Many traveling circuses in the 1800s and 1900s saw humans with physical deformities as a way to make a quick buck. Spectators would flock to see these sideshows as these humans and animals with strange mutations were put on display and labeled “freak shows”. Let’s go over the history of these circus sideshows: their origins, famous acts, performers feeling a sense of purpose, exploitation of performers, and the downfall of sideshows.
Circus sideshows or “freak shows” originated in England during the 16th century. People perceived those with physical deformities as signs of the presence of evil spirits or bad omens. Circus Ringmasters, such as P.T. Barnum, capitalized on the opportunity to use this group of people as entertainment, shifting these stigmas held by the public into curiosity.
Excessive hair growth, missing body parts, extra limbs, tattoos, and conjoined twins…these were the types of acts that comprised the circus sideshows. Here are examples of real people who were in these sideshows:
People with physical deformities were viewed as subhuman by the general public. Before performing in sideshows, this group of people was usually admitted into institutions, where they would be locked away in special rooms or thrown down in basements.
One benefit of circus sideshows is that they made many of these people feel like they had a sense of purpose and belonging. Traveling around the world together also built camaraderie among the performers, since they were around others who faced similar struggles as them.
Many of the performers were also compensated generously for their appearances in the sideshows. Jo-Jo The Dog-Faced Boy was among the highest-paid performers, making around $500 weekly, equating to $13,000 today. His retirement savings amounted to almost $300,000 ($7.6 million today).
Unfortunately, despite having some benefits for the performers, these sideshows also created some moral dilemmas. The majority of performers were manipulated and forced into the industry against their own will. Many performers’ backstories and conditions were embellished by managers to make them seem more like outcasts, which drew in larger crowds.
P.T. Barnum concocted an elaborate story about a blind, paralyzed slave woman he purchased for $1,000. Spectators came to see this woman because Barnum claimed she was 160 years old and was George Washington’s nurse. The woman was confirmed to be 80 years old when she died a year later. Audiences were so captivated by Barnum’s storytelling and trickery, they did not even seem to care when it was revealed that he had lied.
There were a handful of factors that contributed to the decline of circus freak shows. In the 1890s, popularity began to dwindle when more and more people felt bothered by the obvious ethical and moral issues of placing people’s physical misfortunes in the spotlight.
Spectators' curiosity peaked when medical advancements provided some explanations and diagnoses for these people’s conditions. This caused circus sideshows to lose that element of magic and mystery.
Other forms of entertainment, like movies and television, began to rise in popularity in the early 20th century which diminished the interest that people had in sideshows. By the 1940s, circus freak shows were nearly extinct.
Find more about the author: Kim Hart
