Robert Own "Bob" Melvin a man afflicted with neurofibromatosis. Read more of NF HERE . br He started working Coney Island in 1949 and also toured with Sideshows til the mid 1980's. Bob even became a Star Attraction at times earning more than a thousand dollars a week. Read more on Mr. Melvin here br br Some of the information in this video is outdated and or in correct. Oseph Carrey Merrick (John wasn't his real name) was found to have another medical disorder called Proteus Syndrome.