American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange PerformersA fascinating look into the history of the American sideshow and its performers. Learn what's real, what's fake, and what's just downright bizarre. You've probably heard of Tom Thumb. The Elephant Man. Perhaps even Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins. But what about Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat? Or Prince Randian, the human torso? These were just a few of the many stars that shone during the heyday of the American sideshow, from 1840 to 1950. American Sideshow chronicles the lives of truly amazing performers, examining these brave and extraordinary curiosities not just as sideshow performers but as people, delving into the lives they led and the ways they were able to triumph over and even benefit from their abnormalities. American Sideshow discusses the rise and fall of the original sideshows and their subsequent replacement by today's self-made freaks. With the progress of modern medicine, technological advancements, and the wonderful world of body modification, abnormalities are being overcome, treated and even prevented: Siamese twins can now be separated, and in addition to this, tongues can be forked, horns surgically implanted, and earlobes removed. There are also, of course, modern-day giants, fire eaters, sword swallowers, glass eaters, human blockheads, and oh, so much more. These fascinating personalities are celebrated through intimate biographies paired with stunning photographs. Approximately two hundred performers from the past one hundred and sixty years are featured, giving readers a comprehensive and sometimes astonishing look into the history of the American sideshow |
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great gift
User Review - pilot831 - Bordersmy mother loves these kinds of books, and she was so excited to receive this for Christmas. She read most of it that night. She says it is one of the best books on carnies that she has read. Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - madamejeanie - LibraryThingThis is one of those irresistible books (for me) about human oddities over the years and contains hundreds of case histories of "freaks" and sideshow attractions from the last century. Told without ... Read full review
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American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously ... Marc Hartzman No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
American appeared arms attraction audiences Author's collection baby Barnum & Bailey beard became become began believed billed birth body born brothers brought called career Chang circa circus City claimed collection Coney Island continued died early earned enjoyed eventually exhibited face father feet fire five fortune four freaks gave giant girl grew hair half Hall hands head height helped human inches joined known Lady later legs living look manager married midget mother Museum never normal once performed person playing pounds reported retired returned Ringling Bros says seven showman Side sideshow sister soon spent stage stand star stunt suffered swallowing sword tattooed Thumb took toured traveled turned twins United walk wanted week weighed wife woman Wonder York young
Bibliographic information
| Title | American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers |
| Author | Marc Hartzman |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Penguin, 2006 |
| ISBN | 1585425303, 9781585425303 |
| Length | 304 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / United States / 20th Century Performing Arts / Circus Social Science / Popular Culture |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |