During the heyday of his career the giant named Johann Petursson was the tallest living man on Earth. He was officially “off his throne,” by colossal Robert Wadlow (272 cm), but the Icelandic hero, lived longer, and people remembered him as a talented circus performer and extraordinary actor, and not, for example, as a sick man.
Johann K. Petursson was born in Dalvik (Iceland), Feb. 9, 1913. He was the third-highest child in the 9-child family. In 1924 a unique Icelander had a very impressive growth (according to some sources 231 cm, on the other – as many as 246 cm, and Wikipedia says that only some 221 cm), weighed 135 kg and wearing shoes size 56. Here’s the photo of his shoes taken in the museum:
Despite the volcanic appearance and strength, Petursson was a real gentleman, he never used any foul language or has ever been rude to anyone. Children loved playing with him and climbing on his shoulders. But Icelanders are hard to impress, so Johann in his hometown was no more than a very tall man with no prospects. He even had troubles finding a job because of his enormous size.
In 1934, Petursson went to Denmark, where realized that he could earn a living by showing himself of. Johanna, his sister made him some stylish outfits, and the giant went on a tour through Europe. He has performed in Music Hall with two “gnomes”. Dwarfs played on miniature accordions, and Petursson – on any giant sized instrument. The audience loved it. Concert tour was interrupted with the beginning of World War II. Having lost his case in Copenhagen, Johann was hired as a loader at the shipyard. He survived the war peacefully, carrying bags.
The war ended, Petursson resumed the show, and was taken to pencil one of the Ringling Brothers, owners of a rich American circus. A contract was signed, and the Viking ended up in the New World.
There Johann earned $ 200 a week, trading souvenirs along the way – the giant wooden rings that could fit his fingers. A silver dollar (26 mm) could easily get through these huge rings. Our giant himself was producing the rings from plastic or metal – gold, silver and lead. They looked antique as if they were worn ages ago in the ancient times of Icelandic Vikings conquests.
