Donny Vomit is a professional sideshow performer spending his summers in Coney Island and his winters on tour with Pretty Things Peepshow. This Oklahoma boy earned a degree in broadcasting and set out for Coney when he was denied from his school’s theater program. He’s now been a professional performer, much to his chagrin, for [...]
Bettina Mae is a full-time, professional burlesque dancer currently touring with Pretty Things Peepshow. She is also a vegan, loves vintage clothing and wears fake fur only. In her hometown of Victoria, British Columbia, there was no burlesque scene so this redhead got a visa and started touring. To hear from Bettina Mae herself on [...]
Today, we talk with Heather Holiday. Given the recent 30th Anniversary of Coney Island USA, the nonprofit that helps maintain Coney Island’s cultural activities, our interview with the lovely sideshow mistress could not have come at a better time. Heather is part of a small group who comprise the newest generation of Coney Island performers. [...]
Go-Go Amy is the producer of Pretty Things Peepshow. In this interview, listen to Amy talk about how she got her start in burlesque and, as the professional business woman she is, sling her creative merch: Interview with Go-Go Amy from Noel Benedetti on Vimeo.
If you haven’t heard of Pretty Things Peepshow, get ready to. This traveling troupe is part burlesque, part sideshow, and all vintage flair. Their show is heavily influenced by vaudevillian style variety acts, as well as the traditional Coney Island freakshow. I recently had the pleasure of meeting this group, and they are as professional [...]
Yesterday I had my first bed of nails experience and I am still riding a high from it. Today, I pay tribute to the many great performers who have performed the bed of nails! My First Bed of Nails Experience from Noel Benedetti on Vimeo. I was fortunate enough to do this stunt with a [...]
Today, I was delightfully surprised by a movie that I stumbled into called Delicatessen. It was dark. It was hilarious. It featured a saw-playing clown. Needless to say, I fell in love. This French film came out in 1991. The first thing to note about this movie is the incredible cinematography. The visuals make you [...]
Eric van den Boom is a full-time graphic illustrator in the Netherlands. He got his start doing flyers for local punk shows and already this promising young artist has done posters, t-shirts, record sleeves, editorial illustrations, logos, websites, packaging design and advertisements, to name a few. Eric came under my radar due to the circus [...]
Circus folks have a reputation for being odd, but even among this crowd, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté is pretty out there. Today, we celebrate Laliberté’s eccentric life. Laliberté was born September 2, 1959 in Quebec City. During his formative years, he was an accordionist, a stilt-walker and fire-eater. In 1984, he transformed a [...]
South by Southwest, aka SXSW, has become one of the largest festivals today, encompassing film, music and more. The Austin, TX fest will be featuring acts this year ranging from Motorhead to Spoon. If you or someone you know is going this year, you should know about the Circus Mashimus. Circus Mashimus is SXSW’s circus-themed [...]