When Sam Parks passed away of pneumonia at his home in El Paso, Texas in 1923, his wife sent his obituary to the editor of The Billboard, "the bible of the outdoor amusement business." It is to our great fortune that the late Fred Drimmer obtained this notice and published it in his landmark book "Very Special People" (1973). Much of what follows is from Mrs. Parks letter.
Sam Parks was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1874. Sam was from a large family and his father barely made enough to make ends meet. Though he learned to do many things for himself, Sam still required extra care and attention. Not wanting to be a burden to his family, or perhaps in an effort to contribute to the support of his brothers and sisters, Sam decided to enter the exhibition business and first appeared as a "freak" at age 19 at the World's Colombian Exposition, Chicago 1893. He reportedly appeared as a "scientific curiosity" before medical students of Chicago's Rush University but perhaps that's just what his advertising banner said.
Sam continued to support himself in this way, appearing in Dime Museums or travelling carnivals. His wife said he even sailed to Europe as part of the Barnum & Bailey Circus' tour of 1897 - 1902, however this is highly doubtful as the names of the various members of the sideshow entourage has been well documented.
In 1906, S. David married Maryland native Ida Granville in Baltimore. However, happy times were soon followed with reversal. In 1907 Sam was left pennyless and deserted by his manager in Macon, Georgia. He relcutantly and shamefacedly allowed authorities to contact his father, also in Baltimore, that he might send Sam the money he needed to make his way back home.
Happiness at the birth of his first son was followed by the tragic death of his wife in childbirth in the delivery of their second.. By 1909, Sam was a widower. What were the odds he would meet another lady who would be willing to care for and take care of someone like him?
As it turns out the odds this time were in Sam's favor. While working the midway of The Greater Patterson Shows in 1910, Sam met Austrian born little lady Helen Himmel The two eventually became partners in love and in show business. Helen was billed as Princess Wee Wee and the "strange couple" toured for probably five more years. The pair retired from showbusiness sometime around the outbreak of WWI and by this time had made their home in El Paso. By 1920, Sam was not working and Helen was selling papers at a local newsstand.
Sam was only 49 years old when he passed away in his Texas home. It is not known whatever became of Helen.
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