Gracie Hanneford, 1937 / Three-day weekend feels.
Phineas Taylor Barnum, commonly known as P.T. Barnum, entered the circus business in 1841 when he purchased Scudder's American Museum and renamed it
Feel great this summer at our unmissable historic events taking place across the country.
The freak show has a long and bizarre history. Here are some of the most famous circus freaks ever mesmerize audiences inside the sideshow tent.
Circus strongwoman Katie Sandwina. Photographed in the 1910s.
This is a vintage photo of Li Yeng, “The Basket Lady of Weijing Province”, famed contortionist who dazzled and confounded countless amazed observers while touring the world from 1880-1910 with “The Circus of the Electric Antlers” – an avant-garde troupe of circus performers far, far ahead of their time not just for their performances, but for their heavy use of psychedelic mushrooms and the loudly amplified backwards tape loops of feedback-drenched electric guitar played during their shows (which is indeed impressive when one considers the electric guitar had yet to be invented). At the time of her tragic death in 1910, when on one ill-fated evening she accidentally strangled herself on stage attempting to execute a new trick, she had become so highly skilled in her art that she would end most performances by completely disappearing into a 2-inch deep iron skillet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From images generously posted to Collage Images (not for posting art) pool. Geisha girl by paper_pal Baby in bassinet by xela66 Thanks for these great images!
An amazing Ebay find, that I feel very privileged to own. These two are acrobats or clowns photographed in Moonta South Australia, circa 1880. Mark St Leon, author of Circus, The Australian Story …
With their sleek physique and curly, often well-groomed hair, poodles are hard to miss. These curly dogs have a fascinating history that may surpirse you.
There’s a camaraderie amongst circus performers. Not only do you have the same job, but you’re on the road together for months out of the year.
Take a trip to the past with these mesmerizing pics.
Explore Theremina's 10030 photos on Flickr!
JoJo, the “Dog face Boy.” (1900). Hulton Archive / Stringer Clementine Clatteaux Delait a bearded lady. (1907). Topical Press Agency / Stringer German strongman Eugene Sandow and Goliath wrestling with “a bear.” (1910). Hulton Archive / Stringer Anita, ‘the Living Doll’, sits for a portrait. (1912). Topical Press Agency / Stringer A circus elephant balances on its front legs. (1920). General Photographic Agency / Stringer A female contortionist. (1925). General Photographic Agency / Stringer Daredevil Gladys Roy trains for her flying acrobatics by balancing on the rooftop of a skyscraper in Los Angeles. (1925). Topical Press Agency / Stringer A member of Sir Robert Fossett’s family circus grooms the show’s boxing kangaroo. (1940). Felix Man / Picture Post / Getty Images Mr Valenches holding two of his performing animals; a dog and a fox. (1908). Topical Press Agency / Stringer Jacko and Bess, two mandrills who perform at the Olympia Circus in London, wearing a fancy suit and dress in imitation of a smart couple. (1931). Fox Photos / Stringer Dixie the elephant from Whipsnade Zoo performs part of her repertoire with her keeper George Braham. (1932). Fox Photos / Stringer Man crushes a block placed on the stomach of a strongman. (1930). Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Samson Brown, the world’s strongest man, lets a motorcycle run over him. (1934). Fox Photos / Stringer A man carrying twins, two 36-year-olds who are part of a circus act, in his bags. (1935). General Photographic Agency / Stringer Members of Bertram Mills Freak Show are examined by a medical profession. On the examination table is the ‘Giraffe Necked Woman’. (1935). Hulton Archive / Stringer Facial contortionist Alfred Hyland, gurning during an exhibition in Glasgow. (1938). Fox Photos / Stringer The director of the Sarrasani Circus poses with a Sioux family in South Dakota, whom he was presenting as part of his circus. (1930). Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Czech showman Baron Richard Nowak, 19, stands 21 inches high & weighs 17 lbs., blowing on a trumpet as he nestles inside tuba player of the Hamid-Morton Circus. (1940). John Phillips / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images A seal performing in a harness, the trainer nearby, at a circus. (1942). Herbert Gehr / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images A strongwoman balances a piano and pianist on her chest. (1920). FPG / Hulton Archive / Getty Images Gargantua the Great, the famous giant gorilla featured in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, sustained a scarred face when a sailor threw acid in his face on the ship from Africa. (1940). Alfred Eisenstaedt / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images (via BuzzFeed)
Create meme "Diane Arbus, the clown smokes, Diane Arbus circus"", memes created: 1
Is there something inherently creepy about a ventriloquist dummy, or is our icky fear of them something we’ve inherited from the fact that every supernatural-based television show ever has had at least one murderous dummy episode? We’re not sure,…
Looking at historical photos is quite fascinating. Such images not only capture what life was like in earlier times but also show how drastically different things are now.
These are the bizarre photographs from a 19th century freak show where members of the public in the US would pay to witness people with physical deformities.
Pictures that speak a thousand words
Photographs have long been used to record special and unique moments - birthdays, weddings and the occasional selfie are all commonplace. But these next 30 photographs go beyond the norm - they encapsulate the mood, tone and values of yesteryear, a compelling account of the evolution of our value...
Don’t move to the country if you want to raise a well-educated, sober and streetwise kid
1. Two Victorian Women building a snow woman, 1892 Found on The Gilded Age Society. 2. A Different Kind of Christmas Soundtrack, 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLbny9VBT6c 3. A Salesman’s suitcase of Christmas lightbulbs, 1960s Found on Pinterest.
Images of art, design, fashion and fancy. 20 images of the same tone or color in a row. over and over and over again. Straight from a lady in the fine city of Portland, OR. Enjoy. -Jen-
Mademoiselle Gabrielle - Half Woman
For many the circus is a place of wonder and fantasy come alive. But for these 15 women, it was their workplace, their home, and the platform for their legacies.
There’s a camaraderie amongst circus performers. Not only do you have the same job, but you’re on the road together for months out of the year.
Piccadilly Circus has long been one of London’s best known and popular landmarks. A ‘centre of gaiety’ as one 1930s guide book put it, where thousands and thousands of people and almost as many cars ‘struggle in vain for freedom’. Piccadilly Circus is so popular it’s used to describe anything that’s busy. Even electrons and … Continue reading "“A Sense of Sex and the Night” – the History of Piccadilly Circus"
