Fedor Jeftichew
Encyclopedia
Fedor Jeftichew better known as Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy (later Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Man), was a famous sideshow
performer who was brought to the United States of America by P.T. Barnum.
in 1868, Fedor Jeftichew suffered from the medical condition hypertrichosis
. He toured with his father, Adrian, who developed the same ailment and had performed in French
circus
es. He continued to tour with his son before his death. Fedor eventually signed a contract with P.T. Barnum, who brought him to the United States
in 1884, when he was sixteen.
Barnum created a story that involved a hunter in Kostroma
who tracked Fedor and his father to their cave
and captured them. Barnum described Adrian as a savage
who could not be civilized. Barnum made a point of stressing Fedor's resemblance to a dog
, and explained that when he was upset he would bark and growl. In the show, Fedor obliged by doing so.
Fedor spoke Russian
, German
, and English
, and toured Europe
and the United States extensively.
He died in Salonica, Ottoman Empire
(now part of Greece
), from pneumonia
on January 31, 1904.
Sideshow
In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction.- Types of attractions :There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:...
performer who was brought to the United States of America by P.T. Barnum.
Biography
Born in St. Petersburg, RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1868, Fedor Jeftichew suffered from the medical condition hypertrichosis
Hypertrichosis
Hypertrichosis is an abnormal amount of hair growth on the body; extensive cases of hypertrichosis have informally been called werewolf syndrome. There are two distinct types of hypertrichosis: generalized hypertrichosis, which occurs over the entire body, and localized hypertrichosis, which is...
. He toured with his father, Adrian, who developed the same ailment and had performed in French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
es. He continued to tour with his son before his death. Fedor eventually signed a contract with P.T. Barnum, who brought him to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1884, when he was sixteen.
Barnum created a story that involved a hunter in Kostroma
Kostroma
Kostroma is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian towns, it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma Rivers...
who tracked Fedor and his father to their cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
and captured them. Barnum described Adrian as a savage
Barbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...
who could not be civilized. Barnum made a point of stressing Fedor's resemblance to a dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
, and explained that when he was upset he would bark and growl. In the show, Fedor obliged by doing so.
Fedor spoke Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States extensively.
He died in Salonica, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(now part of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on January 31, 1904.
In popular culture
- Annette FunicelloAnnette FunicelloAnnette Joanne Funicello is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.-Early life and early stardom:...
dedicated a song to him called "Jojo the dogfaced boy." - The band PhishPhishPhish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
has a song called Dog-Faced Boy - The heavy metal band Motorhead has a song called Dog-Faced Boy on the 1995 album "Sacrifice".
- Science Fiction writer Robert Heinlein references Jojo in "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel".
- The 2009 album Ancient Greeks and Circus Freaks by Intercontinental Music Lab features the song "If You Close Your Eyes," on the subject of "Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Man."
- The video games Blood and Blood II: The ChosenBlood II: The ChosenBlood II: The Chosen is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Monolith Productions and distributed by GT Interactive, which was later purchased by Infogrames. Released on October 31, 1998, it featured Monolith's new fully 3D engine Lithtech, which was previously used in Shogo: Mobile...
have references to a sideshow performer named "JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy". Whether this is a deliberate reference to Fedor Jeftichew is not known. Similar references have appeared in other media such as the film Tommy BoyTommy BoyTommy Boy is a 1995 road comedy film directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie and Terry Turner, and Fred Wolf. It stars former Saturday Night Live colleagues Chris Farley and David Spade. The film tells the story of a socially and emotionally immature man who learns lessons about friendship and...
. - A character in the webcomic ErfworldErfworldErfworld is a story-driven fantasy/comedy webcomic about a master strategy gamer stuck in a wargame. The first book, The Battle for Gobwin Knob was written by Rob Balder and illustrated by Jamie Noguchi. It was recognized as one of the top 10 graphic novels of 2007 by Time Magazine. The second...
is named Jeftichew the Carnymancer ("But call me Jojo.") - The band EelsEels (band)Eels is an American indie rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E...
have a song titled Dog Faced Boy which appears on the album SouljackerSouljackerSouljacker is a studio album from Eels released on September 19, 2001 in Japan, September 24, 2001 in the United Kingdom, and March 12, 2002 in the United States... - In Charles Portis'Charles PortisCharles McColl Portis is an American author best known for his novels Norwood and the 1968 classic Western novel True Grit , both adapted as films. The latter also inspired a film sequel and made-for-TV movie sequel...
novel, The Dog of the South, the antagonist, Guy Dupree, sometimes signed threatening letters written to the President of the United States, "JoJo the Dog-Faced Boy".
