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Freak shows

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 49 Collections and/or Records:

John Bramwell Taylor Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0086
Scope and Contents The collection consists of handbills, programmes and small flyers for shows, fairs, expositions and circus performances in the nineteenth century. The circus material in the Bramwell Taylor Collection was sponsored by the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain and consists of material relating to 19th century touring circuses, individual acts and purpose built hippodromes such as Hengler’s Circus and Astley’s Amphitheatre. Additionally this collection also contains a small amount of...
Dates: c1786 - 2003

Leopard Man of Africa Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.2
Scope and Contents

Half brute, half human. They dive from trees to kill. The new African thriller. Colour illustration of African man’s head wearing bottom and top lip plates. Red and blue type on pink background with blue border.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Living Curiosity Handbill, c1820 - 1826

 Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.30
Scope and Contents

T.T. Angell, at Grand Theatre of Arts. T.T. Angell, Seaman, Attacked by Croup-operation to relieve respiration problems, had silver tube implanted into neck.' Has no smell and cannot speak without the aid of his finger, which is considered the greatest novelty offered to the British public'. Printed by Robarts, 95, Shoe Lane, Fleet Street.

Dates: c1820 - 1826

Look at Life Presents Big Baby Bertha and Slim Jim Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.11
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’. ‘The Mrs’ Big Bertha 540 lbs. ’The Mr’ Slim Jim 68 lbs. Colour illustration of fat lady in stripy orange and white dress and slim man wearing a black suit, tail coat and monocle dancing on orange and white background and orange, white and blue type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Medusa Child of the Sea Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.4
Scope and Contents

Featured with the Ripley Road Show ‘Believe it or Not’. Colour illustration of mermaid on a beach with people staring a her. Figures on white with orange background and navy outline and shading and navy and white type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Miss Bertha Curtis Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.10
Scope and Contents

Weight 540 lbs. Colour illustration of fat lady seating on a chair. White figure with black outline and light brownish purple short drees on brownish purple background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Monographs, Articles and Manuscripts, c1910 - 1990

 Series
Reference code: 178B19
Scope and Contents

Monographs, articles, manuscripts and notes, relating to the lives and work of the Norman family, notably showman, Tom Norman (known as The Silver King), and his son, Ralph Norman, who was a knife thrower (known as Hal Denver). Most the writings in this collection were written by Ralph Norman.

Dates: c1910 - 1990

National Fairground and Circus Archive Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0092
Scope and Contents

Contains thousands of posters, programmes, photographs, handbills, original documents, specialist journals, newspapers and a library containing publications on all the areas of collecting

Dates: c1700 - 2020

New York World’s Fair Museum Presents ‘Believe it or Not’ Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.6
Scope and Contents

Weight 540 lbs. Subject as cartooned by Robt. L. Ripley. Colour illustration of fat lady standing in a short dress. Figure in white with black outline and green dress and green and black background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

New York World’s Fair Museum Presents ‘Believe it or Not’ Prince Ramachandi, Hindu Quarter Man Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.7
Scope and Contents

Subjects as cartooned by Robt. L. Ripley. P. T. Barnum’s Greatest Oddity. Colour illustration of man torso and waist on a round table wearing a red fez and smoking a cigar on yellow background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Newspaper Cuttings, c1925 -2002

 Series
Reference code: 178G22
Scope and Contents

Cuttings and articles from British and international news publications, including local, specialist, and national newspapers and magazines, relating to the personal lives and careers of the Norman family, notably knife thrower, Ralph Norman (aka Hal Denver).

Dates: c1925 -2002

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178G21
Scope and Contents

A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.

Dates: 1838 - 2007

Norman Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0087
Scope and Contents This collection comprises letters, business contracts and agreements, advertising material, printed ephemera and photographs, relating to the life and career of Ralph Norman (also known as Hal Denver), a knife thrower who performed as part of The Sensational Denvers. There are also writings by Ralph Norman, concerning his father, Tom Norman (aka 'The Silver King'), as well as draft chapters for his autobiography, which he titled, 'Knife and Hatchet Man'. Accompanied by a set of throwing...
Dates: c1900 - 2002

O'Connor-Toulmin Family Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0025
Scope and Contents

The collection contains photographs, including early family photographs of the O'Connor family, contemporary research, journal articles and books written by Vanessa Toulmin. Also included in the collection are manuscripts and newspaper cuttings.

Dates: c1900 - 2001

Photographs, c1900 - 1968

 Series
Reference code: 178C79
Scope and Contents Black and white photographs, postcards and negatives of the Testo family, performers, side shows, animals, fairgrounds and circuses including Angela Rabbets ‘Jungle Girl’ female snake act, Sonya Alan ‘Lady of Lions’, men and women in WWI and WWII uniforms, Golga Testo snake act with Bertram Mills Circus, Pauline Testo, Alf Testo, Nora and Billy Kayes, Jack Lemm and his Troupe at Testo’s show, members of the Chipperfield family, members of the Dobson family, members of the Pinder family...
Dates: c1900 - 1968

Photographs and Postcards, c1902 - 1942

 Series — Multiple Containers
Reference code: 178C139
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs, postcards and negatives of fairs, rides, circus and performers, including a House of Laughter at the Empire Exhibition of 1936-1937 in Johannesburge, South Africa, roller coasters, dodgems, flying chairs, juvenile roundabouts, sideshows, wall of death, Jim Burton's chairs and Pat Collin's Hawaiian natives at Barry Island, negatives of performers and animals in a circus, rides and amusements in Britain, Germany and France.

Dates: c1902 - 1942

Piccadilly, Piccadilly Hall and Haymarket Handbills, c1820 - 1885

 Sub-Series — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.21-43
Scope and Contents

Handbills for travelling shows, exhibitions and performances at Piccadilly, Piccadilly Hall and Haymarket.

Dates: c1820 - 1885

Programmes, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents

A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

Dates: c1800 - 2019

Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1933 - 1935

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.37
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Bertram Mills, and with particular focus on freak shows, 102p.p.

Dates: 1933 - 1935

See Snookie the Famous Hollywood Movie Chimpanzee Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.17
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’ as chimpanzee was convicted in court at South Bend Ind. for smoking a cigarette! Colour illustration of chimpanzee in a suit in court showing the judge and the jury on brown and mustard colour background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949