A museum of oddities was opened in 1841 by American showman Phineas Taylor Barnum. Immediately after opening, Barnum found himself with the logistical problem of a human logjam. Customers were so jazzed about what they saw inside that they didn’t want to leave. In an effort to solve the problem, Barnum pulled a fast one on the visitors and posted a sign that read “This Way to the Egress” which actually meant exit. Hot to see another peculiar mutant, people eagerly followed the mysterious sign only to find themselves outside show. Barnum is said to have coined the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute."
Curiosity is a force to be reckoned with. It drives us to push our limits of comfort, to explore, to understand, hopefully to learn. The circus is just one giant that has exploited the inquisitiveness of the public, but it sure created an amazing array of characters and a more than eccentric subculture, full of real people.
The Marvelous Mabel Stark.
A trained nurse, Mabel grew tired of ordinary life and decided to join the circus and became the world's premier tiger trainer in the 20s. She's credited as the world's first woman tiger trainer/tamer. "The chute door opens as I crack my whip and shout, 'Let them come,' Out slink the striped cats, snarling and roaring, leaping at each other or at me. It's a matchless thrill, and life without it is not worth while to me." - Stark quote from her autobiography, Hold That Tiger.
Circus performer "Tiny Kline" came to America at 14 as part of a dance troupe. She lived in a boarding house in New York City for Jewish immigrant workers where young women were taught how to "behave", or prepped for becoming productive American citizens as domestic servants or needle workers. Tiny dejected the passive attempt at life and opted for that of a burlesque dancer, starring off Broadway in cheap productions. After only five weeks of marriage to a renowned Wild West trick rider, her husband fell off of his horse and died and Tiny's career in the circus began. She worked her way up to be a Roman rider and would stand atop a charging horse in the chariot races at the end of the show. In 1932 she crossed Times Square hanging by her teeth which was known as her signature aerial iron jaw act. At age 70, Tiny became the very first Tinkerbell at Disneyland.
Unknown Circus Lady named Gloom.
I'd like to know her story.
Interestingly, at the turn of the century almost all snake charmers were women.
Savage? Maybe if on the technical level, but the whole thing is an experience, it's tangible (as opposed to the ever increasing culture-less reality tv shows that seem to be an exercise in product placement). With so many nursing their curiosity daily and at home for free, will we ever see the circus again?
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