"FREAK SHOW"what do I think of when I hear those two words now? Well to be honest I don't; the idea of a freak show isn't something that would be popular now as its seen to many as a discriminating act for us the audience to be in awe and laugh at disabled people... which in many cases it was. When I think of freak show now I think either of American Horror story's most recent series or a bearded lady; many of whom I've seen on trips to Southampton city centre.
In England freak shows during the Victorian era weren't a new thing in fact they had first become popular in the 16th century. A famous example of early though notable freak shows were that of Italian brothers Lazarus and joannes Baptista Colloredo, two conjoined brothers from italy; upon research though it amazed me to learn that one of the brothers didn't ever speak or open his eyes he was just attached to his brothers chest... this twin was clearly not formed properly. Imagine having another person hanging out your chest, apparently Lazarus would hide his brother under his cloak in public to avoid attention. Like the twins the people in the shows were so popular because people at the time didn't see the people as having a disability or people that were different from them. Remember the Victorias loved horror and the idea of adventure seeing someone who wasn't the "Norm" would of been as exciting to many as a roller coaster is to us now.
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| Joseph Merrick in 1886 |
Some freaks shows moved on from the name and were described as "Exhibits" but actually they were still the same, some exhibits like that of Joseph Merrick "Elephant man" were exhibited with him as the sole subject being shown. It was in 1884 that Tom Norman created the exhibition in the west end for Joseph. EVERYONE has heard of the elephant man theres even been a film about him with Antony Hopkins.
Freak shows were made to scare the audience in 1842 P.T Barnum decided for some strange reason to create a 'creature' for a freak show in America named the "FeeJee" mermaid. No the mermaid was not real. In fact the "Mermaid" was infact the head of a monkey with the tail of a fish, I can not imagine the smell. P.T Barnum's freak show also included a man named general Tom Thumb who was 25 inches tall (his wedding photos are awfully sweet I can't deny). Queen Victoria herself actually met Tom during a European tour, the pair in all met 3 times and actually made Tom a extremely popular man from his royal meetings. The queen was amused.
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| Tom Thumb "Charles Stratton" on his wedding day 1863 |
Its mad to think a freak show would even include some who was heavily tattooed, If a victorian freak show enthusiast time travelled to now they would have hundreds of people fitting that criteria.
There are many famous freaks that are still recognised today though have long since passed; much like Joseph Merrick who I'd say is the most recognised certainly to a English audience. Mary Ann Bevan was shown in freak shows due to actually having a syndrome called acromegaly she was shown as "the worlds ugliest women" but in fact she had previously worked as a nurse before getting the syndrome and having to support her family after her husband died. sad.
Chang and Eng are another pair that are well know, the Chinese siamese brothers who settled in america and married local women, funny and strange fact the wives of the pair didn't get along after a couple of years so they moved into different homes and the twins would spend 3 days with each wife. The twins in fact were only joined by a infused lived and some skin, if they were born 100 years after doctors now would of been able to separate.
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| Titled "Chang" & "Eng" The world renowned Siamese twins, 1869 |
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| Titled Royal American Midgets 1880 |
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| Titles Watson's Living Curiosities 1885 |
I'm glad that in England we haven't carried on this into another century.
You hear about people now who have caught some unfortunate illness now much like Dede Koswara i.e. the Tree Man who literally has warts that look like tree bark engulfing his skin I'm glad now that doctors try to help these people not cart them into shows for our entertainment just to earn a living.
All posters were found at http://www.bl.uk/learning/artimages/bodies/freak/gallery/freakgallery.html
All posters were found at http://www.bl.uk/learning/artimages/bodies/freak/gallery/freakgallery.html
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