1. Sarah Bernhardt
Before movies and social media, people packed theaters just to hear Sarah Bernhardt speak. She was a French stage actress so captivating that even royalty and world leaders clamored for her attention. Nicknamed “The Divine Sarah,” she toured internationally and played male roles like Hamlet, breaking all kinds of gender norms at the time says Wikipedia. Mark Twain once said there were “five kinds of actresses: bad actresses, fair actresses, good actresses, great actresses—and then there is Sarah Bernhardt.”
She had a wooden leg due to a knee injury, but that didn’t stop her from performing. In fact, she kept acting until the very end, sometimes even propped up offstage. She was also one of the first women to run her own theater, which was almost unheard of in the 1800s. Today, she’s barely mentioned in history class, but in her day, she was a household name all over the world adds IMDb.
2. Lola Montez
Born Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, she reinvented herself as Lola Montez, an exotic dancer and self-proclaimed Spanish countess. But dancing was only part of her story—she caused riots, captivated kings, and even became the mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, who gave her real political power. Her influence was so controversial it triggered a revolution in Germany and forced the king to abdicate shares Britannica.
After fleeing Europe, she wound up performing across the U.S. and even in Australia. Her “Spider Dance” was scandalous and wildly popular, and her name headlined newspapers everywhere she went. She wasn’t just known—she was infamous. Now, though, she’s mostly forgotten, despite once being one of the most recognizable women on the planet adds FoundSF.
3. John L. Sullivan
Before there were sports superstars, there was John L. Sullivan—the Boston Strong Boy. He was the last bare-knuckle boxing champion and the first gloved heavyweight champion, making him a legend in two different eras of the sport. He traveled the country challenging men to fight him, and people lined up just to see him throw a punch.
Sullivan was so famous that when he lost his title in 1892, it made front-page news across America. He met presidents, performed in vaudeville, and was so beloved that people cried at his funeral. He helped turn boxing into a mainstream sport, but his name doesn’t ring bells for most people today. Back then, though, he was as big as Babe Ruth.
4. Nellie Bly
Nellie Bly didn’t wait around for someone to hand her an opportunity—she went undercover in an asylum to expose the abuse of patients, launching her career as a pioneering investigative journalist. Her exposé shook the nation and proved that journalism could change lives. But she didn’t stop there.
In 1889, she raced around the world in 72 days to beat the fictional record in Around the World in 80 Days. People followed her every move like it was a modern reality show. Crowds greeted her at train stations, newspapers printed daily updates, and children wanted to be her. Today, she’s often left out of history books, but once upon a time, Nellie Bly was a global sensation.
5. Jenny Lind
Nicknamed the “Swedish Nightingale,” Jenny Lind was so beloved in the 1850s that people camped outside ticket offices to hear her sing. P.T. Barnum brought her to America and promoted her with such flair that her arrival caused a frenzy. She didn’t need it, though—her voice won over everyone.
Lind’s tour raised massive sums for charity and inspired merchandise ranging from pianos to soap. Abraham Lincoln even attended one of her concerts. Strangely, despite her widespread fame, most people today only know her name from The Greatest Showman, and even that version was highly fictionalized. In her time, Jenny Lind was bigger than any president.
6. Charles Blondin
Imagine walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope—with no net. Charles Blondin did it, and then did it again while pushing a wheelbarrow, carrying his manager on his back, and even cooking an omelet mid-walk. Crowds came from everywhere just to watch what he’d do next.
He wasn’t just a daredevil—he was a showman. Queen Victoria even requested a private performance. In the 1860s, you couldn’t mention daring feats without bringing up Blondin’s name. Today he’s rarely mentioned, but his acts were so jaw-dropping they defined a whole era of entertainment.
7. Fanny Kemble
Fanny Kemble was one of the most celebrated actresses of the early 19th century, known for her Shakespearean roles and commanding stage presence. But she became even more famous after marrying an American plantation owner—and then speaking out against slavery. Her writings offered firsthand accounts of life on a Georgia plantation, which deeply influenced the abolitionist movement.
Kemble’s journals were brave, raw, and ahead of their time. She sacrificed social standing and financial comfort to stand by her beliefs. People all over the world read her work and followed her story. While her fame has faded, Fanny Kemble once held a spotlight bigger than most presidents could dream of.
8. Tom Thumb
At just over three feet tall, Charles Stratton—known as Tom Thumb—became a worldwide sensation thanks to P.T. Barnum. He performed for Queen Victoria, met President Lincoln, and even had a wedding that rivaled royal events in media coverage. People adored his charm, humor, and confidence on stage.
He wasn’t treated as a novelty but as a star. His fame helped make Barnum’s shows a global success, and for a time, his name was as well-known as the president’s. Stratton proved that charisma wasn’t measured in height. Yet despite once being one of the most recognizable figures in the world, Tom Thumb is now just a footnote in circus history.
9. Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley could shoot the ashes off a cigarette and split playing cards in mid-air—all while riding a horse. She rose from poverty to become the star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, and audiences couldn’t get enough of her. She toured Europe and even performed for Queen Victoria and Kaiser Wilhelm.
Oakley wasn’t just a trick shooter—she was a symbol of American grit and precision. Little girls idolized her, and newspapers followed her every move. She also fought for women’s rights and offered to lead a regiment of female sharpshooters in World War I. Though her fame once rivaled that of national leaders, she’s often reduced to a caricature today.
10. Paul Morphy
In the 1850s, Paul Morphy was known as the greatest chess player in the world—some even called him the first American sports superstar. He beat top European players with such ease that people speculated he had some mystical gift. Even those who didn’t care about chess knew his name.
Morphy became a celebrity who turned down endorsement deals and public appearances just to avoid the spotlight. But his sudden retreat from chess and mysterious behavior made headlines. He was a genius, and like many geniuses, he burned bright and vanished. While he’s largely forgotten now, he was once more recognizable than any sitting president.
11. Lillian Russell
With her beauty, wit, and golden voice, Lillian Russell defined glamour in the late 1800s. She starred in operettas, was adored by fans, and often made the gossip pages just by showing up somewhere in a fancy hat. She had powerful friends—including industrialist Diamond Jim Brady—and was known for her opinions as much as her performances.
Russell used her fame to advocate for women’s rights and health reform, often writing newspaper columns on important social issues. She was as influential offstage as she was on it. Theaters sold out when she was on the bill, and reporters followed her every move. Though she’s rarely mentioned today, she was once a national icon.
12. Buffalo Bill Cody
Buffalo Bill wasn’t just a Wild West figure—he was a brand. He turned his life as a frontiersman and scout into one of the most successful traveling shows in history. His Wild West show toured the U.S. and Europe, introducing the world to what they believed was the real American West.
He rubbed elbows with royalty, invited Sitting Bull to join his troupe, and became a living legend. Millions saw his show, and the name Buffalo Bill became synonymous with the untamed frontier. He was more famous than many presidents of his time, and his mustache alone was iconic. Today he’s a trivia answer, but back then, he was the face of a nation.