A fascinating look into the history of the American sideshow and its performers. Learn what's real, what's fake, and what's just downright bizarre. You've probably heard of Tom Thumb. The Elephant Man. Perhaps even Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins. But what about Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat? Or Prince Randian, the human torso? These were just a few of the many stars that shone during the heyday of the American sideshow, from 1840 to 1950. American Sideshow chronicles the lives of truly amazing performers, examining these brave and extraordinary curiosities not just as sideshow performers but as people, delving into the lives they led and the ways they were able to triumph over and even benefit from their abnormalities. American Sideshow discusses the rise and fall of the original sideshows and their subsequent replacement by today's self-made freaks. With the progress of modern medicine, technological advancements, and the wonderful world of body modification, abnormalities are being overcome, treated and even prevented: Siamese twins can now be separated, and in addition to this, tongues can be forked, horns surgically implanted, and earlobes removed. There are also, of course, modern-day giants, fire eaters, sword swallowers, glass eaters, human blockheads, and oh, so much more. These fascinating personalities are celebrated through intimate biographies paired with stunning photographs. Approximately two hundred performers from the past one hundred and sixty years are featured, giving readers a comprehensive and sometimes astonishing look into the history of the American sideshow

"Sideshow on Go!" takes readers on a thrilling journey through the heart of Bay Area car culture, exploring the controversial and captivating world of sideshows. Born on the streets of Oakland in the 1980s, this unique form of automotive performance art has evolved from impromptu gatherings to a cultural phenomenon that has left an indelible mark on the region's identity. This book traces the history, artistry, and impact of sideshows, from their humble beginnings to their current status as a complex, often misunderstood subculture that continues to adapt and thrive in the face of technological change and legal challenges. Through seven comprehensive chapters, we delve into the origins of sideshow culture, its spread across the Bay Area, the intricate techniques and customizations that define it, and the ongoing debates surrounding its legitimacy and safety. We explore how digital technology has transformed the organization and documentation of sideshows, examine their influence on broader car enthusiast communities, and look ahead to the future of this uniquely Bay Area phenomenon. "Sideshow on Go!" offers an unparalleled look at a subculture that embodies the spirit of urban creativity, resistance, and community, inviting readers to understand the complex interplay of art, technology, and society that sideshows represent.

A staple of American popular culture during the 19th and early 20th centuries, the freak show seemed to vanish after World War II. This book reveals the image of the freak show, with its combination of the grotesque, horrific and amusing specimens.

Futurama meets The Avengers in this crazy space comedy! The galaxy’s most unhinged lunatic has an extinction-level death ray...​and an itchy trigger finger. Master Asinine has hatched his most psychotic scheme. He’s merged the galaxy’s largest crime gangs into a crushing force he calls the Bad Guys. Stay classy, Asinine. With a death ray at his disposal, he’s taking over the galaxy and putting everyone on a four-day notice. And if they don’t like it… ...he’ll nuke them instead. The galaxy’s only hope is Major Legion, Asinine’s ex-best friend. Tortured over his failure to stop Asinine from murdering their mutual buddy long ago, Legion must overcome inner demons to stop this army of thousands from exterminating everyone. But Asinine’s got a big surprise for an old friend... There’s nothing more dangerous than a psychopath who controls all crime. In a Galaxy Far, Far AwRy is an even mix of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Spaceballs, Avengers, and awkward eye contact from across crowded rooms. And it’s low sodium, if it comes to that.

Georges Seurat (1859–1891) created just six major figure paintings during his lifetime, one of which, the alluring Circus Sideshow (Parade de cirque), has remained the most challenging to interpret since it first intrigued viewers at the 1888 Salon des Indépendants in Paris. Unlike Seurat’s earlier sunlit scenes, Circus Sideshow presents a nighttime tableau depicting a parade—a street show enticing passersby to purchase tickets. With its geometrically precise composition, muted colors, and elements of abstraction, the painting stands apart as a masterpiece of Neo-Impressionism and heralds Seurat’s subsequent depictions of popular entertainments. This book, the first comprehensive study of Circus Sideshow, situates the painting in the context of nineteenth-century Paris and of the many social changes France was undergoing. Renowned art historian Richard Thomson illuminates the roles of caricature, naturalist and avant-garde painting, and circus advertising; examines Seurat’s use of contemporary aesthetic theory; and discusses how artists ranging from Rouault to Picasso mined the sideshow theme into the twentieth century. Illustrated with Seurat’s related drawings, works by other artists, and period posters and broadsides, Seurat’s Circus Sideshow delves into the history of traveling circuses and seasonal fairs in France, exploring the ongoing appeal of this traditional form of popular entertainment through the fin de siècle. Two additional essays describe the painting’s enthusiastic reception in New York upon its 1929 debut and present the results of a fresh technical examination of the canvas, making this volume the definitive resource on one of Seurat’s most captivating works.

As an easy-to-use application that provides information at a glance, a gadget allows users to quickly and easily obtain weather information, RSS news feeds, and much more. In Windows Vista, there are two types of gadgetsSidebar and SideShow gadgets and Microsoft MVP author Wei-Meng Lee covers both. You’ll begin by walking through the development of a simple gadget, and then each successive chapter breaks down the specific APIs that are relevant to enhancing a gadget so that you can clearly learn how a gadget is built.

Welcome to Side Show: Tales of the Big Top and the Bizarre. Be warned that this is not a medley of happy clowns, rainbow coloured carousels, and cotton candy, but rather an assortment of highly unusual characters and oddities, a sinister smorgasbord of eerie delights intended for those who love the dark and all that dwells there. The writers showcased here are from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Switzerland and Brazil. Cover art by Chad Savage; cover design by Cathy Buburuz Funded by Tyree Campbell, editor-in-chief, Sam's Dot Publishing http://samsdotpublishing.com