[ePub] Exhibiting Madness in Museums: Remembering Psychiatry Through Collection and Display (Routledge Research in Museum Studies) by From Routledge at Arts-Photography

Description

The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a fascinating legacy of mystery and intrigue. The secrets behind such daring feats as fire-eating and sword swallowing and bizarre exhibitions of human oddities as "Alligator Boys" and "Gorilla Girls" still remain; only grudgingly if ever given up by performers and carnival professionals. Working alongside the performers; Joe Nickell blows the lid off these mysteries of the midway. The author reveals the structure of the shows; specific methods behind the performances; and the showmens tactics for recruiting performers and attracting crowds. He also traces the history of such spectacles; from ancient Egyptian magic and street fairs to the golden age of P.T. Barnums sideshows. With revealing insight into the personal lives of the men and women billed as freaks; Nickell unfolds the captivating story of the midway show.