What would you do if your dentist wore a necklace made of human teeth? Sounds wild, right? This was the reality for Painless Parker, a dentist unlike any other in history. Parker’s story blends dental work, circus acts, and a love for showmanship that made him famous (and infamous) during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Painless Parker, originally named Edgar R. Parker, was born in 1872 in New Brunswick, Canada. He wasn’t the best student and struggled in school. After getting expelled from two universities, Parker tried different jobs, like selling pots and pans and working on ships. None of these suited him.

Edgar didn’t give up. He moved to Philadelphia and attended another dental college, where he finally graduated. He soon opened a dental office but struggled to attract patients. At that time, advertising dental services was considered unethical.

To solve this, Parker got creative. Inspired by circus promoters, he partnered with a former PT Barnum worker named William Beebe. Together, they created a traveling dental circus. Painless Parker became his new name and his new brand.

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