Betty Broadbent (November 1, 1909 – March 28, 1983), also known as the "Tattooed Venus," is regarded as the most photographed tattooed lady of the 20th century. She also worked as a tattoo artist. In 1981, she was the first person to be inducted into the Tattoo Hall of Fame.
Early life Betty Broadbent was born Sue Lillian Brown on November 1, 1909, in Zellwood, Florida. Her parents were originally from North Carolina before moving the family to Philadelphia, where Broadbent spent much of her childhood.Osterud, Amelia Klem. The Tattooed Lady: A History. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014.
At the age of 14, Broadbent moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to work as a nanny. While there, she met the tattooed performer Jack Redcloud, who introduced her to tattoo artist Charlie Wagner.Alan Govenar, "Tattooing in American Culture, 1846–1966", in Jane Caplan (ed.), Written on the Body: The Tattoo in European and American History. London: Reaktion Books, 2000. According to Broadbent, seeing a tattooed man on the Atlantic City boardwalk inspired her to become tattooed herself. Over the next two years, Wagner, together with tattoo artists Tony Rhineagear, Joe Van Hart, and Red Gibbons, the husband of fellow tattooed performer Artoria Gibbons, created a bodysuit of more than 565 tattoos on Broadbent.
Tattoo Artistry
Broadbent’s tattoos varied in theme. On Broadbent’s back, she had a tattoo of the Madonna and child. The art on her lower limbs included a tattoo of Charles Lindbergh on her right leg and a tattoo of Pancho Villa on her left. One of Broadbent’s more famous tattoos took over six sittings, a spread-eagle that stretched from one shoulder to the other. On May 3 of 1939, the New York Times quoted Broadbent stating, “It hurt something awful, but it was worth it.” Career
Circus career Charlie Wagner was friends with the circus man Clyde Ingalls. When Ingalls discovered Broadbent’s passion for tattooing, he offered her a position at the circus. In the same year, Broadbent began exhibiting her art with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. While working at the circus, Broadbent also trained as a steer rider who would perform with circus performer Tom Mix. Later in Broadbent’s career, she learned how to ride horses and mules.Betty Broadbent—Tattooed Beauty http://thehumanmarvels.com/?p=148
International tours In 1937, she began to work internationally. She spent time working for independent circuses in both New Zealand and Australia.TATTOOED LADY HERE FOR SHOW (1938, February 22). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931–1954), p. 10. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247398846 After her return home to the United States and until her retirement in 1967, she continued to perform and travel with a sideshow.
1939 New York World's Fair While appearing in showman John Hix's Strange As It Seems exhibition at the 1939 New York World's Fair in New York City, she entered the world's first televised beauty contest, the Fairest of the Fair competition. Although she did not win, her appearance challenged conventional ideas of beauty by placing a heavily tattooed circus performer alongside contestants who represented the era's traditional standards of femininity. Wearing the same costume she used in her circus act, Broadbent revealed her tattoos by opening a long cape before the judges and audience.
Tattoo artist In addition to exhibiting her art, Broadbent worked as a tattoo artist. She worked in shops across the country, including in Montreal, San Francisco, and New York.
Death
Broadbent died in her sleep while living in Florida on March 28, 1983.Braunberger, Christine. "Revolting Bodies: The Monster Beauty of Tattooed Women." Feminist Formations 12.2 (2000): 1–23. See also Janet 'Rusty' Skuse Tattooed Man History of tattooing Lydia the Tattooed Lady
References
Further reading Caplan, J. (2000). Written on the body: The tattoo in European and American history / edited by Jane Caplan. London: Reaktion. Albert Parry, Tattoo: secrets of a strange art as practised among the natives of the United States (Simon and Schuster, 1933). Michael McCabe, ed., New York City tattoo: the oral history of an urban art (Hardy Marks, 1997) Francine Hornberger, Carny folk: the world's weirdest sideshow acts (Citadel Press, 2005). Meger, Sarah A. "The Baltimore Tattoo Museum." Corcoran College of Art + Design, 2010. United States—District of Columbia: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I. "Body Art: Marks of Identity." African Arts 34.1 (2001): 83–5. Tattooed Lady History Jane Caplan, ed., Written on the Body: The Tattoo in European and American History (2000). Tallent, Robert W. "Tattooing." Leatherneck (1952): 22–5.