Its cool to see things like this are still around today. Ive allways wanted to see a Flea Circus, Thanks.

Here's my set of props - by no means finished - some are still prototypes and others are working. It didn't take me long to discover that half the challenge of trying to start a flea circus is building these buggers!

Cheers for the Dingles tip Ken, I reckon you're right about that being the way to go. How do you feel about updating old ideas for use on showgrounds - like Dr. Fryte's Freak Show has done over the past few years here? It wasn't at Hull Fair this year but has done really well previously.

Doug - was the Heckler show behind glass? I haven't heard it mentioned in any accounts I've read of it. I know Cardoso used a video screen to increase the tip in her circus - I read that when she was in museums the demand was so high that you had to win a ticket to get into the proper show. The Mathes Flea Circus at the Oktoberfest in Munich has the audience really close - the first row (usually kids) have their noses almost touching the props.

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Some more...

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Last set...

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Those props are amazing.

I have a question. This thread is fascinating, but could someone please explain the difference between a flea circus and a 'genuine' flea circus? Is it true that fleas were actually used, as the video illustrates? Where is there more reading material on this? I know a lot about mechanical flea circuses, but not much about this. Or am I being gullible? Thanks for any information you can provide.

Yes, real fleas were used at one time. It is a practice that has all but vanished.

Click on the thread listed earlier and you will find a whole discussion about the subject.