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She was the youngest of the
Georgia Wonders that mesmerized the public in 1884. Miss Price was often described as very thin with gray eyes and as having hair of three distinct colors. Houdini wrote she was, "barely ninety pounds, and had the sickly look of a ‘consumptive.’" And, "yet this weakling
318:
In early 1894, Mattie Lee Price began using "GAZA" or "Mysterious GAZA" instead of her real name. Mr. Brigg of
England challenged Mattie Lee Price's act at Frank Hall's Casino in Chicago, Illinois in January 1894. He proclaimed her act to be one of physics rather than one of magical, magnetic, or
330:
in 1894 and billed as "Gaza the strong woman." She was a featured act on a lithographic poster printed to promote her. Part of the advertisement reads: "The
Magnetic Wonder a Human Magnet of Strength and Weight the phenomenon of the 19th century, lifting hundreds of pounds of dead weight by just
119:
during the winter of 1883–1884. Georgia Wonder girls were pre-vaudeville acts in which the young women performed feats of strength, usually pitted against men. They used fulcrum and leverage techniques to lift heavy men in chairs, twist hickory sticks out of strong men's hands, and other feats of
399:
Mattie Price had two children, Charles and
Jeanette. They were with her in England when she died having newly arrived by boat from New York. After the death of their mother, the children were left as orphans and recorded as "boarders" on a farm in Lena, Wisconsin in the 1900 Federal Census.
151:, Georgia to promote Mattie and put her on tour. The company consisted of Mr. Patillo, Col. A. P. Wofford, and Mr. Dock Cunyus. Mattie's father, George Washington Price, contracted his daughter's act with the company for $ 10,000 per year.
259:) was also in Europe presenting an almost identical act. Many "magnetic" and "electric" girls were showing off their skills in innumerable locations both in Europe and the North American continent at the time.
331:
placing her hands on it, twisting bars of iron, resisting as much force as can push on a 12 foot pole by simply placing her hands at one end. It cannot be justly pictured, no words adequate to describe it."
224:
When the contract with R.E.J. Miles expired in early 1885, Mattie and her father returned to
Georgia and toured the south giving demonstrations. Mattie Lee Price married Samuel Wise on 28 November 1885 in
166:
The
Cartersville stock company subsequently sold Mattie's contract to R.E.J. Miles of Cincinnati. After this lawsuit and the breakup of the "stock company," Mattie's name was never again found in the
338:
as part of the concert. She was listed as "Mattie Lee Price, The
Mysterious Gaza. The Georgia Wonder." During the summer of 1897 Mattie Lee Price was with the Great Wallace Shows (circus) out of
392:
Mattie Lee Price was born on 19 May 1869 somewhere in the vicinity of Rome, Georgia. Her father was George
Washington Price and her mother, Rhoda P. McAbee. Mattie's parents were married in
267:
Mattie Lee Price worked in various dime museums and opera houses and joined circuses during summer months. Mattie was one of the featured performers at opening of The
Robinson's Musee, in
926:: accessed 30 January 2015; George W. Price and Rhoda McAbee, 03 May 1868; citing marriage, Floyd, Georgia, United States, county courthouses, Georgia; FHL microfilm 282,712
380:" poster from that year. On 11 March 1899, Mattie Lee Price passed away at number 81 Hammersmith Road, Fulham District, London, England. She is buried in the old
384:
Burial Ground in
England in an unmarked grave. Many members of the freak department attended her funeral. The funeral took place on 13 March at 2:30 p.m.
144:. Since Lula Hurst only lived a few miles away from Mattie Lee Price, it is assumed that she saw Lula perform and was able to imitate the act immediately.
1166:
569:
Certificate of Marriage, Louis Barella to Mattie Price, 10 Jan 1894, Cook County, Illinois. County Recorder's Office, #212947, Chicago, Illinois
128:, who was 15 at the time she began her act, started the phenomenon. She gave a magic demonstration at her father's farm in late December 1883.
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668:
323:
to convince the audience that they could use these same physical forces to better harness their horses and more efficiently pull loads.
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electrical power. A contest between Mr. Brigg and Mattie Lee Price was arranged where Mr. Brigg used demonstrations, drawings, and a
578:
Certificate of Death, Mattie Aronson, 11 March 1899, Fulham District, London, England. Death's Registration DH186928, Fulham, England
396:
in 1868. Mattie's mother and two siblings died in some unknown incident about 1874. Elizabeth Penland became Mattie's step-mother.
229:, Florida. Three more husbands were in her future, William W. White (1888), Louis Barella (1894) and Louis Aronson (date unknown).
354:
1899 London, England: The Peerless Prodigies of Physical Phenomena and Great Presentation of Marvelous Living Human Curiosities.
272:
981:
Year: 1900; Census Place: Lena, Oconto, Wisconsin; Roll: 1808; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 0147; FHL microfilm: 1241808
443:
Georgia by Wire. Specials to the Constitution. Cedartown December 27, the Atlanta Constitution, Sat 29 Dec 1883 p. 2, col. 3
140:
Mattie Price gave her first public appearance in late January 1884 at the historical Stilesboro Academy in the village of
1181:
404:
was able to perform feats requiring super human strength and endurance from either good spirits or the devil himself."
1186:
1171:
1019:
891:
Four Years in Europe, Barnum & Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth in the Old World, Harvey L. Watkins, p.22, 1901
790:
420:
132:, with the stage name of Annie Abbott, was also a famous Georgia stage magician, performing an almost identical act.
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474:
Weekly Law Bulletin, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, 16 June 1884, Vol. XI, Weekly Law; Carl Gustave John; p. 301
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307:
680:
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Dicksson, Donna Lee, 2015, Mattie Lee Price: The Forgotten Georgia Wonder, Brighton Publishing, LLC, 2015;
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Mattie Lee Price: Eisenman Cabinet Card circa 1890–1893; New York City: (Warren A. Raymond Collection)
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wrote about Mattie Lee Price and her effective marketing manager/husband, W.W. White in his books,
248:
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115:, United States, was just 14 when she became the second of the Georgia Wonder girls to come out of
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and had never ridden a train prior to her Georgia Wonder debut. During 1884, she was on stage in
664:
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226:
210:
882:
Certified Copy of Entry of Death HD 186928, Mattie Lee Aronson. District Fulham, England)
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The Cartersville American (Cartersville, GA) "A Peculiar Stock Company," 5 February 1884
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The St. Louis Medical Journal, "Invisible, Intangible, Yet Real." October 1884. p.440
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Records of Fulham Old Burial Ground in Fulham Palace Road. Reference 2012/05746)
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The stock company that held Mattie under contract was sued by Mr Harris of the
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Gaza, The Georgia Wonder, The Georgia Magnetic Girl, The Georgia Electric Girl
487:. Broadway Publishing, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. 1859-1909, Published 1819
194:
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535:(Athens, Georgia) The Electric Wonder Married; 8 December 1885; p.3 col.3
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strength. There were variations of the act that included balance tests.
922:"Georgia, County Marriages, 1785–1950," index and images, FamilySearch
483:
Leavett, Michael Bennett. "Fifty Years in Theatrical Management."
284:
268:
681:"Canadian Film History - Toronto film landmarks - Toronto Film Scene"
381:
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in 1898. She is 8th from the left on the raised stages shown on the "
371:
235:, the original Georgia Wonder, married her fiancé, Paul Atkinson, in
206:
873:, (London, England), "Freaks in Revolt" 7 January 1899, p. 8, col. 4
239:
County, Georgia on 9 February 1887 and never returned to the stage.
314:
Walter L. Main Circus Poster (From the Ken Hark Circus Collection).
357:
349:
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255:, and England giving demonstrations. Annie Abbott (also known as
252:
99:
560:(Little Rock, Arkansas). "The Electric Girl Married." 8 July 1888
221:. She traveled with her father and one or another male manager.
162:
in June 1884 in the Common Pleas Court of Hamilton County, Ohio,
958:
Pension File Nos. 00023 to 63977, Application Years 1899 to 1935
202:
190:
861:, "Freaks in Revolt" (London, England. 7 Jan 1899, p. 8, col. 4
1020:""Georgia Wonder" Phenomenon | New Georgia Encyclopedia"
944:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Austin, Texas;
326:
Soon after the Brigg affair, Mattie was advertised with the
1129:
719:(Chicago, Illinois) 22 October 1893, sec. 3, p. 25, col. 4
972: . Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008
247:
During late 1891 and early 1892, Mattie Lee Price was in
1111:"Freak Museum A Private Collection: Freak Photos 19th c"
1059:"Carnegie: Magic Detective: Dime Museum Harry - Chicago"
1039:"STILESBORO ACADEMY – Etowah Valley Historical Society"
813:
1895 Barnum & Bailey official Route Book, p. 95
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82:
74:
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651:(Dublin, Ireland), 29 December 1891, p. 4, col. 7
732:Harry Houdini, Miracle Mongers and Their Methods
511:(Dunkirk, New York), 23 June 1884, p. 3, col. 3
342:, Ohio and billed as "Gaza the Magnetic Girl."
293:Harry Houdini for Kids: His Life and Adventures
924:https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KXJ5-GKB
590:(Little Rock, Arkansas) 11 February 1887; p. 1
368:The Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth
362:Mattie Lee Price: March 1899, London, England.
1092:"Handle Problem Report (Library of Congress)"
8:
602:(Dublin, Ireland), 29 Dec 1891, p. 4, col. 7
275:ended in 1893, she was on the same venue as
946:Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975
499:(Cincinnati, Ohio), 10 June 1884, p2. col.1
626:(Clwyd, Wales) 19 March 1892, p. 4, col. 4
26:
15:
281:Kohl & Middleton’s South Clark Street
523:, (New York, NY) 20 July 1884; p.5 col.4
377:Peerless Prodigies of Physical Phenomena
970:UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
412:
659:
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7:
1006:, Kalush and Sloman, pp. 27–28, 2006
14:
755:, 11 January 1894, p. 1, col. 5–6
639:, 20 February 1892, p. 16, col. 1
297:Miracle Mongers and Their Methods
1167:People from Georgia (U.S. state)
707:, 27 December 1890, p. 4, col. 3
53:Fulham District, London, England
913:, 13 October 1885, p. 3, col. 4
614:, 2 February 1891, p. 3, col. 1
456:, 1 February 1884, p. 2, col. 1
147:A stock company was formed in
136:The launch of Mattie Lee Price
1:
1057:Carnegie, Dean (2014-08-08).
824:"Great Wallace Circus routes"
791:""Georgia Wonder" Phenomenon"
421:""Georgia Wonder" Phenomenon"
1177:American performance artists
767:, 1 March 1894, p. 7, col. 1
334:In 1895 Mattie was with the
273:World's Columbian Exposition
1130:"Circus Historical Society"
994:, 13 Oct 1885, p. 3, col. 4
780:, 18 May 1894, p. 4, col. 5
1203:
1004:The Secret Life of Houdini
849:, 15 July 1897, p.3, col.6
336:Barnum & Bailey Circus
243:Mattie Lee Price in Europe
25:
1115:Freakmuseum.blogspot.com
1078:Circusesandsideshows.com
795:New Georgia Encyclopedia
533:The Athens Banner Weekly
425:New Georgia Encyclopedia
1074:"Walter L. Main Circus"
1024:Georgiaencyclopedia.org
729:Houdini, Harry (1920).
263:Return to North America
992:Athens Banner-Watchman
911:Athens Banner-Watchman
847:The Sag Harbor Express
546:Macon Weekly Telegraph
363:
355:
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124:(born Lula Hurst), of
113:Bartow County, Georgia
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753:Chicago Daily Tribune
717:The Daily Inter Ocean
394:Floyd County, Georgia
361:
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328:Walter L. Main Circus
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173:Mattie Lee Price was
170:, Georgia newspaper.
156:Harris Mammoth Museum
103:
956:; Roll Description:
778:Elkhart Daily Review
612:The Hull Daily Mail
588:The Arkansas Gazette
558:The Arkansas Gazette
509:The Evening Observer
454:Atlanta Constitution
271:in 1891. After the
1182:Sideshow performers
968:Ancestry.com.
497:The Cincinnati Post
142:Stilesboro, Georgia
1187:Burials in England
1172:American magicians
364:
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1134:Circushistory.org
1061:. Magic Detective
828:circushistory.org
765:Daily Inter Ocean
669:978-1-62183-333-8
649:Freeman’s Journal
624:Banner ac Anserau
600:Freeman’s Journal
164:Harris v. Cumyns.
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67:Other names
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1137:. Retrieved
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199:Pennsylvania
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168:Cartersville
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149:Cartersville
146:
139:
122:"Lulu" Hurst
117:Georgia, USA
108:
107:
1162:1899 deaths
1157:1869 births
1096:Hdl.loc.gov
312:1894 "Gaza"
126:Polk County
59:Nationality
1151:Categories
1139:2016-01-31
1120:2016-01-31
1102:2016-01-31
1083:2016-01-31
1065:2016-01-31
1049:2016-01-31
1030:2016-01-31
952:; Roll #:
859:Daily News
833:2016-01-20
800:2016-01-21
739:2016-01-13
691:2016-01-31
430:2016-01-20
408:References
346:In England
340:Cincinnati
233:Lulu Hurst
175:illiterate
160:Cincinnati
75:Occupation
685:Thetfs.ca
195:Minnesota
183:Tennessee
950:CPA16526
219:Maryland
215:Illinois
211:New York
187:Kentucky
62:American
38:May 1869
521:The Sun
285:Chicago
279:at the
249:Ireland
227:Madison
179:Georgia
41:Georgia
1098:. 1899
667:
388:Family
382:Fulham
217:, and
207:Kansas
253:Wales
990:The
954:2631
909:The
776:The
665:ISBN
635:The
544:The
452:The
295:and
237:Polk
203:Utah
191:Ohio
47:Died
35:Born
637:Era
370:in
287:.
158:in
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793:.
683:.
656:^
423:.
299:.
213:,
209:,
205:,
201:,
197:,
193:,
189:,
185:,
181:,
94:15
86:15
1142:.
1123:.
1105:.
1086:.
1068:.
1052:.
1033:.
836:.
803:.
742:.
694:.
433:.
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