Le Pétomane, The true story of the Fartomaniac

Le Pétomane, a true legend, the master of farts, the original fartist, is the reason why FartShare exists today. Many people haven’t heard of this amazing performer, but he’s definitely worth knowing about. Let’s dive into the story of Joseph Pujol, better known as Le Pétomane.

Joseph Pujol was born in 1857 in Marseille, France. He had a very unusual skill – he could control the air going in and out of his bottom! This might sound strange, but it’s true. He found out about this ability by accident during a swim, where he discovered he could suck water into his rear and then push it back out.

As he grew up, especially during his time in the army, Joseph realized he could do more than just control water. He could also control air, which allowed him to make all sorts of sounds and even music! His army friends must have been really amused by his performances.

Joseph got the nickname “Le Pétomane” while in the army. This name combines the French word for farting with the word for someone who’s a bit crazy about something. It basically means “The Fartomaniac.”

After leaving the army, Joseph worked as a baker in Marseille. He liked to entertain people with his unique talent, but he wanted to reach more people. So, he left the bakery and started performing on stage. He first tried playing the trombone, but soon realized that people loved his “wind instrument” – his farting – even more!

Joseph’s big break came in Paris at the Moulin Rouge, a famous theater. They were excited to have him perform there. His act was so funny that people laughed super hard – some ladies even fainted because their tight corsets made it hard to breathe! Nurses were even there to help anyone who passed out from laughing too much.

On stage, Joseph looked very proper in his suit. He would tell the audience that his farts didn’t smell, so no one had to worry about a stinky show. Then he would amaze everyone with his farting imitations of thunderstorms, cannons, and even musical tunes. Sometimes, he would use a special tube attached to his bottom to do even more tricks, like smoking two cigarettes at once or playing a flute.

Joseph wanted to prove his act was real, so sometimes he performed in his underwear, with a hole in the back, so men could see there were no tricks. He even performed privately for famous people who didn’t want to be seen at his shows, like the Prince of Wales and King Leopold II of Belgium.

Joseph was a huge hit at the Moulin Rouge from 1892 to 1894, even earning more money than some famous actors. But he left after a disagreement with the theater. The Moulin Rouge tried to replace him with a woman who pretended to have the same talent, but she was using a hidden device. Joseph wasn’t happy about this and went to court to prove he was the only real “fartomaniac.”

After winning in court, Joseph opened his own theater and performed for 20 more years. When World War I started, he retired and went back to working in a bakery and later owned a biscuit factory.

Joseph passed away in 1945 at the age of 88. Even after his death, his unique talent was remembered. A medical school in Paris wanted to study his body to learn more about his ability, but his family said no. Today, he rests in a cemetery in La Valette-du-Var.

Joseph Pujol, Le Pétomane, was truly one-of-a-kind. His story shows that sometimes the most unusual talents can bring a lot of joy and laughter to people.