HASSAN  ALI

Hassan Ali began his career in 1894 in Berlin at Castan's Panoptikum. At the time he was said to be only sixteen years old but (allegedly) already stood eight feet tall. A spectator who saw him opening night said as Ali approached the stage he "looked like a walking tree". His lecturer informed the audience that his hand, measured from wrist to finger tips, was 13 inches and his feet 14 inches long.    Those who saw him say he had an oddly shaped head, in that it was more narrow toward the top and that his face "had coarse but not unpleasant features."  Ali was said to come from a family of tall people. Both his father and grandfather reportedly being even taller than himself.     Ali continued to tour Europe and environs when in 1899 he was added to the Barnum and Bailey line up of Human Prodigies when on its European tour. It was around this time that he married a six foot tall, 14 year old Muslim girl.

"The All-Overlooking Giant Egyptian of the Entire Human Race, the Largest Tallest Man Ever Born"

In 1900 Ali arrived in the U.S. to appear with the Forepaugh & Sells circus as "The Wonderful Egyptian Giant" and the following year reprised his role but I'm not sure if it was for the same outfit.   In his book "The Mystery and Lore of Monsters", C.J.S.

Thompson notes that Hassan "smoked about seventy cigarettes a day and was said to consume two bottles of whisky" in a twelve hour period.

The photo to the left may or may not be Ali. Both photos were taken in U.S. studios indicating a date of 1900 or 1901

Barnum & Bailey Circus, 1899, European tour. The Circus toured Europe 1897 - 1901. The performers, right to left: Hassan Ali; James Coffey, the living skeleton; Lalloo, Double-Bodied Wonder; unid. Sword Swallower; Moss-Haired girl who was the daughter of the tattooed couple; Jo-Jo, the Human Skye Terrier; unid, What Is She?, a pinhead; Annie Jones, the Bearded Lady; Frank and Annie Howard, tattooed couple; Khusania, the Hindoo Dwarf