This Newsletter is published to encourage research into the history of Sideshows, large or small, tasteful or tasteless, past or present, anywhere they may have appeared.

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919-929-2753 bblackmar@earthlink.net

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COVER: SNAKES ALIVE! On our cover this Issue, is the beautiful French snake charmer, Messaouda. This image appears on a 1910 real photo post card printed in France.

Since the Garden of Eden, we have been fascinated by and been scared by the presence of the many species of this awesome creature. Down through the years, the showman has presented snakes to the public in many different formats, sometimes shocking, sometimes purely 'educational', however it was always known that the public was ready and willing to pay to be enlightened, frightened, or perhaps grossed out

The sideshow, or '10 in 1', more often than not included a snake charmer or handler .probably female and presented in an 'exotic' manner. For many years Ringiing Bros. Barnum Bailey Circus featured a snake charmer in their large well framed sideshows, two of which were the very popular Carmen and Josephine (Heibing) Rosal. These 'charming' (pun intended) ladies appeared on bally as well as in numerous news stories crnked out by the shows publicist Below photos: Carmen as she appeared with Rb&B&B Circus.