WORKING ACTS

In a sideshow, there is a hierarchy with the highest-paid performers being the natural-born freaks. Working Acts– like sword swallowers, fire-eaters, snake handlers, magicians (especially)– were considered interchangeable. Every season the show needed a sword swallower, a fire eater, a snake handler and snakes, and a magician. The word would go out and often on the smaller shows the performer willing to work the cheapest (and willing to work sober enough not to vomit on the marks) got the job. The genre of Working Acts also produced some very unusual performers whose eccentric skills could hardly be displayed anywhere other than the sideshow.

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Double-Cased Sword-Swallower Tintypes

Added Jul 13 2025

Sword-Swallower Ambrotype

Added Jul 12 2025

Circassian Sword Swallower

Added Jul 6 2025

Mlle CLIFFORD “Champion Sword Swallower of the World”

Added Jul 6 2025

Richiardi “The Sword Swallower”

Added Jul 5 2025

Life & Adventures of Capt. Harry Decoursey (36 Pages)

Added May 31 2025

Victorinas: The Art of Sword Swallowing

Added May 25 2025

Mexico Exhibit at Egyptian Hall, 1823 (50 Pages)

Added May 25 2025

Tours of The Sea Show Building

Added May 18 2025

Guerra Mix

Added May 4 2025

Kohl & Middleton’s Dime Museum

Added Jan 5 2025

Guerra Mix “La Terreur des Pampas”

Added Jan 5 2025

World’s Museum, 1934 with Anna John Budd

Added Dec 31 2024

Sword Swallower Valentine Card

Added Dec 30 2024

Unidentified Tattooed Man, 1933 Century of Progress

Added Dec 30 2024

Mimi Garneau’s Exhibitor’s Pass For The 1937 Great Lakes Expo Ripley’s Show

Added Dec 29 2024

MiMi Garneau Montage

Added Dec 29 2024

Mimi Garneau

Added Dec 29 2024

Otto DeVarre “Sword Swallower & Sword Walker”

Added Dec 29 2024

Prince Tracey “World’s Smallest Sword-Swallower”

Added Dec 29 2024

Delno Fritz Postcard

Added Dec 29 2024

Delno Fritz

Added Dec 29 2024

Delno Fritz

Added Dec 29 2024

Chief White Hawk “Cherokee Indian Fire Worshiper”

Added Dec 29 2024

Darkest Africa Show At The Century of Progress with Woo Foo

Added Nov 6 2024

Darkest Africa At Century of Progress with Woo Foo

Added Nov 6 2024

Darkest Africa Show At The Century of Progress with Woo Foo

Added Nov 5 2024

Circassian Woman Covering Her Face With A Fan

Added Nov 2 2024

Hadj [sic] Ali “Egyptian Fire Eater”

Added Oct 27 2024

Amok “The Head Hunter”

Added Oct 27 2024

Schlitzie, Koo Koo, and Zip at Kodet’s Harlem Museum

Added Oct 27 2024

Zip, In The Hospital (1926)

Added Oct 27 2024

Otto Martin Locke “Reptiles, Snakes, Animals, Birds”

Added Oct 27 2024

Chevalier Cliquot Handbill

Added Oct 26 2024

A Wild Indian Chief with his Wife and Child

Added Oct 26 2024

D. Waldow “Mouse Regurgitator”

Added Oct 20 2024

Unidentified Tattooed Man

Added Oct 20 2024

Mr. Eco and Mr. Ico “Ambassadors From Mars”

Added Oct 20 2024

Amok

Added Oct 20 2024

Joe Hatfield “The Pain-Proof Man”

Added Oct 20 2024

William Harris “Big Mouth”

Added Oct 20 2024

Goldie “The Man Who Was Crucified”

Added Oct 12 2024

Goldie “The Man Who Was Crucified”

Added Oct 12 2024

Capt. Ureck & his wife, Lulu Lataska

Added Oct 12 2024

Capt. Ureck and Wife

Added Oct 12 2024

Choung Chi Lang

Added Oct 12 2024

Koo Koo, Zip & Schlitzie At Coney

Added Oct 6 2024

Chinese Woman With Bound Feet

Added Sep 30 2024

Señorita Carmen “Snake Trainer”

Added Sep 30 2024

Murrugan The Mystic Pitchcard

Added Aug 11 2024

Murrugan The Mystic Pitchcard

Added Aug 11 2024

Betty Broadbent

Added Aug 5 2024

Alice Sibley, College Student Turned Coney Island Spieler

Added Aug 4 2024

Sandy Reed Ringling Circus World Recommendation Letter

Added Aug 4 2024

Harold Spohn and Sandra Reed Contract with Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers

Added Aug 4 2024

Sandra Reed Swallowing A Sword Inside The Sideshow Tent

Added Aug 4 2024

Color Portrait of Sandy Reed

Added Aug 4 2024

Dragon’s Mouth Snake Show

Added Aug 4 2024

Hans Röhrl in White Tuxedo

Added Jul 28 2024

Hans RÖHRL “Living Fire Hydrant”

Added Jul 28 2024

Hans RÖHRL “Waterspouter” Spraying Giant Stream

Added Jul 28 2024

Hans RÖHRL “Waterspouter” Letter on Advertising Sheet

Added Jul 28 2024

Hans RÖHRL Friedlander Posters

Added Jul 28 2024

Hans Röhrl Portrait

Added Jul 28 2024

Hans Röhrl “World Phenomenon” In Composite Postcard

Added Jul 28 2024

Handmade Poster of Hans Röhrl “Water-spouter”

Added Jul 28 2024

DIGESTO, The Human Ostrich

Added Jun 22 2024

The Gibb Sisters & Elizabeth Green “Stork Girl”

Added Jun 16 2024

Kee-Bo “The Fire Child”

Added Jun 16 2024

Chief Debro and Wife Sarah

Added Jun 16 2024

Olof Krarer “Little Esquimaux Lady”

Added Jun 16 2024

Figi Cannibals

Added Jun 16 2024

Figi Cannibals

Added Jun 16 2024

mlle. BURILIAN “Tattooed beauty”

Added Jun 2 2024

Mlle. BURILIAN “Tattooed beauty”

Added Jun 2 2024

Beautè “The Continental Fasting Champion”

Added May 19 2024

Blacaman With Lions

Added May 19 2024

1893 Newspaper Advertisement For The Tocci Brothers and Chevalier Cliquot

Added Mar 30 2024

Ilford Tanner “The English Fasting Man”

Added Mar 3 2024

The Human Lizard Pitshow

Added Feb 25 2024

Omikron “The Human Gaslight”

Added Feb 25 2024

Omikron “The Human Gaslight”

Added Feb 25 2024

Omikron “The Human Gaslight”

Added Feb 25 2024

Wild Woman “Florida Demon” Handbill

Added Jan 7 2024

Minnie Wawa Snake Show Bannerline

Added Jan 7 2024

Miss Marie Buschart “The Fasting Lady Champion”

Added Jan 7 2024

Hottentot Venus Satire Etching

Added Jan 6 2024

Barnum’s Australian Cannibal Boomerang Throwers (20 Pages)

Added Jan 1 2024

Johnny Meah Gallery Invite (1990)

Added Dec 30 2023

Floram Marchand “Water Spouter”

Added Dec 25 2023

Giraffe Neck Women of Burma with Unidentified Blonde Woman

Added Dec 25 2023

Senorita Carmen (Josephine) “Trainer of Serpents”

Added Dec 16 2023

Josephine “Snake Charmer”

Added Dec 16 2023

Howard Bary & Burmese Giraffe-Necked Women

Added Dec 16 2023

Cingalese Troupe “Palm Reading and Fortune Telling”

Added Sep 24 2023

Cingalese Troupe “Palm Reading”

Added Sep 24 2023

Katie Wren “Snake Lady”

Added Sep 24 2023

Letty Orliana “Circassian”

Added Sep 4 2023

Miss Patrcia “Sensational Sword Swallower”

Added Sep 4 2023

Giant Snake Show “Worshipping The Sacred Snake”

Added Sep 3 2023

Zalumma Agra in Street Clothes

Added Sep 1 2023

Three-Headed Man & Bearded Circassian

Added Aug 26 2023

Letty Orliana “Circassian Beauty”

Added Aug 21 2023

Fifi “The Sheep-Headed Woman”

Added Aug 20 2023

Dr. Woods, “The Bee Man”

Added Jul 23 2023

Maxey “Needle King” 1894 Ad from Wonderland Museum, Chicago

Added Jul 23 2023

Maxey “Needle King”

Added Jul 22 2023

Electricia at Allen’s Hippodrome

Added Jul 21 2023

Electricia “The Girl Who Tames Electricity”

Added Jul 21 2023

Electric Man

Added Jul 21 2023

The Electric Girl

Added Jul 21 2023

Dufrane “The Human Anvil”

Added Jul 20 2023

Billy Flake “The King of Sword Swallowers”

Added Jul 16 2023

Mlle. Clifford, Sword Swallower Pinback

Added Jul 16 2023

Rasmus Nielsen “Lifting 250 lbs. By His Breasts”

Added Jul 2 2023

The Great Nippulini

Added Jul 1 2023

Mortado “The Human Fountain”

Added Jun 26 2023

Fakir Kammamuri

Added Jun 25 2023

Captain Ringman Mach “European-American-Australian Artist”

Added Jun 25 2023

Fakir Tarano

Added Jun 25 2023

Front View, Unidentified Human Pincushion from Chicago

Added Jun 25 2023

Back View, Unidentified Human Pincushion from Chicago

Added Jun 25 2023

Mr. William, “The American Fakir With His Tattooed Dog”

Added Jun 25 2023

Jaap Van Larran “Human Pin Cushion”

Added Jun 25 2023

Zoballo “Human Pincushion”

Added Jun 25 2023

Atlas Steel Skin Marvel

Added Jun 25 2023

Capt. Ringman Mach “American Athlete”

Added Jun 25 2023

Captain Ringman Mack

Added Jun 25 2023

Captain Ringman Mack

Added Jun 25 2023

Captain Ringman Mach

Added Jun 25 2023

Captain Ringman Mach

Added Jun 25 2023

Captain Ringman Mach

Added Jun 25 2023

Julius Shuster “Pick-Up Artist”

Added Jun 25 2023

Art Hubell “The Human Bellows”

Added Jun 25 2023

Sword Box 10¢ John Robinson Circus

Added Jun 25 2023

Frieda Moritz “Sword Walker”

Added Jun 24 2023

Truda “Sword Walker”

Added Jun 24 2023

Mr. Rannow “The Steel Skinned Man”

Added Jun 24 2023

Max Wilton “The Living Aquarium”

Added Jun 24 2023

Hans Rohrl “The Human Water-Spout”

Added Jun 24 2023

Hans Rohrl “The Human Water-Spout”

Added Jun 24 2023

Hans Rohrl “The Human Water-Spout”

Added Jun 24 2023

Mac Norton “L’Homme Aquarium”

Added Jun 24 2023

Mac Norton “The Human Aquarium”

Added Jun 24 2023

Lillie Tobin “The Original Lady Glasseater”

Added Jun 24 2023

Lillie Tobin “The Original Lady Glasseater”

Added Jun 24 2023

Fat Lady Snake Enchantress

Added May 14 2023

Flapper Snake Girl in Harem Costume

Added May 8 2023

Bigger Snake Girl

Added May 8 2023

Boer War Spectacular at Coney Island

Added May 8 2023

Boer War Spectacular At Coney Island

Added May 8 2023

The Great Waldo Banner Line

Added May 8 2023

Outcast Mexican Indian Snake Handler and Wildman

Added May 7 2023

Guiseppi Sacco Homann

Added May 7 2023

Rudolph Ivanovich as a Wildman in Chains

Added Mar 18 2023

Zip Playing The Violin

Added Mar 18 2023

John H. Craig (Alias Powers) with Zela Ayres

Added Jan 31 2023

Miss Patricia (Zurm) “Sword Swallower”

Added Jan 31 2023

Ada Mae Salo “Snake Enchantress”

Added Jan 21 2023

Arttoria “Snake Lady”

Added Jan 21 2023

Snake Enchantress In An American Flag Dress

Added Jan 21 2023

Leah Hallet, Snake Handler

Added Jan 21 2023

Snake Zoma Birch Card

Added Jan 15 2023

Madam Zara “Snake Enchantress”

Added Jan 15 2023

Miss Maxine “Snake Enchantress”

Added Jan 15 2023

Koriana Souvenir With Snake Skin

Added Jan 15 2023

Clara Jones “Snake Enchantress”

Added Jan 15 2023

Mrs. Morton, Ringling “Snake Charmer”

Added Jan 15 2023

Unidentified Snake Girl in Minstrel Show

Added Jan 15 2023

Miss Maxine, “Snake Enchantress,” 1914

Added Jan 15 2023

Korianna “Snake Enchantress”

Added Jan 15 2023

The Original Lonesome Jack, Tattooist & “Reptile Curator”

Added Jan 15 2023

Two Unidentified European Snake Ladies

Added Jan 15 2023

Amy Arlington, “Snake Enchantress,” In Repose

Added Jan 15 2023

MESSAOUDA “la Charmeuse de Serpents”

Added Jan 15 2023

Snake Show Cartoon Ad For Monarch Range

Added Jan 15 2023

Miss Opal “Snake Enchantress”

Added Jan 15 2023

Dolly Dutton’s Sheet Music

Added May 31, 2025

Wonderland Circus Sideshow, Coney Island

Added December 31, 2024

1893 Newspaper Advertisement For The Tocci Brothers and Chevalier Cliquot

Added March 30, 2024

1893 Newspaper Advertisement For The Tocci Brothers and Chevalier Cliquot

Added March 30, 2024

HORROR STORIES Pulp Cover Two-Headed Girl (December 1940)

Added January 28, 2024

Baby Irene “Fat Lady” Cashes In On Laughs (1950)

Added December 26, 2023

1937 Philadelphia Store Show Facade

Added July 22, 2023

Mr. & Mrs. Chauncy Morlan at Huber’s 14th Street Museum

Added July 21, 2023

Hulett Pest Control Spokesmen, Dwarfs John and Greg Rice

Added January 31, 2023

Foy Large & Frank Morgner

Added October 24, 2021