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FREAKS
- BEASTS
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FEATS
- Acrobats (37)
- Bag Puncher (2)
- Bicycle & Unicycle Acts (5)
- Buried Alive/Suspended Animation (3)
- Contortionists (26)
- Daredevils (37)
- Equilibrists (14)
- Funambulists (10)
- Fire Acts (35)
- Human-Fish (1)
- Iron Skull (7)
- Knife Throwers (6)
- Mechanical Man/Living Doll/Robot Man/Living Statue (3)
- Sharpshooters (5)
- Strong Folk (40)
- Whip-Crackers (1)
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WORKING ACTS
- Bed of Nails/Nail Board (9)
- Circassians (72)
- Electric, Magnetic, X-Ray Acts (7)
- Ethnic Curiosities (45)
- Fakirs (30)
- Glass Eaters (4)
- Gurners and Grimacers (10)
- Human Blockhead (2)
- Human Ostrich (7)
- Human Pincushions (10)
- Hunger Artists (23)
- Regurgitators and Water Spouters (14)
- Snake Acts (84)
- Sword-Box (1)
- Sword Ladders (10)
- Sword Swallowers (88)
- Tattooed People (112)
- Wild Folk (98)
- NOVELTY/VARIETY
- ODDBALLS
- EXHIBITS
- SIDESHOW
- DIME MUSEUM
- CARNIVAL
- CIRCUS
- VAUDEVILLE
- SEX ! ! !
- MISC.
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MORE
- Freak and Novelty Performer Advertising (14)
- The Unknown Performers (2)
- Showmen & Promoters (61)
- Balloons and Airships (1)
- Banners & Banner Painters (47)
- Confections, Snacks and Refreshments (11)
- Fortune Tellers, Psychics, Spirtualists, Mindreaders (15)
- Punch & Judy, Puppets, Marionettes (11)
- Trade Publications (13)
- Funhouse, Dark Ride, Spook Show (2)
Image Details
Since the 19th Century, freak, novelty, and eccentric performers were hired and used as spokesmen and spokeswomen for commercial products.
Most commonly used were Midget performers. Because their appearance instantly drew attention, and by definition gave attention to the item they were promoting, the domain of little people in advertising was one which persisted until very recently, and even occasionally continues today.
Florida's Hulett Pest Control continues to utilize identical twin dwarf brothers, John Rice (1951 – 2005) and Greg Rice (1951- ), in various commercials and infomercials. Until the death of John Rice on November 5, 2005, the two held the world record for being the shortest living twins, standing only 2 ft 10 in tall. https://www.bugs.com/more/tv-spots.php
See this page for more info: https://showhistory.com/show-type/freak-and-novelty-performer-advertising
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