On this most celebrated of holidays, I wanted to take a break from the typical HeyRube content and pose a philosophical debate of sorts: This year, I am particularly struck by how common circus and freakshow themes have become associated with the horror genre in general, and Halloween in particular. It seems nearly every seasonal [...]
URGENT! In just over one week, the future of circus elephant rides will be discussed at The Circus Fans Association of America recently issued this statement: If any of you are unsure how you feel about elephant rides, take a moment to think about it. Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT) provides the best care possible [...]
One week ago today, the fences of a wild animal preserve were left unattended in Zanesville, Ohio. Little is known about the events leading up to this catastrophe; however, we do know that 48 exotic animals escaped, including wolves and bears, and the preserve owner was found dead on sight (CBS). Sources suggest that the owner killed [...]
My good friend Wendy Whiplash recently stumbled across an article from the Rocky Mountain News, published in 1897. (Don’t ask how…) Entitled ”Banquet for a Circus Manager,” the article outlines the antics of the circus folk at a party given at the behest of the troupe manager. I’ve included an image of the scanned paper and, [...]
Karrie Waarala earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the Stonecoast program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she teaches writing in her home state of Michigan, where she lives with and is vastly outnumbered by her books, pets, and circus memorabilia. Recently, Waarala has allowed her love of writing and circus/sideshow to merge into [...]
And now, for a little Sunday afternoon music, I present to you The Carny by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, live at the Paradiso: For the lyrically inclined, here’s the words for this sonic tale: And no-one saw the carny go And the weeks flew by Until they moved on the show Leaving his caravan behind It [...]
For some, childhood dreams involve donning a princess tiara. For others, lifelong goals consist of becoming a doctor or a firefighter. For Nik Wallenda, tightrope walking across the Niagara Falls is an enduring ambition and recently, the seventh-generation circus performer got a little bit closer to making that dream a come true. According to the New [...]
Thrill Kill Jill of the Lucky Daredevil Thrillshow recently became the world’s first pregnant sword swallower, according to Bizarre Magazine. The young mother and her husband, Tyler Fyre, have been entertaining audiences with their duo act for years and now, it looks like the show may be getting another member. Jill gave birth to Hank Lightning on July 4th [...]
For lovers of the bygone area of vintage, traveling carnivals, the pop music and gaudy facades of most modern midways and county fairs just don’t cut it. Lucky for us, Buffalo Brothers Amusements are here to fill that void in the contemporary carnival scene. According to their site, Buffalo Brothers Amusements was formed in 2007 with [...]
There’s nothing like the shared love of fire manipulation and sideshow arts to break down international borders and remind us that our community exists in all corners of the globe. The street performance tribe is alive and well around the world, and with the help of the internet and social media platforms, we’re able to connect [...]