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For other uses of this word, see Freakshow (disambiguation). | This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2007) | A freak show is an exhibition of rarities, "freaks of nature" — such as unusually tall or short humans, and people with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics — and performances that are expected to be shocking to the viewers. Heavily tattooed or pierced people have sometimes been seen in freak shows, as have fire-eating and sword-swallowing acts. Freakshow most commonly refers to: A Freak show - An exhibition of rarities Freakshow may also refer to: Freak Show, an album and interactive CD by The Residents Freak Show (album), an album by Silverchair Freakshow (The Killer Barbies album), a DVD/CD set released by The Killer Barbies Freak Show...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1889x1941, 1362 KB)[edit] Summary The author of this image is me, David Shankbone. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1889x1941, 1362 KB)[edit] Summary The author of this image is me, David Shankbone. ...
For other uses, see Coney Island (disambiguation). ...
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
For other uses, see Tattoo (disambiguation). ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Piccolo Junior Saga List of Dragon Ball episodes The Fire-Eater is the 150th episode of the anime, Dragon Ball. ...
Sword swallowing is a dangerous performance art, in which the performer inserts a sword into his mouth and down his esophagus towards his stomach. ...
History
Freak shows were popular in the United States from around 1840 to 1940, and were often, but not always, associated with circuses and carnivals. Some shows also exhibited deformed animals (such as two-headed cows, one-eyed pigs, and four-horned goats), famous hoaxes, or simply "science gone wrong" exhibits (such as deformed babies). A recent example of this style of freak show is called The Venice Beach Freakshow which is located in Venice, California. This attraction houses a huge collection of freaks and strange oddities. The owner claims that it has the largest collection of two-headed animals in the world. For other uses, see Circus (disambiguation). ...
This article describes the festival season. ...
Advances in medicine and political changes all but sounded the death knell for the freak show. As previously mysterious anomalies were scientifically explained as genetic mutations or diseases, freaks became the objects of pity rather than fear or disdain. The eugenics movement saw human anomalies as unfortunate mistakes of nature. In 1937, Germany passed a law outlawing freak shows, decrying them as exploitation (this however made it legal for the [pro-eugenics] Nazis to arrest freakshow acts and experiment on them[citation needed]). For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ...
In biology, mutations are permanent, sometimes transmissible (if the change is to a germ cell) changes to the genetic material (usually DNA or RNA) of a cell. ...
A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ...
Eugenics is the self-direction of human evolution: Logo from the Second International Eugenics Conference [7], 1921, depicting it as a tree which unites a variety of different fields. ...
Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ...
Thus the term "freak show" has become archaic and widely seen as pejorative; shows such as Jim Rose Circus sideshow, and those at Coney Island are more acurately termed sideshows. However, Cut Throat Freak Show still uses the term, as do many other self proclaimed freak and sideshow performers. The only show that still uses the term "freak" to mean real living human oddities is the 999 eyes. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with pejoration. ...
The Jim Rose Circus is modern day version of a freak show circus sideshow. ...
For other uses, see Coney Island (disambiguation). ...
For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ...
Cut Throat Freak Show is a side show performance group founded in the late 1990s by Jeremy Kinison and Anna Kinison. ...
For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ...
Today, freak shows are outlawed in a number of U.S. states. For example, Michigan law forbids the "exhibition [of] any deformed human being or human monstrosity, except as used for scientific purposes". [1]
Today Freak shows are extremely rare today, often reduced to museum displays containing newspaper clippings, photographs, statues, and other memorabilia of the freak shows of earlier times. The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ...
The Only authentic freak show currently traveling in the USA (2005-2007) with born living human oddities and medical anomalies is the 999 Eyes of Endless Dream Carnival Museum & Sideshow. This show features people born with medical anomalies such as the Black Scorpion aka Lobster Bro, Jackie the Half Girl, Peg Leg the Modern-Day Elephant Man, Lobster Girl, and the Dame Demure Madame Miniature along with a museum that includes pickled punks and many items from John Strong's collection, including Patches a stuffed two-headed calf. Pickled punks is the carny term for human fetuses preserved in jars of formaldehyde and used as sideshow attractions. ...
Heracles and the Lernaean Hydra by Gustave Moreau: The Hydra is perhaps the best known mythological multi-headed animal, also popularised in many fantasy settings. ...
Although widely referred to as freaks, a distinction must be made between self-made freaks and born freaks. Generally, the most extreme examples of self-made freaks are referred to as "Human Marvels". Katzen, The Enigma, The Lizardman and both the Scottish and Texan Leopard men are all human marvels. Katzen holding a bass guitar. ...
The Enigma The Enigma is a sideshow performer and musician who has undergone extensive body modification, including horn implants and his famous full-body jigsaw-puzzle tattoo. ...
Erik Sprague (June 12, 1972 –) is a freak and sideshow performer, better known as The Lizardman due to his sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo of green scales and bifurcated tongue. ...
With the rise of the Internet, the freak show mentality has been given a new lease on life as sites such as rotten.com arose, allowing people to gaze at "freakish" abnormalities that would not have been seen during the television era due to ideas about aesthetic taste. [citation needed] Rotten. ...
Taste (sociology) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...
A historical timeline of the Freakshow The exhibition of human oddities seen as far back as recorded history - we start in the year 1738.
1738 - The exhibition of an exhibit who "was taken in a wook at Guinea; 'tis a female about four feet high in every part like a woman excepting her head which nearly resembles the ape."
By the late 18th century, the science of teratology changed the belief that freaks were evil omens and the work of Satan or witches. Instead, people believed the theory that freaks were part of God's great order of creatures. Teratology (from the Greek (genitive ), meaning monster, or marvel and , meaning word, speech) as early as 17th century referred to a discourse on prodigies and marvels, of anything so extraordinary as to seem abnormal. ...
1822 - The FeeJee Mermaid is discovered in Indonesia by Captain Eades. P.T. Barnums Feejee mermaid from 1842 A common feature of sideshows, a Fiji mermaid (also Feejee mermaid) is a mummified body of something, supposedly a creature that was half mammal and half fish (like a grotesque version of normal mermaid stories). ...
1829 - Chang and Eng “the original Siamese twins” were exhibited in America. A painting of Chang and Eng Bunker, circa 1836 Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811–January 17, 1874) were the conjoined twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term Siamese twins. ...
This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...
1839 - J.G. Milligan writes “curiosities of medical experiments” in which freaks are described.
1844 - P. T. Barnum arrives in London to exhibit Tom Thumb, the famous midget. Phineas Taylor Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum by Mathew Brady 1856 newspaper advertisement for Barnums American Museum Parody of Jenny Linds first American tour for P.T. Barnum, New York City, October 1850 Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: P. T. Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5...
The wedding party comprised, from left to right: George Washington Morrison Nutt (1844–1881), Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838–1883), Lavinia Warren Stratton (1841–1919), Minnie Warren (1841–1878). ...
1860 - Hiram and Barney Davis are presented as Wild Men of Borneo. The guide book for Barnum American museum list 13 human curiosities. Zip the Pinhead begins his six-decade career with Barnum. Waino and Plutano Waino and Plutano, the Wild Men of Borneo, were a pair of exceptionally strong dwarf brothers who were most famously associated with P. T. Barnum and his freak show exhibitions. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
1863 - Barnum uses his brilliant showman skills to get the civil war and emancipation proclamation pushed off the front pages and replaced by a midget wedding.
1870-1890 - Dime museums are at the height of their popularity, with the freakshow as the main attraction. Dime Museums were unique entertainment and moral education institutions that were briefly popular at the end of the 19th century in the United States. ...
1876 - Wild men of Borneo, wild Australian children, man-eating FeeJee Mermaids and the 602lb woman are exhibited at the first World’s Fair in Philadelphia. Worlds Fair is the generic name for various large expositions held since the mid 19th century. ...
1880 - First freakshow at Coney Island. For other uses, see Coney Island (disambiguation). ...
1883 - Coney Island freakshow debuts Henrietta 'Nose Javelin' Whitfield. Many believe her to be the ugliest beast freak that ever lived. Her hag head and witchcraft led to her execution in 1897.
1884 - Freak recruiting becomes a career and full time occupation.
1889 - British medical journal describes Myrtle Corbin, the "four-legged girl," and verifies that both sets of reproductive organs as workable and capable of birthing children. Myrtle Corbin as a young girl Josephene Myrtle Corbin (1868-May 6, 1928) was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee in 1868. ...
1890 - The Jones twins, Siamese twins joined at buttocks and sharing a rectum die on carnival tour at fifteen months old.
1896 - Moral outrage sweeps Britain as Maxine Proctor, a creature described as The Elephant Man meets Helen Keller tours the country. Petitions to ban freakshows ride high on the tide of indignant fear, and many venues refuse to allow the "Hellish" Proctor on their bills. Joseph Merrick, sometimes called John Merrick, known as The Elephant Man. ...
Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was a deafblind American author, activist and lecturer. ...
Latter part of the 19th century - The theory that freaks are biological throwbacks to earlier races of humans and apes is introduced. The theory of maternal impression attributes traumatic or significant events experienced by the pregnant woman as an explanation for deformities. The maternal impression, according to a long-discredited medical theory, was a phenomenon used to explain the existence of birth defects and certain congenital disorders. ...
Turn of the 20th century - The resurgence of Mendel’s law of genetics coupled with Darwin's Origin of Species introduced the idea that freaks could "taint the gene pool". Mendel is the last name of Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), often called the father of Genetics. ...
For other people of the same surname, and places and things named after Charles Darwin, see Darwin. ...
Charles Darwins Origin of Species (publ. ...
1904 - Silbey devises the "Ten-In-One" show and creates jobs for talkers. For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ...
1908 - An article in Scientific American introduces concept of freak exhibitions being inhumane and barbaric. Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published (first weekly and later monthly) since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. ...
1915 - San Francisco exposition includes a midget village and dime museum freakshow.
1922 - Professor Sam Wagner starts the World's Circus freak show at Coney Island. General public can read articles in popular press explaining the diseases behind oddities.
1925 - Freaks can be seen performing on the vaudeville stage. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
1932 - Tod Browning's Pre-Code-era film Freaks tells the story of a traveling freakshow. The use of real freaks in the film provoked public outcries and was widely unsuccessful until its re-release in 1960s. Charles Albert Browning, Jr. ...
Pre-Code films were created before the Motion Picture Production Code or Hays Code took effect on 1 July 1934 in the United States of America. ...
An era is a long period of time with different technical and colloquial meanings, and usages in language. ...
This article is about motion pictures. ...
For other uses, see Freak (disambiguation). ...
1933 - Chicago Expo features a pit show with a "live two-headed baby" in a jar of formaldehyde. Worlds Fair is any of various large expositions held since the mid-19th century. ...
Late 1930s - The switch in social view of those with physical or mental anomalies from fabulous freaks and curiosities to diseased people with disorders was complete.
1940 - Freakshow is on the ropes and the dime museum essentially dead. The three-legged man, Frank Lentini, opens a freakshow. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
1950 - Historical sideshow died as public demands freaks be given "dignity" and not exhibited, at this time many went into institutions or on the welfare system.
1952 - The "Human Torso" is still on exhibit.
1960 - Albert-Alberta Karas[2] (siblings each half man, half woman) exhibits with Bobby Reynolds on sideshow tour.
1969 - John Strong purchases Patches the two headed cow for $150 begins his freak animal show.
1972 - At north fair Sealo and the dwarf Pete Terhune confront charges against them for exhibiting themselves. The charges equated freakshows with pornography
1980's Bobby Reynolds is arrested for exhibiting pickled punks. Pickled punks is the carny term for human fetuses preserved in jars of formaldehyde and used as sideshow attractions. ...
1983 Coney Island USA, founded by Dick D. Zigun, opens Sideshows by the Seashore, starting a sideshow revival in Coney Island.
1984 - Freakshow performer Otis Jordan (the frog boy) is barred from exhibiting himself at the New York State Fair on the basis that the exhibition of human oddities is exploitative. Barbara Baskin, a "disability rights activist" led this fight and Otis was out of a job for two years before he beat the case and could perform again.
1992 - Grady Stiles (the lobster boy) is shot in his home in Gibsonton Florida. Grady Stiles Jr. ...
1996 - Franklins FREAKSHOW A new Freakshow concept using Robotic Freaks instead of humans has its first gig at V96 in Cheltenam.FREAKSHOW.BIZ
1996 - Chicago shock-jock Mancow Muller presented Mancow's Freak Show at the United Center in the Summer of 1996, to crowd of 30,000. The show included Kathy Stiles and her brother Grady III as the Lobster Twins.
1998 - The Brazilian TV show "Ratinho Livre", whose main performer was Carlos "Ratinho" Massa became a kind of freak show, exhibiting mainly children with serious physical anomalies, such as hundreds of facial tumors (Eleandro, the Elephant Boy), tails, amputations, et cetera. Later, near 2000, the Brazilian justice prohibited such appearances on TV shows.
2000–2007 Ken Harck's Brothers Grim Sideshow debuted at the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee, WI in the summer of 2000. The Milwaukee run included a fat lady and bearded lady Melinda Maxi, as well as self made freaks The Enigma and Katzen. In later years the show has included Half-boy Jesse Stitcher and Chuey the Mexican Werewolf Boy. Bros. Grim toured with the Ozz Fest music festival in 2006 and 2007.
2005–2007 - Ward Hall is still going strong with his sideshow where he still exhibits some born freaks.
2005–2007 - The 999 Eyes of Endless Dream Carnival Museum & Sideshow takes modern-day freaks on tours Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 899 pixel, file size: 69 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Black Scorpion on stage at Antones in Austin for a historical Freak Show performance on May 31th 2007. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 899 pixel, file size: 69 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Black Scorpion on stage at Antones in Austin for a historical Freak Show performance on May 31th 2007. ...
In media The Ragpickers Dream is Mark Knopflers third solo album, released in 2002. ...
Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born August 12, 1949, Glasgow, Scotland) is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and film score composer. ...
(first in series) | The Vampires Assistant >> Cirque du Freak front cover for the UK and Ireland For the series titled The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States, see The Saga of Darren Shan. ...
See also Human Zoo (Völkerschau) in Stuttgart (Germany) in 1928 For other uses, see Human zoo (disambiguation). ...
For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ...
). The Kunstkamera is a museum in St. ...
For other uses, see Freak (disambiguation). ...
Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
“Horror Movie†redirects here. ...
Pre-Code films were created before the Motion Picture Production Code or Hays Code took effect on 1 July 1934 in the United States of America. ...
For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ...
Charles Albert Browning, Jr. ...
Freaked is a 1993 American film, directed by Tom Stern and Alex Winter, and written by Stern, Winter, and Tim Burns. ...
Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...
Comedy film is genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humor. ...
References - Albert-Alberta Karas, photographer unknown, Syracuse University Digital Library, retrieved May 6, 2006.
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