Circus and Carnival Ballyhoo: Sideshow Freaks, Jabbers and Blade Box Queens

This follow-up to Seeing is Believing (ECW, 2002) tells the story of the carnival in words and pictures. Circus and Carnival Ballyhoo lifts the curtain on carnivals in America. The book follows the development of the circus side show with interviews and stories from side show workers that explain the role of freaks, working acts, managers, and talkers — and explores how important grift was to circuses and how it became located inside the side show. From circus transportation to highlights of the construction of the big top, to Lentini the three-legged man, Siamese twins, and the folks with an extra b

Must have, must read. A must have/must read for any carnival fan. It's really two reads in one; the first go through you can read the hundreds of detailed captions to the many photos, then the second read is the general text. Very informative. My only complaint would be the disparagement and refere. Great book, excellent pictures! Harvey187 I really bought this book because I saw that there were several pictures and mentions of a particular sideshow group that I follow, and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the book! Many, many pictures that I have never seen before and that anyone who enjoys sidesh. "Popular Culture History" according to User #17. The circus and carnival sideshows of yesteryear fulfilled the same purpose as today's reality TVbringing the odd and unusual to a mass audience. Mr. Stencell obviously knows his subject matter and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm with his readers. The photos alone make the book a

"A former circus owner chronicles the colourful history of sideshows. Full of photos from the author’s private collection and evocative slang such as grifters’ and lot lice,’ the book links exhibitions of freaks and curiosities past to today’s Body Worlds science shows and reality TV contests involving the ingestion of bugs."  Globe and Mail