Professor
Kurio
CANADA'S
ONLY TRAVELLING
ODDITY AND ANTIQUE MUSEUM
Professor
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 and movie 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. 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
H
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 and many more. 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 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., bringing the term "Midway" to light.
World's first Ferris Wheel
For years sideshow attractions were the main attraction of any midway.
By the 80's things had changed. The shows featuring people with deformities were long gone, some replaced by wax museums displaying wax figures of the freaks from the past. The wildman and the girly shows were banned from the midways. Game operators got rid of crooked and rigged games. Fairs and festivals cleaned up events and started catering more to families.
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 took to secure big 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 grotesquem the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow went from
selling out clubs and bars across North America to being opening acts for many
of the top bands in the 1990's, even headlining the secondary stage at Lollapalooza.
Thanks to Jim Rose sideshow performers can be found in bars and clubs, they can be found at music festivals.
Sideshow performers can be where anybody is looking to provide unforgettable entertainment.
Jim Rose
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"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 a
Single O.
Laszlo Kolozsy came from a world renowned circus family and knows a thing or two about sideshow.
Lazlo buit some of the most eye catching attractions to ever grace a midaway.
His giant rat, killer snake and headless women attractions were a hit with concert goers at Lollapalooza and Ozzfest.
La
Sideshow attractions can still be found on midways and festivals today.
The World of Wonders is the longest running 10 in 1, started by Ward Hall in 1951 and can still be seen today. Seen by millions, enjoyed by all, including
Laszlo Kolozsy's Giant Rat attraction
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 took over and continues to amaze people at festivals and fairs today.
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. Shawn Ives performs incredible breathtaking highwire acts.
When Shawn isn't performing 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 the last couple of years. Maybe we will see 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.
Ward Hall
King of Sideshow
The Ives Brothers
Kyle and Cody defy-gravity
Shawn Ives
World famous circus performer
and motorcycle daredevil
The Ives Brothers Wall of Death
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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.
When you step inside Professor Kurio's mini big top tent you will see a plerthora of strange and unusual curiosities from around the world. You will see things you wouldn't believe excisted without seeing them with your own two eyes.
You will see unimaginable objects curated from the around the world and close to home.
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 until1932 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, inside.
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'd 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 and just how tiny they
really are.
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 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
ddities that you never knew exisited.
Professor Kurio's Travelling Oddity and Antique Museum is a little strange, a little odd and
even a little educational. An experience that must be seen!
BOOKING
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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 experience. This attraction is so strange and bizarre that grandparents will tell grandkids about the time they saw a 2 faced cow!
Human curiosity is what makes Prof. Kurio's Museum work. People are always interested in seeing something new, something bizarre, something unbelievable.
Prof. Kurio's is not a new idea. Travelling oddity museums have been amusing the curious for over a 150 years.
Oddity museums are not just a attraction you find on the midway, the world's most
famous oddity museum has 28 spectacular brick and motor museums on 4
continents across 10 countries.
Wherever you go in the world you will find curious people
When you book Professor Kurio's Museum you get
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a eye catching self-contained attraction complete with a 35-foot long bannerline and outside talker (the equivalent of today's infomercial pitchman)
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a chance to give event goers a opportunity to see and experience things they would not believe without seeing.
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The sights and the sounds of circus create a upbeat atmosphere for event goers.
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Not only is the museum strange and odd but is educational too!! An attraction that the whole family can enjoy
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During the 4 events we did for our soft launch in 2023 we found the majority of patrons were mothers with children age 7- 12.
And there's more for 2024! We have teamed up with some incredible sideshow performers. Working freaks who are passionate about keeping sideshow tradition alive.
For 2024 Prof. Kurio is offering packages that include a live sideshow performance.
Your guest will witness breathtaking stunts impossible for the average human being. Watch as a fearless performer walks on 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. See incredible handcuff and stright jacket escapes.
All our amazing performers perform what we call the "basics of sideshow"
Each performer has speciality stunts they perfom.
Crowds go silent as they watch in astonishment our sword swallower swallow
22'' inches of soild steel. If that was not impressive enough, catch one of our
fire breathing freaks. See unbelievable fireballs light up the nights sky.
Safety is of the most importance to us. All performers are professionally
trained and put safety first.
The museum is housed in a commerical grade, fire rated tent.
The museum and performers are insured.. ascape
Space Requirements:
40 feet by 40 feet is needed to set up the museum and bannerline.
This space needs to be free of overhead wires and obstructions,
Bannerline is 15 feet at its highest point.
Setting up on grass is preferred but can be set up asphalt.
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 space of 6 feet by 8 feet is
needed for small stage and space for patrons to watch to the show.
Don't delay contact Prof. Kurio today for options and rates!
Don't miss this opportunity to bring this strange and unusal attraction
to your event. Give your guests an experience they won't soon forget.
For more details and options contact profkurio@outlook.com
Red Lowe
FenyxFyre
Miss St-rock
Miss St-rock
Miss St-rock
FenyxFyre
Red Lowe
FenyxFyre & Bella M. Eurta
