Orville Stamm

Orville Stamm was born to Bessie Stamm and Louis Stamm.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1924| title =Orville Stamm, Strong Man, Heads Victoria Vaudeville; Gloria Swanson on Screen| publisher=News-Pilot| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/604843207/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} The couple divorced in 1903.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1912| title =Wealthy Oil Man Is Wed In Los Angeles| publisher=The Fresno Morning Republican| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/607249522/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} He was a vaudeville child star.{{cite book|title=Uncle John's Bathroom Reader: Wonderful World of Odd|publisher=Printers Row|year=2011|isbn=9781607104643 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xihZDwAAQBAJ}} In 1909, he competed for boys' gymnast contest in Los Angeles.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1909| title =Orville Stamm Will Compete For Boy Gymnast Prize| publisher=Los Angeles Herald| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/46443840/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} in 1914 he gave a lecture on weight loss in Tacoma.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1914| title =Vaudeville Star Talks on Health| publisher=The News Tribune| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/732792706/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}

Stamm performed a variety of tricks as part of his act including singing, floor tumbling, playing a violin with a dog hanging from his arm, playing the fiddle, lifting horses, lifting women, and letting a musician play a piano on top of his body.{{cite web|work=LIFE Magazine|date=November 12, 1956|publisher=Time Inc.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Orville+Stamm%22&pg=PA84|title=The Boy Hurcules}}{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=William D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=27afULuIOekC&dq=Orville+Stamm&pg=PA127 |title=Pretty Bubbles in the Air: America in 1919 |date=1991 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-01823-7 |language=en}}{{Citation| last=| first =| year=1916| title =" Dream Of The Orient"| publisher=The Fort Wayne News| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/34735808/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}Musings, publisher: AuthorHouse, published: 2012, url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Musings/YKZ03TdSuL4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Orville+Stamm%22&pg=PA80&printsec=frontcover

Stamm and his wife, Martha Jane Stefanik, were known as the "eugenic couple".{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZrVfkUfCngC&dq=%22Orville+Stamm%22&pg=RA6-PA11 |title=The Billboard |date=1927 |publisher=R.S. Littleford, Jr., W.D. Littleford |language=en}} They performed internationally together doing adagio dances.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1963| title =O. L. Stamm| publisher=The Daily Courier| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/41877635/?terms=Orville%20Stamm&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} The couple also performed routines involving singing, dancing and comedy.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1926| title =Different Vaude Bill is Headed By Orville Stamm| publisher=The Dayton Herald| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/391821630/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} The pair performed in Calgary in 1924, in Nebraska in 1925 and Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1927.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1925| title =Mr. and Mrs. Orville Stamm and Company Last Times Today at the Liberty| publisher=The Nebraska State Journal| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/314115209/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1927| title =Earle Offers Pleasing Fare| publisher=Press of Atlantic City| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/917984242/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}

Stamm and Stefanik were invited to the White House by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his presidency for tea.{{Citation| last=Wood| first =John| year= 2017| title =Orville Stamm - The Boy Hercules| publisher=Old Times Strongman| url=https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/blog/tag/horse-lifting/| access-date = 13 March 2023}} Stamm later had a piece of exercise equipment named after him called, "The Stamm Foldaway Gym".Business Management, publisher: ''Management Magazines', published: 1965, url=https://books.google.com/books/content?id=25QSAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA87&img=1&pgis=1&dq=%22Orville+Stamm%22&bul=1&sig=ACfU3U2DBvqZXtWVWtM_LFPTWVT7WZG2fw&edge=0

Stamm was a physical instructor for the U.S. Navy during World War 1.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1918| title =The Majestic| publisher=Harrisburg Telegraph| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/40613955/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} Stamm later held patents on various gymnastic equipment, headlights and animal exercise equipment.

Stamm married Martha Jane Stefanik in 1947. Stefanik was a member of the New York City Ballet and was a regular performer in his act.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1928| title ="Eat More Potatoes," Is Just Troupers' Joke| publisher=Evening Express| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/852168082/?terms=%22Orville%20Stamm%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1963| title =Physical Fitness Expert Orville Stamm Succumbs| publisher=The Evening Standard| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/27802303/?terms=Orville%20Stamm&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}

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Category:Circus strongmen and strongwomen

Category:American strength athletes

Category:1893 births

Category:1963 deaths

Category:Vaudeville performers

Category:People associated with physical culture