Loretta was born in 1908, the eldest of four children born to Howard and Delia Luce. As an adult she grew to 30" long and weighed 55lbs. They lady they called the "sunshine girl" was active in the business in the 1930's and '40's.
"The bones of my body had not matured and as a result only my head was normal. My body remains today much as it was at birth. I grew very little" she related in her biographical pamphlet.
I don't know what her medical conditon was but it sounds the same as or very similar to that of "Serpentina" (Mary Krasinski).
As "Medusa Van Allen", Loretta exhibited with Bently's All American; Bunt's United; World of Mirth; T.J. Tidwell and Ray Marsh Brydon shows. At the time of her death in 1943 she was featured by A.J. Budd in his "Freaks on Parade" show in Sacramento. Her body was sent to her hometown of Ashtabula, Ohio for burial. |
