CIRCUS ACTS & PERFORMANCES
Iron Jaw
Strength, spectacle, and daring above the circus ring
For nearly two centuries, iron jaw performers have amazed circus and vaudeville audiences with an extraordinary display of strength and aerial artistry. Suspended by a mouthpiece held in the teeth, performers transformed a feat of physical strength into swinging, spinning and soaring spectacle.
The Ty-Bell Sisters perform their sensational aerial iron jaw act in this 1906 Sells-Floto Circus illustration.
The Ringling Museum, Tibbals Circus Collection
How Did Iron Jaw Work?
Iron jaw is an aerial act in which a performer is raised on a rope, cable, or trapeze using an apparatus held in the mouth. Once in the air, performers might swing, spin, descend, or combine iron jaw with other aerial feats.
Early iron jaw apparatus could be surprisingly simple. In the mid-19th century, performers commonly used a short leather strap with smaller pieces of leather for the teeth. By the late 19th century, mouthpieces began incorporating molds of a performer’s teeth or palate. During the 20th century, increasingly sophisticated dental materials allowed the apparatus to become more secure and individually fitted to each performer.
IRON JAW AT A GLANCE
Origins
At least the 19th century
Type
Aerial / strength act
Apparatus
Custom mouthpiece attached to a rope, cable, trapeze, or other rigging
Performance
Swinging · Spinning · Descending · Aerial feats
The Apparatus
The iron jaw mouthpiece evolved along with the act. Early performers relied on relatively simple leather straps held between the teeth. By the late 19th century, mouthpieces began to incorporate molds of the teeth or palate. During the 20th century, advances in dental materials allowed performers to use increasingly secure, custom-fitted apparatus.
Leather bite strap
This iron jaw apparatus was used by Frieda Richard of the Richard Sisters in 1910 and 1911 on Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. and Ringling Bros. in 1912. Circus World Museum, Wisconsin Historical Society
Acrylic molded mouthpiece
During her 13 seasons with Ringling-Barnum, Mary Jane Miller performed in a spectrum of acts from trapeze to
elephants to iron jaw. The acrylic mouthpiece she used is seen here. The Ringling Museum
Performers
Generations of performers transformed iron jaw from a demonstration of strength into an extraordinary variety of aerial spectacles. Some emphasized power and endurance; others added speed, height, acrobatics, elaborate costumes, or the illusion of weightlessness. Their innovations helped iron jaw evolve while preserving the fundamental feat at the heart of the act.
Leona Dare
The Aerial Queen
One of the most celebrated aerialists of the 19th century, Leona Dare combined trapeze and iron jaw in performances that took her from the circus ring to daring balloon ascensions.
Inez Palmer
The Queen of Dental Strength
A strongwoman and iron jaw performer, Inez Palmer amazed audiences by lifting heavy weights with her teeth and finishing her act with daring aerial feats.
Ty-Bell Sisters
The Human Butterflies
The Ty-Bell Sisters transformed iron jaw into an ethereal aerial spectacle, combining strength and speed with elaborate costumes that created the illusion of floating through the air.
Tiny Kline
Daredevil of the Iron Jaw
Tiny Kline became famous for spectacular “slides for life,” traveling great distances suspended by her teeth. Decades later, she brought her aerial daring to Disneyland as Tinker Bell.
Iron Jaw in Action
Iron jaw was far more than simply hanging by the teeth. Performers continually reinvented the act—spinning high above the ring, carrying other performers, descending inclined wires, soaring beneath balloons, and creating elaborate aerial spectacles.
Thousands watched Tiny Kline’s thrilling iron jaw descent on August 7, 1931. Chris Berry Collection
IRON JAW IN MOTION
Slides for Life
Tiny Kline took iron jaw far beyond the circus ring. In her daring “slides for life,” she traveled along inclined cables while suspended by her teeth, turning the traditional aerial feat into a breathtaking long-distance spectacle.
On August 7, 1931, thousands watched as Kline made one of these dramatic descents, demonstrating the extraordinary strength, endurance, and showmanship that made her one of the era’s most memorable iron jaw performers.
August 7, 1931
Thousands gathered to watch Tiny Kline’s iron jaw descent.
IRON JAW TRANSFORMED
The Human Butterfly
The Ty-Bell Sisters transformed a feat of strength into an illusion of flight. Their iron jaw performances combined speed and height with elaborate butterfly costumes, creating the impression that the performers were floating almost weightlessly above the circus ring.
By making the supporting apparatus difficult for audiences to see, the sisters shifted attention away from the mechanics of iron jaw and toward the spectacle itself—the strength required to perform the act seemingly disappearing behind the image of human flight.
The ethereal Ty-Bell Sisters performed with the Ringling-owned Forepaugh-Sells circus
in 1910. Circus World Museum, Wisconsin Historical Society
Iron Jaw Through Time
From feats of dental strength to elaborate aerial spectacle, iron jaw continually evolved as performers found new ways to combine strength, technology, daring, and showmanship.
MID-1800s
Early Iron Jaw
Simple leather mouthpieces support early documented forms of the act.
1870s
Taking Flight
Leona Dare combines iron jaw with trapeze and daring balloon ascensions.
1890s
Dental Strength
Inez Palmer combines feats of dental strength with dramatic aerial performance.
Early 1900s
A Better Bite
Custom-fitted mouthpieces make the apparatus increasingly secure and sophisticated.
1920s
Human Butterflies
The Ty-Bell Sisters turn iron jaw strength into an illusion of weightless flight.
1931
Slides for Life
Tiny Kline transforms iron jaw into spectacular long-distance aerial descents.
From the Bandwagon Archives
Continue exploring the history of iron jaw through articles published in Bandwagon, the journal of the Circus Historical Society.
FROM THE BANDWAGON ARCHIVES
The Tenacious Women of Iron Jaw
Aíne Norris · Bandwagon · Vol. 65, No. 3 · 2021
From Leona Dare and Inez Palmer to the Ty-Bell Sisters and Tiny Kline, Aíne Norris traces generations of performers who transformed iron jaw from a remarkable feat of strength into an increasingly daring and theatrical aerial spectacle.