The Owl Man Martin Joe Laurello

There are very few creatures in the world that can turn their heads 180 degrees. The most famous of them, of course, is the owl. That is why Martin Joe Laurello, who received a unique gift from nature to turn his head, was nicknamed the Owl Man.

Martin Joe Laurello's real name is Martin Emmerling. He was born in 1886 in Nuremberg, in a very ordinary family. Emmerling's ability to turn his head 190 degrees was discovered in early childhood. The boy easily demonstrated his trick to his family and peers. Of course, this skill aroused burning envy among the boys, because it's not at all like moving your ears.

But the parents did not share the enthusiasm of Martin's friends. It was obvious that the boy had some peculiarities of anatomy. The child was examined by surgeons and quickly found the cause of this phenomenon. Emmerling was found to have a rare type of curvature of the spine, which provided him with the ability to twist.

Turning his head, Martin could drink, but could not breathe. Therefore, it was not possible to stay in this position for a long time. But even this was quite enough to hit impressionable people on the spot. The men opened their mouths, and the ladies screamed when the young Emmerling turned to someone on the street for a joke or surveyed the hall in the cinema.

I must say that the congenital disease did not bother Martin in any way, but on the contrary. He realized early on that he had pulled out a lucky ticket and did not show much zeal in his studies. As soon as he graduated from school, Emmerling began working in various circuses and freak shows, earning a living and helping his family.

Even during the crisis that engulfed Germany after the First World War, Martin did not suffer. But over time, it became clear to the artist that the prospects in He doesn't have the Old World. Fame and wealth could be won overseas, from the Yankees who were greedy for curiosities. Therefore, in 1921, Emmerling packed up his simple belongings and boarded a steamer to New York.

Martin did not lose — they were immediately interested in show business. He signed several lucrative contracts and began to successfully tour America and advertise various products. A sonorous name was needed for the job, and Martin Emmerling became Martin Joe Laurello. But not everyone knew this pseudonym — for millions of Americans, he was just a Human Owl.

The life and career of Martin Joe Laurello is not riddled with tragedy. Unlike many other artists of cirques of freaks, he lived happily and earned great money. With age, the artist began to worry about pain in the spine, but who does not face it after 50?

Martin earned enough money to retire at 60 and do what he loved. He stopped touring and demonstrated his superpower only to friends during feasts. Laurello became interested in training dogs in a circus and successfully performed with animals for several years. The owl Man died in 1955 at the age of 70. The cause of his death was a heart attack.