IN the mid-19th century, PHINEAS TAYLOR BARNUM and JAMES ANTHONY BAILEY kept the people of America thrilled and amazed with their world-famous travelling shows. The whole population would turn out when the Barnum and Bailey circus hit town, and jaws would hit the floor when they saw such wondrous sites as the tiny General Tom Thumb, Édouard Beaupré the Willow Bunch Giant, and the fascinating and mysterious Mermaid of Fiji. But the showmen knew that these curious beings could only surprise and thrill an audience once, and they were constantly on the lookout for exciting figures and strange people to exhibit at their “nickel apiece” freak shows. So Roll up! Roll up! as we take a look at some of the strangest exhibits, acts and curiosities to have featured on the…
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Viz (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2024