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Canafornian

Canafornian club

Posted: 12 Apr 2016

Taken: 12 Apr 2016

3 favorites     6 comments    652 visits

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tatoo •
portrait •
postcard •
winnipeg •
manitoba •

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Photo replaced on 13 Apr 2016
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WP2111 WPG - PORTRAIT - ARTORIA GIBBONS (TATOOS)

WP2111 WPG - PORTRAIT - ARTORIA GIBBONS (TATOOS)
POSTCARD

Date: Not evident. Not Posted.

Publisher / Photographer: Lyall Commercial

Notation: This card is a bit of an oddity. I originally thought her name was Artonia and discovered little about the woman in the photo - except that she was mentioned in a classified advertisement in a Billboard Magazine (March 2 and March 20, 1956 editions) by the company of Bernard & Barry Shows from Toronto, Ontario: "WANTED Tatooed Lady, Snake Handler, Acts for 10-in-1 for Canadian tour. Bertie Wade, Artonia [Artoria] Gibbons, Jean Carroll, answer- send photo, state all."

I am confused by the ad as to whether they are seeking Artoria - or if she is already signed on. Jean Carroll, also mentioned by name, was another famed Tatooed lady.

Also confusing is the nature of this photo. It is printed on Lyall Commercial postcard paper, but there appears to be another photo credit in the bottom right corner. Artoria's name seems to have been written over a previous version of it. For the sake of argument, I suspect that Artoria was in Winnipeg and running out of photo cards of herself and hired Lyall to reproduce them - which he may have done simply by photographing and old one and giving her name more prominence.

Further information on Artoria Gibbons can be found at: https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/gibbons_artoria.php

Howard Kilgour, Alan Mays, have particularly liked this photo

6 comments - The latest ones
 Canafornian
Canafornian club
Given the stars and stripes on her chest, I am inclined to think she was an American. Jean Carroll, the other tatooed woman mentioned, began her career as a bearded lady but her husband (who was also in the circus/carnival business), once wedded to her wanted her to shave off her beard. She did so and went under the ink to stay in the business.

As an aside, for a period in my early years, I spent a lot of time reading about the old "freak shows" and the people who were involved. Fascinating stuff. I think my favourite book was "We Who are not Like Others." There is also a fascinating old 1932 movie kicking around. Entitled "Freaks", it is in the horror genre, but takes place in a circus setting and stars many of the famous side-show folks of the day.
8 years ago. Edited 8 years ago.
 Canafornian
Canafornian club
I'll look for it.
8 years ago.
 wintorbos
wintorbos club
Apparently it's actually "Artoria" -- if you Google that mountains of stuff comes up! www.tattooarchive.com/tattoo_history/gibbons_artoria.html
8 years ago.
 wintorbos
wintorbos club
Incredible find, by the way.
8 years ago.
 Canafornian
Canafornian club
Great on the "Artoria". When I got some hits on Artonia, I didn't look any further.
8 years ago.
 Canafornian
Canafornian club
Thanks to Wintorbos's important correction to the name of this woman - "Artoria" not "Artonia", here is a fine link to biographical information: www.tattooarchive.com/tattoo_history/gibbons_artoria.html

(I also corrected her name in the title that I have for this card.)
8 years ago. Edited 8 years ago.

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