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SIDESHOW PRESERVATION AWARD
Presented To
John Robinson
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What People
Are Saying About Sideshow World |
Below are
some quotes received from members of the
sideshow community.
John Robinson’s “SIDESHOW WORLD”…the
carnies home lot
on
the internet. Where else can you find
amazing jackpots with old
carnies, hear live sideshow ballys, view
incredible sideshow photographs,
get information on anything sideshow and
stay updated on sideshow
performers itineraries!
Dr. West’s Traveling
Sideshows and Animal Menagerie
Rick West
I just
wanted to say thank you for
continuing to "Preserve the
Past...Promote the Future" through
sideshowworld.com. I think the site
looks great and I love your
Corny-Ville
Comics...........wonderful sideshow
twist.
I really appreciate all of your
efforts and those who have also
helped you along the way either by
their own contributions or
inspiration to you.
Sideshowworld.com like its
predecessor, is truly a gateway
between the past and the future of
the sideshow.
Offering
rarely-known, historical references
on sideshow history, continuing
traditions and current happenings, I
am again thankful for the birth of
sideshowworld.com.
Toni-Lee Sangastiano
Sideshow
Banners.com
Hello to
all my Sideshow Brothers and
Sisters,
I think
John has really done us proud with
the website Sideshow World. The
format is excellent and I have
emailed all of my friends in the
entertainment field and told them
they must log on to Sideshow World.
It is nothing short of fantastic.
Keep up the good work John, and best
wishes to all, from,
Arkansas Red-Ozark Troubadour
Ozark Mountains, Arkansas
Imagine life in a world
where perhaps only a few
thousand people speak your
language.
Now imagine that you are
separated from these people
by vast distances and speak
with them only rarely.
In some ways, this is what
it is like without something
like Sideshow World.
Here we can speak freely.
In a language we all
understand.
About an art form that we
are all, to one degree or
another, obsessed with.
Thanx to all who make it
possible.--- Pete Kolozsy.
What kid doesn't
want to run away
with the carnival?
In Dream Pictures I
tried to recreate a
place of childhood
fantasy. (Thanks
John for your
help.)
But here, here at
Sideshow World, it
moves from fantasy
to reality, and
is once again
Alive on the
Inside!
It's great, John, I
can reminisce in the
good old days, get a
sneak peek at the
present visiting the
performers links and
listen to a live
bally, and, I can
plan for the future
by keeping up with
events and upcoming
dates and
appearances.
Thanks to all of you
at
Sideshow World for
giving us fans a
place to reminisce
and dream, a chance
to run away with the
carnival.
Author of: Dream
Pictures
Book one of the
Carnival Soul
Trilogy
coming from Mundania
Press
Carrie Lynn Lyons
After losing Slim's
site, the thought of
losing Sideshow
Central, was almost
too much. I knew
John could pull it
off, just the time
involved, in an
undertaking such as
Sideshow World, was
overwhelming.
In the world of
Sideshows, there
will always be the
bickering and
boasting. It is the
same in anything you
are involved in. It
is also a lose, lose
situation. The
carnivals have been
around, since God
got bored. There
will always be
someone out there,
To provide
entertainment to the
masses.
The older performers
and fans, as they
age, find it
difficult to walk
the miles it takes,
to go to the local
State Fair. But to
be able to have a
good visit, with the
performers and fans,
that make us laugh,
from the confines of
our homes, is
something money
can't buy. Right
Slim??? And since
the inception of
Sideshow web sites,
and the ability to
reach the world from
your fingertips,
there are no more
shut-ins. We can all
participate in the
Sideshow connection.
As I was going
through some very
old paperwork of my
Dad's (Al Tomaini
the America Giant),
there were many old
telegrams. Some
applying for work,
and others
announcing family
deaths. We have
evolved into what we
are today, with the
hard work of people
like Joe Bates, Slim
Price and now John
Robinson.
Thank you my
friends, for keeping
the magic alive,
without it some of
us would be lost. We
are behind you all
the way...at
Sideshow World
R.I.P. Judy
"Rustie" Tomaini
Rock
Community
exchanges
and
communication
have been on
a roller
coaster for
the past 6
months or
so.
I would like
to add my
breath to
the
collective
sigh of
relief
exhaled by
our entire
genre.
Thank you
thank you
John
Robinson for
providing
Sideshow
World .
Jim Rose
www.jimrosecircus.com
Nice
work,
John
for
keeping
Sideshow
alive
on
the world
wide
web
which
will help
to
keep
it
alive
in
the
real
world.
It
all
looks
great
and
is
fun
to
take
a
trip
back
in
time
reading
stories
and
interviews
with
some
of
sideshows
greatest
assets
like
Ward
Hall
and
Walt
Hudson.
Keep
up
the
good
work
and
keep
the
"magic"
alive!
Magic
Brian
Welcome
to
Magic
Brian
Dot
Com!
15
years
ago
there
were
maybe
a
handful
of
working
Sideshows
out
there
on
this
big
blue
marble....my
how
things
have
changed!
Sideshow
World
is a
great
place
for
anyone
that
loves
Sideshow.
I
feel
more
connected
to
my
world
than
I
ever
have
thanks
to
this
great
liddle
place.
The
best
people
in
the
industry
are
sharing
their
stories
and
cutting
up
jackpots
for
the
world
to
enjoy.
What
a
wonderful
gift.
Sure
you
can
buy
books
about
Sideshow...but
here
you
can
live
it.
The
joys
the
sorrows,
its
all
laid
out
as a
smorgasbord
of
titillating
tales.
As a
Sideshow
and
Grind
show
owner
I
enjoy
coming
here
and
hearing
the
struggles
and
triumph's
of
our
Modern
Day
Showmen.
This
is
the
real
deal,
not
fiction...but
raw
exciting
accounts
of
life
as a
showman!
There
are
so
many
people
that
are
part
of
this
board
that
NONE
of
us
would
know
if
we
didn't
have
this
site
as a
tool
to
network
and
participate
as a
community.
My
hat
comes
off
to
you
John
Robinson
for
having
the
need
and
passion
to
bring
the
world
a
neutral
site
so
that
we
may
enjoy
the
many
different
colorful
Shows
and
performers
in
this
great
industry.
I
can
go
to
sleep
happy
knowing
that
when
I
wake
up...the
first
thing
that
I
can
do
in
the
morning
is
log
on
and
brush
up
on
the
daily's.
I am
so
happy
that
Sideshow
World
exists,
it
makes
the
whole
community
feel
more
empowered!
Thank
you
John.
Scott
McClelland
Carnival
Diablo
It is my opinion that Sideshow World is a great asset, and not only to us sideshow people. One of the things they do is to keep the sideshow community informed about things going on with people in the business.
They have also helped me to locate some of the other show people, their families and provided me with information about what they are doing.
Sideshow World is also a great resource to any historian or student of sideshow history. It is a great archive of sideshow history and as such it is invaluable to anyone who wants to study it's history.
There has been so little history recorded about this industry which started in the 16th century that we know of (and probably before), and even into the later part of the 20th century very little has been written or recorded about the personal history of the people that have worked and lived their lives in the business.
Sideshow World has worked very hard to gather the personal and show history of the people and the shows and have archived it so that the fans, students and historians have a place to go to study. It is a great thing they are doing.
Ward Hall
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I
can
think
of
no
one
more
qualified
to
be
tour
guide
to
the
backstage
world
of
the
Circus
and
Sideshow
than
eminent
scholar
and
show
historian
John
Robinson…
In
addition
to
being
one
of
the
most
learned
and
accomplished
enthusiasts
active
in
the
archiving
of
obscure
show
lore
of
antiquity,
he
is
also
one
of
the
most
knowledgeable
experts
in
the
field
of
contemporary
and
recent
show
history…
For
those
of
us
struggling
to
survive
in
the
front
lines
of
entertainment,
the
inhospitable
and
unsubsidized
climate
of
guerrilla
theatre,
it
is
truly
a
blessing
and
a
gift
from
above
that
the
Utah
Showman
brought
us
Sideshow
World…
Prof.
Lee
Kolozsy
Cirko
Productions
I have subscribed to several circus and outdoor amusement publications over the years, such as Circus Report, Amusement Business, Clowning Times, Calliope, The Great American Circus Directory etc........ These were all fine publications, many were short lived. In all honesty Sideshow World far exceeds all these publications put together. I had no doubt that Sideshow World would be the premier site for performers, promoters, show owners, people that are fans wanting to learn our history, etc..., but John Robinson truly outdid himself. He cut no corners and exceeded my expectations. A job well done.
Slim Price deserves credit for acting as one of the moderators for Sideshow World's Yahoo Group. This gave John the much needed time to get this huge site up and going.
The contributor to Sideshow World are astounding, the best of today and the best of yesteryear (Slim, you fit in both categories).
One thing I would like to mention, I knew Don Marcks thru years of correspondence (publisher of Circus Report). If he were with us today, I know he would be overjoyed with Sideshow World.
For myself, I'm very proud to be a part many contributors and to be able to share some vintage memorabilia from the Days Gone By. This is the "only" site on the web that I share my vintage collection because of the high standards, integrity, and professionalism.
John, my hats off to you for not taking "no" for an answer and pretty much going against the odds to
make the impossible possible.
"An absolute must for the gems of yesteryear and the hopefuls of tomorrow. From histories revealed to
modern marvels, Sideshow World is a treasure trove of information
which should be explored by any sideshow enthusiasts, fan or performer."
Pele
http://www.pyromorph.com
Sideshow World has connected me to the sights of the sideshow with its bright colorful banners, the enchanting costumed performers on stage giving me just enough of a peek of their many talents to lure me under the tent to watch them swallow fire, walk on nails, throw knives, and see their anomalies, never losing their dignity. It reminds me of how hard they worked, how talented and funny they were. If I hadn't connected to John Robinson of Sideshow World, I wouldn't have re-connected with the talented Ward Hall, a one time partner of my knife throwing uncle Harry Leonard, sweet Pete Terhurne, and Chris Christ. It has been such a joy to read their stories, as I have never heard them before. Seeing their pictures along with those of Lorette and Sealo put a smile on my face. In this fast moving world the sideshows cannot be left in the past. You can't click on a remote and find the tattooed lady, the juggler, the ventriloquist, and knife throwers of the world. Talk about a reality show!! The sideshow invented it!!
Mary Miller
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Sideshow World
has its proverbial finger on the pulse of
every conceivable aspect of this weird and
wonderful business - both past and present,
good or bad. If it's happening in the world
of sideshow, chances are you'll hear about
it here first. If you are out there, and
either performing in or promoting this
business somehow, they will find you! And
when they do, it's only good things from
there on out. They will expose you and your
expertise to a whole new audience, fan base,
and clientele that you never even knew
existed, and is growing ever-stronger by the
minute. People truly want to see beyond the
glitz and the glitter, and get to know the
truth behind the history, people, and inner
workings that made (and make) the sideshow
what it is today. And that's EXACTLY what
these fine folks have set out to do - and
done a damned fine job at it too, I might
also add! Sideshow World has inadvertently
become the living link that connects the
rich history of the sideshow's past to it's
present day roots, as well as to it's
uncertain and precarious future. My hat's
off to you all, and may your banner forever
fly proudly over the Internet.
Mark Frierson,
Sideshow Artist
Extraordinaire
It was Sideshow
World that got me back in the game of
creating 'gaffs'. I had just stopped making
them for whatever reasons...But when They
came on the scene it was like a needed
kick-start in the pants. John was kind
enough to interview me and folks found out I
still existed and...well...there ya
go...back in biz making 'zibits and
recording Professional Grind Tapes on CD.
The best part
about SSW though is being able to read about
all the folks I've heard about or have lost
contact with. It acts as my small town paper
so to speak.
I hope this
conveys how important I feel your work and
site really is...rather than some fleeting
forum...SSW is HISTORY in the making and
what we say will mean a lot as the years
pass by. We MUST get it right.
Doug Higley
The Phantom Of The Midway
Mystery World Museum Supply
Crypto-Illusions at
Grindshow
(click on the Atomic Fish for the secret
site.)
It is a
wonderful source for information and
education on the subject of outdoor
Showmanship. A true blessing for those with
an interest in sideshows and the performers
who exhibited in them
Jeff Murray
Harmur Side Shows
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Sideshow
World is one
of the most
thorough Web
sites you
will
encounter on
any subject,
not just
sideshows.
It's filled
with photos
of old and
current
sideshows,
first person
reminiscences
of working
in
sideshows,
sideshow
banner
galleries,
historical
essays, and
firsthand
tales of
sideshow
experiences.
It's a
pretty
remarkable
site by any
standard and
it's one
encounter
with
sideshows
that won't
make you
feel like a
rube in any
manner.
John
E. Mitchell
is a
columnist
and arts and
entertainment
reporter for
the North
Adams
Transcript, |
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A Super
Site
-- Well
Designed and
Executed --
Full of
Memories
So --
thanks for a
fantastic
site!
It is
extremely
well
presented,
and is very
adventurous
and thorough
in its
research,
articles and
coverage.
Drew Edward
Hunter
is
director for
animatronics
and dark
rides.
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Mr. John
Robinson's
sideshowwworld.com
is the
ultimate
center of
the virtual
circus
sideshow
world, which
is
preserving
the past,
serving
today, and
promoting
the future.
As a circus
sideshow
exhibition
producer,
gaff
builder,
public
interactive
art
performer,
book author,
and
educator, I
am truly
grateful for
Robinson's
significant
contributions
to the
unique and
distinctive
culture,
history and
people of
American
circus
sideshow.
I feel
honored to
be the part
of this
unique
community
full of
people of
wonders.
Let us keep
moving
forward!
Takeshi
Yamada
Museum of
World
Wonders,
Coney Island
area of
Brooklyn,
New York,
USA
http://sideshowworld.com/SSA-15.html
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John Robinson from Sideshow World came through The FREAKSHOW yesterday. John is the Greatest guy you could ever meet and THE MAN when it comes to Sideshow History.
Todd Ray
Venice Beach Freakshow |
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You my Friend fit in as the FOREMOST, FRONTRUNNER, Historian, archivist, showman ect. Known to man!!!!
You are a gentleman and a Scholar, who puts "PRESERVING THE PAST, PROMOTING THE FUTURE" above all the NONSENSE! unconditionally......
That is why I have the utmost RESPECT and admiration for what you do and who you are........Unlike others, YOU do it because you HAVE Heart and Dedication!!!!!!!!!!!
Much can be learned from your Example!!
Sincerely
Your Friend
Jim Zajicek (The Curator)
Big Circus Sideshow
I just wanted to email you quick and tell you what a great website I think Sideshow World is. I am currently writing my Master's thesis in History on the sideshow, more specifically sideshow freaks. My argument for the paper being that the freaks should not be remembered with pity and political correctness, as so many people who don't understand do nowadays, but rather as performers and be respected for the work that they did.
Anyways, I just wanted to say that in doing my research, this website has come in handy many times. There is so much information on it covering so many different topics and it has been so helpful to me. I think it is great that you have this interest and that you have put it into a website.
It's nice to know that there are other people out there besides myself who have an interest in the sideshow (you should see the looks I get when I tell people I want to be a historian of the sideshow haha).
So thanks again and keep up the great work :)
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