Riley Schillaci
Encyclopedia
Riley Schillaci is recognized internationally as one of the few Female Sword Swallowers in the world. She has appeared in local publications, news broadcasts, opened for international bands, and appeared at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls.
Riley's other skills also include: Fire Eating, Fire Breathing, Fire Spinning, Fire Hooping, Human Pincushion, Human Blockhead, Bed of Nails, and Burlesque.
on December 22, 1982 to Michael Schillaci and Deborah Schillaci (Healy). She is third generation Sicilian on her father’s side. Her mother’s family is of Irish, German, and English descent.
Schillaci's first brush with fame came as an infant, when in 1983 she became a "Kodak Baby", one of 13 infants pictured in a panoramic photo, taken by photographer Sam Campanaro which was used in Kodak advertisements world wide. The photograph was also used on the cover of “Photographing Your Baby” by Eastman Kodak Co. Editors (1984). Three more versions of the photograph were taken of the children at various ages.
Shillaci is one of less than a few dozen actively performing professional sword swallowers alive performing around the world today, with less than 20 women practitioners of the art.
Received an Associates Degree, in Liberal Arts, from Monroe Community College, in 2004
Graduated from the State University of New York College at Brockport, in 2006, with a double major in sociology, and health science.
, and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
, and performs at private and public events. In 2009 Schillaci was chosen to represent Sword Swallowers Association International at Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
Niagara Falls, in honor of International Sword Swallower Awareness Day. On April 17, 2010, Riley Schillaci appeared on a live webcast with members of the band GWAR
, on their first annual Crack-A-Thon, streamed on Ustream.
She traveled to Vietnam for 2 months, while studying for her Bachelors Degree at SUNY Brockport. Here she worked with children affected by agent orange, the elderly, as well as taught conversational English to adults.
Schillaci has turned down two offers to appear on the Jerry Springer
Show’s, To Hot For T.V. special, because they wanted her to appear completely topless, for as she puts it, "chump change".
Riley's other skills also include: Fire Eating, Fire Breathing, Fire Spinning, Fire Hooping, Human Pincushion, Human Blockhead, Bed of Nails, and Burlesque.
Early life
Schillaci was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
on December 22, 1982 to Michael Schillaci and Deborah Schillaci (Healy). She is third generation Sicilian on her father’s side. Her mother’s family is of Irish, German, and English descent.
Schillaci's first brush with fame came as an infant, when in 1983 she became a "Kodak Baby", one of 13 infants pictured in a panoramic photo, taken by photographer Sam Campanaro which was used in Kodak advertisements world wide. The photograph was also used on the cover of “Photographing Your Baby” by Eastman Kodak Co. Editors (1984). Three more versions of the photograph were taken of the children at various ages.
Shillaci is one of less than a few dozen actively performing professional sword swallowers alive performing around the world today, with less than 20 women practitioners of the art.
Educational Background
Graduated Webster Schroeder High School in 2001, with a New York State regents diploma.Received an Associates Degree, in Liberal Arts, from Monroe Community College, in 2004
Graduated from the State University of New York College at Brockport, in 2006, with a double major in sociology, and health science.
Performance career
Schillaci had opened for musical acts such as, Type O NegativeType O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
, and performs at private and public events. In 2009 Schillaci was chosen to represent Sword Swallowers Association International at Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
Niagara Falls, in honor of International Sword Swallower Awareness Day. On April 17, 2010, Riley Schillaci appeared on a live webcast with members of the band GWAR
GWAR
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
, on their first annual Crack-A-Thon, streamed on Ustream.
Television Appearances
- WHAM-TVWHAM-TVWHAM-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Rochester, New York. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Pinnacle Hill on the border between Rochester and Brighton. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 13 and in high definition...
"Morning Show" by Norma Holland (2008) - R NewsR NewsYNN Rochester is a 24-hour local cable news television channel based in Rochester, New York, and seen in that area and the nearby Genesee River and Finger Lakes regions...
"Her Hobby's Hard To Swallow" by Seth Voorhees (2008) - America's Got TalentAmerica's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
(American Series, June 2011)
Print Appearances
- Messenger Post"Hard to Swallow” Tori Uthe (November, 2007)
- ACT : LIVE http://www.actliveochester.com" Deep Throats: Running With Swords" James Niche (July, 2008)
- Insider, "What’s The Point?" Troy SmithTroy SmithTroy James Smith is an American football quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.Smith has also played for the San Francisco 49ers. He...
(March, 2008)
Trivia
Schillaci is also an amateur musician and writer. She plays guitar, is classically trained in vocals, and also play trumpet.She traveled to Vietnam for 2 months, while studying for her Bachelors Degree at SUNY Brockport. Here she worked with children affected by agent orange, the elderly, as well as taught conversational English to adults.
Schillaci has turned down two offers to appear on the Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
Show’s, To Hot For T.V. special, because they wanted her to appear completely topless, for as she puts it, "chump change".