William Henry Johnson, also called Zip the Pinhead

Zip the Pinhead, born William Henry Johnson (b. 1842 in Liberty Corners, New Jersey – d. April 28, 1926 in New York, New York), was an American freak show performer famous for his oddly tapered head. Zip the Pinhead, Circus Performer, aka William Henry Johnson This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Zip the Pinhead, Circus Performer, aka William Henry Johnson This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC, City That Never Sleeps, The Concrete Jungle, The City So Nice They Named It Twice Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1676 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area... NY redirects here. ... Coney Island and its popular on-going freak show. ... For other uses of the word head, see head (disambiguation). ...

Early life

William Henry Johnson was born to a very poor African-American family. His parents were William and Mahalia Johnson, former slaves. As he grew his body developed normally but his head remained small. His tapering cranium and heavy jaw made him attractive to agents from Van Emburgh's Circus in Somerville, New Jersey. His unusual appearance caused many to believe that he was a "pinhead", or microcephalic. Microcephalics are characterized by a small, tapering cranium and impaired mental faculty. It is clear, however, that William Henry was not mentally deficient. Languages Predominantly American English Religions Predominantly Christianity and Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ... Map of Somerville in Somerset County 9/11 Memorial and Court House, Somerville The Old Dutch Parsonage, home of Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh and John Frelinghuysen Somerville is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Micrencephaly. ...

William Henry's parents agreed to allow the circus to display him in return for money. He was billed as a missing link supposedly caught in Africa and displayed in a cage. He was a popular draw and his success led young William Henry's agent to show his charge to P.T. Barnum. Title card. ... Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891), American showman who is best remembered for his entertaining hoaxes and for founding the circus that eventually became Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. ...

Barnum purchased the right to display William Henry Johnson from the circus and gave him a new look. A furry suit was made to fit him, and his hair was shaped to a tiny point that further accented his sloping brow. Finally, he was given the name, "Zip the Pinhead," the "What-Is-It?"

As Zip the Pinhead

Zip's early performances were set against a background story. It was told to the audience that a tribe of "missing links" had been discovered in Africa, and that Zip was one of these. It was further explained that the "wild man", the "What-Is-It", subsisted on raw meat, nuts, and fruit, but was learning to eat more civilized fare such as bread and cake.

Zip would then be revealed in a cage where he could rattle the bars and screech. This act was tremendously successful for Barnum, and Zip was as big a draw to his American Museum as the famous Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker. Barnums American Museum in 1858 Barnums American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street in New York City from 1841 to 1865. ... A painting of Chang and Eng Bunker, circa 1836 Siamese twins redirects here. ... A painting of Chang and Eng Bunker, circa 1836 Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811–January 17, 1874) were the twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term Siamese twins. ...

In later years Zip became more "civilized" in his act. He shared the stage with other prodigies, including his friends Jim Tarver, the Texas Giant; Jack Earle, the Tallest Man in the World; Koo-Koo the Bird Girl and many others. Zip also traveled extensively with the Ringling Brothers circus. Jack Earle (born Jacob Ehrlich in 1906 in Denver, Colorado, USA) was an actor. ... Koo Koo the Bird Girl was born Minnie Woolsey in 1880. ... Ringling Brothers were the founders of what eventually became the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Zip drew the attention of important figures of the time. In 1860 he was visited at the Museum by the Prince of Wales; his photo (the one pictured above) was taken by famed Civil War photographer Mathew Brady [1]. The Prince of Wales Feathers. This Heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent is derived from the ostrich feathers borne by Edward, the Black Prince. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Image:Matthew Brady 1875 cropped. ...

Throughout this period Zip's best friend and manager was Captain O.K. White. White conscientiously looked after Zip's interests. He also gave Zip one of his prized possessions, a tuxedo. He would wear the tuxedo on special occasions such as birthdays.

One of his other possessions was a fiddle. It was said that he purchased the fiddle in Kentucky and that it had once belonged to Daniel Boone. Zip was most unskillful with the instrument, but it is reported that audiences loved seeing Zip play his fiddle and dance about with it. Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This 1820 oil painting by Chester Harding is the only portrait of Daniel Boone made from life. ...

In his later years Zip eschewed traveling in favor of displaying himself at Coney Island. One Sunday afternoon in 1925 when he was in his 70's, Zip heard a little girl cry for help. He noticed the girl waving her arms in the ocean and swam out to rescue her. All who witnessed cheered his valor, but he left the scene to avoid their accolades. Image of Coney Island, located in the middle left of the picture, taken by NASA. The peninsula to the right is Rockaway, Queens. ...

He took seriously ill in early 1926. He had bronchitis and despite the wishes of his doctor and Captain White he continued to perform in a stage play in which he had a part. Upon the closing of the play he returned to his home in Bound Brook, NJ, where he was cared for by his doctor, Captain White, and his sister. When his condition worsened he was moved to Bellevue Hospital in New York City where he died. This article is not about asthma. ... Map showing location of Bound Brook in Somerset County Bound Brook is a borough located in Somerset County, New Jersey. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Bellevue Hospital is a famous hospital located in New York City, New York, United States. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC, City That Never Sleeps, The Concrete Jungle, The City So Nice They Named It Twice Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1676 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area...

It is estimated that during his astonishing 67 years in show business, Zip entertained more than one hundred million people.^{[citation needed]} He was termed "The Dean of Freaks". His funeral was attended by the greatest side show acts of the days, including Madame Olga, the Bearded Lady; Frank Graf, the tattooed man; and many more. During the ceremonies the distraught Capt. White collapsed. He died three days later.

Zip the Pinhead, William Henry Johnson, was buried in Plot 399 of the Bound Brook Cemetery. A small gravestone bearing the inscription "William H. Johnson, 1857–1926" marks his resting place. However, it was reported on Zip's death certificate that Zip was 83 years old[2], which would have meant he was born in 1842 or 1843, which seems more likely considering his 1860 photograph. 1857 is more likely the year he began his career.

Johnson is partly the inspiration for Bill Griffith's comics character, Zippy the Pinhead. Bill Griffith (born 1944) is a popular cartoonist best known for his comic strip Zippy the Pinhead. ... Zippy the Pinhead is the main character in the comic strip of the same name, created by Bill Griffith. ...

How smart was Zip?

William Henry Johnson was not a true microcephalic; he merely had an oddly-shaped head. Additionally, he did not suffer the mental retardation that microcephalics often suffer. There has been some interest in ascertaining Zip's actual mental capacity.

William Henry's sister, Sarah Van Duyne, claimed in a 1926 interview that her brother would "converse like the average person, and with fair reasoning power".

An example often given of Zip's intelligence is this anecdote: Zip had picked up the habit of smoking cigars from John Ringling North, proprietor of the circus. However, his cigars had to be the same expensive brand that North smoked, or Zip wouldn't perform.

Zip's fiddle-playing was so awful that his fellow performers and some audience members would pay him not to play. In this way, it is believed that Zip earned $14,000 in only six years – a staggering US $3,200,000 in 2006 dollars. Could Zip have purposefully annoyed his fellow prodigies and unappreciative audience members to earn extra cash? (Zip's money was invested by Capt. White in several ventures, including a chicken farm in Nutley, New Jersey.) Map of Nutley Township in Essex County Nutley is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. ...

Zip's last words were to his sister, Mrs. Van Duyne. He is quoted as saying, "Well, we fooled 'em for a long time, didn't we?" (Source: History Channel documentary: "Wild West Tech")

External links

• Weird NJ - Zip the What Is It