This postcard shows the contrast between Robert Wadlow and others.
Cuba,Missouri: Robert Wadlow, known as the Giant of Alton, Illinois, lived from 1918-1940 and was billed as the World’s Tallest Man. Although he was of normal size when he was born, a pituitary disorder caused him to grow to 8’11.1″ tall. He weighed 490 pounds and suffered from several height-related ailments. At 13, it took 14 yards of material to make him a Boy Scout uniform.
You might wonder what connection Cuba, Missouri might have with the Giant of Alton. Hayes Shoe Store at the corner of Smith and Washington, along Route 66, has two Robert Wadlow artifacts. At age 20, Wadlow signed a contract with the International Shoe Company. He received free, custom-made shoes in exchange for a promotional tour. He traveled the US representing the company, and it is through International Shoe that at least one of his shoes came to Cuba.
Looking at the Wadlow shoe next to a regular Nike shows that Wadlow’s shoes are big ones to fill.
Henry Hayes, the original owner of Hayes Shoe Store, and his wife Audrey purchased the first shoe with the shoe store in 1950. It was a size 35 AA, and it had a hole worn in the sole. Later, Henry had the chance to buy another shoe when the International Shoe Company had a promotion where a shoe store received a Robert Wadlow shoe that they filled with shelled corn and let customers guess the number of kernels in the shoe. At the end of the promotion, Hayes had the option of sending the size 37 AA shoe back or buying it. Hayes decided to purchase the shoe although it is reported that he said he “almost had to take out a bank loan to do it,” which is Henry’s way of saying “it wasn’t cheap.”
The shoes are in the window just for this photo. They are normally kept in a glass display case.
Stop by the Hayes Shoe Store on Route 66 to view the Wadlow shoes and buy a souvenir pin.
When Jeff Bouse, the current owner, purchased Hayes Shoe Store, he also became the owner of this piece of history. Hayes, besides being one of the few independently owned shoe stores in the country, is also the site of one of the many outdoor murals called “Prosperity Corner.” Many Cubans were measured for their first pair of shoes at Hayes.
Stop by Hayes to see the Wadlow world’s largest shoe, buy a souvenir pin, and you may also find a pair of shoes that aren’t so hard to fill.
You can get a souvenir collector’s pin at Hayes Shoe Store.
Hayes Shoe Store displays the ‘Prosperity Corner Mural” by Kelly Pohling on its exterior. All mural images are copyrighted although photography for personal, non-commercial use is encouraged.
Updated 2024
Robert Waldow was a Student at Shurtleff College and my brother attended and graduated from Shurtleff. He picked my brother up
like a toy. I also went to Shurtleff and I lived at the Dorm where they built a Bronz statue of him. When I was young I went to the Illinois State Fair and they sold metal rings of his for souverners. They fit me as a braclet. Shurtleff College became Southern Illinois College of Denistry at Alton Illinois. My cousin worked at Internation shoe company in St. Louis, Mo. as an advertising Agent and modled shoes. She was their when they made his shoes.
hurtleff
Thanks for the extra information that you have added. We hope that you can visit us in Cuba sometime and visit Hayes Shoe Store to see Robert Wadlow’s shoes. I am sure the folks at Hayes would like to hear your stories.