clambake and other wealthy events.

Could You Be in a Fat Men’s Club?

There were requirements to be a part of such a brotherhood. For one, they had to weigh 200 pounds. Many of the events the organizations would conduct required a mandatory weight check before the activity. The member had to meet the minimum weight, or he would have to pay a fine, or even sit out of the fun completely. Another necessary step was that the members had to pay a fee. Usually it was a small fee like that of the New York Fat Men’s Club of one dollar. This was pretty shocking because they were known to host members of high status and wealth. However, the clubs were formed in a time where food was not a one hundred percent guarantee and jobs were scarce. Being 200 pounds meant that you had a steady form of income and meals, depicting prosperity even with a minimal fee. The last criteria for the fat men was that they needed to memorize a secret handshake and password. Without a phone, I do not think I could remember this, but when the rewards are so grand who knows maybe I could.

Fat women clubs were also in action; however, they were not very popular. One well known women’s club had similar criteria and their average weight came to a staggering 236 pounds. Most popular weight clubs in America remained ones that featured weight loss and did not encourage weight gain.

The Decline of the Overweight Band of Brothers

Fat clubs started to decline in popularity at the start of the 1920’s. In the beginning of the famous roaring 20’s, obesity became a bigger problem and food was more readily available. The industrialization of the United States created more jobs than ever, and more food produced by agricultural machines. This all contributed to why waistlines began to decrease alongside the membership numbers in the fat men’s clubs.

            The fat men’s clubs were the last big thing in history that points to a time where obesity was openly accepted and even glorified. Accepting who you are and the body you are given is always a great thing to practice. However, I doubt these organization will ever reign supreme again. In the years since these times, medical officials have pointed that a healthy lifestyle is beneficial, and weight can be a serious concern. Trends of today have supported this idea of a healthy lifestyle with an ideal body image having healthy, curvy, natural features. Hopefully we can continue to put our health first, and maybe splurge like the fat men’s members every once in a while.

The post The Secret Fat Men’s Clubs of the 1900’s first appeared on History In Memes.

In the time of circus acts and big tops, the Kremo family was a huge name over 2 centuries. The circuses back then were similar to the ones today but featured remarkable icarists. An icarist is someone who excels in the art of Risley acts. Risley acts are incredible performances where an acrobat lays on his back and juggles various objects like barrels and even people. The trust and execution of these acts must be done perfectly, and the Kremos were one of the best.

The Beginning of Kremo Show Business

Josef Kremo (Kremka) was born in 1854 and was of Czech descent during a time where Czechoslovakia was a part of the Austro- Hungarian Empire. He left home at only 10 years old and decided to go into variety and the circus. Trying to navigate the world in your twenties is hard enough but trying to make it at only 10 would be a completely different story.  One year later he began living and training with Johann Karl Schaffer, in Vienna Austria. The Schaffer’s (stage name Scheffer’s) were an Austrian family with the best Risley act of the late nineteenth century. Johann treated Josef like his own son, pushing him to be the best of the best. In 1863, Josef left the Schaffer family on good terms and was determined to make it on his own. The next few years he worked as an artist and in 1880 he married Franziska Allinger, a famous Austro- Hungarian Equestrian.

It’s a bird, It’s a plane, It’s the Kremos

Together they had 13 children. In birth order they included, Sylvester, Karl, Elvira (Ella), Karolina (Lina), Eugenie, Mark, Franziska, twins Victor and Leon, and Siegfried who died very young. The kids were exposed early to their family business and by the age of 4 they were skilled acrobats. If I tried to do a cartwheel I would certainty break a hip, but not the Kremo clan. Their skills from this early age included doing cartwheels, dancing, hand and headstands, as well as stilt walking. It is said that at least three of the Kremo kids could perform a triple somersault on the feet of Josef. In all the years that Risley acts have been alive, this still remains the hardest trick of the art.  That’s an impressive resume if I have ever seen one.

 As their skills improved, more and more children were added to the “Kremotruppe Ikarische” (Kremo Icarists). At their peak, 12 children were involved in the troupe and their act “Stilt walking on the skyline” was a fan favorite. Josef also incorporated his trapeze, tightrope, and contortionist skills into the act. Their acrobatics were for all ages, and the stunning imagery brought excited viewers from all over. The family act dissolved in 1915, a few years before Josef’s passing. Josef Kremo died on December 26, 1917 after being confined to a wheelchair due to illness.

A Family Legacy

Sylvester continued his father’s business and created the Sylvester Kremo Family troupe which consisted of Sylvester and his daughters, Sylvia and Selna.

Karl Kremo created his own troupe which utilized the skills of Karl himself, his brother Mark, his wife, their children and occasional partners. Similar to the original family act the Karl Kremo Family became a huge success and toured until the 1930’s. One of his son’s Bela Kremo became a world- famous juggler.

Elvira Kremo debuted as a dancer in Graz, Austria before the First World War as a dancer. Her act included the deadly jump on the rope, a jump that only she performed at the time.

Bela Kremo had a son, Kris Kremo who is the great grandson of Josef Kremo. He is currently the last representative of the Kremo artistry. Kris is world known for his special skill of juggling three balls, three hats, and cigar boxes. His unbelievable ability has earned him the names “King of the Jugglers” and “Gentleman-Jongleur”. In 1994, he went back to Germany to visit his ancestor’s home and visited with his remaining relatives.

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