By now, you already know that there is quite a buzz around potential maltreatment of circus animals. But this discussion is not just taking place in the US and other countries are starting to take action. Earlier this month, Bolivia enacted a ban on all use of circus animals. With government assistance, circus animals are [...]
I never cease to be amused by the latest fads for Hollywood types, but this one takes the cake. Apparently, posing nude can help save elephants. This week, PETA unveiled an anti-circus ad featuring a very naked Olivia Munn, American Actress and TV personality.
If you’re interested in sideshow culture, you should know about Gibsonton, FL and you likely have heard of Al Tomaini. If not, allow me to fill you in. Al Tomaini was a giant (literally, he was 8 feet 4 inches tall) who fell in love with Jeanie, a legless woman who stood 2 feet 6 [...]
glomming geek [glm-ĭng gk] noun sideshow performer who bites the heads off of live animals Traditionally, ‘geek’ refers to a sideshow performer with a bizarre act, such as the wild men or primitives. These were often staged acts, although there are accounts of mentally ill people being hired or purchased by circuses for such acts. A [...]
In just about every conversation I’ve had with fellow circus lovers, there’s inevitably one word that comes up: vaudeville. At least among us fringe freak lovers, there’s a yearning for the old fashioned, comedic variety act that has long since disappeared in America. Sensing this gap in entertainment, Cirque du Soleil created Banana Schpeel, a [...]
Today, guest blogger and magician Éireann provides insider insight into the world of magic. “Let’s talk about three things that are very hard to learn in magic: etiquette of meeting other magicians, knowing the history and exposing secrets. We’ll deal with the last first. We have this saying: Magicians guard an empty safe. The secret isn’t [...]
Today, we hear from guest blogger Éireann, writing to us from the UK. He is a magician and fellow circus lover. You can check out more of his writing on his own blog, lucksmith.wordpress.com. “First things first, and all in due time. So you wanna be a magician? Don’t we all friend, don’t we all. [...]
Mr Lifto is a true performer. If you’re not already familiar with his act, you’re going to have to watch the interview to hear the man himself explain it in gory detail. Born in rural farm country, Lifto went on to travel the world, and subsequently get banned from many cities for his explicit on-stage [...]
The Tattooed Lady: A History is a phenomenal book I’ve just finished reading. This book places the fully tattooed women who traveled with sideshows in the context of tattooing history, working class struggle at the turn of the century, repressive Victorian attitudes and women’s rights. While that may sound like a dense read, it’s not; [...]
Pendark is the resident Houdini-style mentalist at the Museum of Weird in Austin, Texas. He describes his persona as the love child between Vincent Price and Carol Burnett. He first dove into this persona at age 12 with a crystal ball act and has steadily been building his repertoire ever since. Pendark is now 39 years [...]