Generally considered in contemporary times as a highly inappropriate and dehumanizing term, a freak show is an exhibition of rarities, "freaks of nature" — such as unusually tall or short humans, and people with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics — and performances that are expected to be shocking to the viewers. Heavily tattooed or pierced people have sometimes been seen in freak shows, as have fire-eating and sword-swallowing acts.
History
Freak shows were popular in the United States from around 1840 to 1940,and were often, but not always, associated with circuses and carnivals. Some shows also exhibited deformed animals (such as two-headed cows, one-eyed pigs, and four-horned goats) and famous hoaxes, or simply "science gone wrong" exhibits (such as deformed babies).
Advances in medicine and political changes all but sounded the death knell for the freak show. As previously mysterious anomalies were scientifically explained as genetic mutations or diseases, freaks became the objects of pity rather than fear or disdain. The eugenics movement saw human anomalies as unfortunate mistakes of nature. In 1937, Germany passed a law outlawing freak shows, decrying them as exploitation (this however made it legal for the [pro-eugenics] Nazis to arrest freak show acts and experiment on themcitation needed). Thus the term "freak show" has become archaic, and is widely considered as insulting, demeaning and pejorative, in manners that dehumanize individuals based upon their appearance. Shows such as Jim Rose Circus sideshow, and those at Coney Island are more accurately termed sideshows. However, Cut Throat Freak Show still uses the term, as do many other self proclaimed freak and sideshow performers. Today, freak shows are outlawed in a number of U.S. states. For example, Michigan law forbids the "exhibition [of] any deformed human being or human monstrosity, except as used for scientific purposes". 1
Contemporary examples
Freak shows are extremely rare today, and there are only a few left in the world. A freak show with born living human oddities and medical anomalies is the 999 Eyes Authentic Freakshow. This show features people born with medical anomalies such as the Black Scorpion aka Lobster Bro, Jackie the Half Girl, Peg Leg the Modern-Day Elephant Man, Lobster Girl, and the Dame Demure Madame Miniature along with a museum that includes pickled punks and many items from John Strong's collection, including Patches a stuffed two-headed calf. Ken Harck's Bros. Grim Sideshow also tours with a combination of human oddities and working acts.
Although widely referred to as freaks, a distinction must be made between self-made freaks and "born" freaks. Generally, the most extreme examples of self-made freaks are referred to as "Human Marvels". Katzen, The Enigma, The Lizardman and both the Scottish and Texan Leopard men are all human marvels.
With the rise of the Internet, the freak show mentality has been given a new lease on life as sites such as rotten.com arose, allowing people to gaze at "freakish" abnormalities that would not have been seen during the television era due to ideas about aesthetic taste.citation needed
Historical timeline
The exhibition of human oddities can be seen as far back as recorded history:
- 1630s
- Lazarus Colloredo, and his parasitic twin brother, John Baptista, who was attached at Lazarus' sternum, tour Europe.2
- 1704–1718
- Peter the Great collects human oddities at the Kunstkammer in what in now St. Petersburg, Russia. 3
- 1738
- The exhibition of an exhibit who "was taken in a wook at Guinea; 'tis a female about four feet high in every part like a woman excepting her head which nearly resembles the ape." 4
- Late 18th century
- The science of teratology changed the belief that freaks were evil omens and the work of Satan or witches. Instead, people believed the theory that freaks were part of God's great order of creatures.citation needed
- 1829
- Chang and Eng, “the original Siamese twins,” were exhibited in America.citation needed
- 1839
- J.G. Milligan writes “curiosities of medical experiments” in which freaks are described.citation needed
- 1844
- P. T. Barnum arrives in London to exhibit Tom Thumb, the famous midget.citation needed
- 1860
- Hiram and Barney Davis are presented as Wild Men of Borneo. The guide book for Barnum American museum list 13 human curiosities. Zip the Pinhead begins his six-decade career with Barnum.citation needed
- 1863
- Barnum uses his brilliant showman skills to get the civil war and emancipation proclamation pushed off the front pages and replaced by a midget wedding.citation needed
- 1870-1890
- Dime museums are at the height of their popularity, with the freakshow as the main attraction.citation needed
- 1876
- Wild men of Borneo, wild Australian children, man-eating fiji mermaids, and the 602 lb (273 kg) woman are exhibited at the first World’s Fair in Philadelphia.citation needed
- 1880
- First freakshow at Coney Island.citation needed
- 1881
- The Conjoined Tocci Twins are exhibited in Vienna, billed as "The Greatest Wonder of Nature." {Jan Bonderson, On Tour with the Tocci Twins, Fortean Times December 2008 pp. 36-41}
- 1884
- Freak recruiting becomes a career and full time occupation.citation needed
- 1889
- British medical journal describes Myrtle Corbin, the "four-legged girl," and verifies that both sets of reproductive organs as workable and capable of birthing children.citation needed
- 1890
- The Jones twins, Siamese twins joined at buttocks and sharing a rectum die on carnival tour at fifteen months old.citation needed
- Late 19th century
- The theory that freaks are biological throwbacks to earlier races of humans and apes is introduced. The theory of maternal impression attributes traumatic or significant events experienced by the pregnant woman as an explanation for deformities.citation needed
- Early 20th century
- The resurgence of Mendel’s law of genetics coupled with Darwin's Origin of Species introduced the idea that freaks could "taint the gene pool".citation needed
- 1904
- Silbey devises the "Ten-In-One" show and creates jobs for talkers.citation needed
- 1908
- An article in Scientific American introduces concept of freak exhibitions being inhumane and barbaric.citation needed
- 1915
- San Francisco exposition includes a midget village and dime museum freakshow.citation needed
- 1922
- "Professor" Sam Wagner starts the World's Circus freak show at Coney Island. General public can read articles in popular press explaining the diseases behind oddities.citation needed
- 1925
- Freaks can be seen performing on the vaudeville stage.citation needed
- 1932
- Tod Browning's Pre-Code-era film Freaks tells the story of a traveling freakshow. The use of real freaks in the film provoked public outcries and was widely unsuccessful until its re-release at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival. 5
- 1933
- Chicago Expo features a pit show with a "live two-headed baby" in a jar of formaldehyde.citation needed
- Late 1930s
- The switch in social view of those with physical or mental anomalies from fabulous freaks and curiosities to diseased people with disorders was complete.citation needed
- 1940
- Freakshow is on the ropes and the dime museum essentially dead. The three-legged man, Frank Lentini, opens a freakshow.citation needed
- 1950
- Historical sideshow died as public demands freaks be given "dignity" and not exhibited, at this time many went into institutions or on the welfare system.citation needed
- 1952
- The "Human Torso" is still on exhibit.citation needed
- 1960
- Albert-Alberta Karas6 (two siblings, each half man, half woman) exhibits with Bobby Reynolds on sideshow tour.
- 1969
- John Strong purchases Patches the two headed cow for $150 begins his freak animal show.citation needed)
- 1972
- At north fair Sealo and the dwarf Pete Terhune confront charges against them for exhibiting themselves. The charges equated freakshows with pornographycitation needed
- 1980s
- Bobby Reynolds is arrested for exhibiting pickled punks.citation needed
- 1983
- Coney Island USA, founded by Dick D. Zigun, opens Sideshows by the Seashore, starting a sideshow revival in Coney Island.citation needed
- 1984
- Freak show performer Otis Jordan (the frog boy) is barred from exhibiting himself at the New York State Fair on the basis that the exhibition of human oddities is exploitative. Barbara Baskin, a "disability rights activist," led this fight and Otis was out of a job for two years before he beat the case and could perform again.citation needed
- 1992
- Grady Stiles (the lobster boy) is shot in his home in Gibsonton, Florida.7 1992 saw the first display of G. Neville in a performance by the "Manchester Freaks", a show mainly based in Britain but with an annual European tour. Later joined by his brother P.
- 1996
- Chicago shock-jock Mancow Muller presented Mancow's Freak Show at the United Center in the Summer of 1996, to crowd of 30,000. The show included Kathy Stiles and her brother Grady III as the Lobster Twins. {Mancow Muller (with John Calkins) Dad, Dames, Demons & a Dwarf Regan Books 2004 pp. 121, 137-147}
- 1998
- The Brazilian TV show "Ratinho Livre", whose main performer was Carlos "Ratinho" Massa became a kind of freak show, exhibiting mainly children with serious physical anomalies, such as hundreds of facial tumors (Eleandro, the Elephant Boy), tails, amputations, et cetera. Later, near 2000, the Brazilian justice prohibited such appearances on TV shows.citation needed
- 2000–2008
- Ken Harck's Brothers Grim Sideshow debuted at the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee, WI in the summer of 2000. The Milwaukee run included a fat lady and bearded lady Melinda Maxi, as well as self made freaks The Enigma and Katzen. In later years the show has included Half-boy Jesse Stitcher and Jesus "Chuy" Aceves the Mexican Werewolf Boy. Bros. Grim toured with the Ozz Fest music festival in 2006 and 2007.8
- 2005
- Ward Hall begins his sideshow, exhibiting "born freaks."citation needed
- 2005–2008
- The 999 Eyes Authentic Freakshow takes modern-day freaks on tours.9
- 2007
- Wayne Schoenfeld bring together several sideshow performers to "The L.A. Circus Congress of Freaks and Exotics," to photograph sideshows folks for "Cirque Du Soleil - Circus of the Past." In attendance were: Bill quinn, the halfman; Percilla, the fat lady; Mighty Mike Murga the Mighty Dwarf; Dieguito El Negrito, a wildman; fireeaters; sword swallowers, and more.10 11
- 2008
- Laurie Bennett won freaky feet of the year in Skipton Castle.citation needed
In media
See also
Read also
- Martin Monestier: Human Freaks, encyclopedic book on the Human Freaks from the beginning to today. (In French: Les Monstres humains: Oubliés de Dieu ou chefs-d'œuvres de la nature).
References
- ^ Michigan Penal Code (Excerpt), Act 328 of 1931: Section 750.347, Deformed human beings; exhibition.
- ^ Armand Marie LeRoi, Mutants, Penguin Books, pp. 53.
- ^ The History of Kunstkammer
- ^ Bogdan, R. (1988). Freak Show. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 25.
- ^ Missing Link reviews Tod Browning's Freaks (1932)
- ^ Albert-Alberta Karas, photographer unknown, Syracuse University Digital Library, retrieved May 6, 2006.
- ^ Grady Stiles, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Chicago Reader: Wanna See Something Really Weird?
- ^ 999 Eyes of Endless Dream Carnival Museum & Sideshow
- ^ Wayne Schoenfeld
- ^ credits
External links
