Hilton twins

(Redirected from Daisy and Violet Hilton)

The Hilton twins were a pair of conjoined twins who toured in the US sideshow and vaudeville circuit in the 1930's.

Daisy and Violet Hilton were born in Brighton, England on February 5, 1908. Their mother was a single barmaid named Kate Skinner. The sisters were born conjoined in hips and buttocks; they shared blood circulation and were fused at the pelvis but shared no major organs. Skinner's boss Mary Hilton, who helped in childbirth, apparently saw commercial prospects in them, effectively bought them from their mother and took them under her care.

According to the sisters' own autobiography, Mary Hilton, her husband and daughter kept the twins in strict control with physical abuse; they had to call her "Auntie Lou" and her current husband "Sir". They trained them in singing and dancing.

The Hilton sisters toured first in England at the age of three as "the United Twins". Mary Hilton dragged them to a tour through Germany, Australia and to the USA. In the true sideshow manner, their performance was accompanied with a dubious "history". Their controllers kept all the money the sisters earned.

When Mary died in Birmingham, Alabama, her daughter and her husband took over. They kept the twins from public view for a while and trained them in jazz music. They lived in a mansion in San Antonio, Texas until the early 1930s.

In 1931 the sisters gathered enough courage to sue their "managers", gaining $100.000 in damages - and independence. They left the sideshows and went into vaudeville as "The Hilton Sisters' Revue". Daisy dyed her hair blonde and they began to wear different outfits so they could be told apart. As if to compensate for their deprived past, they had numerous affairs, failed attempts to get a marriage license and couple of short marriages. In 1932 the twins appeared as themselves in the movie Freaks.

Eventually the sisters settled in Miami and kept a hamburger stand called the Hilton Sisters' Snack Bar. In the 1950 they tried Hollywood again and starred in a movie Chained for Life.

The Hiltons' last public appearance was at a drive-in movie theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their tour manager failed to pick them up and they had to take a job at a grocery store.

On January 6, 1969 the twins were found dead in their home due to the Hong Kong Flu.


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On January 6, 1969 the twins were found dead in their home due to the Hong Kong Flu. She is married to Scottish Indy Racing League driver Dario Franchitti. Their tour manager failed to pick them up and they had to take a job at a grocery store. Whenever her schedule allows, she is regularly at UK basketball games, and is frequently sought out for celebrity camera shots during televised games (much like Jack Nicholson with the Los Angeles Lakers or Spike Lee with the New York Knicks). The Hiltons' last public appearance was at a drive-in movie theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a result she could play leading roles in films that were bound to be successful at the box office, but still required acting skills, like Double Jeopardy (1999) and Someone Like You (2001). In the 1950 they tried Hollywood again and starred in a movie Chained for Life. By the end of the 1990s she managed to achieve significant fame and success as an actress.

Eventually the sisters settled in Miami and kept a hamburger stand called the Hilton Sisters' Snack Bar. She found further critical acclaim in Smoke (1995) and publicity in Heat (1995). In 1932 the twins appeared as themselves in the movie Freaks. She had a role in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, but all the scenes she played in were cut from the final version of the film. As if to compensate for their deprived past, they had numerous affairs, failed attempts to get a marriage license and couple of short marriages. Her film debut was a small part in Kuffs (1992) and the first major role was in Ruby in Paradise (1993), a hit independent drama. Daisy dyed her hair blonde and they began to wear different outfits so they could be told apart. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1990, majoring in French.

They left the sideshows and went into vaudeville as "The Hilton Sisters' Revue". Her mother and sister are country singers, Naomi Judd and Wynonna Judd, respectively. In 1931 the sisters gathered enough courage to sue their "managers", gaining $100.000 in damages - and independence. Ashley Judd (born April 19, 1968 in Granada Hills, California) is an American actress. They lived in a mansion in San Antonio, Texas until the early 1930s. Kuffs (1992). They kept the twins from public view for a while and trained them in jazz music. Ruby in Paradise (1993).

When Mary died in Birmingham, Alabama, her daughter and her husband took over. Smoke (1995). Their controllers kept all the money the sisters earned. Heat (1995). In the true sideshow manner, their performance was accompanied with a dubious "history". The Passion of Darkly Noon (aka Darkly Noon) (1995). Mary Hilton dragged them to a tour through Germany, Australia and to the USA. A Time to Kill (1996).

The Hilton sisters toured first in England at the age of three as "the United Twins". Normal Life (1996). They trained them in singing and dancing. The Locusts (aka A Secret Sin) (1997). According to the sisters' own autobiography, Mary Hilton, her husband and daughter kept the twins in strict control with physical abuse; they had to call her "Auntie Lou" and her current husband "Sir". Kiss the Girls (1997). Skinner's boss Mary Hilton, who helped in childbirth, apparently saw commercial prospects in them, effectively bought them from their mother and took them under her care. Simon Birch (aka Angels and Armadillos) (1998).

The sisters were born conjoined in hips and buttocks; they shared blood circulation and were fused at the pelvis but shared no major organs. Eye of the Beholder (1999). Their mother was a single barmaid named Kate Skinner. Double Jeopardy (1999). Daisy and Violet Hilton were born in Brighton, England on February 5, 1908. Where the Heart Is (2000). The Hilton twins were a pair of conjoined twins who toured in the US sideshow and vaudeville circuit in the 1930's. Someone Like You (aka Animal Attraction) (2001).

High Crimes (2002). The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002). Frida (2002). De-Lovely (2004).