I’ve been writing about sideshow performers for about 25 years now. It began with a zine I used to publish called Backwash, which led to my second book, American Sideshow (Tarcher/Penguin), my most recent title, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing (Schiffer Books) with Dan Meyer, and coming soon, On Point: A Knife Thrower’s History of Knife Throwing (Schiffer Books) with The Great Throwdini and Rick Lemberg.
Sideshow has introduced me to so many remarkable people—both from the past and of today. It’s taken me to places I wouldn’t have gone otherwise, like Gibsonton, Florida, the Sideshow Gathering in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, the sideshow stage at Coney Island, and an appearance on the Maury show to name a few. It’s also led me down other paths of unusual subjects (which you can see at my author site).
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of speaking at the Circus Historical Society convention in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Baraboo, as you may know, is the birthplace of the historic Ringling Bros. Circus. Dan Meyer and I gave a talk about the history of sword swallowers, which culminated in a live demonstration from Dan. I always love sharing the stories from our book, but I especially love seeing people’s looks of shock and amazement when they see a two-foot steel sword swallowed right in front of them.
Friday evening the CHS held a banquet to announce the winner of the Stuart Thayer Prize, which went to Betsy Golden Kellem for her book Jumping Through Hoops. Dan and I were honored to be nominated for To The Hilt. The excitement continued with the International Clown Hall of Fame induction ceremony—where I found myself in the front row. The Hall of Fame board elected Jerry Bangs, a man who developed innovative clown props and gags for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1930 to 1949. He later freelanced with other major circuses, parades and festivals.
The Hall of Fame also presented a surprise induction of its own executive director, Greg DeSanto. He’d spent decades as a clown and Producing Clown for Ringling Bros., and later performed with the Big Apple Circus. It was a moment packed with comedy, as you’d expect, and emotion. All the joy DeSanto had given to others was coming right back to him.
Professional clown and ICHoF board member Sandy Weber brought out the clown gags in his heartfelt induction speech. At one moment, he claimed to have a few words from a fellow clown to share, then let a dozen or so pages unravel from his hands. He continued by saying he’d cut out all the inappropriate stuff and held up one remaining sliver of paper. A clown induction in true clown style.
The International Clown Hall of Fame Museum and Research Center happened to be just around the corner from the convention space in Baraboo, and right down the block from the historic Al. Ringling Theatre. Its collection is packed with colorful costumes and props—including an entire display of clown shoes—from famous performers, like Bozo, Lou Jacobs, and Emmett Kelly. Being there with a group of Ringling clowns, circus workers, and enthusiasts like me made it an extra special experience.
The convention also included a visit to the Circus World Museum, just down the street. The main museum building offers a spectacular collection of circus posters, props, wagons, and other related memorabilia to preserve the circus’s rich history. But outside is so much more, including a sideshow tent with displays of famous performers and a full circus tent offering an amazing one-hour performance complete with aerialists, animals, clowns, and even a giant Slinky-inspired character called Slinko.
Circus World also features an entire site that holds the world’s largest collection of restored historic circus wagons. Each is a stunning work of art. The image below left, for example, is known as the Golden Age of Chivalry Tableau Wagon and was built in 1902-03 for the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Many of the wagons from the museum were on display the next morning at the annual circus parade, including the “Cinderella and Her Prince Charming” wagon, which traveled with the Barnum & London Circus in the mid-1880s. I had the great joy of watching them all go by from the patio of the Al. Ringling Mansion. Where better?
If you’re interested in running off to join the Circus Historical Society or attending next year’s convention, find out more here.
