Marc Hartzman - American sideshow: an encyclopedia of historys most wondrous and curiously strange performers

Table of Contents

JEREMY P. TARCHER/PENGUIN
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First trade paperback edition 2006

Copyright 2005 by Marc Hartzman

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned,
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Published simultaneously in Canada

Hartzman, Marc.
American sideshow : an encyclopedia of historys most wondrous and
curiously strange performers / by Marc Hartzman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.

eISBN : 978-1-440-64991-2

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To my loving wife, Liz,

and to Myrtle Corbin

the four-legged woman who

brought us together

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project could not have been completed without the help of the many people I e-mailed and spoke with. First, I thank my wife, Liz, who not only encouraged me to pursue this book from the beginning, but supported me along the way by taking countless photos, traveling, pushing me to bid higher for photos on eBay, and putting up with me while I disappeared into my office to interview, research, and write.

Within the sideshow community, I thank those who took the time to share their many stories, historical knowledge, and industry contacts: Ward Hall and Chris Christ, who also graciously welcomed my wife and me into their home, allowed us to rummage through piles of photos, and attempted to continue telling stories over loud Spanish karaoke at a Mexican restaurant; Bobby Reynolds, who also hosted us and let us go through numerous books and photos; Johnny Fox, for sharing pieces from his collection, supporting my interest in sideshows long before this book began, and inspiring me over the years; Harley Newman, who offered information and advice, and gave a private performance in my driveway; Derek Rose, who put me in touch with performers from day one of this project; Bob Blackmar, who answered every question I threw at him and generously assisted with archived articles, the Kobel collection photographs, and images from his own collection; Tom Hernandez, who happily dispensed his wealth of sideshow knowledge whenever I had a question and who contributed images from his collection; Ken Harck, who shared pieces from his personal archives and helped with contacts; Johnny Meah, who reminisced about his friendships with various performers; James Mundie, who kindly provided photos from his collection; Dick Zigun, for arranging interviews and photography with the Sideshows by the Seashore cast; Judy Rock, for always being helpful with her stories and time; Slim Price, for recounting his days at Coney Island; Marie Roberts, who gave me access to photos from her personal collection and told me family stories; James Taylor, for sharing knowledge and offering suggestions; George McArthur, who took a road trip to meet with me and who put me in touch with other performers; Jennifer Miller, who met my wife and me at the subway station in freezing weather to bring us to her home; and Jeffrey Gordon of johnnyeckmuseum.com , who generously allowed his photograph of Johnny Eck to be published for the first time. Many other people took time to furnish information, give interviews, and meet for photo shoots: David Adamovich, Carol Armstrong, Eduardo Arrocha, Adena Baker, Scott Baker, Cathy Berry, Dick Brewer, Ses Carny, David Clark, Tim Cridland, Matt Crowley, - David Denholtz, Jimmy Dixon, Don Driver, The Enigma, Mark Frierson, Lorett Fulkerson, Tyler Fyre, The Great Nippulini, Jan Gregor, Insectivora, Fred Kahl, Katzen, Bob Leonard, Sahar Mitchell, Stephanie Monseu, Alexzander Morrow, Keith Nelson, Todd Robbins, John Robinson, Jim Rose, Srka, Daniel Browning Smith, Erik Sprague, - David Straitjacket, John Strong, Red Stuart, Tina Tomaini, Stephanie Torres, Ula, Vivian Wheeler, and Jerry Willman.

Many amazing people beyond the sideshow world also helped make this project possible, and I thank them: Katie Boyle, my agent, who had read Katherine Dunns Geek Love just before I brought this idea to her, then loved the idea, made it happen, and offered support and advice throughout; my editor, Terri Hennessy, for all her wonderful work and for giving me the freedom to do what I needed to; my copy editor extraordinaire, Anna Jardine, for her incredible thoroughness; Meighan Cavanaugh, who designed this book beautifully; Chris Steighner, who saw the potential in my idea and pushed me to continue pursuing it; contributing photographers Laure Leber, Allen Falkner, and Carl Saytor; Buck Wolf, who provided contact information, advice, and support and who shares an interest in the bizarre; Kathy Maher of the Barnum Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut; Lois Szudy of the Courtright Memorial Library, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio; Wilma June Kapfer of the Downing House Museum, Memphis, Missouri; Metta McDowell and Don Storwold of the Eddy County Museum and Historical Society, New Rockford, North Dakota; Alan F. Rumrill of the Historical Society of Cheshire County, New Hampshire; Devon Dawson of the Holyoke, Massachusetts, History Room and Archives; Dawn Triplett of the Kalkaska, Michigan, Genealogical Society; Aaron DeGroft, Debra Walk, and Marcy Murray of the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida; Marvin Allen of the Starke County Historical Society, Knox, Indiana; Diane Cooter, Carolyn Davis, and Peter Verheyen of Syracuse Universitys Bird Library; the White Plains, New York, Public Library; Cristina Boothe, for sharing photos from her familys collection; Gabrielle Bowen; Andy Foot; Steve Harvey; Timothy Kahn; Bernie Lander; Nancy McCreery; Shawn Ness; Dr. Zoe Palmos and Georgia Melissaris; Robert Perry, at Tattooed Mom in Philadelphia, for letting me use his space for a photo shoot; Sam Steger and Fred and Ann Dinstell, for contact help; Aileen Tarver; Reva Wolf, Eugene Heath, and Audrey and Scott Dinstell for much-needed books; Mom and Dad, for sending books and photos found on eBay, for seeing Freaks with metwiceand for letting me see The Elephant Man when I was seven, and weekly Ripleys Believe It or Not! during dinner; and finally, my friends and co-workers whove listened to me talk about sideshows perhaps a little more than they wanted to hear.