1933

Robert the reader

The night of January 20th was Robert's big debut on stage. Along with the other students of Mrs. Lancaster's, he acted in a program that showed off their training. Taking the part of an old farmer in a character reading, he was enthusiastically received! Bravo, Bob!

 

Robert becomes a DeMolay
On February 1st, Robert became a member of the DeMolay organization, a fraternity that teaches leadership skills to adolescent boys. His chapter was the fourth or fifth largest in the US! Robert and the other members did good deeds like helping raise money to prevent TB.

 

Robert in Shoeville

On April 22nd, the International Shoe Company hosted a demonstration in Perryville, Missouri. 800 shoe employees gathered to watch floats, see a huge display of 4000 shoe styles… and say hello to the company's biggest shoe salesman! It isn’t known what Robert did at the event, but certainly had a great time!

Robert visits the World's Fair
Robert and his YMCA pals went to the fair in Chicago, where they visited many exhibits, swam in the pool and saw a National League baseball game. Their fun times were made into a movie feature called Altonians at the Century of Progress, which the boys watched it at a reunion party the following year.

1934
Robert's reel

The year began with a newsreel shot in the Wadlow front yard. But the usual American studio didn't stop by... the Italian Giornale Luce did! They filmed Harold introducing his family and Robert comparing his height to a friend. They swapped hats, which Robbie was amused by!

 

Robert goes to shoe fairs
In January, a pair of Robert's shoes was displayed at a St. Louis shoe convention, which Robert visited. A couple months later, Robert and his size 35 shoes went to another con- the Style Show and Shoe Exposition. The guest of honor's shoes were shown alongside Lavinia Warren's (Mrs. Tom Thumb's) tiny slippers and a Popeye impersonator.

Robert has a fall
On February 13th, Robert slipped on the stairs in Alton High School. Coach Jackson of the basketball team took Robert home to Brown Street, where his parents took care of his sprained arm and wrist. He returned to school on Valentine's Day with a sore arm... and plenty of love in his heart!

Robert runs the stand
Robert, Helen and Eugene ran a lemonade/soda stand during the summer. Hundreds of people stopped by... just to see Robert! Most people left without buying anything, so Robert made them purchase a drink or else he wouldn't stand up for them. The stand made over $100 between June 15th and August 1st (over $2000 in today's money)! Profits dried up during Robert's next endeavor, however....
 
Robert goes to camp
On August 2nd, Robert went to Camp Manitowish in Wisconsin with the YMCA gang. He loved the lakes and towering pine trees around the camp. One day, he went exploring in a flat-bottomed boat and came across a beaver dam, getting stuck on a submerged log. Despite the incident and only catching one fish, Robert enjoyed his first summer camping experience.

Robert makes the mark
In October, Robert joined an elite club of extraordinarily tall people when he passed the eight foot mark. This made him the tallest teenager in the world!

1935
Robert has good times
This year started off great for Robert. He entered his final semester of his senior year in January, played the role of a shoe salesman for Lancaster School and celebrated his seventeenth birthday in February and attended a father son banquet at St. Paul's Methodist Church on March 1st. But his hopes of a happy new year were soon to be blasted....

Robert has the worst times...
In mid March, Robert took to bed with the flu and an infection caused by a blister on his foot. His illness sparked a fever of 103 and rheumatic pains that couldn't be cured by home remedies. On the 24th, eight men had to carry him from his upstairs bedroom to a stretcher. An ambulance took Robert to Barnes Hospital, where he stayed for five weeks. During that time, he lost sixty pounds and had to be fed artificially through a tube in his nose. His family visited often, giving him hope despite his doubtful recovery.
 
Robert recovers
Despite getting diagnosed with arthritis in his foot, Robert's condition took a favorable turn when April arrived. Laughter could be heard from his hospital room and he was able to get around in a wheelchair. He planned on returning home on the 21st, but decided that it was best for him to stay at Barnes. He spent Easter focusing on regaining the weight he had lost.
 
Robert returns
On May 6th, Robert finally returned home from the hospital! He was overjoyed to be back, as was his family. Seven weeks after being confined to his bedroom, he spent the day relaxing downstairs in his custom made chair. His weight had returned to 385 pounds and much of his strength had returned. The arthritis would remain, but he didn't let that dampen his spirits.

Robert's school redo
Due to his illness, Robert had lost the remaining work of his last semester and wasn't able to graduate high school. He begged to be allowed to make up the work, but Principal Hanna advised against it. Instead, Robert would be in school for another semester. After school opened that September, Robert squeezed a year of foreign language into one semester with German 3 and 4... and made a B average in both classes!

Robert's Lancaster graduation
When Robert took ill in March, the class of Lancaster School of Expression agreed to postpone the graduation ceremony. The girls and Robert came together for a June 6th meeting at the Lancaster studio (the first meeting he attended after the illness) and discussed graduation plans. He graduated alongside Rhea Grant, Roberts Pieper, Ruby Spees and Iola Corder on June 28th at the Young Woman's Christian Association.

Robert goes to Arkansas
On July 26th, Robert visited the town of Clinton, Arkansas. He was accompanied by his dad, Peters Shoes representative O.M. James and Tate Heuer, a shoe dealer in Harrison, Arkansas. The quartet toured the state and stopped in Clinton to see the Massey Brothers' lineup of shoes. This was the beginning of Robert's friendship with the Heuer family, who would accompany him to Arkansas (and their farm!) in later years.

Robert gets fashionable
Throughout September, newspapers in South Carolina advertised a fashion revue at Wares Shoals department stores. Fashions for the fall of '35 would be showcased along with an orchestra... and Robert would be the star! The highly anticipated event took place on the 20th in an open air theater with over 40,000 feet of floor space. After such a grand time, Robert visited another department store called Novit's, where free souvenirs were given away.

Robert vs. the yule rush
Robert joined a league of freshly hired clerks when the busy holiday season approached. After school, he worked in the wheel department for Young Dry Goods Co. The store manger said he had made a number of sales!

1936

Robert graduates
On the night of January 24th, Robert finally graduated high school! Wearing a custom made gown and size 8.5 cap, he received his diploma alongside 87 other students. Robert was- and still is- the tallest high school graduate of all time. Congrats, Robert!

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Robert is college-bound

After taking a week-long break from school, Robert signed up for classes at Shurtleff College with a major in law. Starting on February 3rd, he took Freshman Composition, Botany, German, English Literature and Political Science. A taxi would take him to Hunter Hall at 7 AM and he studied until 4 PM. He liked his classes and teachers (especially Dr. Fadner!), but struggled with walking around the campus (especially when the sidewalk was icy in the winter) keeping up with notes, using tiny tweezers. His final report card showed passing grades... except for an 'incomplete' in Botany. School had worn Robert out, so he decided not to return to college in the fall. His first college-bound semester turned out to be his last!

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Robert makes talk

On March 3rd, Goodwill Industries started a campaign fund to expand. They kicked things off with a dinner at St. Louis' Trinity Church, which 200 people attended... including Robert! He spoke to the meeting organizers and wished them success.

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Robert the showman

March ended with Robert attending a dog show in St. Louis. April began with him starring in a different type of show... on the big screen! A short film called Filming the Fantastic was screened in Alton movie theaters.

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Robert's shoe blues

In April, Robert received a new pair of $88 shoes ($1948 today!). He complained that the size 39 shoes were too small and pinched his feet. The shoes were sent back to Findlay, Ohio, but they weren't forgotten. The little story was shared in newspapers all over the country... and in Australia!

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Robert goes to Gately's

Throughout May, Robert appeared at Gately's Store locations in Sikeston, Missouri and Belleville, Illinois. The store was having a big 33rd anniversary sale. Robert appeared from 10 am to noon and from 2 pm to 5. If customers spent over $20, Robert gave them a free electric clock lamp.

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Robert at the expo

On August 5th, Robert and Harold traveled to Dallas, Texas for the centennial exposition. With Police Lieutenant Charles Rader as his escort, he met a singing group called Sons of the Pioneers and Governors Henry Horner and James Alldred, took photos at a cane stand, visited the Santa Fe exhibit and rode around in an umbrella-topped wheelchair with Harold.

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Robert runs the stand

From August 18th to the 29th, Robert ran a soda stand at the Illinois State Fair. Even Helen and Eugene helped out! (along with some neighborhood kids!) When a photographer wanted to take a photo of him and Helen, he charged the photographer two dimes. He also took a self driving test, which he was delighted about passing!

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Robert's double fun

The Fayette County Fair in Brownstown, Illinois began on September 2nd. Two days later, Robert made an appearance! Mr. and Mrs John Kinzel accompanied him to a Belleville barbecue on the 17th.

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Robert signs a big contract

Robert wasn't a fan of capitalizing on his height, but on September 23rd, he took an offer that he couldn't refuse- making $300 a week (over $6000 today!) for theatrical appearances across the country. It was signed at Alton High School in Principal Hanna's office. 20th Century Fox filmed a recreation outside the school. The tour was to begin in the eastern US in October.

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Robert in the bus

In Jacksonville, Illinois, Robert amazed everyone after getting out of a bus! He and Harold were traveling from Alton to Joliet. While getting fresh air, Robert answered questions from a Journal and Courier reporter, saying that he wasn't filling any engagements. As policemen quelled the large crowd, Robert ducked back into the bus. He and Harold sat together in a double seat as the crowd watched them leave.

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Robert in Chicagoland

The journey to Joliet ended in Chicago. By December 15th, Robert had spent 5 weeks making appearances in department stores. He stayed there until Christmas Eve. He was set to go back after the new year, but the manager let the deal fall through.