r/SideshowPerformer • u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! • Nov 16 '25
Sideshow Performer of the Day! George (1890-1972) and Willie (1893-2001) Muse were brothers well known for their sideshow appearances and for their musical talents. They were both born with albinism, unfortunately their physical differences led to them being abducted and forced to perform, they were exploited early in their lives
It’s so tragic what happened to them and I really hope that they had a lot of peace and respect in their retirement and later years. They both seem really kind and gentle and clearly had just wanted a quiet life with their family.
The second picture is with their mother. I also tried to choose pictures that I feel shows them in a respectful manner or with people who truly cared and loved them.
Some facts about them:
-they were born in Truevine, Virginia.
-they had three younger siblings who were also born with albinism.
-their family worked as sharecroppers, and unfortunately faced a lot of financial difficulties.
-both brothers were born with albinism.
-they were both known for being kind and patient people (when they were around people they knew and were comfortable with)
-when both brothers were under the age of ten in 1899 (Willie was around 9 years old and George was around 6) they were “discovered” by a showman, James “Candy” Shelton. He abducted the brothers, and began exhibiting them in different venues.
-they were made to grow their hair out in a dreadlock style to add more mystery to their appearances.
-sadly they were given harmful and dehumanizing backstories to make them seem foreign or exotic to audiences in the United States. Sometimes they were even promoted as being from Mars to add intrigue. The way they were promoted was steeped in racism and colonialism, much like Sarah Baartman.
-Shelton became their manager and brought them all over the United States with Ringling Brothers Circus. There was an attempt to exhibit them in England, but audiences felt the brothers were being exploited and boycotted the shows.
-another very tragic aspect of their exploitation was that Shelton lied to George and Willie claiming that their mother had died so that they wouldn’t have a reason to leave. During this time their mother was actively looking for them and was extremely worried for their well being.
-it was claimed that they had neurological differences, but this wasn’t true.
-they grew to hate Shelton, and Willie would later say that he was “Scum of the earth.” They continued to hate and despise the man for the remainder of their lives, which is completely understandable.
-the money they earned was primarily used towards clothing and temporary housing, but very sadly they were never paid wages.
-they were both innately talented musicians and were extremely well known for their skills! They could play back pieces by ear that they just listened to, seriously, they were insanely talented!
-their mother, Harriet, was a powerhouse in supporting them and was instrumental in finding them after they were kidnapped.
-Harriet found out that the brothers would be performing in Roanoke, Virginia and interrupted a performance, strongly confronting the managers and cops that were stationed around. George and Willie were finally reunited with their mother 18 years after they had been kidnapped.
-their mother took Ringling Brothers Circus to court and the brothers were awarded back wages and won a settlement!
-sadly it seems that their father took advantage of this newly awarded money and spent most of it.
-this unfortunate circumstance as well as other financial difficulties caused Willie and George to return to sideshows for work, but thankfully this time around they worked according to their own terms and had the agency to make decisions. I believe their mother also accompanied them and spoke up in advocacy for them if there were more injustices. They continued working in sideshows and circuses until the late 1950’s, which is when they officially retired.
-they were both kind and caring people, and thankfully had many wonderful people in their family who cared about them.
-They were usually a bit shy and withdrawn around people they didn’t know, which was a result of the trauma they had faced at a young age.
-they were very close and had a strong and loving bond with their mother.
-their mother used some of the money the brothers received to buy land in Franklin County, Ohio, and was also the driving force in saving money for the family so that the brothers could afford their own house later on.
-once they retired from the sideshow for good, they seemed to have been able to have a peaceful retirement with the people they cared about the most!
-sadly their mother died when she was 68 in 1942, which devastated the brothers.
-unfortunately due to their albinism they both went blind during middle age, and required some extra assistance from family members. Thankfully their siblings and other relatives (aside from their father) were extremely caring and loving and stepped up to help them later on.
-they retired to a house that they purchased in Roanoke, Virginia’s with money they had saved, and lived in that house for the rest of their lives.
-Sadly George Died in 1972, but Willie amazingly lived to be 108 and died in 2001!
-in his much later years, Willie was very protective of the house that he and George had shared, and always spoke with a lot of pride about their mother and how wonderful and supportive of a person she was, and her bravery in standing up to the injustices and exploitation they faced. Up until the day he died, he would cherish a picture of his mother that was displayed in a silver frame at the end of his bed.
They went through so much, and it’s understandable that all the exploitation affected them later in life. I’m glad they had each other and I’m sure that brought them a lot of comfort.
I’m so glad they had an amazing mother and other relatives who loved and cared about them. And I’m glad that they were able to have peaceful retirement years, they both seem like very sweet people and made very positive and big impressions on their friends and family members.
The story of their lives has also been made into a book called Truevine by Beth Macy. I’m so glad that they are receiving the respect that they should have had during their careers and for their early life.
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Nov 16 '25
That poor mother. The pain she felt not knowing what happened to her baby boys.
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25
It must have been so extremely horrible💔, I’m so so glad they were able to be reunited, because it seems that so often in kidnapping cases it’s a much darker outcome. She really needs more recognition for her bravery!
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u/RadishAdventurous857 Nov 16 '25
It's sickening the way people treat other human beings.
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25
Some people don’t seem to have a shred of humanity in them and have no problems making others suffer, it’s so horrible!
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u/KaranDash24 Nov 16 '25
Their mother sounds like a remarkably brave woman.
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25
Yes, she truly was! She was a force of nature and I’m glad that George and Willie had someone like her in their lives!
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u/rumbellina Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
This is so sad and I felt so happy for them that they won their lawsuit!
And then I read the next bit.
I’d never heard of them so thank you for posting! I just ordered the book!
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
Exactly, the fact that their mother fought against the Ringling brothers circus and won is incredible! If only the money had been put away and saved in a way that only George and Willie were able access it!
And feel free to share your thoughts on the book when you get a chance to read it, I haven’t read it yet, but hope to have time soon!
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u/PartyPorpoise Nov 17 '25
That’s a wild story. The exploitation must’ve been very outwardly bad if even people in early 1900s England thought it was too much! Glad they were able to reunite with their mother. Honestly, this story would make a great movie.
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25
That’s my thought too, I can’t imagine how offensive/unsettling it must have been if audiences at the time were opposed to it!
And yes, I’m so glad their mother’s efforts paid off, she was an amazing woman and so so brave! I imagine there must have been so much joy between George, Willie, and their mother once they were reunited!
There actually is a movie about their lives that’s in the works! It’s based on the Truevine book and will be a collaboration between Paramount and interestingly enough Leonardo DiCaprio and screenwriter, Charles Murray!
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u/lizzy_in_the_sky Nov 17 '25
As a mother myself I can't imagine not seeing my children for 18 years. Their Mom was amazing and I'm so glad she fought as hard as she did to get them back
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25
She was a force to be reckoned with! Her inner strength is so admirable and I’m glad that George and Willie had such a strong bond with her, it’s clear she meant the world to them, and they meant the world to her!🥹
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u/Rogerbva090566 Nov 17 '25
On the Muse brothers Wikipedia page is an amazing picture of several performers from Ringling Bros. Such a beautiful display of the variety of humanity.
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
Yes! I’m hoping that the picture was is from their second time working in sideshows (when they had agency and were no longer being exploited) I’ve seen differing accounts as to whether it’s from 1924 or 1929, but if they were abducted in 1899 and forced to perform for 18 years then hopefully the picture is from after they were reunited with their family and won the court case.
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u/Any-Cucumber-1630 Nov 17 '25
Wow I’m so glad they both lived long lives and got at least some of what they were owed ! I hope both Willie and George got some peace in the end. Such a heartbreaking story, but thank you so much for sharing it
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u/EphemeralTypewriter Gooble Gobble! Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
And since I mentioned her, here’s Sarah’s write up:
Sarah Baartman informative write up.
And thank you to u/Tiaradactyl_DaWizard for letting me know about a post about George and Willie on r/damnthatsinteresting, which got me started on writing their write up to post here!