Josephine Joseph
Josephine Joseph was the stage name of Betty Waas (July 28, 1896 - July 14, 1991)[1][2]an American actress, of Romanian descent who was prominent in circus sideshows and best known for her only film role in the Tod Browning pre-code production Freaks in 1932, whose body was supposedly split down the middle, one side female and the other male. She claimed to be a true hermaphrodite, but there is no evidence to confirm whether this was the case or not; she may have just been a very skilled impersonator. When she appeared in the film she was stated by references and publications as being 19 (possibly at the instigation of the film company and/or producers/promoters), when in fact she was 36 years old.
Like many sideshow "hermaphrodites" of the early 20th century, she presented a "half and half" trick: woman on the left and man on the right. One side of the body would be exercised, have hair trimmed, and tanned; the other side would be covered and unexercised, making it pale and flabby, so the chest resembled a woman's breast while the hair was grown out. The performer would then wear a split costume: a low-cut, tight top and hotpants on the "female" side and on the "male" side a Tarzan-style loincloth.
Court case
In 1930 Joseph and her husband George Francis Waas, described only in newspaper reports as "an American couple", who were presenting a Coney Island-style attraction in Blackpool, under the title of "Josephine-Joseph", were prosecuted in the United Kingdom for false pretences and conspiracy on account of their "Half Woman-Half Man" circus show. Joseph claimed to be 27 years of age at the time (although in reality 33-34). The court alleged that the show was a fraud, and that she was not a true hermaphrodite. Waas offered to submit X-rays of Josephine to the magistrates, but refused to submit her to a court doctor's physical examination. The Superintendent in charge of the case admitted that the two sides of Josephine's body looked different, although he had "no idea what the medical testimony may be". The court descriptions of her appearance also match her costume as seen in the film Freaks. She was described as a man on the right side, and a woman on the left, with her right arm longer than her left. Her eyebrows were different. She displayed a bare right leg with a sandal, and a black-stockinged left leg with a woman's shoe. Her hair was brushed from the right side to the left, giving the impression of short hair on the right side. In order to avoid a jury trial, Joseph and Waas pleaded guilty. Waas told the court "I am sorry. I will give up this show and leave the country". Wass, who served as her manager, was fined £25, whilst Josephine was acquitted.[1]
Freaks
Josephine Joseph is most prominently remembered for a role in the Tod Browning 1932 classic cult film Freaks. Although she only had two lines, she still appeared in a number of scenes, most notably the scene at the wedding reception where she is the one who begins the chant: "We accept her, one of us! We accept her, one of us!". In another notable scene early in the film, "Josephine" gives an alluring look towards the strongman to which another performer responds comically "I think she likes you, but he don't!" She is later seen assembling the rest of the circus freaks for their plan of revenge by saying to them: "Soon, we go". [3]
Personal life and death
She was married to George Waas (born January 23, 1888, New York - died November 11, 1956, Los Angeles). As of 2016, it was thought previously that Josephine was still living, although in fact she had died in New York City on July 4, 1991, at age 94. Also she was born in 1896, much earlier than originally stated as 1913.
References
- 1 2 Estelle. "Man-Woman a Woman Now, 1937". The Skittish Library. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
- ↑
- ↑ "Freaks Screenplay". Arts Library. Retrieved 2012-03-19.