How Martin was able to do what he did is not clear. I've never seen a photo of him undressed from the waist up but I'm sure it would be quite informative, as would an x-ray.
Martin didn't simply turn his head at the neck and rest his chin over his shoulder. He twisted much at the waist, even to the point of raising his left heel and in many photos he is shown using his hands to facilitate the turning of his head, always over his left shoulder. I do know that his left leg was shorter than his right but whether this had anything to do with his "twistability" is unclear.
In his bio pamphlet he claims: "I also turn my whole body and my right foot."
Whatever became of Mr. Emmerling is not clear. In 1952 he appeared on the TV show "You Asked For It" and in 1953 he was with Fred Sindell's Cavalcade Variety Shows at Coney Island.
It is said he died in 1955. |
