Betty Broadbent is very famous and a pioneer in the world of tattoos. Even if you don’t recognize the name, this picture is a classic. Betty was the first person to be honored in the Tattooed Hall of Fame. She began her career with the circus back in 1927 when she was only 17 years old. Betty first found work with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Eventually Betty became a tattoo artist herself.
Her body was inked with over 350 designs. The work was done by some famous artists at that time – Charlie Wagner, Joe Van Hart, Tony Rhineager and Red Gibbons. Her tattoos included portraits of Charles Lindbergh and Pancho Villa. She was billed as the “youngest tattooed woman in the world”. Betty would eventually fall in love and marry Red Gibbons. Even in current times, seeing a woman with a body suit is pretty radical and for the 1920′s it was really a strange site. Betty was ahead of her time and had a true love the art. She passed away in 1983 down in Florida where she had retired in 1967.
Read about Dainty Dotty – Another famous female tattoo recipient and artist whose career was tied up with the circus.
Related posts:
- Circus and Tattoos
- Tattoo History – Dainty Dotty
- Grandmother of Tattoos
- Tattoos and Pregnant Women
- Beautiful Tattooed Women
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I just want to inform you that Betty Broadbent was NEVER married to Red Gibbons.
Red Gibbons was married to the famous tattooed lady, ARTORIA GIBBONS!
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