Folks;

I'm posing this here since I'm not a pure bizarre or sideshow guy, and I expect that some of my mentalism friends will know a bit about what I'm looking for.

This is just a whimsical enquiry. I don't intend or desire to perform any sideshow material, it's just not me. I do however, want to build a story based on it, and want to get some material on methods and anecdotes from the sideshow days. Coal and glass eating and walking, human blockhead, sword walking, fakir piercing, and mutilation.

I'm just looking for an introductory source for methods and presentations that fall within these fields of interest.

Best, David.

Believe it or not section will help.

also check out 'swami mantra'.

corona.

Also contact Doug Higley, Phantom of the Midway - who haunts the Spooky Forum

Hammer a nail in your nose AND eyes,

they will love it...

Check out MIRACLE MONGERS AND THEIR METHODS by H. Houdini. Also LEARNED PIGS AND FIREPROOF WOMEN by Ricky Jay.

- entity

There's a lot to learn with sideshow, and there is a lot of history involved, not just acts, but also other things that were shown in the sideshow.


I do a lot of sideshow stunts, well .... mainly the majority of the stuff I do on stage is sideshow based.

Folks, thank you very much indeed for your help! I will seek these sources post haste.

Facade - glad to hear you're a seasoned sideshow-er. As I said, if you have any info on introductory sources, I'd love to hear them. best, david.

Be carefull...

Well, reall my introduction was getting with a performer and learning from him.

I'll tell you more but my lunchbreak is over and I gotta get back to work. e-mail me

Two films you should check out:

1) Freaks
2) Nightmare Alley

Jack

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6355110065089064433

;)

Derren Brown did the nail up the nose & face in glass on his "Something Wicked This Way Comes" live show.

Most those that ere 'with it' are at the Gathering. They'll be back soon-ish if still alive.