How tall was Robert Wadlow - Page 7

Add a Comment2845 comments

Average Guess (288 Votes)
8ft 11.82in (273.9cm)
Highman said on 28/Apr/09
Anonymous: I should get off Johnny C's case? I just pointed out that using angled pictures is very amatuerish and naive at best. But if we are talking about being respectful, maybe you should ask Johnny C about all the pics he collected from all of us and then created his fantasy pay-per-view site without notifying us? Thats respectful - NOT!
Highman said on 28/Apr/09
Anybody who uses Indian angled photos for measuring is not just being unscientific, but just wrong and silly. Please. What a joke.

Don't you think if he was that height he would have been medically confirmed -- which he wasn't. He is right up there with Ajaz Ahmed who I also thought was tall before I put the marbles back in my head. Fantasyland, huh?? You are insane if you measure angled photos. Remember Russian Markoff and don't forget it!!!!!!!
aram x said on 28/Apr/09
Well there isn't argument over Zhang's height because it has been confirmed without a doubt that he's 7,11 1/2".
Anonymous said on 28/Apr/09
and another thing for you high is you aint bringing nothing to this table. fantasy land is where you make comitments also
Anonymous said on 28/Apr/09
hey highdude get off johnnys case already. we have a respectfull board when you was away
Anonymous said on 28/Apr/09
Highman, have you measured from the picture of Uppal with Reddy? The crucial point is the truth of Reddy's height. The page giving the 5 feet 7 height is devoted to adulation of the man, so I don't think they'd understate his size. I blew up the picture so that Uppal's image was 15 cm high, and Reddy's then came to 10.5 cm, which made Uppal 95.7 inches. If anything Uppal's head is craned forward a little, so he could be a bit more. The page about Reddy is unconnected with the Uppal article, so there can't be a conspiracy!
Highman said on 28/Apr/09
Johnny C: Those pics of UPPAL are even worse. Those men could be all of 5 foot 2 or he could be on a raises step. The best footage we have is the movie with him next to the SUV. He is no where close to 7-11... I think you are in fantasy land. India is always overstating their supposed "record-holders" and Uppal is no exception.
aram x said on 28/Apr/09
upgrading him to 7,7"? well he certainly doesn't look much taller than that--if any taller. he's about the same height as Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, but no more than that.
Johnny C said on 28/Apr/09
7 ft 7 inches (231.14 cm) Leonid Stadnyk Click Here
Johnny C said on 28/Apr/09
Longest-lived giants Click Here
aram x said on 27/Apr/09
Looks like Vikas is another height exaggerator like Stadynk. Vikas definitely isn't anywhere near the height he claims, but according to you guys, from the good visual evidence you have of him, he does to be taller than Stadynk? Broadering the 8 foot mark like Zhang (but probably not as tall)? He's still impressively tall I have to say!
Anonymous said on 27/Apr/09
I wonder if Uppal was measured after he died. Since that picture with Dr Reddy was taken at least six months before his death, in view of his age he might have grown another inch or so in the interim, and hit eight feet.
Johnny C said on 27/Apr/09
Highman: No thank you.
Anonymous said on 27/Apr/09
Humble apologies! I had another go at that picture of Uppal and Reccy, and yes, 7 feet 11 and a bit, it is. Maths was never my strong point.
Johnny C said on 27/Apr/09
7 ft 11.28 inches (242.00 cm) Vikas Uppal, September 2006 Click Here Click Here
Highman said on 25/Apr/09
Mask and Johnny C: Please don't use that angled photo to estimate a thing about Uppal. If anything the film of Uppal next to a car might be the best way to photo measure him. Thats the problem with India being so record crazed as they are....they are also prone to a bit of BS.

Again, Zhang is the real deal. Great guy, seemingly, too. Classy for him to meet up with that poor dying lady.
Poker Portal said on 25/Apr/09
Mask: I estimate Vikas Uppal's height between 7'10" and 7'11".
C.J. Phillips said on 25/Apr/09
What a great forum. Just stumbled upon it. Involved in the world of hoops for 40 years the world of height is presented on centre stage. Be it as a former player, coach, organizer, fan and journalist I have had the opportunity to meet Manute bol, 7-foot-7; Gheorghe Mureşan and Shawn Bradley 7-foot-6. What amazes me about their height is not their height but the size of their hands! Some even have an extra joint in their fingers.
mask said on 24/Apr/09
The tallest man in Saudi Arabia:
Click Here
Anonymous said on 24/Apr/09
If Dr Reddy is definitely 5 feet 7, then Uppal is no more than 7 feet 6, though at a glance 8 feet seems plausible. Can't see how you get 7 ft 11, Johnny.
JT, have you any details about Assen (or is it Asen?)Ivanov Giorgiev? I've never heard of him.
Bull Stroud said on 24/Apr/09
Click Here
Welsh Wrestler Orig Williams aka El Bandido took on some giant some forty odd years ago. Any clues who. ???
Big Guy said on 24/Apr/09
A long time back I posted info about Vikas and I felt then he an 8 footer. I got a lot of flack but I still believe he was an 8 footer or very very close. It is a shame there is no measurement of him that I am aware of.
a real shame there is no measuremnt fo him that I am aware of
aram x said on 23/Apr/09
Sun Ming Ming is every bit as tall as Bao Xishun imo. 7,8 3/4" and possibility a little over 7 foot 9 if his 7,8 3/4" wasn't measured during his daily peak.
Johnny C said on 23/Apr/09
Pictured here with Vikas Uppal is Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy Click Here
The following profile credits Dr. Reddy with a height of 5 ft 7 inches (170.18 cm) Click Here
Accordingly, I estimate Uppal stood 7 ft 11.28 inches (242.00 cm).
mask said on 23/Apr/09
Yo guys look at this:
Click Here(scroll down a bit)
Click Here
I just wanted to ask everybody what you think about Vikas Uppal real height because I'm still not convinced on it. Sometimes he looks over 8 feet sometimes he looks under but always around that mark according to me. I know the man with him in the pic I posted is listed at 5'7" and for Vikas indian media claimed 8'2.5",8'3",8'4",8'5" and 8'9". Now I also posted a pic of Bao next to his wife (who must be about 5'7" on heels in that photo) to see how a 5'7" person looks like next to a 7'9" person. After watching these two pictures I think Vikas may very well have been taller than Bao but maybe not quite 8 feet. There are also some people who are guessing for him a height of 7'10" and I think it could be close to the truth. I'd like very much to know your point of view on that question. Thank you.
JT said on 23/Apr/09
Click Here Assen Ivanov Giorgiev
ssx said on 22/Apr/09
I wonder if Zhang is at 8' tall by now??? All these others claiming the title of Worlds tallest, while Zhang who obviously is the tallest doesn't get enough attention.
Highman said on 22/Apr/09
I love Zhang...what a class act. Always dresses nice...seems reserved yet quietly confident...doesn't make any press and he truly looks tall. If Lang is 8 foot than Zhang is 8-2++. What a great giant he is.

BTW...Florida has historically been winter home to circus and Carnival performers...so guys like Jack Earle, Al Tomani would live down there half the year.
Anonymous said on 22/Apr/09
Thanks for the translations, Mask. I must get organised in that respect. The accident illustrates the everyday hazards of being a giant. Yao Defen must weigh a lot, and she'd fall heavily. The pictures are charming, and she seems to be trying to raise a smile in one of them.
The Tomaini items are interesting, though it's irritating the way the media always repeat the "official" professional height claims.
Johnny C said on 22/Apr/09
I assumed from mask's "Very bad news" comment, linking us to two Chinese TV broadcasts, that Yao Defen has died. I'm relieved that I misunderstood.
mask said on 22/Apr/09
Click Here
mask said on 22/Apr/09
Solidarity:
Click Here
Anonymous I don't understand Chinese anyway I have a program to translate from Chinese to English and so I can say to you that the conditions of Yao Defen are stable and she is beginning to eat as before receiving treatments. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and she must be constantly monitored by doctors who said that she will come back to normal life as soon as possible. As for now that's all folks!
Anonymous said on 21/Apr/09
Mask, I assume you understand Chinese. Can you give the rest of us some help, by stating the gist of the news on these Chinese clips. Presumably Yao Defen is seriously ill.
Andrew M said on 21/Apr/09
Click Here
mask said on 21/Apr/09
Very bad news:
Click Here
Click Here
Old Colonial said on 21/Apr/09
During the 30's there was a british woman called Jenny Langdon, she was another
so called eight footer. I think she either lived at or had a connection to Birkenhead. She was I believe 6 feet 10.
Anonymous said on 21/Apr/09
Don't know if you guys know this, but there is a great FREE software program called FlashLynx which enables you to download YouTube videos!
Overlander said on 21/Apr/09
There was a great tall Sheila in Oz during the fifties called Dorothy Hunter.
She was supposedly eight feet high, though I would say was about four inches
taller than a fellow I knew, who we called Treetops and he was six eight.
andrew the giant said on 20/Apr/09
Big Show - That's the scene! I can't confirm it's him, but his face looks similar to the pictures we've seen of him leaving the hospital. Yeah, he definitely doesn't look 8 feet, but I still think it's him.
Akirum said on 20/Apr/09
All the photos I have seen of Zhao certainly indicate he is in the neighborhood of 8 feet. However, photos are not good enough. We need Guinness to confirm his height.
Big Show said on 20/Apr/09
Johnny C says on 20/Apr/09
andrew the giant: Several of us here have tried, but failed, to find the Satyricon footage of Suleiman Ali Nashsush to which you refer. Are you able to post a link or create image webpages?

Andrew the Giant (is that a reference to Andre the Giant) is probably referring to this scene: Click Here
That was one of the scenes of which I initially thought that it could be Suleiman, but then I was thinking, he doesn't look anywhere near 8 foot so it couldn't be him.

But now I'm looking at the scene again, the guy clearly has acromegalic features and indeed one of the worst cases of kyphosis that I have ever seen. At first I thought it was all fake, but if this is truly Suleiman Ali Nashnush, the years haven't been kind to him. He was only 26 years old when this movie was made.
Johnny C said on 20/Apr/09
At 6 ft 0 inches, I'd look like a giant were I standing alongside the tiny nurse selected to feature in the recent photographs of Zhao Liang. This optical illusion's as old as photography itself, and its effectiveness even fooled Guinness in the case of Stadnyk and his short mother.

andrew the giant: Several of us here have tried, but failed, to find the Satyricon footage of Suleiman Ali Nashsush to which you refer. Are you able to post a link or create image webpages?

Anonymous: It drives me nuts trying to work out the correct names of the various "Anonymous" people here :)

Editor Rob notes that a problem with one or more link URLs prevented the normal "Click Here" hyperlink facility in my entire previous posting.
chris said on 20/Apr/09
can someone please save and post the itv special "Superhuman - World's Tallest Children" for those of us outside the UK to view... it's available for viewing for another 2 weeks on itv.com, but only to UK residents.
Boxerwhiteray said on 20/Apr/09
SORRY. It appears that I made a mistake regarding the height of Zhao Liang.
I got the impression from one of the articles published recently- that they were waiting for GBR to verify his height.

I agree- the listing Johnny has produced with some individuals of exaggerated height was spot on. The 1966 and 1967 editions of GBR published a Table of Giants of exaggerated heights. The 1968 edition listed heights of Tallest Giants representing several countries.

Circus Giants and others who exhibited themselves have traditionally been billed at heights in excess of the truth. This practice still continues.
Anonymous said on 20/Apr/09
It drives me nuts trying to work out the correct names for Chinese. For example, one article on Zhao Liang refers to him throughout as Mr Zhao, so that's presumably his surname, and we should call him Liang Zhao. But how about Bao Xi-Shin?
Conal Cochrane said on 20/Apr/09
Zhao Liang must be well over seven feet-but not quite an eight footer.

That list of exagerrated heights by Johnny C was excellent. Some editions of
Guinness in the late sixties published similar. There was an edition in the early eighties that did also. I wish they would revert to their old format, which featured several pages of tallest people. Oh for the old days.
Anonymous said on 20/Apr/09
That's an excellent listing, Johnny. Once upon a time, Guinness used to publish lists like that, but now they mention merely the current World's Tallest, and we can't even rely on that. Of course some on your list, like Ted Evans and Albert Kramer, were claimed to be 9 footers, never mind 8!
Johnny C said on 20/Apr/09
Every couple of months there will appear in the news somewhere in the world an announcement of the discovery of a new "8-footer" or a new "world's tallest man", normally in China, Pakistan or India (and we're all familiar with the 2007 Ukraine case).

7 ft 3 inches (220.98 cm) Dharmendra Singh (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090319/dplus.htm#2) and 7 ft 4.58 inches (225.00 cm) Zhao Liang (http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=16153014) are the latest cases in this centuries-old tradition of sensationalism.
Little analysis of photographic evidence is required in order to dismiss these particular claims:
Singh http://www.4to40.com/newsat4/index.asp?id=760
Liang http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30268387#30268387

Aside from Singh, Liang and Stadnyk, in recent years the world's media have declared numerous giants "world's tallest man", whose claimed heights we may dismiss with an objective study of photographic evidence:
Sultan K
ssx said on 19/Apr/09
Here we go again...Zhao looks no taller than Stadnyk and certainly looks a few inches shorter than Yao Defen. I'd guess somewhere in the 7'4"-7'6" range.
chris said on 19/Apr/09
maybe he's not 8 ft 1, or maybe he is...but I'm sure nobody can doubt that in each and every photo he appears markedly taller than our buddy Leonid, no?
Rob C said on 19/Apr/09
I read that Zhao Liang was measured at 2,25 m tall in a Japanese TV show in August 2007. I don't think he grew another 21 centimeters in less than two years unless he suffers from gigantism.
Anonymous said on 19/Apr/09
We must be very cautious about the claim for Liang Zhao. It is said he was measured by physicians at the hospital. Well, remember that agency photo of Sa'id Mohammad Ghazi, with the text saying hospital physicians had measured him at 9 feet 8? I don't suggest the doctors were lying, but would suggest the agency reporter got his story from someone like a part-time nursing assistant or even a janitor, who gave an exaggerated story to earn a good tip. That was in 1941, but i doubt if things have changed verey much. It is urgent that Zhao should be contacted by Guinness.
mytg8 said on 19/Apr/09
Regarding Yao Defen, maybe someone could get in touch with the other Yao--Ming, the b-ball player. With all his millions, surely he could help a country-woman out.
andrew the giant said on 18/Apr/09
Suleiman Ali Nashsush - I just watched Felleni's Satyricon and saw the scene with Nashnush. It occurs around 1 hour 35 minutes. Nashnush hands the main character armour and says something to him (although the subtitles don't pick it up). The entire scene is about 15 seconds long. Nashnush clearly has terrible spinal curvature and acromegalic features. The camera angles don't do him justice, however in a close up shot next to the main character, Nashnush's head is considerably larger! Check it out!
Rob C said on 18/Apr/09
I thought that Zhao Liang was measured at 2,25 meters tall in 2007 in a Japanese program.
mask said on 18/Apr/09
Click Here
mask said on 18/Apr/09
Good Poker Portal! On katsu site he says that Zhao Liang was measured a couple of years ago on a tv show and found to be "only" 225 cm or 7'4.5". At that time he was claiming a height of 240 cm or 7'10.5" but noe they say he stands just under 8'1" or 246 cm:
Click Here
I don't know what to think now!
PianoGrande said on 18/Apr/09
Video of Zhao Liang the new world's tallest man at 8 foot 1in. he makes Shun like a dwarf !
Click Here
PianoGrande said on 18/Apr/09
Another great photo of Zhao Liang 8 foot 1in The new world's tallest man and by far the most impressive !
Click Here
PianoGrande said on 18/Apr/09
I'm guessing people have seen this picture of the new tallest man in the world ? 8 foot 1in Liang !!!
Click Here
Boxerwhiteray said on 18/Apr/09
Zhao Again
Click Here
Boxerwhiteray said on 18/Apr/09
Click Here
I thought everyone would have been buzzing about this. Possibly world's tallest Man. Zhao Liang 8 ft 0.7
xei said on 17/Apr/09
Click Here
Click Here
Poker Portal said on 17/Apr/09
Click Here
Anonymous said on 17/Apr/09
Another interesting link from Mask. Other web pages give Singh's height as only 7 feet 3. However, as he says, exhibiting himself is the only way he can make a reasonable living, so you can't blame him for exaggerating a bit - well, a lot!
Chaz said on 17/Apr/09
I have just seen,the 2007 documentary with Sturgess again and if you look.is girlfriend measures him at just over 7'7''but he has got trainers on,and it is early in the day,so I dout he was over 7'6''then.but if he is Acromegalic you would have fort he would have had treatment by now,and stoped growing.
mask said on 16/Apr/09
Click Here
Rita said on 16/Apr/09
I have a great Shaq-Sandy Allen story. A couple of years ago, when Shaq played for the Heat, Sandy was at a Heat-Indiana Pacers game. She loved the Pacers and was their adopted mascot -- they'd wave at each other during the games. Anyway, Shaq noticed her and came over to talk, and ended up signing both of her size 22 tennis shoes. A couple of weeks later, he sent her a dozen of his size 23 shoes (which actually fit her better), a leather jacket with his name on it, 2 warm-up suits and some other stuff. She was so thrilled! When she needed money (which was always), I put one of the shoes on eBay and it sold for $500! I have the other one and display it in my book talks. Shaq was a real hero to Sandy even if he did play for the Heat!
mask said on 16/Apr/09
Dib bin Fahd al-Mutairi 7'0" the tallest man in Saudi Arabia:
Click Here
said on 16/Apr/09
Calvin Lane is 7'6" (229 cm) whoa! and I though Shaq, Khali and Big Show were giants! (they still are to me)
Anonymous said on 14/Apr/09
Remember that picture of the Red Indian (er - Native american), Chief Touch-the- Clouds? I've been looking at some vintage pictures of Indian chiefs online, and the long feathers in the head-dress are about the length of a man's face from chin to forehead. This makes Touch-the-Clouds about five feet ten!
Beowulf said on 13/Apr/09
aram X

Yes I am aware of that possibility, but there is a head shot of Sturgess on the college website (blezard?) showing him with a pronounced chin, which from memory was not there in the 2007 documentary.
aram x said on 12/Apr/09
Beowulf says on 11/Apr/09
The programme said 7 4.5 and that extra inch this last year. I had previously posted a while back that Sturgess is now claimimg 7 8 via his new Florida college.
Sounds like he's exaggerating his height (which he most certainly is). Extremely tall often exaggerate their height for I suppose, more attention.
mask said on 12/Apr/09
Happy Easter everybody tall shorts and average!
mask said on 11/Apr/09
Click Here
mask said on 11/Apr/09
Mari Doartes:
Click Here
mask said on 11/Apr/09
Click Here
Beowulf said on 11/Apr/09
The programme said 7 4.5 and that extra inch this last year. I had previously posted a while back that Sturgess is now claimimg 7 8 via his new Florida college.
SomePerson said on 10/Apr/09
it says that if you're not living in the UK, you can't see it.
chris said on 10/Apr/09
mask - thanks, but the page loads but nothing happens. the "play" is grey, can't click.
mask said on 10/Apr/09
Click Here
SomePerson said on 9/Apr/09
Isn't Brenden Adams 7'3? He stopped growing after they injected Testosterone in him, and he hasn't grown since.
Johnny C said on 9/Apr/09
chris: The same question is being asked elsewhere on the 'net, and I'll oblige here with a link when a solution is found.
chris said on 9/Apr/09
Johnny C - video not available for view anywhere but UK....can you download and post somewhere else?
mike said on 9/Apr/09
Brenden Adams is 7'4 1/2 at 13, Paul Sturgess is 7'7 also.
It would be scary to be over 7'0, I am tall myself at 6'3- 190 cm but to be 6'10 to 7'8 is just scary, ducking under doorways, etc its huge.
Johnny C said on 9/Apr/09
World's tallest children: 7 ft 4.5 inches Brenden Adams, 6 ft 10 inches Mari Doartes, 6 ft 9.5 inches Marvadene Anderson Click Here
Big Show said on 9/Apr/09
xei says on 8/Apr/09
It seems that 2 years after his admission to the hospital in Shanghai, is still living with her mother, in great poverty and poor diet. She is taking medication because of epilepsy due to previous medical interventions, with bowel problems, and problems in his ankle.
Be the world's tallest woman, does not generate any benefits? Why the Chinese government does not deal with her, even if it is a pride for them? No international society that can do that?. The Guinness world record has TV programs in all countries of the world, can
mytg8 said on 9/Apr/09
I think it's shameful behavior by the Chinese government. Zhang struts around in his tailored 3 piece suits, gets TV time with his wife, etc, etc. while Yao has to make do in her mother's one room dwelling in basically squalor. It seems to me that they do nothing about a very sick woman, yet she courageously carries on.
chris said on 8/Apr/09
Someone from the UK, please download and post this programme in it's entirety.... it was on ITV at 9 PM last night, and probably will be repeated, but it's posted on their website WORLD'S TALLEST CHILDREN
here's the link...I can't view it because I'm not in the UK and only UK IP addresses will be let view

Click Here
SomePerson said on 8/Apr/09
That's one of the reasons why i don't like Guiness. They never found her, took time to measure her, or to get better health.
Anonymous said on 8/Apr/09
xei - I suspect that the Chinese government would be angry at any international attempt to intervene on her behalf. I fear she won't be with us for much longer.
xei said on 8/Apr/09
A photo of Yao Defen in an article dated possibly 16/09/2008.It
mask said on 7/Apr/09
Johnny C says on 4/Apr/09
mask: What does this mean, "for those who couldn't see them try to search for "John Rankin" the 7'4" black boxer there are also 2 pix of him!"?

I meant that some people maybe don't have free access to your website and then I gave them the address of the website where they can see the pix of John Rankin because the pix you have are from "pro.corbis.com" website and protected by copyright! Did I do something wrong? If so forgive me! If I can say seriously "I" didn't understand what you mean!? Let me know maybe it's just a misunderstanding!
xei said on 6/Apr/09
ring ayuel article: Ohlone Renegades Men's Basketball
Click Here
He has a 6
Indrid Cold said on 5/Apr/09
Rita's postings are good. This Lady is very knowledgeable and she was a good friend of Sandy Allen. I cannot imagine why they should be missed out. Lets hear more from her.

Editor Rob
I am on holiday in NY so a lot of posts I haven't caught up on to moderate unfortunately...
Anon said on 4/Apr/09
Why do Rita's comments not always make it onto the board. Why do mine not always get through either. Sometimes you can spend ages typing, all for nothing.
If the content was controversial thats ok, if not it should be posted. THANK YOU.
Hoom said on 4/Apr/09
The article on Haystacks having giant relatives was only a yarn, as Boxer states.

Haystacks billed at 6 ft 11 was at best 6 ft 8.
The original Haystacks was Haystacks Calhoun, an American wrestler.
The British Haystacks was at one time billed as Haystacks Galhoun, the C was changed to a G. He was also billed as Haystacks Culloon. Later on and only briefly, he was The Mighty Haystacks. Then came his best known moniker Giant
Haystacks. In the United States he was billed as The Loch Ness Monster.
Johnny C said on 4/Apr/09
mask: What does this mean, "for those who couldn't see them try to search for "John Rankin" the 7'4" black boxer there are also 2 pix of him!"?
Boxerwhiteray said on 3/Apr/09
Anonymous
The Zeng Jinlian article said Great Grand Uncle and not Great Grandfather-I stand corrected. It would be interesting to know-who he was -assuming the height was right. As far as Chang is concerned-can never be sure if he had a taller sister or whether it was just part of the sideshow spiel.

Ghost/Big Show
Many giants did indeed have relatives that were as tall-nearly as tall and now and then maybe taller. Elizabeth Dimond -6 ft and 200 pounds, who was the mother of the Norfolk Giant Robert Hales made claim to having an ancestor who was near 8 ft. This man was supposedly a Yeoman at the Tower of London.
Also Angus MacAskill supposedly had a Grandfather also called Angus, who was also a giant. Though I have no record of his dimensions.

In some cases - giant relatives have only been fabricated. There was a story that Giant Haystacks had Giant brothers and a 7 ft 4 Grandfather. Sometimes it is only to add to the mystique.
Nippu said on 3/Apr/09
Not yet. But i´ve been extreme busy lately. Hopefully i find something soon...one photo would be enough for start. Right?
Anonymous said on 3/Apr/09
Go to
Click Here
and find "Joseph Dusorc". There is a fascinating story about Dusorc, who was really a reinvented Henri Cot! The Quasi-Modo site does list them as the same person, but it was news to me. The page can be translated into the usual weird Google English.
mask said on 2/Apr/09
Hi guys:
Click Here
Search for:
"tallest man"
"giant man"
"circus giant"
then look at all the pages there are some interesting pix
for those who couldn't see them try to search for "John Rankin" the 7'4" black boxer there are also 2 pix of him!
Johann K said on 2/Apr/09
Nippu, any progress with photos of Reino Rutanen :-)? I've been doing some research, but with light results...
Rita said on 2/Apr/09
I wonder why my non-controversial comments don't always make it onto the forum?
Anonymous said on 2/Apr/09
As I pointed out, the supposed giant was Jinlian's great-uncle, not her great grandfather. This is not a mere quibble because, don't forget, it depends what sort of great-uncle he was. If someone married your great-aunt, he'd be your great-uncle, but he wouldn't be a blood relative, and you wouldn't have any of his genes.
mytg8 said on 1/Apr/09
In most places I have read that Mills Darden was 'around' 7-6. I have a feeling that in reality it was less, maybe a lot less. In many cases in legend, height is exaggerated--Charlemagne was supposedly 9 foot tall for example.

His weight was probably accurate. And he may have been very tall, say 7 feet or so, since reportedly the doorways in his house were 8 feet high.
Boxerwhiteray said on 1/Apr/09
Anonymous
You are right-It does say Great Grand Uncle and not Great Grandfather. The reference to Chang having a taller sister may just be a fabrication-though we cannot be sure.

Ghost/Big Show
Several giants/giantesses have claimed to have ancestors taller than themselves-or if not taller, still exceptionally tall. Angus MacAskill reputedly had a Grandfather who was a giant- though I do not have any record of his dimensions.

The Norfolk giant Robert Hales was supposed to have relatives called Laskey-Mary and Anne. These women were supposedly over 7 feet -however Hales had several sisters- Mary who was 7 ft 2 and Anne 6ft 9 according to the Annals of Norfok. I have thought that The Laskeys and The Hales sisters may have been one and the same. Robert Hales's mother Elizabeth Dimond was 6 ft and 200 pounds-she claimed to have an ancestor who was a Yeoman at the Tower of London who was almost 8 feet.
Rita said on 31/Mar/09
Mask:
Interesting clip on the Missouri giant's hand. Sandy Allen's hand measures 10.5 inches from tip of middle finger to wrist -- I use an outline of her hand in my display when I do my book talks. Kids and adults like to compare their hands to Sandy's. Even tho she was acromegalic, her hands were in proportion to her size.
Ghost said on 31/Mar/09
Big Show says on 31/Mar/09
Boxerwhiteray says on 31/Mar/09
Click Here
Mask
The reference you make (please read carefully) at the bottom. According to this Zeng Jinlian had a Great Grandfather of 7 ft 7-it would be interesting to find out who he was. Also the famous Chinese giant Chang -claimed to have a sister taller than himself. It would be excellent to find out more about these individuals and others who still allude us. Also I still live in hope that a photo of Ginny Bunford and other enigmatic giants and giantesses -alive in the photographic age will yet come to light.

I've always thought that Acromegaly/Gigantism is not a genetic disease, meaning you don't inherit it from someone else in your family. Yet if I look back in history there are several giants that claim to have had even taller ancestors. Like Johan Aassen, Andre the Giant, Manute Bol, etc. Could these stories have any truth in them, or were they just made up to create a more juicy story?


It may be that some of these past giants or the PR people prefer to have people think their height is genetic rather than them having a decease. It adds to the mystique.
Big Show said on 31/Mar/09
Boxerwhiteray says on 31/Mar/09
Click Here
Mask
The reference you make (please read carefully) at the bottom. According to this Zeng Jinlian had a Great Grandfather of 7 ft 7-it would be interesting to find out who he was. Also the famous Chinese giant Chang -claimed to have a sister taller than himself. It would be excellent to find out more about these individuals and others who still allude us. Also I still live in hope that a photo of Ginny Bunford and other enigmatic giants and giantesses -alive in the photographic age will yet come to light.

I've always thought that Acromegaly/Gigantism is not a genetic disease, meaning you don't inherit it from someone else in your family. Yet if I look back in history there are several giants that claim to have had even taller ancestors. Like Johan Aassen, Andre the Giant, Manute Bol, etc. Could these stories have any truth in them, or were they just made up to create a more juicy story?
Anonymous said on 31/Mar/09
Hey, Boxer, you didn't read it carefully yourself - it says great grand uncle, not great grandfather! I'm always suspicious of these claims by giants that they had giant ancestors. I suspect they say it because it's what people like to hear. It's extremely unlikely that Chang had a taller sister, surely.
Conal Cochrane said on 31/Mar/09
Boxer: Ruth Duncan, another good find.
Click Here
Boxerwhiteray said on 31/Mar/09
Click Here
Mask
The reference you make (please read carefully) at the bottom. According to this Zeng Jinlian had a Great Grandfather of 7 ft 7-it would be interesting to find out who he was. Also the famous Chinese giant Chang -claimed to have a sister taller than himself. It would be excellent to find out more about these individuals and others who still allude us. Also I still live in hope that a photo of Ginny Bunford and other enigmatic giants and giantesses -alive in the photographic age will yet come to light.
Anonymous said on 30/Mar/09
Johnny, that would be true if the sun were directly overhead, maybe. But there's shadow underneath his gut bulging over his belt, then there's a band of brightly lit trousers, then that shadow, which looks as if the sun's coming from behind the camera, but not too high in the sky, and shining over treetops, whose shadow it is. This suggests the image of Darden is pasted in. However I wouldn't bet on it - it's just a suggection.
Johnny C said on 30/Mar/09
Although I can't confirm the authenticity of the Mills Darden photograph, I would suggest the legs of such an overweight person would forever be in a shadow cast by his tremendous torso.
Arj said on 30/Mar/09
Mask:

You are truly the boss of the internet.
Nippu said on 30/Mar/09
Click Here

Scroll down....
Michael S said on 29/Mar/09
Anonymous points out, correctly, that Darden is always said to have been acromegalic. Has anyone found evidence that he was, in fact, acromegalic?

I hope this really is Mills Darden; I've always thought of a picture of him as being the Holy Grail of giant pictures, and one even more desired than a photo of Ginny Bunford.
mask said on 29/Mar/09
Click Here
mask said on 29/Mar/09
Click Here
Click Here(read very carefully especially the last part)
Ghost said on 29/Mar/09
He could still be acromegalic, atleast his cheeckbones look huge.

If this really is Mills Darden, it's pretty amazing.

Does anyone know where Johnny C got this pic from?
Anonymous said on 29/Mar/09
Ghost, I think there is something suspicious about the photo. Darden is always said to have been acromegalic, but although it's hard to tell in the bluury picture, he doesn't look it here. Also, where is that dark shadow on his legs coming from? There is no such shadow on the seated men.
Ghost said on 29/Mar/09
Is the Mills Darden pic for real?!
JT said on 29/Mar/09
I agree Big Show, though I'm not sure Darden was 7'6", given how long ago he lived. Giant Gonzalez is around 400 lbs. Click Here Even so, if Darden really was 7'6", he'd pretty much hold the title of the world's largest human being (based on a combo of height and weight).
ssx said on 29/Mar/09
I agree mask, I think it is a fake. Seen Bret Sorensen listed at 8'2" elsewhere and think if someone who was that tall, healthy and pretty was around it would be all over the news.
SomePerson said on 28/Mar/09
Rita: No one knows where Yao Defen really is. Some reports say that she died. People have emailed Discovery (or whatever channel the documentary was on) and they say what seems like a dumb excuse for not telling what really happened to her.
mask said on 28/Mar/09
I think it could be a fake what do you say guys!?
Click Here
Big Show said on 28/Mar/09
Click Here

I found this picture of Mills Darden on Johnny C website (so credit to him). I can see a 7'6 man, even though the pic is a nice piece of photographic illusion as Mills is standing much closer to the camera as the other people in the picture who are standing. Mills looks to be standing in the front row next to the seated people.
I can't really see a 1,000+ lbs man there though.
Anonymous said on 28/Mar/09
Mask, I thought I posted a message saying that was Van Albert, but maybe I did the wrong click or something. I'm 99% certain that is Van Albert and his wife, and this makes it the latest photo of him to turn up. He was born in 1897, so was one of the longest lived of the larger giants. He seems not to have been acromegalic, and so avoided the usual problems. The 1975 US edition of Guinness gives only his date of birth, so he may still have been alive then, at 78!
Boxerwhiteray said on 28/Mar/09
During the last week-I have been going through some of the stuff I collected
over the years of Giants/Giantesses/Tall People. Just the other day I found a reference to Ruth Duncan "The Magnificent Giantess" amongst other items. Okay she was not the tallest ever-but what a coincidence-I am a fan of the old time
Sideshow and have also just found this pic from 1908.
Click Here
mask said on 28/Mar/09
Highman I guess he is the dutch giant Johan Albert Kramer aka Jan van Albert who stood nearly 8 feet tall!
Highman said on 27/Mar/09
Who is that last guy on Page 3 dubbed "Tallest Man in the world 1964" ???

Nice pic of Gabrielle Mojaive (sp)
Michael S said on 27/Mar/09
I'm fairly certain it was Don Koehler. He drove a car with the front seat removed.
mask said on 27/Mar/09
Click Here
Click Here
Anonymous said on 27/Mar/09
Mask, you're still the best! The final picture on those 3 pages, labelled simply "The World's tallest man, 1964" is the latest photo yet of Jan Van Albert (Johann Kramer), shown here with his wife. He was born in 1897, so was undoubtedly one of the longest lived of the near-8-footers. A great find.
mytg8 said on 27/Mar/09
re:Artis Gilmore. It could have been Don Koehler he met. He was 8-2 and white. Gilmore played for the Chicago Bulls and Koehler lived in Chicago.
mask said on 27/Mar/09
Interesting pix:
Click Here(look all 3 pages)
medd salvage XX said on 27/Mar/09
Largest man ever: Wijerd Jelckama. The guy was a 7 feet tall freedom fighter who got captured and decapitated by the Saxon authorities in the 16th century. His neck was so thick they could not properly behead him. He was "huge" and his remains are on display in Wonseraadel and Snits.
Anonymous said on 26/Mar/09
You notice that Gilmore readily believes one of the giants was 8' 2". Without even knowing who it was, we can make a good bet he wasn't that tall. The general public (which includes Gilmore in the context)falls easily for exaggerated claims.
Boxerwhiteray said on 26/Mar/09
Hu Chung Rhang(1961-1979) was another Chinese Giantess at a reputed height of
7ft7.5 and if that height was correct would have been slightly taller than Sandy Allen. Her shoe size at 13 years of age was size 14-though I am not certain if this was British or American sizing. She weighed about 250 pounds at seventeen years of age and think she gained about another 50 pounds before her death. Little seems to be known of this obscure individual and a photo of her-if one exists would be handy.
Poker Portal said on 26/Mar/09
I just wondered who the 2 giants were that he's met, one at the Florida State Fair and the other one driving the car from the backseat. Could the latter be Don Koehler?
mask said on 25/Mar/09
Interesting:
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Rita said on 25/Mar/09
Joe257: You can make those comments here. It started out as a Wadlow page back before I joined, but has morphed into an all-giants page, which is great.

As for the pix Mask posted, that IS Zeng, not Yao Defen. Zeng was the one who broke Sandy Allen's record in the 1982 Guinness Book, but she died at age 17 that year. Then Sandy went on till 2009 (she died after the deadline for this year's book), so she was in the book since 1976 minus that one year. Hopefully, Yao Defen will get in the 2010 book. Any updates on her?
aram x said on 25/Mar/09
Yeah, Igor has been measured at 7,8" (although I am not sure what time of the day that was maybe it's an average throughout the day). Then again, Igor's mom is relatively short (I am guessing she is about the same height as Stadnik's mom because Igor towers over her by the same amount that Stadnik towers over his mom).
Anonymous said on 24/Mar/09
Joe257 - congratulations, you are about the tenth person to come here and say that. The board is for discussion of giants in general, including Wadlow, but don't forget, it's not easy to say anything original about him at this point in history.
Big Show said on 24/Mar/09
Mask I think you're right! That must mean that Zeng Jinlian spinal curvature happened in the course of maybe 1-2 years (seeing as those two kids haven't grown that much).
Chaz said on 24/Mar/09
Zeng Jinlian,was never measured at 8'1.75''that was an estemate from a standing height of 7'7.75''because of spinal curvature.
Joe257 said on 24/Mar/09
I like how this whole page has absolutely nothing to do with Robert Wadlow. Where is Wadlow's real page at? I wanted to make some comments about him...
Big Show said on 23/Mar/09
mask says on 23/Mar/09
A rare pic of Zeng Jinlian the tallest woman listed at 8'2" by Guinness although she doesn't look that height in this pic (maybe it was taken in early 80's or late 70's)

That's Yao Defen (the guy standing left to her is her brother). Zeng Jinlian had severe curvature of the spine and couldn't stand up straight so it couldn't be here.

Btw, welcome back Mask!
Beowulf said on 23/Mar/09
Caught sight of new bio of Andre the Giant in my branch of waterstones, must be new as not seen it before, not a terribly thick volume.

BTW,nice to hear from you Mask.
aram x said on 22/Mar/09
A random comment about Wadlow, but I suppose he probably has the largest head of any human being ever?
aram x said on 22/Mar/09
imo, Cliff Thompson's height is highly exaggerated. Like in the pic where he's in the posing in the middle of a crowd. He 'magically' seems taller in that one than most of the other pics he's in because you can't see his feet (hmmmmh I wonder why?). He's probably only 7 foot something rather than a legit 8 footer.
Poker Portal said on 22/Mar/09
Click Here
Poker Portal said on 22/Mar/09
Click Here
Poker Portal said on 22/Mar/09
Welcome back Mask!
ssx said on 21/Mar/09
Well if photos of Grady Patterson have been found, anything is possible. John F. Carroll is another person who more photos should be available of.
Anonymous said on 21/Mar/09
I think it's very optimistic to expect photos of Bunford to turn up. Some people - my mother was one - simply don't like being photographed, even for family snapshots. Jane Bunford may have had this foible, and by the time she was a real giant, and the pituitary was kicking in, her doubtless altered facial features would have made her even less keen on photos. I know, it's guesswork, but there must be a reason why no pictures have been found. Very likely there never were any!
mask said on 21/Mar/09
Johnny C forgive me: is that photo of Mills Darden true or not? If so how did you find it? You can answer to me also by e-mail!
ssx said on 21/Mar/09
Welcome back mask!!! I also hope someone can come up with a photo of Ginny Bunford.
Johnny C said on 20/Mar/09
mask: Welcome back.
mask said on 20/Mar/09
Yes guys it's me after thinking a lot over the question I decided to come back because I miss you very much so thank you and let's keep moving forward!
mask said on 19/Mar/09
Click Here
Master Markie said on 19/Mar/09
Thanks to Anonymous and Duster

The Australian Gentleman might well have been Clive Darril. I looked at that
museum site.

Not sure if Dorothy Hunt or Hunter was the giantess. May have been.
mask said on 19/Mar/09
Click Here
Sanchez said on 19/Mar/09
I hope thats you Mask, if it is welcome back
mask said on 19/Mar/09
Click Here
Duster said on 19/Mar/09
Master Markie, I came across a woman in Australia, she was the tallest that I ever clapped eyes on. She was called Dorothy Hunt or maybe Hunter. Now she lived out in the sticks, though was known to visit Melborne an odd time. Wonder if
this was who you meant. I am six feet tall and had to look a long way up. I mean a long way up, oh man this lady was tall.
Conal Cochrane said on 18/Mar/09
Boxer
Excellent find regarding photograph of Gertrude Hall. I would venture that 7'1
would be closer to the truth than 8'1 however. Still, an intereting discovery.
It does give us hope that there may yet be a chance for a photograph of Ginny
Bunford or some other obscure individuals to surface yet.
Anonymous said on 18/Mar/09
Alex, you must be new here. The forum has always been used for a general discussion of giants, and was intended to be so by the man who started it.
Mask, is it really you? If so, welcome back!
Boxerwhiteray said on 18/Mar/09
Anonymous
The woman pictured with Gertrude Hall may not be that tall. Gertrude Hall is certainly not 8 ft 1 either. Though the photograph is an interesting find for those interested in giantesses of yesteryear.
mask said on 18/Mar/09
Click Here
Alex said on 18/Mar/09
I like how this whole page has absolutely nothing to do with Robert Wadlow.
Anonymous said on 17/Mar/09
Boxer, you know what would be quite useful? A table showing the average heights of people in the decades since the invention of photography, preferably for various countries. This would enable us to make a more educated guess at the height of giants shown, like G. Hall in your pic, with another person. There's a project for some dedicated nerd! The other lady in that picture might well have been about 5 feet one, or even less.
Boxerwhiteray said on 17/Mar/09
Anonymous
Yes I agree some of the details for Gertrude Hall and Gertrude Mills are strikingly similar. Likewise as you point out Mills appears to look more acromegalic. I know the image of Hall is not that fantastic-but she does not seem to have the classic lantern jawline exhibited in acromegalics. Also there was a Giantess Victoria Hall-supposedly from Glasgow. Could there be a connection there.
Anonymous said on 17/Mar/09
Excellent find, Boxer. I rather suspect Gertrude Hall and Gertrude Mills were the same person. The dates, though approximate, are the same (fl c1920) and the claimed height of 8" 1' is the same. Mind you, the picture we've seen of Mills shows someone looking more acromegalic than Hall does in your picture.
Boxerwhiteray said on 17/Mar/09
Click Here
It may not be Ginny Bunford. But here is another find Gertrude Hall. Some time ago I was looking for her-but found Gertrude Mills instead. Now at last here is Gertrude Hall Scottish Giantess.
Sanchez said on 16/Mar/09
Johnny C you should offer a small reward to anybody who can produce a picture of Ginny Bunford,
like Schnitzel says there could be photos of Ginny in some old trunk ,closet or attic, after all she is the most elusive.
Anonymous said on 16/Mar/09
Sorry, I should have said Victoria, not South Australia.
Anonymous said on 16/Mar/09
Master Markie, go to:
Click Here
The Rutherglen Museum unfortunately gives no name or pictures. They want you to go to the Museum! That's a bit tricky if you don't live in South Australia. The Quasi-Modo website lists (with no details) an Australian giant named Clive Darril, who might, I suppose, be the Rutherglen gentleman.
Master Markie said on 16/Mar/09
Does anyone have any information on the following.

An Australian Gentleman about 7'6. Possibly 18th or 19th century. May have worked as a miner.

A giantess who may or may not have been Australian, though supposedly in Melbourne around 1956. About the time when the Olympic Games were staged there.
Indrid Cold said on 15/Mar/09
If Ginny Bunford was not the Cadbury Giantess, then I would like to know who was?. Also, does anyone know who was the second tallest woman in Britain during Ginny's lifetime. Was there any other women or even one other woman alive in Britain in that period about or above seven feet tall?.
Boxerwhiteray said on 14/Mar/09
Ginny Bunford
Click Here
Schnitzel said on 14/Mar/09
There could be photos of Ginny in some old trunk, or stored away somewhere.
anonymous said on 13/Mar/09
Ghost, Pier Gerlofs Donia was not only known for his height his near superhuman strength, he was mainly known as an historical figure, on of the last great Frisian heroes and their last, self proclaimed king. The Frisians are a tall and big-boned people, they have been since the Roman Times; Roman Empire never defeated them. They produced many giants and legendary warriors (Finn, Folcwald) and Kings (Radbod, Jelckama) and freedom fighters (Donia, Harinxma) and Pier Gerlofs Donia's ancestors were extremely large built noblemen who fought (and were slain) in the crusades at Antioch.

Pier Gerlofs Donia is not just a giant, he is known for being a legendary folk hero and his grave is right under a church. Sadly enough, because of its location, Donia's grave cannot be opened so we cannot measure his remains, but his nephew Wijerd Jelckama has been measured after he was decapitated in Leeuwarden in 1523 (three years after Donia's death). Jelckama measured 7 feet 2 inches. It runs in the family, their living decendants (one of whom I've met) are all huge. I met this girl, Elly Jelckama, her hands could easily cover my face and she stood 6 feet 5 inches!
Andrew M said on 13/Mar/09
I read about the Cadbury giantess on the internet a few years ago, but it (the promotional stand/giantess) was in Australia. The year was 1916 but I dismissed it as being Jane Bunford because I could not imagine she would travel to Australia. I think it's just coincidence that the time era and the cadbury link indicate Bunford. Has anybody found thsi on the internet. I have tried a number of search engines, but nothing. I am certain it was 'the cadbury giantess' and not 'cadbury's giantess' or similar. Refarding the lack of a photo, I think it very likely there are photos. Look at Cooper - exhibited himself, tallest man on earth and all that. How many photos of him have you seen? Two?
Kaspieman said on 13/Mar/09
I seriously doubt that you will ever see a photo of Jane Bunford. The Guinness Book of Records never published one, and she was listed in there from 1972 to 2000. Only her skeleton and death certificate appeared in there. The skeleton was in the anatomical part of the medical school at Birmingham University from her death in April 1922 to 2005, when it was reburied, and her life and story appeared to have been hidden until the Guinness Book of Records brought both to light in 1971.
Willard said on 12/Mar/09
Anonymous
Where did you hear of "the Cadbury giantess" who you say toured 1915?. Jane Bunford was still alive at the time. Though she appears to have been a rather enigmatic and mysterious individual. During her lifetime she was thought to have twice held the title as world's tallest person. She may also have had the
title for longest head of hair. Be great, if someone could come up with a photo.
Indrid Cold said on 12/Mar/09
Anonymous: Where did you hear of a giantess going on a promotional tour with Cadbury's. It is true that Ginny worked for that company. The media back then was not as it is now, but even in those times a giantess would have attracted attention and surely photos would have been taken. Ginny, according to other articles and as Kaspieman states avoided exhibitionism etc. That would place doubts on her doing this, but there again as Conal states. Who else?.
Kaspieman said on 11/Mar/09
I doubt that Jane "Jinny" Bunford did a tour. She refused a few lucrative offers to appear in public and display herself, and also turned down an financial offer from a man who wished to buy a lot of her 8ft long hair. She was also a very shy person by all accounts, who also became a recluse in her final years, until her death at her home on 1st April 1922.
Conal Cochrane said on 10/Mar/09
The Birmingham giantess Jane"Ginny"Bunford was employed by the Cadbury company.
Surely the giantess (Anonymous) mentions touring with Cadbury, would have been Ginny. Who else?.
Boxerwhiteray said on 10/Mar/09
Anonymous
Ginny Bunford worked for Cadbury's. If a Giantess did tour with the company-then we must assume it was her.
xei said on 9/Mar/09
OK! Chris
6.10ft ellen bayer meets 6.5ft tv host
Click Here
indias tallest women svetlana singh meets tv host
Click Here
Chris said on 8/Mar/09
Mark Dolan met and measured Svetlana for his tv show back in 2008 (same show he measured Yao Defen and met Ellen Bayer) and he measured Svetlana at 6 ft 8. The video is on the web.
Anonymous said on 8/Mar/09
Those pictures of Svetlana Singh and her child are interesting, for this reason: the great size of the infant suggests the giantism is genetic, even though the mother's heavy-featured face looks mildly pituitary. If the condition is genetic, we may hope both mother and child enjoy reasonable life-spans.
xei said on 8/Mar/09
The world's highest baby? April 22, 2008
Karan is the son of Svetlana Singh, 2.19 m /. Karan was born measuring 67cm, and 10 months measured 1m (3ft 2in).

Johann K said on 7/Mar/09
Cool! I've always wondered if V
Anonymous said on 6/Mar/09
Could Jane Bunford be 'the Cadbury Giantess' who toured Britain with Cadbury in 1915????
Nippu said on 6/Mar/09
No i have not but i´ll been working on that. With no results yet. Hopefully i´ll find something soon.
Johann K said on 6/Mar/09
A comment to Johnny C:s question about Jarne Salmivirta. I have done about everything to find him, but with no luck. The official bureu in Finland, which keeps records of all the people born here, told me that a person by that name doesn't exist. I even had his birthday etc, but still. So, he probably have changed his name or something. But when I'm thinking about a person whose 245 cm + tall, it seems a wonder that nobody knows a thing about him. Nippu, by any chance, do you possess any pictures of Reino Rutanen?
Boxerwhiteray said on 5/Mar/09
Anyone here got any iformation on a giant called John Fischer. He lived somewhere in the Lake District(Cumbria)region of england. He was known as
Gurt John or Great John. His feet were said to be enormous. A pair of his boots or shoes were exhibited somewhere.
SomePerson said on 5/Mar/09
Just wondering, why are you so interested in tall people? They eat and breathe just like you do.
Nippu said on 5/Mar/09
Click Here

Sami Eerola
Anonymask said on 4/Mar/09
Click Here
Willard said on 3/Mar/09
Before this site listed Angus MacAskill at a lower height, all other sources have indicated 7'9. Circus giants and others were often listed at enhanced heights, this we know. I am not certain if Big Angus was 7'9 or less, though I wonder how accurate his weight and chest measurement as listed by Guinness can be relied on. If Angus were not as tall as they claimed, was his weight less.
He was still mostlikely to have been one of the strongest individuals who ever lived.
Willard said on 3/Mar/09
Before this site listed Angus MacAskill at a lower height, all other sources have indicated 7'9. Circus gianta and others were often listed at enhanced heights, this we know. I am not certain if Big Angus was 7'9 or less, though I wonder how accurate his weight and chest measurement as listed by Guinness can be relied on. If Angus were not as tall as they claimed, was his weight less.
He was still mostlikely to have been one of the strongest individuals who ever lived.
Anonymous said on 2/Mar/09
Can we persuade Mask to come back, and make this forum once again worth visiting?
Jose Salvadorez said on 2/Mar/09
Never heard of Sandy Allen wrestling. Bet she would have been major league strong, though perhaps ponderous. Pitting Sandy against queen Kong might have
been an interesting match. Queen Kong had a terrific choke hold.
Ghost said on 2/Mar/09
ancient Aztec Guy says on 27/Feb/09
HHHHEEEEEEYYY GHOST!!! The Anchor Mackaskil lifted weighed 2700lbs. Angus was said to be 7'9" from most sources I have found, not 7'10". Angus lived during the 1800s, in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. I would say he probably was the strongest ever. In my opinion his tales are more believable than that of a man that lived in the 14th century. Pretty interesting stuff though!!!


Yeah, it is fascinating. He might have been the strongest ever, we'll never know for certain. Stories like these just tend to be exxagerated over the years.

But it's true that we can be alot more certain about McAskill than Donia.
aram x said on 1/Mar/09
The sad fact is that I am rather young (my exact age will remain confidential)but I am already permanently loosing height from bad posture. I use to measure nearly 5,11" but I am now barely 5,9".
aram x said on 28/Feb/09
Well Chris, I don't think I've met a woman 6,5" or taller. Although I've met a few men who could be nearly 7 feet, and two who are actually around 7,3-7,5".
mytg8 said on 28/Feb/09
I just saw Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) today at the Megacon. He looked to be at the most a couple inches taller than my brother, who's 6-8. In other words he's 6-9 or 6-10, I'd guess. May have been 7-2 when he was younger
ancient Aztec Guy said on 27/Feb/09
HHHHEEEEEEYYY GHOST!!! The Anchor Mackaskil lifted weighed 2700lbs. Angus was said to be 7'9" from most sources I have found, not 7'10". Angus lived during the 1800s, in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. I would say he probably was the strongest ever. In my opinion his tales are more believable than that of a man that lived in the 14th century. Pretty interesting stuff though!!!
Nippu said on 27/Feb/09
Today is 100th birthday of Myllyrinne.
Dahlia said on 26/Feb/09
When Sandy Allen was a young person, I did hear that somebody wanted her to give the wrestling a try. Another giantess or large woman was mooted as one of
the prospective opponents. It might have been Dee Booher otherwise Queen Kong.
I never heard that Sandy did ever wrestle, does anyone know. It was probably all talk.
Rita said on 25/Feb/09
Chris: If she was, she never mentioned it to me. It wouldn't surprise me if she had, tho, since many tall girls -- I have to say it -- looked up to her.
Chris said on 25/Feb/09
Rita: Do you have any other information you can share about tall females that maybe we haven't seen on some of the other sites? Was Sandy ever contacted by near- 7 foot women asking for advice on things, for example? It seems every high school girls basketball team nowadays has a 6 foot 4, 5 or 6 center, so the "ultra-tall" is now 6'8", 6'9", and above.... years ago that wasn't the case, but lets face it, people are growing bigger now.
In fact, just yesterday I read some articles online and saw 2 videos of a high school sophmore down in Texas (male) who is 6 ft 7, 325 pounds, and his foot is almost 15 inches long ! Now that's BIG ! a size 23 shoe for a 15 year old boy who surely has more to grow....WOW
Rita said on 25/Feb/09
Chris:
Having been Sandy Allen's friend for 31 years, I am interested in tall females. I find the video of Mari Doartes fascinating, although she probably has a pituitary tumor that needs to come out NOW. Her family should be pushing for her health care in that country.
aram x said on 24/Feb/09
It's obviously possible for humans to grow past Wadlow's height (as Wadlow was still growing at the time of death) but there is no irrefutable proof of any human being taller than Wadlow (besides legends and folk lore which more often than not are exaggerations).
Chris said on 24/Feb/09
Yes Johnny C, I had seen that report when it came out, but I haven't seen anything further on her either. Are you and I the only ones on this board that have interest in tall females as well as the tall males?
Boxerwhiteray said on 24/Feb/09
Gretz
The book you speak of Giants,Dwarfs and other Oddities is an interestig read- it's original title was The Mystery and Lore of Monsters.
Click Here
I got that book through the British Library inter loan system. Some time later on I ordered Giants,Dwarfs and other Oddities-but it was the same as the other book with a different title. A lot of the information in Thompson's work was in an older book Giants and Dwarfs by Edward J Wood.
Johnny C said on 23/Feb/09
Chris: I had wondered on the progress of Thailand's Mari Doartes, a girl who was approaching 7 ft tall at age 14 in 2006 Click Here
Anonymous said on 23/Feb/09
Chris: I had wondered on the progress of Thailand's Mari Doartes, a girl who was approaching 7 ft tall at age 14 in 2006 Click Here
Gretz said on 23/Feb/09
Actually,I pulled that list of ancient giants from the book"Giants,Dwarfs,and other Oddites",by C.J.S. Thompson.The book has several chapters on giants,from ancient times up till the early 20th century.Don`t know if its still in print,I bought it from a local book store over 20 years ago.
Anonymous said on 23/Feb/09
Salvador (or salvator) who posted here some years ago used Bayesian statistics to demonstrate that in the last 500 years there have been likely to be over 100 8 footers (known or unknown) and 5 9 footers. Is this archived somewhere? It was most interesting.
Chris said on 23/Feb/09
A topic I haven't seen discussed here...anyone know of some up and coming giants-to-be? such as a freshman in high school who's already 6'9", or something like that? Other than Brendan Adams of course....
Anonymous said on 23/Feb/09
Guv Brady - what's to discuss? If there are no physical data, no actual evidence, what do we discuss?
Guv Brady said on 23/Feb/09
Some of those ancient giants may well have existed. Though proving their heights
is another matter. I cannot see why they ought not to be discussed here.
Interl Core i7 Processor said on 23/Feb/09
I concur Nippu.

Ancient giants are fail. Tell me about folk who actually exist, I grew out of fairy tales 20 years ago.
Anonymous said on 22/Feb/09
Good morning. Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.
I am from Japan and also am speaking English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "Soyouwanna write an impressive resume? The word sum; originates from french, meaning to summarize."

Thank you so much for your future answers 8-). Binny.
aram x said on 22/Feb/09
Robert Wadlow, for all intentionally purposes, was indeed a 9 footer. So if there has been a 9 footer with irrefutable evidence within the past 100 years, then there's a possibility of having someone who's even taller throughout all of recorded history. However, there is no irrefutable evidence of such an individual.
Anonymous said on 22/Feb/09
Yes, Clay, there is indeed footage of a nine-footer. Have you actually watched it with any attention? Look at how awkwardly Wadlow walks. Then consider that the sheer length of his legs caused circulatory problems, which meant he couldn't feel his feet. THAT meant he wasn't aware of the state of the blister which got poisoned and led to his death. If there ever was a ten-foot man, it's safe to say he died very young, flat on his back on a sickbed, not prancing around in heavy armour!
Clay said on 22/Feb/09
There is footage of a 9 foot human being so a 10 footer (goliath?) in the past 10 thousund years isnt just a fairly tale IMO.
Gretz said on 21/Feb/09
No Ghost,I should have pointed out that the heights of those early giants are probably greatly exaggerated,at least in my opinion.Just thought the list was interesting,as I don`t think even johnny C has every name covered on his height list.
Nippu said on 21/Feb/09
Sorry guys but i think this ancient giants is totally boring. This is not a right forum for that(my opinion).
Conal Cochrane said on 21/Feb/09
Ancient Giants
There are many references to giant skeletons. It is difficult to substantiate any of these claims as it is to be certain of the heights of those ancient giants listed by Gretz. The Guinness Book did say that Goliath's height was probably exagerrated by a confusion of units. They suggested a height of 6 ft 10
was more credible based on some other evidence for the giant Goliath. Although
lesser known, Goliath's brother Lahmi according to some ancient texts was a also a giant.

Tallest Men in Britain
Ian Spofforth at 7 ft 1 was at one time listed in Guinness Book of Records in an early edition. I am not sure if he was listed as Britain's or England's
tallest man. His brother Michael was listed at 6 ft 10.
aram x said on 20/Feb/09
Man I certainly ain't buying into these legendary figures. They just seem too exaggerated to be true, and more importantly, there is no proof whatsoever to back up their height claims. Too exaggerated as in they seemingly exceed the possible biological height limit humans can achieve. I know it's possible for humans to reach the 9 foot range (as shown by Robert Wadlow), but to reach or exceed, let's say, 11 feet is seemingly preposterous as it overtly exceeds our biological height limit.
Anonymous said on 20/Feb/09
Gretz, I think I know where you got most, if not all, of the names on your list - the Gould and Pyle book "Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine" (1896). What you didn't quote was their statement: "Modern scientists will be loath to be believe that any men ever existed who measured over 9 feet". If they were thus admirably sceptical in 1896, surely we ought to be equally so over a century later.
Ghost said on 20/Feb/09
Gretz says on 19/Feb/09
List of ancient giants- Og-9'0" king of Bashan(book of Joshua)
Goliath-9'9"-of Gath
Orestes-over 10'0"(body found at Tegea)
Gabbaras-9'9"(brought to Rome by emperor Claudius Caesar from Arabia)
Idusio and Secundilla-10'3"(died during the reign of Augustus Caesar)
Eleazar-10'2"(Jewish giant,was among the hostages sent by the king of Persia to Rome)as told by Vitellius.
Antonius-7'7"(born in Syria in the reign of Theodosius,died age 25)
The Emperor Maximilian-(8 to 9 feet)
Ferragus-nearly 11 feet(giant slain by Roland,the nephew of Charlemagne)
11'6"unknown giant(lived in the 12th century,during the reign of King Eugene the second of Scotland)
Fingall-height unknown(Irish giant who was converted to christianity by St.Patrick)
Benlli-Welsh giant(lived about the year 500,Giant of the golden vest)height unknown.
Aymon-11'0"(Archduke Ferdinand`s bodygauard)


You don't believe in these, do you?
Gretz said on 19/Feb/09
List of ancient giants- Og-9'0" king of Bashan(book of Joshua)
Goliath-9'9"-of Gath
Orestes-over 10'0"(body found at Tegea)
Gabbaras-9'9"(brought to Rome by emperor Claudius Caesar from Arabia)
Idusio and Secundilla-10'3"(died during the reign of Augustus Caesar)
Eleazar-10'2"(Jewish giant,was among the hostages sent by the king of Persia to Rome)as told by Vitellius.
Antonius-7'7"(born in Syria in the reign of Theodosius,died age 25)
The Emperor Maximilian-(8 to 9 feet)
Ferragus-nearly 11 feet(giant slain by Roland,the nephew of Charlemagne)
11'6"unknown giant(lived in the 12th century,during the reign of King Eugene the second of Scotland)
Fingall-height unknown(Irish giant who was converted to christianity by St.Patrick)
Benlli-Welsh giant(lived about the year 500,Giant of the golden vest)height unknown.
Aymon-11'0"(Archduke Ferdinand`s bodygauard)
Boxerwhiteray said on 19/Feb/09
Johnny C
I thought Ian Spofforth was also Britain;s tallest Man for a time.
Johnny C said on 19/Feb/09
Strange that I was "Anonymous" in my posting "...Britain
Anonymous said on 19/Feb/09
Indrid Cold: Britain
Indrid Cold said on 19/Feb/09
Edward"Ted"Evans was the Tallest Man in Britain many years back. For many years
and until fairly recently Chris Greener held that distinction. But does anyone have any ideas who may have been title holder/holders between Evans and Greener.
Anonymous said on 18/Feb/09
At this site you can read about, not one legendary giant, but a whole family of them:
Click Here
I'd say this tradition is just about as likely as that of Pier Donia.
Anonymous said on 17/Feb/09
Click Here
Ghost said on 15/Feb/09
aram x says on 14/Feb/09
Ghost, where is the evidence tht Pier Donia was indeed 7,5"? He's more or less a legendary figure and so there is no concentrate evidence to suggest many things about him.


I was quoting another poster, my reply is under the quote.
Anonymous said on 15/Feb/09
Rachid Bara the tallest man in Algeria at 240 cm died on 22nd january 2009:
Click Here
Conal Cochrane said on 15/Feb/09
I'ts difficult to attribute any definite height to Pier Gerlofs Donia, though
several sources put him at around 7 feet. Like Tom Hickathrift and Paul Bunyan
he is a bit of a folk and semi mythical figure.
aram x said on 14/Feb/09
Ghost, where is the evidence tht Pier Donia was indeed 7,5"? He's more or less a legendary figure and so there is no concentrate evidence to suggest many things about him.
Boxerwhiteray said on 14/Feb/09
I would imagine thay Katja Van Dyke(Annie Haase) was an extremely strong woman.

Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.

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