Circus of Dr. Lao is a 1935 novel written by Arizona newspaperman Charles G. Finney, and illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff. Set in the fictional town of Abalone, Arizona, it mercilessly satirizes the mindset of ordinary Americans when confronted by examples of magic. See also: 1934 in literature, other events of 1935, 1936 in literature, list of years in literature. ... See also Charles Grandison Finney, American evangelist. ... Buckminster Fuller, based on Time Magazine cover by Boris Artzybasheff (January 10, 1964). ...

The tale ends with their town the site of a ritual to a pagan god whimsically given the name "Yottle", possibly an allusion to the Mesoamerican god Yaotl, whose name means "the enemy". Mesoamerica is the region extending from central Mexico south to the northwestern border of Costa Rica that gave rise to a group of stratified, culturally related agrarian civilizations spanning an approximately 3,000-year period before the European discovery of the New World by Columbus. ...

The novel was later adapted by Charles Beaumont into the script for the 1964 movie 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, directed by George Pál and starring Tony Randall in the title role, as well as Pan, Apollonius of Tyana, even Medusa. Barbara Eden stars as a repressed librarian aroused by the pipes of Pan. There was much special effects work in this movie, and the town is not destroyed. Charles Beaumont (January 2, 1929 - February 21, 1967) was a prolific U.S. author of fantasy and science fiction short stories who frequently wrote for The Twilight Zone TV series and also scripts for such films as The Masque of the Red Death. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... George Pál (February 1, 1908 – May 2, 1980) was a Hungarian-born American animator and film producer. ... Tony Randall in 2003 Tony Randall (February 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004) was an American actor. ... Marble sculpture of Pan copulating with a goat, recovered from Herculaneum Pan (Greek Παν, genitive Πανος) is the Greek god who watches over shepherds and their flocks. ... Apollonius of Tyana (13 March 2 – 98?) was a Neo-Pythagorean philosopher and mathematician of Greek origin. ... A relatively modern image of Medusa painted by Arnold Böcklin In Greek mythology, Medusa (Greek: Μέδουσα), was a monstrous female character whose gaze could turn people to stone. ... Barbara Eden, ca. ...

A quote from the movie was used in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. In Joel Hodgson's last episode as the host (#512, Mitchell), his final message to the 'bots is engraved on a plaque that reads, "The world is a circus if you look at it the right way. Every time you pick up a handful of dust, and see not the dust but mystery, a marvel, there in your hand. Every time you stop and think, "I'm alive. And being alive is fantastic." Every time such a thing happens, you are part of the circus of Dr. Lao." The 'bots are justifiably confused. Movie theater view, featuring the short film Hired!. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999), usually abbreviated MST3K, is a cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson featuring a man and his robot sidekicks supposedly trapped on a satellite in space and forced to watch particularly bad movies. ... Joel Hodgson on Mystery Science Theater 3000 with robots Crow and Tom Servo John Joel Hodgson (born February 20, 1960 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin) is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. ...

External links

• 7 Faces of Dr. Lao at the Internet Movie Database

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7 Faces of Dr. Lao