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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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 Mach

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

Giuseppi 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

Osca “The Snake Fiend”

Added Jan 15 2023

Hilda Miller, Snake Charmer

Added Jan 15 2023

May, The Snake Lady

Added Jan 15 2023

Snake Handler Inside Sideshow

Added Jan 15 2023

Giovanni Succi in his Booth At A German Exhibition

Added Nov 12 2022

Ricardo Sacco “The World’s Fasting Champion”

Added Nov 12 2022

Giuseppe Sacco-Homann

Added Nov 12 2022

G. Sacco “The Famous Fasting Man”

Added Nov 12 2022

Guiseppe Sacco-Homan

Added Nov 12 2022

Marie DeVere “Sword Swallower”

Added Sep 5 2022

George Stall “Wildman”

Added Sep 1 2022

Unidentified Young Tattooed Man

Added Aug 28 2022

Captain Harry Decoursey, Tattooed Man

Added Aug 28 2022

Rose “That Strange Creature”

Added Aug 14 2022

Unidentified Woman Climbing Sword Ladder

Added Aug 14 2022

Unidentified Sword Ladder with Circus Wagon

Added Aug 14 2022

Black-Face Midget Wildman

Added Aug 13 2022

Juan De La Cruz and Patagonian Indians

Added Jun 30 2022

Amy Arlington “And Her Den Of Snakes”

Added Jun 26 2022

Bannerline featuring Lady Little “Tiny Tots of Screen Land”

Added Jun 13 2022

Bannerline with Royal Hawaiians

Added Jun 13 2022

Cole Brothers Annex

Added Jun 13 2022

Cole Brothers Sideshow With Hawaiian Band

Added Jun 12 2022

Doll Family on Platform with The Great Waldo Banner

Added Jun 12 2022

Rolling Thunder “The Mysterious Wonder”

Added Apr 17 2022

Odditorium New Zealand with Willie Camper & Mexican Rose

Added Apr 3 2022

Sword-Swallower Alex Linton on Australian Bally Stage.

Added Apr 3 2022

Ticket Seller For Ubangi The Tiny Tree Woman

Added Apr 3 2022

Norah O. More “Fasting Lady” Storefront

Added Jan 16 2022

Nora O. More “Irish Fasting Lady”

Added Jan 16 2022

Irene Clifford “The English Fasting Lady”

Added Dec 5 2021

Rattlesnake Pete

Added Nov 7 2021

Rattlesnake Pete And His Parade Float

Added Nov 7 2021

Rattlesnake Pete And “The Largest Horse On Earth”

Added Nov 7 2021

Rattlesnake Pete And His Dogs

Added Nov 7 2021

Rattlesnake Pete’s Restaurant and Museum

Added Nov 7 2021

European Circus Sideshow with Anna-John Budd, Randion, Schlitzie, etc.

Added Oct 24 2021

Chevalier Cliquot and Wife

Added Oct 24 2021

Sandra and Doris Reed by Diane Arbus

Added Oct 24 2021

La Zoma “Human Snake From Madrid”

Added Oct 24 2021

Lives of Armond Carloman “The Piebald Youth” and Fortune Clofulia “The Gorilla Boy” (16-Pages)

Added Oct 16 2021

Willie Kelton Limbless Wildman

Added Oct 10 2021

Unidentified African-American Wildman by Eisenmann

Added Oct 9 2021

Pierre Deunsch (Max Rinaldini) “Sword Swallower”

Added Oct 9 2021

Bob Everhart “Sincerely” (Popeye)

Added Jun 6 2021

Bob “Popeye” Everhart Signed Photo

Added Jun 6 2021

Betty Broadbent “America’s Premier Tattooed Lady” Pitchbook (4 Pages)

Added Jun 6 2021

Skeets Hubbard Tows A Wagon With His Eyelids

Added May 23 2021

Fifi “Sheep Headed Beauty” Pitchbook (4 pages)

Added May 23 2021

Streets of Cairo At The Alaska-Yukon Exposition, 1909

Added May 17 2021

Lupo Macio “Tattooed Woman”

Added May 16 2021

Joseph Grendol & Robert Everhart with Ripley’s Odditorium

Added May 3 2021

J.M. Taber “Popeye”

Added May 2 2021

J.M. Taber “Popeye”

Added May 2 2021

Mike Butch “Thank You, Pop-Eye”

Added May 2 2021

Edith Clifford Sheet Music for “The Eagle And The Girl”

Added Feb 27 2021

Poobah Serves Himself Some Cake at Sandy Reed’s Party

Added Nov 16 2020

Sandy & Doreen Reed Inside Their Trailer

Added Nov 15 2020

Sandy Reed In Her Travel Trailer

Added Nov 15 2020

Freda Pushnik Sideshow Banner and Talker

Added Oct 4 2020

M. Ruth Sylvia “Tattooed Woman”

Added Oct 4 2020

Elizabeth Green, “The Stork Woman” (or Koo Koo), 1928

Added Oct 4 2020

Elizabeth Green, “The Stork Woman” (or Koo Koo), ca. 1936

Added Oct 4 2020

Koo Koo “The Bird Girl”

Added Oct 4 2020

Koo Koo “The Bird Girl”

Added Oct 4 2020

Elizabeth Green, “The Stork Woman” (or Koo Koo), ca. 1936

Added Oct 4 2020

Elizabeth Green, “The Stork Woman” (or Koo Koo), 1928

Added Oct 4 2020

Signed on the back "Betty, Koo Koo The Bird Girl"

Elizabeth Green, “The Stork Woman” (or Koo Koo), 1936

Added Oct 4 2020

Myrna “The Snake Charmer” on an Ice Cream Lid

Added Oct 3 2020

Solly, The Sword-Swallower On An Ice Cream Lid

Added Oct 3 2020

Kombouai “Ubangi” Woman

Added Oct 3 2020

Vaudeville & Circus Goods Company (18 Pages)

Added Oct 3 2020

Educated Chimps & Rattlesnake Fiend Sideshow

Added Oct 3 2020

Nabor Felix “Lightning Sculptor”

Added Sep 27 2020

Mee Ling “The Exotic China Doll” Girl Show

Added Sep 27 2020

Snake King Letterhead & Letter

Added Jul 26 2020

Electorium “The 8th Great Wonder of The World”

Added Jul 25 2020

Sword-Swallower Chevalier Cliquot (In Stockholm)

Added Jul 22 2020

Robert Ripley With Topless “Ubangi Savage”

Added May 10 2020

Chatham Square Museum Facade, ca. 1888

Added Mar 15 2020

Clyde Beatty Circus Sideshow, 1950

Added May 30 2019

Unidentified Performer On Stage Inside The Sideshow Tent

Added May 27 2019

Voo-Doo, The Staring Snake Mystic

Added May 5 2019

Alex Linton, Sword-Swallower

Added Mar 13 2019

Miss Patricia “Sensational Sword Swallower”

Added Mar 12 2019

Bed of Spikes or Nails Composite Photo

Added Mar 12 2019

Billy Wells “Iron Skull Man”

Added Mar 12 2019

Ringling Brothers Barnum Bailey 1950 Sideshow Cast At Madison Square Garden

Added Mar 9 2019

Robert Ripley Advertises Old Gold Cigarettes

Added August 3, 2025

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