35 facts about hilton sisters

The Hilton Sisters were English-born conjoined twins forced into the entertainment industry by their caregivers.

Daisy and violet hilton how were they joined

Subjected to abusive and exploitive behavior, they toured across Britain and the US before fading into obscurity and dying in the same way they entered the world: together. Daisy and Violet Hilton were born on February 5, in Brighton. Joined at the hip and buttocks, they had the same circulatory system and a fused pelvis, but did not share any major organs.

They were given a few weeks to live, but surpassed expectations. According to reports, the Sussex Medico-Chirurgical Society considered surgically separating them, but there were fears the procedure would kill one or both of them. They were put on exhibition in pubs around Brighton, with Mary charging spectators two pennies to ogle at them and touch the place where they were conjoined.

She also sold postcards with their pictures. Mary was physically and emotionally abusive toward the girls. She also made them spend the majority of their time singing and learning dance routines. She also took full control of their earnings, meaning the twins never saw a penny for their efforts. In , Bob Hope formed the Dancemedians act, with the twins performing a tap-dancing routine.

Their poor treatment continued, with the Meyers holding the twins captive and threatening to institutionalize them if they considered escaping. They were subjected to frequent beatings and forced to constantly practice their routines. While they were largely kept from the public, Daisy and Violet managed to strike up a relationship with magician Harry Houdini , who learned about their situation and urged the twins to emancipate themselves from the Meyers.

When vaudeville declined in popularity, they moved to burlesque venues.