Yesterday’s post reviewed MSN.com’s list of the 10 freakiest acts of all time and sideshow performer The Black Scorpion was among the handful of artists that made the cut. He’s toured with freak shows; he’s performed at Coney Island. Now he’s here on HeyRubeCircus.com to comment on this accomplishment.
Have you ever billed yourself as The Lobster Boy? How do you feel about that label as a performer?
No. Either promoters or showmen/women have labeled me that because audiences know what a Lobster Boy is more so than the Black Scorpion.
Several individuals who made this top 10 list were certainly not the only people in history to have their given condition and perform with it publicly. For example, there have been several other parasitic or conjoined twins throughout sideshow history aside from Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo. In your case that’s true too. How do you feel about making the list over Grady Stiles?
Mr. Stiles and I share ectrotactyly, that is all.
How do you feel about pickled punks and the Fiji Mermaid being on a list alongside actual performers such as yourself?
There were other things on the list? I would ask why Johnny Eck, Mat Fraser, Penguin Boy, Jackie Faye and many other former and current freak performers were not on the list but pickled punks and the Fiji Mermaid are. I am grateful for the recognition but I think it may be more of an entertainment article to get web hits then it is an informative article.
Some of the more historical characters on this list were heavily abused or exploited throughout their lives as a result of their various conditions. How do you feel contemporary society ranks in terms of living with an anatomical oddity?
I really can’t say since I didn’t live back then. As we know history is written by winners and historians need a nice narrative.
“Exploitation is promotion and there is no such thing as bad press,” at least that what my manager keeps screaming as he locks me in this rusty cage, feeding me green bananas.
In all honesty it is not easy to be different but I don’t think it has ever been. Even Kermit the frog had it bad.
Several of the others on this list have reached legendary status in the annals of sideshow history. Have any of these other performers fascinated or inspired you on your journey into sideshow?
I try to stay away from knowing to much about other sideshow performers acts because I do not want to be influenced by them. I see it as the Black Scorpion’s job to try and take the freak show or sideshow somewhere different. I’m more influenced by stand up and abstract artist.
But my favorite freak oddity is Hypertrichosis. If their were a freak rat pack, that one would be Sammy Davis Jr. – you know the coolest.
The Black Scorpion is currently residing in Austin, Texas and performing in The Invisible Man Corporation sideshow troupe, alongside yours truly. And yes, he’s always that funny. Click here to check out his website.
Tags: anatomical oddity, coney island, The Invisible Man Corp.
With the possible exception of Lazarus Colloredo, whose history is largely unknown, none of the people on that list were “abused and exploited”. The stories about Joseph Merrick being mistreated by his management were pretty much entirely made up by David Lynch.
Thank you for your commentary. Merrick was the one I was referring to; I was under the impression that he had lived a rough life as a result of his condition.
The Black Scorpian has a funny sense of humor
Cool guy and character, especially for your sideshow group!! Good people!
Indeed. Come visit again soon!
[...] Island’s Sideshow by the Seashore, 999 Eyes and most recently The Invisible Man Corp. Click here to read his recent HeyRubeCircus [...]
He definitely had a rough life, but due to physical pain and ill-treatment by the callous Victorian public, not exploitation by show people. Prior to joining up with a sideshow he worked as a beggar or sold shoe polish on streetcorners and was a constant target of abuse and ridicule by the public. The sideshow, particularly under the management of Tom Norman (the man specifically vilified in the Lynch movie), was the first place Merrick was able to enjoy financial stability and relative comfort.