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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.
Complimentary copies are provided to friends of the back-end
upon request
Please send Items for inclusion in
future
issues to: Bob Blackmar P.O. Box 283 Carrboro, NC 27510
919-929-2753
bblackmar@earthlink.net
 Contributions to the Postage Fund will
never be refused.
Back Issues
of this Newsletter are
available @ $1.00 each postpaid.
COVER;
The 'Universal Mystery Show' was a store front
operation that appeared in the 1930's, The handbill
that is shown on this issue's cover came from the collection
of Mimi Garneau, and features the 'annex attraction' Bobby
Kork, as well as Mimi and other acts and illusions.
Fred Gameau, tattooed man and jagger, also was on this show.
From Jack
Dracula:
Bob, your latest
newsletter brought back some of my early sideshow memories.
I was tattooing in Coney Island in the late 1950's |
Next
door to Crazy Eddie's, where I worked, was a sideshow.
When it was slow, I visited there, and made friends with
some of the acts. Louise - fat lady, Jackie Morris - half
lady/half baby, Joe Ganglier - dog act, Benny Bernard -
magician, Bill Parnell - alligator Boy, Lola - Leopard Girl,
Pinky - Armless Wonder, and Jean Carrol - Tattooed Lady and
life long friend.
Pinky could do
with his feet what we can do with our hands. He was
living with Lola the Leopard Girl. He had a helper who
ran errands from him, and did for him what he could not do
for himself. They were all, African -Americans.
The bally act
was a pinhead named Julius. The banner said 'Zip',
many acts used banners with names that were not their own.
Mary King - Fat Lady, told me that she used banners - Sweet
Marie, Dainty Doris, Jolly Irene and any other banner that
the show owner happened to have.
Pinky could do
wonders with hi feet. One night he got drunk, pulled
out a gun, and fired a couple of shots into the ceiling.
He could uncork a bottle of wine with his feet and drink
half of it before a person with hands could.
Later, when I
worked for the Ringling Bros. Sideshow, there was an armless
wonder named Eddie, but he insisted that we call him
'Doggie'. Whenever I would meet Pinky or Doggie, they
would stick out a foot and say, "Shake
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