MLLE.  GABRIELE

Gabriele Gunther was born in 1884 in Basel, Switzerland, a city located on the  border with Germany and France. It is said she was taught by nuns indicating she may have been raised in a Catholic orphanage.   She began in the show business as a teenager at age 16 when she was seen at the Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Paris in 1900 and was successful on the Continent many years.   She is first recorded as going to America in 1914 to work for Ringling Bros. Circus and it seems she found that country much to her liking because for the next thirteen years (at least) she continued to exhibit there with various shows.

As her publicity photos indicate, Gabriele loved to wear the finest of clothes and adorned herself  with expensive bracelets, necklaces, headbands and flowers.    Gabriele's  beauty and charm could not be ignored.  The "half-lady" was married no less than three times. Once in her youth, the 2nd time to a Mr. John de Fuller (in the 1920's) and finally to a German nobleman, making her a Baroness.    I do not know whatever became of her. Some speculate she retired back to her hometown, a wealthy woman.