"Roots," Boots, and Big Galoots: Eddie Carmel

With so many giants around, it was frequently difficult to tell them apart. The newspapers solved the problem by giving them titles. They dubbed an Irish Giant, an Icelandic Giant, a Cornish Giant and a Arabian Giant. Eddie Carmel, an 8' 9" man from the Bronx, was named "The Jewish Giant," probably because "The New York Giant" would have confused sports fans.

Eddie toured with Ringling Brothers for many years, and was photographed by Diane Arbus. One day he decided to cash in on his fame, so he traveled to Hollywood and auditioned for films. The doors of respectability didn't exactly swing wide open, so he ended up playing the monster in a string of B-movies. He followed these up with records that were also about monsters. Eventually his options grew thin, and he died at the age of thirty-six in a hospital in the Bronx.

It took twelve men to carry him to his grave, and they're still complaining.

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