I was watching this very interesting program on the History Channel yesterday, it was about old time carnivals and the "carnival/sideshow freaks".  This kind of stuff fascinates me, along with the history of old Vaudeville shows, etc.  They were saying that most of the "freakshow" didn't mind being put on display and thought that they had every right to earn a living, even if it meant having people staring at them all the time. They said that the carnival was their home and the other performers were their family, and being apart of the carnival gave them a purpose in life.  I didn't get to see the last part of it because I had to go somewhere.


Here are a few pictures of some that have been featured in these shows, they are featured at this website: http://freaks.monstrous.com/index.htm



Lobster Woman
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/lobster_woman.jpg

Wolf Family
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/hairy_birman_family.jpg

Pinhead
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/pinhead.jpg

Human Torso
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/prince_radian.jpg

Elephant Man
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/elephant_man.jpg

Those freakshows creep me out.
It's sort of sick to stare at "abnormal" people.

I live near a GREAT freakshow!!!
http://www.coneyisland.com/sideshow.shtml

I live near a GREAT freakshow!!!
http://www.coneyisland.com/sideshow.shtml



Yes..I have heard about this...I would LOVE to see it!

It's sort of sick to stare at "abnormal" people.



see, I think it is sad too, for people to stare at them...but believe it or not, most of them chose to do this.  There was a time where they were trying to ban this sort of thing....and most of them were against the ban....they said that the audience that comes to see them are put more on display then they are, and that being a spectacle isn't bad, especially after seeing their paychecks.

I was watching this very interesting program on the History Channel yesterday, it was about old time carnivals and the "carnival/sideshow freaks".  This kind of stuff fascinates me, along with the history of old Vaudeville shows, etc.  They were saying that most of the "freakshow" didn't mind being put on display and thought that they had every right to earn a living, even if it meant having people staring at them all the time. They said that the carnival was their home and the other performers were their family, and being apart of the carnival gave them a purpose in life.  I didn't get to see the last part of it because I had to go somewhere.


Here are a few pictures of some that have been featured in these shows, they are featured at this website: http://freaks.monstrous.com/index.htm



Lobster Woman
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/lobster_woman.jpg

Wolf Family
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/hairy_birman_family.jpg

Pinhead
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/pinhead.jpg

Human Torso
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/prince_radian.jpg

Elephant Man
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/elephant_man.jpg









I think I saw that show. I used to think that they were being exploited but yeah, it is a way for them to earn a living. There is a 1932 film called "Freaks". I have yet to see it but want to.  BTW, Netflix has it so if you have Nextflix, you can put it on the Queue (which is what I want to do-but I have to talk Carlos into it because he isn't exactly interested).



Cat

I've seen Freaks, and I really used to be into sideshow history and still sort of am...mostly, it was when I was about 8 or 9, lol. I have this whole elaborate book about the history of it, I'll get the title of it later if you want.

I think I saw that show. I used to think that they were being exploited but yeah, it is a way for them to earn a living. There is a 1932 film called "Freaks". I have yet to see it but want to.  BTW, Netflix has it so if you have Nextflix, you can put it on the Queue (which is what I want to do-but I have to talk Carlos into it because he isn't exactly interested).



Cat




I'll have to add that to my queue...thanks Cat! ;)



I've seen Freaks, and I really used to be into sideshow history and still sort of am...mostly, it was when I was about 8 or 9, lol. I have this whole elaborate book about the history of it, I'll get the title of it later if you want.



that would be great, thanks! :)

I was watching this very interesting program on the History Channel yesterday, it was about old time carnivals and the "carnival/sideshow freaks".  This kind of stuff fascinates me, along with the history of old Vaudeville shows, etc.  They were saying that most of the "freakshow" didn't mind being put on display and thought that they had every right to earn a living, even if it meant having people staring at them all the time. They said that the carnival was their home and the other performers were their family, and being apart of the carnival gave them a purpose in life.  I didn't get to see the last part of it because I had to go somewhere.


Here are a few pictures of some that have been featured in these shows, they are featured at this website: http://freaks.monstrous.com/index.htm



Lobster Woman
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/lobster_woman.jpg

Wolf Family
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/hairy_birman_family.jpg

Pinhead
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/pinhead.jpg

Human Torso
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/prince_radian.jpg

Elephant Man
http://freaks.monstrous.com/pictures/elephant_man.jpg









Oy, I used to visit that page all the time! My dad thought it was disturbing of me :P

Oy, I used to visit that page all the time! My dad thought it was disturbing of me :P




I think it's really quite interesting. ;)

I've seen Freaks, and I really used to be into sideshow history and still sort of am...mostly, it was when I was about 8 or 9, lol. I have this whole elaborate book about the history of it, I'll get the title of it later if you want.


I saw the movie Freaks as well. It seemed that movie split the 'freak' community and the non-freak community over whether it supported or propogated negative stereotypes about seriously malformed people. Personally, though while freak shows are no longer prevalent in the first world, I'm sort of of two minds about the whole thing - on one hand it was their livelihoods, but yeah...anyway.

I too am fascinated by 'freaks' as, partly, I have to admit, from a morbid curiosity. But I also love reading and hearing about their stories. Like the 'Lobster Boy' who murdered several people out of a jealous rage, and the many tragic tales of 'freaks' who were outcasts in life.