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tim_mantis Regular user UK 117 Posts |
After after lots of research and some frustrating experimentation, I've just posted my first preview of 'Professor Cockerill's Flea Circus' on YouTube. There is more to come but I couldn't resist putting up this taster!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gauReGP_Tps I'm still trying to collect information and ephemera about genuine flea circuses (especially first-hand accounts) so would love to hear from anyone who saw or worked on the original shows or can put me in touch with people who did. Cheers! |
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Do a search on the Café Tim...I remmember some discussions about the one in Hubert's Museum Times Square NY that I saw many times. Prof Heckler's was excellent.
Looks like you're coming along fine with yours!
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Hehe. funny! I like the Juggling flea best...
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
This is one of the greatest things that I have ever seen. It is so great to know someone is keeping this tradition alive. Beautiful. This made my year.
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Parson Smith Inner circle 1937 Posts |
Absolutely beautiful.
You have caused me to consider whether or not I should use an overhead type projector to help our spectators see. To date, I have only used my invention, the Visual Recombobulator, to aid in vision. But now......???????? Great work. Great work. Peace, Parson
Here kitty, kitty,kitty.
+++a posse ad esse+++ |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Think I posted on this before!!
The last real Flea show I saw was around twenty five years ago at Marlborough back end Mop Fair. After putting wanted adds in the Worlds Fair I made contact with the decendants of Testo`s Flea Circus, (This was performed inside of a Roundun with the sides sheeted in stripe canvas giveing the look of a mini big top.) The complete show with harnesses etc was offered to me for £3000,,,and at the time I was prepared to take the gamble. So being me,,,,and wishing to cover my outlay,,,prior to making it !! I advertised my show !!! and got seven pre-season gaffs lined up. The following weeks were like a nightmare,,,with letters comeing from Councils owning the booked gaffs, vermin control and even a letter from the misguided animal rights people,,,so I was to be shut down before I even purchased. So no sale as a result,,,,but not to be detered (My back was up with the paper pushing parasites)I took a cod version out for two seasons working under the name of Proff Frisko and his Performing Fleas,,,The first set made by myself and presented as a lecure with me dressed in a white coat complete with stethoscope (God knows why !)Was recieved pretty well but the income was not enough to cover the ground rents,,,,so this went in the bin. Next option worked well with the purchase of Bob Lunns Flea Circus and presented his way dressed in Leotard, Pith Helmet and controlling the Fleas with a bullwhip !!! I used this version for over fifteen years on and off,,,mainly kids shows,,it just didn`t work on the Showgrounds in the UK. So that`s a breakdown of my experiences of working performing Fleas. I hope the Powers that be in the US are of a more humane vintage than the pratts here in the UK. Ken |
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......um=23&56
Check that link for some info from Todd and others... and good grief!!!!!!! I put Heckler's instead of Steckler's in previous post...the typos are taking over...
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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ssucahyo Inner circle 1954 Posts |
This is much better than the battery version....
But the fleas looks not happy with that :o( try to give them bigger sharing. hua..hua..hua.... Cheers, CC. |
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Oh I can see the PETA protests now! That's the kind of flea circus that leaves you just itching to see it. Great video!
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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tim_mantis Regular user UK 117 Posts |
Thanks everyone for the comments!
Todd, it really means a lot to hear that - I've still got a fair way to go, but have managed to collect some great accounts from original flea proprietors, so all will be documented! It's amazing (or perhaps not, considering the business) how much the real techniques stray from the consistently similar accounts found all the way through the 19th and 20th century. Thanks for the links Doug, and great to see some of Slim's posts in the original flea circus thread. It was great to hear your description of the original props you saw in Hubert's; I've attached a photo I took of the retired Testo props earlier this year. The one act that I really want to know about from Heckler's circus (and John C. Ruhl before them) is the act of a flea carrying a flag and jumping through a hoop. I've managed to recreate it to some extent, but would love to hear if you remember seeing it. Ken, it still shocks me how small minded councils and the animal rights lot can be. I've come across so much just trying to get hold of fleas (although perhaps the questions and strange looks are understandable in this case). It's incredible how much they can spend thousands on 'preserving' such things in museums but are scared of the thought of having a real working show on their plot. Have you seen the photos of the Testo show at the NFA? At least there's one institution that tries to keep some of the old acts working rather than keeping everything behind glass. http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/db/fairground......00450811 http://www.nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk/history/m......16f.html |
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tim_mantis Regular user UK 117 Posts |
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tim_mantis Regular user UK 117 Posts |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
More! More!
Pleeeeeeze?
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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fishwasher Inner circle B'ham uk 1231 Posts |
Those pictures look amazing!
I second Harleys request |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
If I mention Dingles to you,,,, that is the direction I would take if I wanted to work this type of show live,,,Alan Ford (Wall of Death) Put me in their direction,,,,pur gold !!!
Ken |
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Those Testo Props are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!
One thing that's interesting to me is the performance area photos and the position of the punters so close to the action...couldn't have that today! Or maybe they were staged...all shows I ever saw were behind a glass shield.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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T-RAY Inner circle 1539 Posts |
The FLEA CIRCUS LIVES!!! Right on Tim!
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Have seen only a handfull of shows and they were presented all the same way. The worker sits at a table (Card table size) The punters all stand around the table even behind the worker looking over his shoulder. This is what killed the shows, minimal punters = minimal income up against huge rents,,,ie our rent for a ten foot pitch at Bridgend show (Wales) Last week cost £600 for four days plus parkup of £78, so imagine how many punters at a pound per head (If you could get it)Would be required at approx 15 to 20 per performance in order just to cut even !!!
Like it or not, the fact is that such shows are not viable in todays Fair Tobers,,,If the Riding Masters who control the Tobers had foresight,,,,then maybe they could permit such shows to free rent,,,,in the name of preservation. I have been fighting for years to keep unusual entertainment on the shows and found only negativity from the showmen who are only interested in how many XXXXXXX`s they can get from a pitch !!! As my flyer states,,,we specialise in the preservation of unusual entertainment and it`s a bloody hard struggle !!! Ken |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
In all the years I've been doing this, I still don't understand how rides can be called a "show", or how their owners can be called "showmen". WE are showmen.
May all your holidays, be everything you desire!
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Can be done with a small bleachers and a Large Vid Screen to increase the tip.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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