The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek: Snake Eaters, Human Ostriches, & Other Extreme Entertainments

by Nathan Wakefield, James Taylor (Foreword by)

Overview

Delve into the captivating and sometimes dark history of sideshow geeks and other eccentric acts of the past! With this book, you can explore the realm of forgotten carnival entertainment. Learn all about the rise and fall of the sideshow geek, uncovering the truth behind the myths and uncovering untold stories. You'll be taken on a journey through time to discover the captivating and sometimes outrageous entertainment of these forgotten acts.

Benefits of reading this book:

-Uncover the truth behind the myths of the sideshow geek

-Learn about the origins of the word 'geek' and how it has evolved over time

-See the stories about actual known sideshow geeks.

What is included in this book:

- History of the sideshow geek and other eccentric acts

- Interviews with performers and thought leaders

- Exploration of wild men, stone eaters, human ostriches, and competitive goldfish swallowers

- Comprehensive picture of the rise and ultimate demise of the sideshow geek

Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn the secrets of the sideshow geek and other eccentric acts of the past. Buy it NOW!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781737203643
Publisher:	Outside Talker Press
Publication date:	07/10/2023
Pages:	390
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Nathan Wakefield (Author) is a variety performer and sideshow historian from Southeast Michigan. Under the stage name "Nathan McScary," he specializes in macabre juggling acts and innovative fire entertainment with exclusive props. Wakefield enjoys exploring the creative possibilities of object manipulation, re-creating 19th-century gentleman juggling tricks, and studying performance styles that are just plain weird.

James Taylor (Forward) is the planet's foremost authority on sideshow. He is the mastermind behind Shocked and Amazed! - On & Off the Midway, the only journal devoted to variety exhibition and life in the sideshow, published through Dolphin-Moon since 1995. Taylor has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, the Learning Channel's Sideshow: Alive on the Inside and NPR's The Derek McGinty Show.

Editorial Reviews

"An impressive survey drawing back the curtains on one of the most strange and macabre corners of the history of popular entertainment and a must-read for sideshow fans and performers... Step right up and peek inside (if you dare)."

-- Mistress Kali, The Southern Sideshow Hootenanny

"Skim through these pages and witness the spectacle of the unusual geeks, wild men, human ostriches, and regurgitators. Performers eating live animals, sometimes neatly but often violently, and others swallowing unlikely animate and inanimate objects. All in the name of entertainment."

-- Alan Howard, Performer, Author, Editor, and Aficionado of Variety Acts.

From the Publisher