Sam Alexander facts for kids

Sam Alexander (born around the 1920s, died 1997) was a famous performer in the 20th century. He was known as a sideshow attraction. His special stage name was The Man with Two Faces.

Sam Alexander's Story

Early Life and a Terrible Accident

When Sam Alexander was a young man, he worked at the Schubert Theater in Chicago, Illinois. One day, he was careless with a lit cigarette. This caused a gasoline explosion. The accident severely burned his face.

A New Path in Life

After the explosion, Sam spent a year in the hospital. He then stayed in a nursing home to recover. When he left, Alexander started wearing a mask. He then joined a sideshow run by Peter Kortes.

Performing on Stage

During his performances, Sam Alexander would tell his life story to the audience. Then, he would dramatically remove his mask. This was a very shocking moment for the people watching. His act became the main event, or "blow off," of the show.

Alexander later worked with very famous circuses. These included Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. In the 1960s, while performing at Madison Square Garden, his appearance was so surprising that he was asked to leave the stage. He also performed with the Clyde Beatty Circus. Later, Sam Alexander even started his own sideshow company.

Living Without the Mask

Throughout his life, Sam Alexander had 72 operations. These surgeries were meant to repair his face, but none of them worked fully. Eventually, he decided that he didn't want to spend the rest of his life hiding behind a mask. He passed away in 1997.

Further Reading

• Hartzman, Marc. 2006. American Sideshow Penguin. pp. 112-113.