The Dog-Faced Boy

Jo-Jo, the Dog-Faced Boy

Jo-Jo The Dog-Faced Boy is perhaps one of the most famous of sideshow performers. He was born Fedor Jeftichew in St. Petersburg and toured with his father until the father passed away. He eventually got a contract with Barnum who made him a star.

Barnum’s explained that a hunter in Kostroma, Russia, had tracked Jo-Jo and his father to their cave and captured them.

The father was described as savage and could not be civilized. His promoter made a point of stressing his resemblance to a dog, and explained that when he was upset he would bark and growl. In his show Jo-Jo obliged by barking and growling, apparently quite the showman.

Jo-Jo spoke Russian, German, and English, and toured Europe and the US extensively.