Career
He was also known as Melvin the Two-Faced Manitoba, due to his ability to wear different facial expressions on the two sides of his face, and as Melvin the Anatomical Wonder for his abilities as as contortionist. His act also included magic, sword swallowing, fire eating, and an electric chairman Clarence Melvin Burkhart was born in Atlanta on February
16, 1907 and grew up in several places throughout the southern United States, principally New Orleans.
He dropped out of school in his early teens and moved to Louisville, Kentucky where he worked as a field hand by day and in burlesque halls by night. At the age of 20, he joined a small one-ring circus, Mr.
Leroy Easter"s Traveling Family Circus, as a contortionist. In 1934, he joined Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus performing five acts.
Later, he joined the James East. Straits Shows, emceeing the sideshow and providing the majority of acts.
He stayed with the Straits Shows for over 30 years before moving to Coney Island’s Sideshow By The Sea where he finished his career.
