Whale Show with Madam Sirwell's Flea Circus

Image Details

Along with penguins, an "octupus [sic]" and "40 Deep Sea Terrors," this newspaper ad from 1935 highlights an interesting combination of shows put together to grab audience's attention-- i.e. pairing the largest animal on display with the smallest. Whale shows typically originated on the fortuitous occasion of when a whale beached itself and an enterprising showman was there to collect it, refrigerate it and display it in a traveling show. Despite the refrigeration, not always 100% reliable, whale shows typically garnered some understandable distaste from those whose noses were sensitive to the smell of rotting whale-flesh. Nonetheless, the public was always eager to pay to see a real whale, and the shows typically made a lot of money. In the Member's area you can view a real photo postcard of Madam Sirwell and learn more about her flea show.

Date range:

1930s

Act Type:

BEASTS, Flea Circus, EXHIBITS, Whale Shows, Sea Monsters, Etc.

Unusual Size

Skin and Hair

Odd Extremities

Twins

Misc Freaks

Whale Show with Madam Sirwell's Flea Circus

Unusual Size

Skin and Hair

Odd Extremities

Twins

Misc Freaks

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Whale Show with Madam Sirwell's Flea Circus