Once upon a time, having a physical abnormality was enough in and of itself to earn someone a position in a sideshow. On top of that, they were typically better paid that stuntmen, such as sword swallowers and fire eaters. In our modern incarnation of sideshow arts, however, people are less enthralled with the idea of simply gazing at a differently bodied person.

Perhaps it is because our contemporary notions of political correctness instruct us not to stare at people with “disabilities.” It may also be that 21st century audiences demand a bigger bang for their buck. Either way, we have entered a new era in sideshow culture, where human oddities and stuntmen no longer remain in distinct spheres. To illustrate my point, I bring you a video of Lil’ Miss Firefly, The Midget of Mischief and Mayhem, in a straight jacket escape while on tour with Hellzapoppin:

Video source: youtube user haxhog

Tags: anatomical oddity, escape, freaks, Hellzapoppin, sideshow