Jóhann Kristinn Pétursson (9 February 1913 – 26 November 1984), also known as the Icelandic Giant and the Viking Giant, was an Icelandic circus performer and actor who at his peak measured 2.34 metres (7 ft 8 in) in height and weighed 163 kilograms (359 lb).[1]
Born in Dalvík, Iceland on 9 February 1913, as the third of nine children in his family, Jóhann had a normal development until the age of 15, after which he experienced accelerated growth.[2]
At the age of 17, he was very strong and reportedly could lift a lorry, but had back and joint issues and difficulty walking by age 20. In 1935, he was studied by Knud Krabbe in Copenhagen, who recorded his height at 2.205 metres (7 ft 2.8 in) and his weight at 135 kilograms (298 lb) but doubted that he had acromegaly as his body was proportional and there was no sign of hypogonadism. However, he had an enlarged sella turcica. He was re-examined in Leipzig in 1939, measuring at 2.225 metres (7 ft 3.6 in).[3]
Career
Due to his physical ailments, Jóhann was unable to find normal employment and instead toured Europe's vaudeville theatres, doing so until the outbreak of World War II. He was in Copenhagen during the German invasion of Denmark and remained there until the end of the war, working in a shipyard. In 1948, he was invited to move to the United States by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The tallest Icelandic man on record, his home, living trailer, vehicles, furniture, and clothing were all custom-made.[4]
During his career, he used the stage name "der Nordische Riese Olaf" ("the Nordic Giant Olaf") in Germany, and "the Icelandic Giant"[5] or "the Viking Giant"[6][7] in the U.S. In addition to being a circus performer, he acted in several movies, such as Prehistoric Women.[8] Early on in his career, he often wore a suit and top hat, but with the Ringling brothers he dressed as a stereotypical Viking, sporting a full beard and horned helmet.[4] Billed at 2.64 metres (8 ft 8 in), he initially made US$200 (US$2,050 in 2017) per week when he came to the United States in 1948, but soon gained popularity and became an independent attraction, earning over US$1,000 (US$9,000 in 2017) per week by the mid-1950s.[9]
A prominent member of the Tampa Showmen's Association (TSA) and the International Independent Showmen's Association (IISA), he was involved in their charitable activities. His memory is honoured with personal belongings displayed in the Showmen's Museum of the IISA in Gibsonton, Florida.[citation needed]
After sustaining a fall in Tampa, Florida in 1984, he returned to his birthplace Dalvík, where he died a few months later at the age of 71. He is buried in Dalvík.[3]
References
^Berthelsen, Herman (2002). Skjeggete damer og siamesiske tvillinger: fra tivoli til "Big Brother" (in Norwegian). J.W. Cappelens Forlag. p. 93.
^"The Giant with a Gentle Disposition". The Tampa Tribune. July 13, 1977. p. 43. Retrieved October 14, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abDe Herder, W. W. (2009). Acromegaly and gigantism in the medical literature. Case descriptions in the era before and the early years after the initial publication of Pierre Marie (1886). Pituitary, 12(3), 236–244. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-008-0138-y
^ abNickell, Joe (2005). Secrets of the Sideshows. University Press of Kentucky. p. 91. ISBN9780813123585.
^"Never a Dull Moment, Circus Freak Boss Says". The Akron Beacon Journal. April 21, 1948. p. 9. Retrieved October 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"No Slings When Our Boy Bobid Meets a Giant". The Ottawa Journal. August 25, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved October 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Giant Man, Giant Check". The Tampa Times. April 11, 1975. p. 20. Retrieved October 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
The Tallest Man: Johann Petursson[link appears to be DEAD 8/9/2020]
Tallest man in Iceland
Photo of Johann Petursson
JOHANN PETURSSON – THE VIKING GIANT
January 07, 2023
jóhann, pétursson, this, icelandic, name, last, name, patronymic, family, name, this, person, referred, given, name, jóhann, jóhann, kristinn, pétursson, february, 1913, november, 1984, also, known, icelandic, giant, viking, giant, icelandic, circus, performer. This is an Icelandic name The last name is patronymic not a family name this person is referred to by the given name Johann Johann Kristinn Petursson 9 February 1913 26 November 1984 also known as the Icelandic Giant and the Viking Giant was an Icelandic circus performer and actor who at his peak measured 2 34 metres 7 ft 8 in in height and weighed 163 kilograms 359 lb 1 Johann K PeturssonJohann K Petursson with Kristjan EldjarnBornJohann Kristinn Petursson 1913 02 09 9 February 1913Dalvik IcelandDied26 November 1984 1984 11 26 aged 71 Dalvik IcelandOther namesThe Nordic Giant OlafThe Icelandic GiantThe Viking GiantOccupation s Circus performer actorHeight2 34 m 7 ft 8 in Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life and death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Dalvik Iceland on 9 February 1913 as the third of nine children in his family Johann had a normal development until the age of 15 after which he experienced accelerated growth 2 At the age of 17 he was very strong and reportedly could lift a lorry but had back and joint issues and difficulty walking by age 20 In 1935 he was studied by Knud Krabbe in Copenhagen who recorded his height at 2 205 metres 7 ft 2 8 in and his weight at 135 kilograms 298 lb but doubted that he had acromegaly as his body was proportional and there was no sign of hypogonadism However he had an enlarged sella turcica He was re examined in Leipzig in 1939 measuring at 2 225 metres 7 ft 3 6 in 3 Career EditDue to his physical ailments Johann was unable to find normal employment and instead toured Europe s vaudeville theatres doing so until the outbreak of World War II He was in Copenhagen during the German invasion of Denmark and remained there until the end of the war working in a shipyard In 1948 he was invited to move to the United States by the Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey Circus The tallest Icelandic man on record his home living trailer vehicles furniture and clothing were all custom made 4 During his career he used the stage name der Nordische Riese Olaf the Nordic Giant Olaf in Germany and the Icelandic Giant 5 or the Viking Giant 6 7 in the U S In addition to being a circus performer he acted in several movies such as Prehistoric Women 8 Early on in his career he often wore a suit and top hat but with the Ringling brothers he dressed as a stereotypical Viking sporting a full beard and horned helmet 4 Billed at 2 64 metres 8 ft 8 in he initially made US 200 US 2 050 in 2017 per week when he came to the United States in 1948 but soon gained popularity and became an independent attraction earning over US 1 000 US 9 000 in 2017 per week by the mid 1950s 9 A prominent member of the Tampa Showmen s Association TSA and the International Independent Showmen s Association IISA he was involved in their charitable activities His memory is honoured with personal belongings displayed in the Showmen s Museum of the IISA in Gibsonton Florida citation needed Later life and death EditHe retired in 1963 and moved to Florida He married and had one child of average height He spoke four languages Icelandic Danish German and English 10 In 1981 he was profiled in the documentary film Being Different 11 After sustaining a fall in Tampa Florida in 1984 he returned to his birthplace Dalvik where he died a few months later at the age of 71 He is buried in Dalvik 3 References Edit Berthelsen Herman 2002 Skjeggete damer og siamesiske tvillinger fra tivoli til Big Brother in Norwegian J W Cappelens Forlag p 93 The Giant with a Gentle Disposition The Tampa Tribune July 13 1977 p 43 Retrieved October 14 2017 via Newspapers com a b De Herder W W 2009 Acromegaly and gigantism in the medical literature Case descriptions in the era before and the early years after the initial publication of Pierre Marie 1886 Pituitary 12 3 236 244 http doi org 10 1007 s11102 008 0138 y a b Nickell Joe 2005 Secrets of the Sideshows University Press of Kentucky p 91 ISBN 9780813123585 Never a Dull Moment Circus Freak Boss Says The Akron Beacon Journal April 21 1948 p 9 Retrieved October 16 2017 via Newspapers com No Slings When Our Boy Bobid Meets a Giant The Ottawa Journal August 25 1950 p 3 Retrieved October 15 2017 via Newspapers com Giant Man Giant Check The Tampa Times April 11 1975 p 20 Retrieved October 15 2017 via Newspapers com Raett vid Johann Svarfdaeling arid 1972 Mannix Daniel P 2014 Freaks We Who Are Not As Others eNet Press pp 76 77 Staff writer s 8 December 1984 Johann K Petursson verdur jardsunginn i dag Dagbladid Visir Jay Scott Rasky s freaks turn out to be extraordinary ordinary people The Globe and Mail June 13 1981 External links EditThe Tallest Man Johann Petursson link appears to be DEAD 8 9 2020 Sideshow World gives biographical detail and notes his later American professional career Tallest man in Iceland Photo of Johann Petursson JOHANN PETURSSON THE VIKING GIANT Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johann K Petursson amp oldid 1125377431, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
