Al “The Giant” and Jeanie “The Half Girl” Tomaini met and immediately fell in love. Quickly labeled “The World’s Strangest Married Couple,” the two led a very different life than most people:
Al Tomaini
Aurelio “Al” Tomaini was once the world’s tallest man. He was born in New Jersey on February 15, 1912. He was just one of 7 children! It was apparent pretty early on he was very different than his siblings.
Aurelio Al Tomaini
Growth Spurts
By the time he was just 12 years old, he outgrew his father, Santo, who was 6 feet and 3 inches tall!
Growth Spurts
Giantism
His parents, Santo Tomaini and Maria Bossone decided to take their son to a doctor to see why this was happening. The physician they went to took many X-rays and tests and discovered the cause of his incredible height was an over-active pituitary gland.
Giantism
A Life Being Different
So, Al Tomaini had to go through life being substantially taller than those around him. He was often bullied at school and within his community. He was the only person with “gigantism” in his town.
A Life Being Different
Tallest Man In The World
Feeling like an outcast and having issues becoming employed, Al decided to use his abnormal height to his advantage. He became the self-proclaimed “Tallest Man In The World” and stood at 8 feet and 4 inches. He also wore size 27 shoes!
Tallest Man In The World
Heart Of Gold
Despite being ridiculed for his appearance, those who knew Al said he was incredibly nice, genuine, gentle, and down to earth. He was always respectful and never let rude comments affect him or how he treated others.
Heart Of Gold
Circus Performer
Struggling to find “normal work,” Al Tomaini became a circus performer. He worked in a circus at the Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland.
Circus Performer
Jeanie
It was while he was a circus sideshow performer that he met his future wife, Jeanie Smith. She was very interested in getting to know this gentle giant.
Jeanie
Jeanie Was Also Born Different
Berniece Evelyn Smith or “Jeanie” was born on August 23, 1916, in Bluffton Indiana. She was born with twisted arms and without legs.
Jeanie Was Also Born Different
2 Feet Tall
Like Al, Jeanie was born different. When she was fully grown, her height was far below average. She stood at just over two feet tall.
2 Feet Tall
Trying To Keep A Positive Attitude
Jeanie also experienced bullying and hardships growing up different. Like Al, she too had the best attitude one could in this situation. Everyone who knew Jeanie said despite her small height, she had a giant personality!
Tring To Keep A Positive Attitude
Circus Performer
Not long after Jeanie’s birth, her parents saw her money-making potential as a circus performer.
Another Circus Performer
Performing When Only An Infant
Jeanie began performing in circus exhibitions when she was just an infant. She quickly became known for her acrobatics and ability to use her mildly deformed hands to entertain. She was quickly labeled “The World’s Only Half Living Girl.”
Performing When Only An Infant
A Childhood In The Circus
Her biological mother decided to enter Jeanie as a circus performer at such a young age. Jeanie worked at “pumpkin fairs” in Indiana. She also began traveling to different cities in the Midwest. Her performances usually consisted of gymnastic feats such as handstands, cartwheels, and climbing up a ladder. By the time she was 11 years old, Jeanie advanced from performing alone at agricultural fairs to performing with some of the larger organized carnival and circus outfits.
A Childhood In The Circus
Abusive Childhood
Jeanie’s biological mother died when she was just 13. Jeanie was still performing at a fair in Texas when this happened. She and her two brothers were placed into an orphanage. Jeanie was adopted at age 15 by Lizzie Weeks who was psychologically abusive towards her. She kept Jeanie locked up in her home when she wasn’t performing and would charge a fee for anyone who wanted to see her.
Abusive Childhood
Jeanie Meets Al
When Jeanie was just 19, she had enough. She felt alone and with no one to turn to. Then just at the right moment, she found a giant who would change everything for her. It was in 1936 at the Great Lakes Exposition Center that Jeanie took an interest in one particular performer named Al Tomaini. She was curious about this very tall and nice man.
Jeanie Meets Al
Sparks Flew!
Sparks flew immediately between Al and Jeanie. She thought she found love and a way to escape her abusive adoptive mother.
Sparks Flew
True Love
Al was also crazy about Jeanie! It wasn’t long after they met that he decided to propose to her.
True Love
They Made It Official
The couple eloped in Cleveland, Ohio on September 8, 1936. They were wed by a justice of peace.
They Made It Official
‘World’s Strangest Married Couple’
After the wedding, the two decided to take a honeymoon in Niagara Falls. They were quickly labeled the ‘World’s Strangest Married Couple.’
Worlds Strangest Married Couple
‘World’s Strangest Married Couple’
Al and Jeanie as a married couple surprised and shocked people. They got attention no matter where they went, and often were ridiculed in public.
The Worlds Strangest Married Couple
Using It To Their Advantage
Happy that they found each other, but still feeling like outsiders, the pair decided to turn their new label into a circus gimmick. They began to perform together and were introduced as the ‘World’s Strangest Married Couple.’
Using It To Their Advantage
Touring Together
The two toured for decades as “The World’s Strangest Married Couple.” Many called Jeanie “The World’s Only Half Living Girl.” The duo worked at circuses, carnivals and managed their own shows.
Touring Together
Gibsonton
Feeling the most comfortable surrounded by their circus peers, the two settled in a circus community in Gibsonton, Florida.
Gibsonton
Carnival Capital Of America
Gibsonton, Florida was well known for its population of unusual people. Many retired circus performers also visit there frequently. Al and Jeanie were embraced by the community which is still known as the carnival capital of America.
Carnival Capital Of America
Al And Jeanie
People came from all over the world to see Al and Jeanie. The two really were a sight to behold! They very much stood out from all the other giants, midgets, and interesting looking people in the community.
Al And Jeanie
Establishing A Home
Al and Jeanie were so happy to start their lives together and felt comfortable and at home at Gibsonton. They decided to make this community their permanent home. They became very active with community affairs and very much enjoyed their lives as a married couple.
Establishing A Home
The Giants Camp
Al and Jeanie then decided to purchase property in Gibsonton. They built a fishing camp and lodge along a river and called it “The Giant’s Camp.” They put one of Al’s size 27 cowboy boots on a nearby sign to mark it as their own.
The Giants Camp
The Giants Camp Owner and Operator
Al was the official owner and operator of “The Giant’s Camp.” He then decided to purchase a TV repair shop business and a tourist trailer court. He weighed 357 pounds at this time.
The Giants Camp Owner And Operator
Adding To The Family
After the newly married couple had a stable income, home, and community, they decided to add children to their family. Al and Jeanie adopted two daughters.
Adding To The Family
Giving Back
Al and Jeanie were good people and they wanted to give back to the community for providing them a safe and stable place to live. With their savings and earnings from the camp, the couple purchased and donated an ambulance to their town.
Giving Back
A Big Part Of The Community
Al felt like this wasn’t enough and also served as the world’s tallest fire chief and president of the Chamber of Commerce. He also helped build the community hall for the city out of the kindness of his heart. What a great guy!
A Big Part Of The Community
True Love!
While all this was happening, Al and Jeanie’s marriage couldn’t have been going better. They were inseparable and passionately in love.
True Love
As Happy As Can Be
They were so in love, Al could hardly keep his hands off Jeanie! Al was often seen with Jeanie propped up on his shoulder or carrying her at his side. Jeanie always looks as happy as can be!
As Happy As Can Be
Still Going Strong
Perhaps because of all the love in his life, Al outlived most others who have giantism. Giantism is a rare disease characterized by rapid growth spurts and can result in numerous health complications and premature death.
Still Going Strong
A Joy To Be Around
While Al always had a positive attitude, in reality, he was always enduring an immense amount of physical pain. He never showed it, especially when performing.
A Joy To Be Around
Al Died Too Soon
Unfortunately, the gladular disease which caused Al’s gigantism also resulted in Al’s early death. He left his beloved wife, Jeanie, and died on August, 30, 1962 when he was only 50 years old.
Al Died Too Soon
Back To Jeanie
Jeanie outlived her husband by many decades. She continued to run the camp until her own death on August 10, 1999.
Back To Jeanie
Jeanie’s Death
Jeanie Tomaini was buried on the anniversary of her husband’s death. She was just two weeks shy of her 83rd birthday.
Jeanies Death
The Tomaini Family Today
The rest of the Tomaini family still resides in Gibsonton. Their great-grandson, Alex Zander Marrow is actually a circus performer! He continued the family legacy by performing as the ‘Junior Torture King.’ His grandmother, (the Tomainini’s adopted daughter Judy), actually built him his first bed of nails.
The Tomaini Family Today