By the pricking of my thumbs.... something wicked this way comes.

Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show began as my first real production in 1979. I was fascinated with the Vaudeville time period and had witnessed in 1977, Sid Lorraine perform his 'Amazing Fraznia' routine at my first magic convention with my grandfather. The idea that a man, a stranger, could peddle medicines and unusual inventions to the public, seemed both amazing and sinister.

In 1979, I went to Los Angles for my first time and witnessed at Knotts Berry Farm, a full stage production of an old time Medicine Show, complete with a Showman's Caravan as a backdrop. The performer was hilarious and reminded me of a mix between Willy Wonka and the Great Oz from The Wizard of Oz.

From that moment onward I had it in my mind that I would create my own Medicine Show, to travel to carnivals for entertainment. I ran my Medicine Show from 1979 to 1991 and played at the Calgary Stampede and many other Carnivals and Fairs all over Western Canada.

Lets jump forward 20 years... I am now proud to unveil the NEW and IMPROVED version of my show...introducing, Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show! Go take a look around, the site is up and I will be adding more and more info over the next few weeks. One of the biggest additions will be a look at my Showman's Caravan that will be the backdrop to this production.I have spent 4 months working heavily on getting this Showman's Caravan completed... and by the end of this week it will be done.

check out the NEW website here... http://www.miracleelixer.com

I look forward to chatting with other Snake Oil salesmen and Miracle Workers as we launch into our first Season in 20 years.

sincerely,
Scott McClelland
aka Prof. Crookshank

Looks great Scott. When you going to send me some photos of your wagon? I'm looking forward to that.

Thanks,

Dr. Solar

Hi Dr. Solar!

Good News!

I have started to BLOG about the making of Canada's last Showman's Caravan... and you can find it here

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/02/......t-1.html

I will be adding more chapters to the story over the next few days.

Stay tuned!

your fiend,
Prof. Crookshank

Well Professor,

Who does your signs? Hand done or digital? I hope to meet on the kerosene trail sometime.

Dr. Solar

Hi Dr. Solar!

I paint all of my own signs, I have been painting banners for 21 years and I am still honing my skills.
As a matter of fact, I am in the process of painting 3 large 4 by 9 foot banners for the Medicine Show right now.

I also build all the props for the show and have created 19th Century styled automaton's specifically for my productions.

We will meet down the road and cut up jackpots* soon I hope.

I will be posting more of 'The Making of' tomorrow... so stay tuned.

* jackpots- is an old carnival term for telling each other road stories. (FYI for the un-initiated)

Scott McClelland
Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Posted: Feb 26, 2011 1:52pm
And the saga continues as I add another chapter to the story of the building Canada's Last Showman's Caravan.

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/02/......t-2.html

NOW, it begins to take shape...

Scott McClelland
Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Posted: Mar 1, 2011 6:29pm
This is Part 3 of my story of the Building of a Showman's Caravan, this time I focus on details.

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/03/......t-3.html

Scott McClelland
Prof. Crooshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Posted: Mar 3, 2011 12:15pm
The story continues as Part 4 of the Building of a Showman's Caravan is up!

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/03/......t-4.html

Scott McClelland
Prof.Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Posted: Mar 6, 2011 2:15pm
And NOW the Fun truly begins!

This next installment shows the making of my Strange Miracle Elixer Distillery... as we continue our journey into 'The Building of a Showman's Caravan!

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/03/......t-5.html

your fiend,
Prof. Crookshank
Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Mis Made Monster

Looks like you have built it right up to the ceiling, how are you going to get it out?

LOL.... a good question.
We have measured the the height of the roof and built the Caravan so that IT WILL be moved out without a problem, watch the BLOG as we get closer to completion and you will see how

Posted: Mar 7, 2011 12:43am
Hi Fred

I have no idea what the Mis Made Monster has to do with my thread... but it is a kool routine.

Posted: Mar 7, 2011 8:17pm
For those interested in more exclusive material about Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show, I have created a Fanpage on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prof-Croo......94605506

See you there!

your fiend,
Prof.Crookshank

Posted: Mar 14, 2011 10:44am
AND Now!

Part 7 of 'The Building of a Showman's Caravan', is up on my BLOG... http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/03/......t-7.html

I look forward to getting to see the show sometime. I very much enjoyed Carnival Diablo when you came to Nipissing University in the late 90's. As a matter of fact it led to several years worth of obsession with geek magic.

I hope you can see the Show sometime also Jason!
And thank you for the accolade, I am still doing Carnival Diablo and on April 1st, the Show will be 19 years old

Check out http://www.miracleelixer.com and http://www.carnivaldiablo.com and also http://www.theparanormalshow.net

It's going to be a busy year with lots of surprises!

your fiend,
Scott McClelland
Carnival Diablo Productions

Posted: Mar 19, 2011 12:00am
There is no rest for the wicked... Part 8 is now up on my BLOG...
http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/03/......t-8.html

Posted: Mar 22, 2011 1:24am
Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show premiered at the Lindsay Spring Fest on March 16th and played daily for 3 days to great crowds... check out my blog for exclusive pix and story... http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/03/......ine.html

This show was in doors on a stage...(the Caravan is still being completed) The Showman's Caravan will be properly unveiled in a couple of weeks

More stories and adventures coming soon!

Prof. Crookshank
Prof. Croookshank's Traveling Medicine Show
Posted: Apr 4, 2011 11:55pm
And now... we come to the 9th installment of the making of Canada's Last Showman's Caravan...

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/04/......t-9.html

Enjoy... we are very close to completion of this Mega Project and soon the Showman's Caravan will be properly unveiled.

your fiend,
Prof. Crookshank
Prof. Crookshank's Medicine Show

Awesome! Can't wait!

Well, here we are one step closer to finishing Canada's Last Showman's Caravan! This is the most revealing of ALL of my Blogs about the building of the Caravan. There is one more step and we are DONE! Check out the Blog and see how my vision has progressed over this past 5 months.
http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/04/......-10.html

Great Job Doctor,Luck for you that you had a wonderful work space through the Winter. Looking forward to the rendezvous of Canada's Last Medicine Wagon and Dr. Solar's World's First Solar Powered Theatre as we exchange recipes

Dr. Solar

AND NOW!!!! The FINAL Chapter in my Blog about the Building of a Showman's Caravan! TONIGHT we finished building the Caravan... and NOW you can see how we did it!

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/04/......-11.html

your fiend,
Prof. Crookshank
Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Posted: Apr 18, 2011 8:31pm
With the Showman's Caravan complete, it is now time to create the advertising... here is a sneak-a-peak at some of the pix of Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show... ENJOY!

http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/04/......-12.html

your fiend,
Prof. Crookshank
Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show

Awesome results! Great job!

I decided to write about sculpting a clown's head for my Carnival Organ on my BLOG... check it out
http://eisengrimms.blogspot.com/2011/04/......lpt.html

Wonderful project and most excellent results! Folks do yourself a favour and click on Doctor Rigor Morto's blog links.
Here's to your health, wealth, and happiness Professor!

Great job

How did you come up with design?

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

The design was something I have had in my head fir a long time. I have wanted a Showman's Caravan since the early 80's... so I have had ALOT of time to think about it