Born in 1896 in Longview, Texas, Tony Harris first went on tour at the age of 13, when a Mr. F. H. Woodruff offered to take him to California to enroll him in school, earning tuition money by exhibiting him at fairs and in storefronts along the way. It seems Woodruff missed California by a long shot, however, as Tony was appearing in Austin, Minnesota with the Great U.S. Carnival Company the following year.
In 1912 he was engaged with Wortham and Allen Shows, then from 1915 to 1928 he worked at Coney Island's Dreamland Circus Sideshow. In 1936 he could be seen as part of the traveling World’s Fair Museum show, along with the armless wonder Barney Nelson and the French giant Paul Herold.
Created 2.15.09.