Carny Folk: The World's Weirdest Sideshow Acts

by Francine Hornberger

Book Overview

Here you will see Lionel the Lion-Faced Man, Otis the Frog Boy, Jeanie the Half-Girl, the Human Torso, the "What Is It?" and more than fifty other legendary sideshow acts. From P. T. Barnum's American Museum in New York City-where he show-cased bearded ladies, "Siamese" twins, "wild men," giants, and dwarves-to the traveling oddity museums linked to circuses and carnivals, to a whole new generation of "carny kids," the public has always been fascinated...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806526610
• ISBN13: 9780806526614
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Citadel Press
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great book

There is a lot of information about the persons covered, like where they grew up and what happened until they died. There are also pictures of most of them.

I'm glad I got this book.

I used to go to the state fair and see the displays "See the biggest steer alive!" "See the smallest woman ever!" "See the lady who had her head chopped off in a car accident and she is still alive!" I always looked down on those people. This book helped me to see them as people and I am kind of sorry that I never went in to see any of the shows.

It's a hoot!

You have to be a touch "warped" to enjoy a book like this, but if that's what floats your boat... this is the perfect item!

Carny Folk

A fascinating review of side show freaks and the more human side of their story. They seemed to hold a most non PC point of view, and some would fight for what they considered to be their rights as oposed to the rights allowed by others.