The Patterson Park Twin Show
In the mid-1940s, Patterson Park introduced a “twin show” as part of an added attraction to its third annual fair where contestants — twins, of course — came under close scrutiny, judged literally from head to toe: curliest hair, twins with the biggest feet, most freckles, bluest eyes, the oldest and the youngest, to name a few.
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- Philip and Howard Hiob were declared most identical twins. Their mother, Mrs. Richard Hiob, 7 Right Wing Drive, Baltimore, peers from between them. (Sun photographer Robert M. Motta/August 21, 1949)
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- These twins were showing off their emotions at the 1948 Twin Contest. (Baltimore Sun file)
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- Janie and Randolph Dabney, and mother Mrs. Linwood Dabney; Sharon and Garry Saffer and mother, Mrs. Marie Saffer; Shirley Ann and Charlotte Rose Rehder and grandmother Mrs. Anna Harting. (Sun photographer Joshua S. Cosden/August 11, 1949)
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- The 1949 Patterson Park Twin Show. (Baltimore Sun file photo)
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- Betsy and 2-1/2-years old twins, W. North Avenue. (Sun photographer Albert Cochran/August 6, 1952)
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- Joseph and John Kidd, 22-months old, of S. Ellwood Avenue. (Sun photographer Albert Cochran/August 6, 1952)
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- Janie and Randy Dabney. (Walter McCardell/August 5, 1954)
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- Bluest eyes winners, Barbara and Tommy Burke, 2 years old. (Sun photographer Richard Stacks/August 5, 1954)
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- Craig and Clayton Wright. (Photo by Sun photographer Walter McCardell/August 4, 1954)
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- Louis and Joseph Petryszak. (Photo by Sun photographer Walter McCardell/August 4, 1954)
In 1948, the park unveiled a “peep show” into a wonder box of an aunt house and a giant tomato bug, but in in 1949, the contents were a closely-guarded secret. And they presented a twin bill, or double feature, of entertainment: A parade of twins in quest of Bureau of Recreation (the host of the show) certificates, followed immediately by the opening of the “midway” with its carnival and fair booths.
In 1953, the twin show brought over 100 twins ages 7 weeks to 31 years old to compete in nine different classes. The largest class? Most identical, an optical illusion that was almost overwhelming, judges said.
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