Sam Alexander

Sam Alexander (ca. 1920s-1997) was a 20th-century sideshow attraction. His stage name was The Man with Two Faces. As a young man and an employee of the Schubert Theater in Chicago, Illinois, his carelessness with a lit cigarette caused a gasoline explosion that burned off his face.

Sam Alexander
Born	ca. 1920s
Died	1997
Cause of death	Natural causes
Nationality	American
Other names	Man with Two Faces
Occupation	Sideshow attraction

After a year in hospital and then a stay in a nursing home, Alexander began wearing a mask and joined a Peter Kortes sideshow. Alexander would tell his story to the audience then remove his mask. It was a shocking exhibition. Alexander was made the blow off for the show.

Alexander went on to work with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. At Madison Square Garden in the 1960s, ladies were so shocked by his face he was ordered off the stage. He later worked with the Clyde Beatty Circus. He later started his own sideshow company. Alexander had 72 operations throughout his life to repair his face, all were unsuccessful. Eventually, he decided the remaining years of his life were not best spent behind the mask. He died in 1997.

References

• Hartzman, Marc. 2006. American Sideshow Penguin. pp. 112-113.
• Sideshows: Sam Alexander
• The Human Marvels: Sam Alexander
• Top 10 Famous Side Shows & Peculiar Performers: Sam Alexander