FREAK SHOWS: The Real People Behind the Spectacle

In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing the History of Circus Freak Shows! 

►Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/art/circus-theatrical-entertainment/20th-century-developments 
https://childrenstheatre.org/2024/01/17/the-early-history-of-traveling-entertainment-in-the-u-s/
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/circus-history/#:~:text=Many traveling circuses in the,and the downfall of sideshows
https://lynchburgmuseum.org/sideshows
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elephant-Man 
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Stratton 
Books about the McCoy Twins: Biography History and Medical Description of the Two-Headed Girl (1869) was sold during their public appearances. Millie-Christine: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (2000)
https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discovery/history-stories/millie-and-christine-mccoy-1851-1912-african-american-conjoined-twin-performers/ 
https://allthatsinteresting.com/lobster-boy 
https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2023/12/11/millie-christine-mckoy-d-74 
https://scalar.usc.edu/works/circus-route-books-project/annie-jones 
https://www.britannica.com/art/freak-show 
https://allthatsinteresting.com/annie-jones-bearded-lady 
https://allthatsinteresting.com/joseph-merrick 
https://www.k180.org/faith--film-blog/my-life-is-full-because-i-know-i-am-loved-the-elephant-man-1980 
https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/julia-pastrana-a-monster-to-the-whole-world/ Additional sources linked: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum's_American_Museum