Conjoined Twin Had to Live With Her Dead Sister Attached to Her

Violet and Daisy Hilton, born in 1908 in Brighton, England, were conjoined twins who defied the odds by carving out a career in entertainment. However, their lives were far from glamorous. They faced exploitation from a young age and endured a tragic end.

The Difficult Beginning of Conjoined Twins

Born conjoined at the hip, Daisy and Violet were a medical marvel. Sadly, their biological mother rejected them, and they were soon taken in by Mary Hilton, a pub owner who saw them as a money-making opportunity. She relocated them to a room within the hotel where she worked when the twins were only four.

Here, curious patrons could catch a glimpse of the extraordinary twins for a small fee. You had to pay extra money if you wanted to lift their clothing and touch the place where they were joined. Postcards commemorating the visit were also available, serving as lasting mementos for visitors.

As they grew older, they were trained in music and dance. They were forced to perform musical acts and endure constant humiliation. Daisy and Violet knew how to play violin, clarinet, piano, and saxophone. They practiced nonstop by the order of their owners so they would perfect their acts. At the age of eight, they performed in Germany and Austria.

Finding Freedom

Despite the hardships, the twins persevered. They learned music and dance and became stars of Vaudeville shows. They even achieved financial success, earning a significant amount of money. However, their earnings were controlled by their manager, Myer Myers, who kept them isolated and denied them basic freedoms.

In a landmark legal battle, the twins fought for and won their emancipation from Myers. This victory was a testament to their resilience and determination.

The next year, they got a chance to be in the movie “Freaks.” But instead of celebrating their unique talents, the film basically turned into a circus sideshow on screen. It featured other performers like Josephine/Joseph, known as the Half-and-Half, Lady Olga the Bearded Lady, Prince Randian, dubbed “The Human Caterpillar,” and Johnny Eck, who was born without the lower part of his body. Sadly, the movie caused a huge uproar for its portrayal of people with physical differences, leading the production to remove it from theaters.

Free from Myers’ control, the twins navigated a new set of challenges. Unprepared for independence due to their sheltered upbringing, they made poor financial decisions and struggled to maintain their careers. They also faced difficulties in their personal lives, with several failed relationships.

Romantic Disasters of Conjoined Twins

Despite finally being able to live life on their own terms, the twins couldn’t catch a break in the love department. Violet fell head over heels for musician Maurice Lambert who in fact was gay. But their dream of tying the knot hit a brick wall with 21 states denying them marriage, citing it as “bigamy.”

Fast forward a bit, and Daisy found herself expecting a child, supposedly from a fling with a married musician in their troupe. They decided to give the baby up for adoption, believing their showbiz lifestyle wasn’t suited for parenting.

Violet Got Married to a Gay

On July 18th, 1936, one of their many “managers” cooked up a scheme to stage a wedding at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. They sold tickets for 25 cents each, and Violet ended up “marrying” James Moore, a longtime friend and fellow performer. The twist? Moore was gay, and eventually, they all admitted it was just for show. Despite the hoax, the event drew quite a crowd, with fans lining up for 20 minutes just to meet the “bride,” “groom,” and the pregnant maid-of-honor, Daisy. The couple never lived together, but the marriage lasted 10 years.

Then in 1941, Daisy took another shot at marriage, this time with musician and dancer Harold Estep. But just like Violet’s past experience, this one fizzled out quickly. Harold, struggling with his own identity like Jim Moore before him, couldn’t handle the pressure and called it quits after only 10 days, leaving the trio to face public mockery.

The End of Their Career in the Entertainment Industry

By the late 1940s, things were looking grim for the conjoined twins in the entertainment world. Then, in 1950, they landed what seemed like a golden opportunity: starring roles in a movie called “Chained for Life,” a story loosely based on their own lives. But the film bombed at the box office and faced bans for its controversial content, just like their previous movie “Freaks.”

Needing a steady income, Violet and Daisy applied for jobs at a grocery store in Charlotte called “Park’n’Shop.” They were hired by the owner, Charles Reid, who paid them separately despite their offer to work for a single wage. Reid even came up with a clever solution for them to work as produce weighers, creating a two-person cashier/weighing station that disguised their condition so well that customers had no clue they were conjoined.

For seven years, they punched the clock there, renting a cozy two-bedroom house on Weyland and Greenland Avenue, courtesy of Charles Reid’s church, Purcell United Methodist. While they bonded with coworkers and reminisced about their days in the spotlight, they mostly kept to themselves. They went out only for work and church. Despite their low-key lifestyle, it seemed they had finally found the peace and joy they had been searching for. Grateful for the kindness they received, they made sure to spread holiday cheer by giving Christmas gifts to coworkers and favorite customers at the “Park’n’Shop.”

Fun fact: The twins supported different political ideologies. Daisy was a Republican, Violet was a Democrat.

In 1997 a musical based on their unique lives opened on Broadway. It was called “Side Show.”

A biography based on their lives, written and directed by Leslie Zemeckis was produced in 2012. It has actual footage and interviews and it is available on Netflix.

A Tragic End

In late 1968, at the age of 60, Daisy caught the flu that was going around but refused to go to the hospital. Then, on January 4th, 1969, they didn’t show up for work at the store. Concerned coworkers tried to reach them, but couldn’t get through. So, they called the police. When the officers got inside their home, they found the twins near a furnace vent, trying to stay warm. Daisy had already passed away from the flu, and Violet had stayed with her for two to four more days before she also died. Even though Violet could have called for help, she chose to stay by her sister’s side until the end.

Despite their hardships, Daisy and Violet Hilton’s story is one of strength and perseverance. They overcame numerous obstacles and achieved success in the entertainment industry. Their fight for emancipation paved the way for other conjoined twins to seek autonomy.

Today, the twins are remembered for their unique lives and their enduring spirit. Their story serves as a reminder of the importance of human dignity and the fight for freedom.

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