Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

Sandra Reed

Sandra Dee Reed also known as Lady Sandra (1945–2019) was an American World Record holding sword swallower born with albinism. She started working for the Slim Kelly and Whitney Sutton sideshow of James E. Strates Shows at the age of 24 as a lecturer before being trained in sword swallowing and later performing in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. From 1975 to 1977, she was a Guinness World Records holder for swallowing five 30-inch blades to two-thirds of their length simultaneously.

Last revised
Jul 24, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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Sandra Reed
Signed photo of Sandra Reed swallowing swords
Born
Mary Armstrong

1945 (1945)
Hermon, New York
Died2019 (aged 73–74)
Other names
  • Lady Sandra
  • Queen of the Swords
  • The Albino Queen of the Swords
Years active1960s—1980s
Employers
  • Slim Kelly and Whitney Sutton Sideshow
  • James E. Strates Shows
  • Clyde Beatty Circus
  • Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
SpouseHarold Spohn
HonoursGuinness Book of World Records holder for swallowing 5 swords at once, female (1975–1977)

Sandra Dee Reed also known as Lady Sandra (1945–2019) was an American World Record holding sword swallower born with albinism.1 She started working for the Slim Kelly and Whitney Sutton sideshow of James E. Strates Shows at the age of 24 as a lecturer (educator on albinism) before being trained in sword swallowing2 and later performing in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.3 From 1975 to 1977, she was a Guinness World Records holder for swallowing five 30-inch blades to two-thirds of their length simultaneously.4

Career

Reed was offered a job by showman Whitney Sutton at the New York State Fair in 1969, initially to be a lecturer on albinism. Her family was supportive—her sister Doreen, also albino, also joined as a lecturer, their father joined to sell tickets, and their mother previously worked in vaudeville and girl shows.5

She learned sword swallowing from Ricky Richiardi in Gibsonton, Florida, in 1969.5

In the mid-1970s she married and performed with Harold “Big Jim” Spohn, billed as “the fat man”.6

From 1975 to 1977 she held the Guinness World Records title for most swords swallowed simultaneously by a woman.4

An illustration of Reed swallowing swords was used for the cover art of volume one of James Taylor’s carnival history magazine Shocked and Amazed! for which she was interviewed in 1995.7

The Shocked and Amazed! cover illustration was inspired by a photo of Lady Sandra taken by renowned American photographer Diane Arbus in 1970.

In 1991, this photo, titled "albino sword swallower at a carnival, Maryland" sold for $28,000 at auction.8

Sandra Reed (far right, hand on her husband Harold's shoulder) among other sideshow performers. source ↗
References

References

  1. Pat Leisner (February 23, 1975). "Deformity No Sideshow in Gibsonton". Pensacola News Journal. Associated Press. p. 38. Archived from the original on 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-05-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Meyer, Dan (2019). To the Hilt: A Sword Swallower's History of Sword Swallowing. Marc Hartzman (1st ed.). New York: Schiffer Publishing, Limited. ISBN 978-0-7643-6882-0.
  3. "Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) Sword Swallower's Hall of Fame". swordswallow.com. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  4. McWhirter, Norris; McWhirter, Ross (1976). Guinness Book of World Records Giant 1976 Edition. Bantam Books. p. 43.
  5. Hartzman, Marc (2006). American Sideshow. East Rutherford: Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4406-4991-2.
  6. "Lot Detail - Personal Photo Albums and Scrapbooks of Sandra Reed. Primar..." auctions.potterauctions.com. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  7. "Volume 1 | Shocked and Amazed!". Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  8. "DIANE ARBUS (1923-1971) Albino sword swallower at a carnival, Md. 1970". Christie's.