Daisy and Violet Hilton, born on February 5, 1908, were conjoined twins and entertainers hailing from England. They began their exhibition career in Europe as children and later embarked on tours across the United States, performing in sideshows, vaudeville, and American burlesque circuits during the 1920s and 1930s. Their notable film appearances included roles in “Freaks” and the biographical film “Chained for Life” (1951).

The Hilton sisters initially toured in Britain in 1911 under the name “The United Twins” when they were three years old. They were later taken on a tour through Germany by Mary Hilton, their guardian. Subsequently, they toured Australia before arriving in the United States in 1916. To enhance their stage presence, a fabricated backstory accompanied their performances. Unfortunately, their earnings were kept by their handlers. In 1926, they joined Bob Hope’s act called the Dancemedians, showcasing their tap-dancing routine. Following Mary’s death in Birmingham, Alabama, the sisters became the responsibility of Mary’s daughter, Edith Meyers, and her husband, Meyer Meyers.

Under the control of the Meyers couple, the Hilton sisters endured captivity and physical abuse if they did not comply with their demands. For a period, the twins were kept hidden from the public and were trained in jazz music. Violet mastered the saxophone while Daisy excelled as a violinist. They resided in a mansion in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1931, the sisters sued their managers and successfully gained legal emancipation, freeing them from their oppressive contract. They were awarded $100,000 in damages (equivalent to $1,500,000 in 2021). They entered the world of vaudeville as “The Hilton Sisters’ Revue,” with Daisy dying her hair blonde and both sisters adopting different outfits to enable their individual identification. As vaudeville declined in popularity, they transitioned to performing at burlesque venues.

In December 1932, shortly after their emancipation, the Hilton sisters sailed to the UK on the Berengaria. They spent most of 1933 in the UK and returned to the US in October 1933. During this time, Violet engaged in a relationship with musician Maurice Lambert, and they attempted to obtain a marriage license in 21 states but were consistently denied.

Their popularity waned after their appearance in the film “Freaks” (1932), and they encountered challenges in sustaining their show business careers. In 1936, Violet staged a publicity stunt marriage to gay actor James Moore, which lasted on paper for ten years before being annulled. At the time of the wedding, Daisy was visibly pregnant and ultimately gave her child up for adoption. In 1941, Daisy entered a short-lived marriage with Harold Estep, also known as dancer Buddy Sawyer, who was gay. The marriage lasted only ten days. In 1952, they starred in their second film, “Chained for Life,” an exploitation film loosely based on their own lives. Subsequently, they made personal appearances at screenings of their two films shown as a double bill.

The Hilton sisters’ final public appearance occurred in 1961 at a drive-in theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. Abandoned by their tour manager, they were left without means of transportation or income, ultimately resorting to working at a nearby grocery store for the remainder of their lives.

On January 4, 1969, after failing to report to work, the twins were discovered deceased in their home, having succumbed to the Hong Kong flu. Daisy had passed away first, with Violet following between two and four days later, as determined by forensic investigation. They were laid to rest in Forest Lawn West Cemetery in Charlotte.