The Expansive Ida Williams

Today we doff our top hat to circus “fat lady” Ida Williams, born Columbus Ohio, circa 1860s. Ida’s maximum weight was in the neighborhood of 566 lbs. She is known to have performed from the 1880s through the early years of the 20th century, and to have worked at Sells Brothers, Ringling Brothers, and Great Wallace circuses, as well as the dime museum circuit, including venues on the Bowery.