FROM THE COLLECTION: PRINCE RANDIAN

Billed as The Living Torso and The Human Caterpillar, Prince Randian was a sideshow performer in the 1930's and appeared in the 1932 film, Freaks. Born in 1871 without limbs, he was brought from British Guiana to America by P.T. Barnum in 1889. As part of his sideshow act, Randian could write, paint, shave and roll cigarettes. He was able to move by wriggling his hips and shoulders and moved like a snake.

Able to speak German, French, English as well as Hindi, his native language, Randian only had one line in the film, Freaks. His accent makes it nearly impossible to understand his dialogue when he asks, "Can you do anything with your eyebrows?"

He loved practical jokes and would often hide himself in a small box or opening and wait for someone to come along, then scream and scare his victim.

He married Princess Sarah, a Hindu woman who gave birth to their four children. They settled in Paterson, New Jersey. Prince Randian died at age sixty-three from a heart attack on December 19th, 1934.