SIDESHOW HISTORY

It all began in 1841, when P.T. Barnum bought Scudder's American Museum,
quickly renaming it ''Barnum's American Museum''
Like anybody running a business, P.T. needed an edge to get people into his museum.
He realized in no time that people are naturally curious for all things deemed
to be ''odd and strange''
Barnum's American Museum became famous for hiring people who were born with
physical deformities, know as his ''Freaks'', as well as the gaffs and hoaxes he created.
Guests to Barnum's museum would stare with amazement as the '' working freaks'' would walk on hot coal, breath fire and swallow swords.
The star's of the museum were these human ''Freaks''. Some were tattooed from head to toe and some weighed more than 500lbs.
Some were skinny and over 7 feet tall. The one's people really came to see though, were the people born with deformities.
People like Charles Sherwood Stratton,aka General Tom Thumb, who was 2 feet and10 inches tall. Or Chang and Eng Bunker, the original Siamese Twins.

Many people accused P.T. Barnum of exploiting these people, which was not true. P.T. and other circus owners paid their ''Freaks'' well.
This being back in the 1800's when there wasn't many options for somebody with
a disability, not only did the circus owners pay these people well, but also gave
them a home and a family.
Many were paid the equivalent to what rock stars andmovie stars make today,
and most of them had already been abandoned by their families.

In 1865, a fire burned the museum to the ground.
This was the second fire at the museum and P.T was almost bankrupt.
With money from his ''freak'' family and his new partner James Bailey,
they created "P.T. Barnum's Grand Travelling,Managerie, Caravan & Hippodrome".
This was the world's first 3 ring circus.
This was also when the'' Freaks'' got their own tent and bannerline.
In doing this P.T. and his new partner created the very first sideshow.

The popularity of these shows grew so much that they began to appear on circus lots
all across the country, even appearing in Europe.
What started as ''freak shows'' and ''oddity museums'' grew into a wide variety of attractions. Some of these attractions advertised the world's smallest horse or the world's biggest bull.
Encouraged by people's curiosity, P.T. took the upper torso of a monkey and sewed it to the back half of a fish creating, what could be the most known hoax in the world, The Feejee Mermaid.

There were illusion shows where a person could pay a nickle and see a headless woman, kept alive by the miracle of science.
Another where one could see a girl turned into a gorllia right before their eyes.
With the invent of the motorcycle came one of the most daring stunt show of all.
Death defying stunt riders would race motorcycle's around a huge wooden barrel performing breath taken stunts.

P.T. BARNUM

Chang & Eng Bunker

STRANGE

ALIVE

on the

INSIDE

In 1893, Chicago played host to the World's Columbian Exposition, commonly know as the "Chicago World's Fair".
This six month long extravanza would host many world's firsts, like the first ferris wheel, or the well known treat "CrackerJacks" was first introduced.
It was also the model for most of modern day fair's and festivals.
Much like today's fair's, the Chicago's World's Fair was a place were a business man and farmers could come together and see the lastest in techology and take in a lecture in the newest techniques.
1893 was a time of many changes.
The Chicago World's Fair was the first time people could walk down a street lit by electricity and people even had the opportunity to see a movie in the very first movie theater.
For the first time at a world's fair, there was space to set up the circus and sideshows, games and food!

In the center of all these tents and bannerlines, George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. built the world's first Ferris Wheel. Standing 264 ft tall.
Fairgoers were treated to an unbelievable, never before seen veiw.

The space resevered for entertainment was located midway between the
lecture halls and the gates to the fair. This the term "Midway" comes from.

World's first
Ferris Wheel

For years sideshow attractions with their colorful bannerlines and outside talkers were the main attraction of every circus and midway.
By the 80's things had changed.
The 80's saw a boom in the manufacturing of rides, each one bigger
and faster than the last .
Midway owners wanted the biggest, the flashiest and the most
modern rides.
This is what it takes to secure the big midway contracts.
Newer, bigger rides took up more and more space on the midway, slowly pushing out the sideshows.

In 1990, sideshow evolved in a way never seen before, a Seattle based
performer,by the name of Jim Rose, created the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow.
Instead of fighting for space on the midway, Jim and his motley band of freaks
started out performing in clubs and bars, pushing the boundaries of what is
humanly possible.
Performing stunts that would not be allowed on the modern midway, with each
stunt being more dangerous and grotesque than the last.
The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow went from selling out clubs and bars across
North America to being the opening act for many of the top bands in the 1990's,
even headlining the secondary stage at Lollapalooza.

Jim Rose

"Single O's" is a sideshow term for when a customer pays to see a single attraction.
This could be anything from a tiny horse to a pig with tattoo's.
Bonnie and Clyde's bullet ridden car toured fairs for 3 decades as aSingle O.

Laszlo Kolozsy came from a world renowned circus family and knows a thing or two about sideshow.
Lazlo built some of the most eye catching attractions to ever grace a midaway.
His Giant Rat, Killer Snake and Headless Women attractions are huge draws at fair's and festivals across the States as well with concert goers at Lollapalooza and Ozzfest.

Laszlo Kolozsy's
Giant Rat attraction

Sideshow attractions can still be found on midways and festivals today although rare and far in between.

The World of Wonders is the longest running 10 in 1, started by Ward Hall in 1951 and this increadible can still be seen touring the biggest State fair's today.
Seen by millions, enjoyed by all, including those lucky enough to see this incredible show at the CNE in Toronto back in the 70's & 80's when Ward Hall would bring his sideshow attractions north.

When Ward retired, long time sideshow performer Tommy Breen stepped up to keep The World of Wonders on the road and continues to amaze people at festivals and fairs today.

Ward Hall
King of Sideshow

The Wall of Death motorcycle stunt show was a common sight at the
CNE until the 80's.
Not since then has a Wall of Death come back to Ontario, until the Ives Brothers in 2022 brought their Wall of Death to the North American International Motorcycle Supershow.
They come from a circus family and were encouraged at an early age to start riding by their daredevil father.

When Shawn Ives isn't performing his increadible highwire acts for
circus fans, he is famous for his death defying Evel Knievel style
motorcycle jumps.

With rising fuel and labour costs the midways have been getting
smaller over the last couple of years.
Maybe this will create space for a new wave of sideshow attractions
coming in the near future to wow and amaze people once again.

People will always want to be entertained.
They will always want to see something new and exciting.
People are curious and that's what makes sideshow work.
No matter what sideshow attraction or what performer you see, it will be a show you won't soon forget.

The Ives Brothers
Kyle and Cody
defy-gravity

Shawn Ives
World Famous Circus Performer
and Motorcycle Daredevil

The Ives Brothers
Wall of Death

MUST

SEE

STRANGER

THAN

FICTON

Professor Kurio's Travelling Oddity and Antique Museum is a recreating of a early 1900's circus sideshow attraction, complete with a 35' foot bannerline and a outside talker and Canada's only travelling oddity museum.
Not only is Professor Kurio's museum Canada's only travelling oddity museum but it Canada's only
traditional Circus SideShow attraction and one of less than a dozen of this type of attraction still travelling.
When you step inside Professor Kurio's mini big top tent you will see a plerthora of strange and unusual curiosities curated from around the world and close to home.
You will see things you wouldn't believe existed without seeing them with your own two eyes.

From what we call our ''everyday Strange and Odd display'', there's a ring worn by legendary Viking Giant Johann K. Petursson and a gas mask and goggles for a horse from WW1.
Did you know that until 1932 the Canadians printed $0.25 bank notes?
You can see this strange piece of Canadian history inside the museum.
Along with the impossible bottle, see if you can figure out how someone got a deck of cards, still competely sealed in the original cellophane wrapping.

Is it antique medical equipment that peaks your interest?
Have you ever wondered what kind of tools doctors used
when you're laying on the operating table?
If so, then you will enjoy Prof. Kurio's collection of antique
and quack medical equipment.

See the incredible lengths some Peruvian tribes went through to be closer to the spirit world.
From the dark depths of the Amazon Rainforest, see what local tribesmen would do to the heads
of their enemies to prevent them from seeking revenge from the after life.
Before the 19th century, foot binding was a common pratice in China where young girls would have
their feet broken and tightly bound.
Feet altered this way were commonly refered to as "Lotus Feet" and seen as a sign of status.
Now you can see a beautiful pair of these shoes for your self!

Have you ever seen a real 2 faced calf or a conjoined calf?
How about a cyclops pig or a 2 headed bearded dragon?
Yes ladies and gentlemen they really do exist!
Stranger than fiction, these incredible Must See specimens are
just a few of the UnBelievable Barnyard Blunders you will see
inside Professor Kurio's Travelling Oddity and Antique Museum.
Each of these 100% real freak creatures have been carefully presevered the way the were born.
The way mother nature intented.

You to can have the opportunity to witness with your very own eyes unimaginable
Oddities and Curiosities that you never would believe existed with out seeing for yourself.
Professor Kurio's Travelling Oddity and Antique Museum is a little Strange, a little Odd and
even a little Educational. This a Must See To Believe attraction!

ODDITIES

AND

CURIOSITIES

WORLD'S

STRANGEST

SHOW

BOOKING

Is your event looking for something new and exciting?

Something that will have your guests talking for days?
Look no further! Professor Kurio's Travelling Oddity and Antique Museum is an UnForgettable

Must See To Believe Experience.

This attraction is so strange and bizarre that grandparents will tell their grandkids

about the time they saw a two-faced cow!

Human curiosity is what makes Prof. Kurio's Museum work.

People are always interested in seeing something new, something bizarre,

something unbelievable!
Wherever you go in the world, you will find curious people.

When you book Professor Kurio's Museum, you get:

- This unbelievable self-contained attraction for the whole family comes

complete with commerical grade tent, a 35-foot-long bright, colorful bannerline

and outside talker, (the equivalent of today's infomercial pitchman) to create an

experience that won't soon be forgotten..

-The eye-catching sights and the upbeat sounds of the circus create an exciting, upbeat atmosphere

for event attendees, the bannerline is great for taking pictures

- Prof. Kurio's bright, colorful eye-catching Bannerline was done by one of the last great cicrus artists, recreating styles that were popular with the cirucs in the early 1900's.

What you see on the banners (plus more) is what you will see on the inside the museum, each banner was created for Professor Kurio's Travelling Oddity and Antique Museum.

- Not only is the museum strange and odd, but it is educational too!

This is a attraction that the whole family can enjoy.

Not only can your event host Canada's only Travelling Oddity Museum

butwe can also provide Unbelievable live on of a kind entertainment.

Circus Sideshow style.

Your guests will witness breathtaking stunts impossible for the average

human being.

Watch with amazement as our fearless performer walks on broken shards glass or gets

sandwiched in a bed of nails.

Be amazed as the pain-proof freak braves limbs playing with animal

traps and staple guns.

Your guest will stare with awhhh as they watch in amazement as

one of our escape atists frees themself from a straight jacket and handcuffs.

All our amazing performers showcase what we call the

"Basics of SideShow."

* Human Blockhead

* Walking on glass

* Bed of Nails

Each performer has specialty stunts they perform.

Crowds go silent as they watch in astonishment as our Sword Swallower

swallows 22 inches of solid steel.

If that wasn't impressive enough, catch one our Fire-Breathing Freaks.

See unbelievable fireballs light up the sky.

Safety is of the utmost importance to us.

All performers are professionally trained and put safety first.
The museum is housed in a commercial-grade, fire-rated tent.
The museum and performers are insured.

**Space Requirements:**

A 40-foot by 40-foot area is needed to set up the museum and bannerline.

This space needs to be free of overhead wires and obstructions.

The bannerline is 15 feet at its highest point.

The area also needs to be free from underground infrasucture.

Setting up on grass is preferred, but the museum can also be set up on asphalt.

The tent and bannerline, for safety reasons, must be staked down.

Holes in asphalt will be filled in when stakes are pulled out.

When booking the museum with a performer, a extra space of 6 feet by 8 feet is needed for a small stage and space for patrons to watch the show.

Don't miss this opportunity to bring this Strange and Unusual attrracction to your event.

Give your guest an experience they won't soon forget!

Don't delay—contact Prof. Kurio today for options and rates!

For more details and options on how you can bring Canada's only travelling Oddity Museum and one of the last of the traditional Circus Sideshow attractions to your event

Contact profkurio@outlook.com