1900 Kobelkoff (excerpt)

The 19th century theatrical exploitation of people with remarkable disabilities is a very uncomfortable subject, but the short film "Kobelkoff" has quite a happy background.

Николай Васильевич Кобельков (Nikolai Wassiljewitsch Kobelkoff) (1851 Troizk - 1933 Vienna) was born with little stumps instead of limbs. He learned many skills that seemed quite difficult in this condition, like dressing and feeding himself, writing, drawing, painting and threading a needle. He worked as a clerk when he was 18 years old.

Kobelkoff had a positive outlook on life and usually came across as a happy and chivalrous person.
With his abilities and an aristocratic background, he had plenty of other career options, but from around 1870 he started performing as a kind of "freak show" attraction. He became rich and famous and learned several languages while touring through Europe and the United States. In 1901, he bought a plot of land in Vienna’s Wurstelprater amusement park, where he had some attractions built, including a "Toboggan" slide. He continued to tour, until his wife Anna died in 1912, after which he retired in Vienna with his six surviving children (of the eleven Anna had given birth to).

The makers of the 1900 film are unknown. Other segments demonstrate Kobelkoff's abilities to drink from a glass, shoot a rifle, lift weights, et cetera, but this simple shot is the most appealing one.

Видео 1900 Kobelkoff (excerpt) канала magical media museum