Big-Mouthed Boy

Young Leonard Hanstein, aka Big-Mouthed Boy, had a talent for stuffing things in his mouth.

Pittsburgh Press - Apr 30, 1939

Detroit Free Press - July 9, 1939

Sheboygan Press - Apr 13, 1939

Drew Friedman included a caricature of Hanstein in his book Sideshow Freaks (2011), and claimed that Hanstein made a living for a while by displaying his talent.

I came across a columnist (below) musing in 1969 about what might have happened to Hanstein, but the question went unanswered. The only other biographical info I can find about Hanstein is that he died in 1994 at the age of 70, still living in Oklahoma.

Fairbanks Daily News - Feb 22, 1969

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Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 03, 2017
Category: Human Marvels | 1930s

Comments

If this is the same guy, he didn't "make a living" this way.
http://newsok.com/article/2454429

Posted by BMN on 08/03/17 at 10:14 AM

BMN -- nice find. That's gotta be him.

Posted by Alex on 08/03/17 at 12:00 PM

Here's the proud record holder for having the most fingers in her mouth at one time (30). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-QRwb7BcI4

Posted by Virtual on 08/03/17 at 06:07 PM

I would hope that those objects were washed thoroughly before insertion. It's still icky!

Posted by KDP on 08/04/17 at 02:38 PM

I'm always putting my foot in my mouth. Does that count for something? (I'm a size 10, but 11s are so comfortable, I usually buy 12s.)

Posted by Phideaux on 08/04/17 at 03:39 PM

I find it hard to believe they would include something in his obituary about his mouth stuffing feat considering he was well educated and a teacher, etc. Sounds like just a crazy stunt kids will play until they find their true calling. I could do some crazy stuff with being double jointed growing up. Now I'm just stiff jointed.

Posted by GFinKS on 08/07/17 at 11:33 AM

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