Son of Jacob and Charlotte Wagner.
**************************
Gus Wagner was a tattoo artist who described himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America." He traveled with circuses and sideshows and met Maud Stevens at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (World's Fair) in 1904, where she was working as an aerialist. She exchanged a romantic date with him for a lesson in tattooing, and several years later they were married. Together they had a daughter, Lovetta, who started tattooing at the age of nine and went on to become a tattoo artist herself.
Maud became an apprentice of her husband and learned how to give traditional "hand-poked" tattoos from him-—despite the invention of the tattoo machine-—and became a tattooist herself. Together, the Wagners were two of the last tattoo artists to work by hand, without the aid of modern tattoo machines.
After leaving the circus, Maud and Gus Wagner traveled around the United States, working both as tattoo artists and "tattooed attractions" in vaudeville houses, county fairs and amusement arcades. They are credited with bringing tattoo artistry inland, away from the coastal cities and towns where the practice had started.
From Wikipedia
**************************
Gus Wagner is considered one of the first tattoo professionals, and his greatest body of work was, well, his own body. In all, Wagner said he had 264 tattoos, which led to him promoting himself in a circus-sideshow style act as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Sharing space with him on the marquee was his wife, Maud Stevens Wagner, who was apparently at least as much of an attraction — at least according to her photo and a blurb that appeared in a Utah newspaper in 1909. All of her body art was, of course, completed by her husband, "The Original Gus Wagner."
**************************
GUS WAGNER: "World's Champion Hand Tattoo Artist and Tattooed Man," was one of the most exuberant figures in the history of American popular culture. As tattooist and showman, he adorned thousands of customers and thrilled audiences from coast to coast in the early years of the 20th century.
Gus was born in Marietta, Ohio, a trading and boatbuilding town on the Ohio River. At age twelve he saw his first tattooed man, "Captain Costentenus the Greek Albanian," in a traveling show. As a young man he hit the road as an itinerant salesman and laborer. In 1897 he boarded the cargo steamer Bellona at Newport News, Virginia, thus embarking on a four-year career as a merchant seaman.
Traveling around the world, Gus got to know many seaports: Vera Cruz, London, Capetown, Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, and others. He also discovered his true calling. Gus claimed that he learned to tattoo from tribesmen in Java and Borneo who showed him how to use traditional hand-made tools. By 1901, Gus reportedly had 264 tattoos of his own, allowing him to promote himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Back home, Gus embarked on a forty-year career as a traveling tattooist, tattooed man, and circus performer. He largely eschewed the new electric tattooing machines that transformed the art form after 1890, and remained faithful to his hand-held instruments. With other wandering artists, he carried tattooing inland from coastal ports, making it part of the culture of small-town America in the 20th century.
At some point late in life, Gus compiled a scrapbook of snapshots, trade cards, and other ephemera saved over the course of his career. Largely vanquished by movies, radio, and television, this world comes to life again in Gus's photographs and souvenirs. In his later years Gus diversified his talents, showing and selling busts and totems he carved out of wood. He also became a gem collector, taxidermist, and exhibitor of rare animals, reptiles, and birds. He continued to work as a showman in circuses and Wild West shows. Gus died after being struck by lightning, in 1941.
**************************
The News-Courant, 05 Nov 1908, Thursday
The original Gus Wagoner (sic) was in town Monday. Mr. Wagner is a character. A man full of information gained from extensive travel. An interesting man personally and a very interesting talker. He has traveled around the world three times besides extensively in the United States. Mr. Wagner impresses you as a gentleman and a scholar.
He has gathered in his travels many curiosities--by the exhibition of these and himself as the tatooed (sic) man he makes a livelihood for himself and family. There are 350 designs tatooed on his person done in a variety of colors, and he himself is post master in the art of tatoo work. He and his wife spent the summer with her parents near Wonsevu.
**************************
Gus Wagner was a tattoo artist who described himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America." He traveled with circuses and sideshows and met Maud Stevens at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (World's Fair) in 1904, where she was working as an aerialist. She exchanged a romantic date with him for a lesson in tattooing, and several years later they were married. Together they had a daughter, Lovetta, who started tattooing at the age of nine and went on to become a tattoo artist herself.
Maud became an apprentice of her husband and learned how to give traditional "hand-poked" tattoos from him-—despite the invention of the tattoo machine-—and became a tattooist herself. Together, the Wagners were two of the last tattoo artists to work by hand, without the aid of modern tattoo machines.
After leaving the circus, Maud and Gus Wagner traveled around the United States, working both as tattoo artists and "tattooed attractions" in vaudeville houses, county fairs and amusement arcades. They are credited with bringing tattoo artistry inland, away from the coastal cities and towns where the practice had started.
From Wikipedia
**************************
Gus Wagner is considered one of the first tattoo professionals, and his greatest body of work was, well, his own body. In all, Wagner said he had 264 tattoos, which led to him promoting himself in a circus-sideshow style act as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Sharing space with him on the marquee was his wife, Maud Stevens Wagner, who was apparently at least as much of an attraction — at least according to her photo and a blurb that appeared in a Utah newspaper in 1909. All of her body art was, of course, completed by her husband, "The Original Gus Wagner."
**************************
GUS WAGNER: "World's Champion Hand Tattoo Artist and Tattooed Man," was one of the most exuberant figures in the history of American popular culture. As tattooist and showman, he adorned thousands of customers and thrilled audiences from coast to coast in the early years of the 20th century.
Gus was born in Marietta, Ohio, a trading and boatbuilding town on the Ohio River. At age twelve he saw his first tattooed man, "Captain Costentenus the Greek Albanian," in a traveling show. As a young man he hit the road as an itinerant salesman and laborer. In 1897 he boarded the cargo steamer Bellona at Newport News, Virginia, thus embarking on a four-year career as a merchant seaman.
Traveling around the world, Gus got to know many seaports: Vera Cruz, London, Capetown, Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, and others. He also discovered his true calling. Gus claimed that he learned to tattoo from tribesmen in Java and Borneo who showed him how to use traditional hand-made tools. By 1901, Gus reportedly had 264 tattoos of his own, allowing him to promote himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Back home, Gus embarked on a forty-year career as a traveling tattooist, tattooed man, and circus performer. He largely eschewed the new electric tattooing machines that transformed the art form after 1890, and remained faithful to his hand-held instruments. With other wandering artists, he carried tattooing inland from coastal ports, making it part of the culture of small-town America in the 20th century.
At some point late in life, Gus compiled a scrapbook of snapshots, trade cards, and other ephemera saved over the course of his career. Largely vanquished by movies, radio, and television, this world comes to life again in Gus's photographs and souvenirs. In his later years Gus diversified his talents, showing and selling busts and totems he carved out of wood. He also became a gem collector, taxidermist, and exhibitor of rare animals, reptiles, and birds. He continued to work as a showman in circuses and Wild West shows. Gus died after being struck by lightning, in 1941.
**************************
The News-Courant, 05 Nov 1908, Thursday
The original Gus Wagoner (sic) was in town Monday. Mr. Wagner is a character. A man full of information gained from extensive travel. An interesting man personally and a very interesting talker. He has traveled around the world three times besides extensively in the United States. Mr. Wagner impresses you as a gentleman and a scholar.
He has gathered in his travels many curiosities--by the exhibition of these and himself as the tatooed (sic) man he makes a livelihood for himself and family. There are 350 designs tatooed on his person done in a variety of colors, and he himself is post master in the art of tatoo work. He and his wife spent the summer with her parents near Wonsevu.
Son of Jacob and Charlotte Wagner.
**************************
Gus Wagner was a tattoo artist who described himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America." He traveled with circuses and sideshows and met Maud Stevens at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (World's Fair) in 1904, where she was working as an aerialist. She exchanged a romantic date with him for a lesson in tattooing, and several years later they were married. Together they had a daughter, Lovetta, who started tattooing at the age of nine and went on to become a tattoo artist herself.
Maud became an apprentice of her husband and learned how to give traditional "hand-poked" tattoos from him-—despite the invention of the tattoo machine-—and became a tattooist herself. Together, the Wagners were two of the last tattoo artists to work by hand, without the aid of modern tattoo machines.
After leaving the circus, Maud and Gus Wagner traveled around the United States, working both as tattoo artists and "tattooed attractions" in vaudeville houses, county fairs and amusement arcades. They are credited with bringing tattoo artistry inland, away from the coastal cities and towns where the practice had started.
From Wikipedia
**************************
Gus Wagner is considered one of the first tattoo professionals, and his greatest body of work was, well, his own body. In all, Wagner said he had 264 tattoos, which led to him promoting himself in a circus-sideshow style act as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Sharing space with him on the marquee was his wife, Maud Stevens Wagner, who was apparently at least as much of an attraction — at least according to her photo and a blurb that appeared in a Utah newspaper in 1909. All of her body art was, of course, completed by her husband, "The Original Gus Wagner."
**************************
GUS WAGNER: "World's Champion Hand Tattoo Artist and Tattooed Man," was one of the most exuberant figures in the history of American popular culture. As tattooist and showman, he adorned thousands of customers and thrilled audiences from coast to coast in the early years of the 20th century.
Gus was born in Marietta, Ohio, a trading and boatbuilding town on the Ohio River. At age twelve he saw his first tattooed man, "Captain Costentenus the Greek Albanian," in a traveling show. As a young man he hit the road as an itinerant salesman and laborer. In 1897 he boarded the cargo steamer Bellona at Newport News, Virginia, thus embarking on a four-year career as a merchant seaman.
Traveling around the world, Gus got to know many seaports: Vera Cruz, London, Capetown, Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, and others. He also discovered his true calling. Gus claimed that he learned to tattoo from tribesmen in Java and Borneo who showed him how to use traditional hand-made tools. By 1901, Gus reportedly had 264 tattoos of his own, allowing him to promote himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Back home, Gus embarked on a forty-year career as a traveling tattooist, tattooed man, and circus performer. He largely eschewed the new electric tattooing machines that transformed the art form after 1890, and remained faithful to his hand-held instruments. With other wandering artists, he carried tattooing inland from coastal ports, making it part of the culture of small-town America in the 20th century.
At some point late in life, Gus compiled a scrapbook of snapshots, trade cards, and other ephemera saved over the course of his career. Largely vanquished by movies, radio, and television, this world comes to life again in Gus's photographs and souvenirs. In his later years Gus diversified his talents, showing and selling busts and totems he carved out of wood. He also became a gem collector, taxidermist, and exhibitor of rare animals, reptiles, and birds. He continued to work as a showman in circuses and Wild West shows. Gus died after being struck by lightning, in 1941.
**************************
The News-Courant, 05 Nov 1908, Thursday
The original Gus Wagoner (sic) was in town Monday. Mr. Wagner is a character. A man full of information gained from extensive travel. An interesting man personally and a very interesting talker. He has traveled around the world three times besides extensively in the United States. Mr. Wagner impresses you as a gentleman and a scholar.
He has gathered in his travels many curiosities--by the exhibition of these and himself as the tatooed (sic) man he makes a livelihood for himself and family. There are 350 designs tatooed on his person done in a variety of colors, and he himself is post master in the art of tatoo work. He and his wife spent the summer with her parents near Wonsevu.
**************************
Gus Wagner was a tattoo artist who described himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America." He traveled with circuses and sideshows and met Maud Stevens at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (World's Fair) in 1904, where she was working as an aerialist. She exchanged a romantic date with him for a lesson in tattooing, and several years later they were married. Together they had a daughter, Lovetta, who started tattooing at the age of nine and went on to become a tattoo artist herself.
Maud became an apprentice of her husband and learned how to give traditional "hand-poked" tattoos from him-—despite the invention of the tattoo machine-—and became a tattooist herself. Together, the Wagners were two of the last tattoo artists to work by hand, without the aid of modern tattoo machines.
After leaving the circus, Maud and Gus Wagner traveled around the United States, working both as tattoo artists and "tattooed attractions" in vaudeville houses, county fairs and amusement arcades. They are credited with bringing tattoo artistry inland, away from the coastal cities and towns where the practice had started.
From Wikipedia
**************************
Gus Wagner is considered one of the first tattoo professionals, and his greatest body of work was, well, his own body. In all, Wagner said he had 264 tattoos, which led to him promoting himself in a circus-sideshow style act as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Sharing space with him on the marquee was his wife, Maud Stevens Wagner, who was apparently at least as much of an attraction — at least according to her photo and a blurb that appeared in a Utah newspaper in 1909. All of her body art was, of course, completed by her husband, "The Original Gus Wagner."
**************************
GUS WAGNER: "World's Champion Hand Tattoo Artist and Tattooed Man," was one of the most exuberant figures in the history of American popular culture. As tattooist and showman, he adorned thousands of customers and thrilled audiences from coast to coast in the early years of the 20th century.
Gus was born in Marietta, Ohio, a trading and boatbuilding town on the Ohio River. At age twelve he saw his first tattooed man, "Captain Costentenus the Greek Albanian," in a traveling show. As a young man he hit the road as an itinerant salesman and laborer. In 1897 he boarded the cargo steamer Bellona at Newport News, Virginia, thus embarking on a four-year career as a merchant seaman.
Traveling around the world, Gus got to know many seaports: Vera Cruz, London, Capetown, Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, and others. He also discovered his true calling. Gus claimed that he learned to tattoo from tribesmen in Java and Borneo who showed him how to use traditional hand-made tools. By 1901, Gus reportedly had 264 tattoos of his own, allowing him to promote himself as "the most artistically marked up man in America."
Back home, Gus embarked on a forty-year career as a traveling tattooist, tattooed man, and circus performer. He largely eschewed the new electric tattooing machines that transformed the art form after 1890, and remained faithful to his hand-held instruments. With other wandering artists, he carried tattooing inland from coastal ports, making it part of the culture of small-town America in the 20th century.
At some point late in life, Gus compiled a scrapbook of snapshots, trade cards, and other ephemera saved over the course of his career. Largely vanquished by movies, radio, and television, this world comes to life again in Gus's photographs and souvenirs. In his later years Gus diversified his talents, showing and selling busts and totems he carved out of wood. He also became a gem collector, taxidermist, and exhibitor of rare animals, reptiles, and birds. He continued to work as a showman in circuses and Wild West shows. Gus died after being struck by lightning, in 1941.
**************************
The News-Courant, 05 Nov 1908, Thursday
The original Gus Wagoner (sic) was in town Monday. Mr. Wagner is a character. A man full of information gained from extensive travel. An interesting man personally and a very interesting talker. He has traveled around the world three times besides extensively in the United States. Mr. Wagner impresses you as a gentleman and a scholar.
He has gathered in his travels many curiosities--by the exhibition of these and himself as the tatooed (sic) man he makes a livelihood for himself and family. There are 350 designs tatooed on his person done in a variety of colors, and he himself is post master in the art of tatoo work. He and his wife spent the summer with her parents near Wonsevu.
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