20 Circus Monsters That Actually Existed!

In the haze of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, beneath the colorful marquees and the intoxicating smell of popcorn, a unique form of entertainment drew crowds like moths to a flame—the enigmatic world of freak shows. Giants, dwarfs, and human oddities like Joseph Merrick, commonly known as the "Elephant Man," found themselves displayed in circus tents and dime museums across America and Europe. Managed by figures like P.T. Barnum, whose name has become synonymous with showmanship and spectacle, these venues promised to showcase the "extraordinary" and "unbelievable."

But have you ever paused to consider the darker hues that tint this ostensibly colorful spectacle? And What was life like for those who stood under the spotlight, their bodies and lives exposed as 'freakish' attractions?

As we venture into this captivating, yet often unsettling, realm, let us heed the cautionary words of Victor Hugo: "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." It prompts us to ponder: was the laughter conjured by freak shows a warm sun or a freezing chill for those who found themselves its subjects? Join us as we dissect the allure, the controversies, and the undeniable impact of freak shows on our collective understanding of humanity and otherness. Welcome to the diary of Julius Caesar.

The Tapestry of Oddities. How England's Courts and Countrysides Birthed the Freak Show.

In a time where public executions doubled as family outings and bear-baiting was considered high entertainment, the arrival of the freak show in the 16th-century English landscape seemed like the next logical step in a nation's thirst for the unusual. Picture this: you're strolling through a bustling Elizabethan fair in 1589, and between the jester's antics and the minstrel's melodies, you encounter a tent with a sign that proclaims, "Wonders of Nature! Curiosities of God’s Own Making!" Your curiosity piqued, you decide to step inside.

Here you would have seen collections of the strange and the bizarre, from bearded women to human "monstrosities" (as they were called then), and even exotic animals like monkeys dressed in tiny suits. Even in this early period, these shows were as much about storytelling as spectacle. Showmen, often gifted orators themselves, would craft elaborate backstories for their performers. A dwarf might be presented as a fallen nobleman, cursed by witchcraft; a person with physical deformities might be spun as a 'wild man' captured from 'savage lands.'

The practice was not confined to the rural fairgrounds. The court of Queen Elizabeth I herself hosted performers with unique physical traits. Take, for example, the much-celebrated visit of a certain "Hairy Girl" in the late 16th century, whose rare condition, hypertrichosis, left her covered from head to toe in thick hair. She became a subject of fascination among the elite, as her 'otherness' was twisted into a form of exoticism. It's no coincidence that Richard Burbage, the famous actor and associate of William Shakespeare, found his own fascination with the unique human conditions often presented in these shows. You might argue that the Bard's Caliban from "The Tempest" drew inspiration from such exhibitions.

As the years rolled on into the 17th century, the concept found fertile ground to grow. While the English Civil War brought a certain sobriety to public life, the Restoration period brought back the appetite for the extravagant. Samuel Pepys, the noted diarist, wrote about visiting a freak show in 1668 where he saw a "dwarf" who stood not more than 18 inches high and yet was 17 years old. His observation is one of the earliest accounts that underscore how deeply ingrained these shows had become in English culture by the latter half of the 17th century.

00:00 Freak Shows
1:25 How England's Courts and Countrysides Birthed the Freak Show
5:35 Unveiling the Dark Sparkle of 19th-Century American Oddities
10:23 P.T. Barnum’s Alchemy of the Odd and the Ordinary
12:52 The Sirens of the Sideshow
21:33 The Inner Theaters of Freak Show Performers
25:13 The Ethical Spectacle Behind the Curtains
29:05 The Spectacle's Afterlife in Popular Culture
32:49 When the Curtain Fell on the Big Top of Oddities
36:10 The Surgeon’s Scalpel and the Sideshow’s Demise
40:29 The Global Odyssey of Human Marvels
44:00 The Evolving Spectacle of Modern Marvels

[kathleenvalianti]

These folks were not "monsters".

[BuddhaStephy]

Very well done. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more respectful presentation on this particular topic. I’ve seen dozens of productions and documentaries with the same people highlighted, but you showcased their lives and experiences, preserving their dignity and their beautiful and perfect uniqueness with class and elegance. Very very well done.

[GaylJDodds]

Wow!! This episode was fantastic! It's so refreshing to be able to leave a positive comment for a topic that was addressed with professionalism, a healthy level of philosophical exploration, and handled with respect, creativity and sincerity toward a group of people who should have been acknowledged properly from the very beginning. So, Mr. Narrator, thank you for the effort you put into this episode's topic! It was well written and narrated with elegance and dignity and has convinced me to Subscribe so I can experience more episodes like this one in a sea of Youtube channels that fall short of anything close to being described as 'good'. I look forward to more videos like this one in the very near future! Thank you!!

[robertalpy]

Joseph Merricks intelligence, sensitivity and amazingly gentle nature makes his story all the more sad. Even though he found refuge at the end of his life, his father's unloving treatment of him and his treatment at the hands of his circus manager before he came to London, all the more heart breaking. How many times have I thought that I wish he were my own brother as my father would never remarry and he would have loved him no matter what.

Merrick nature was so obviously good I doubt anyone who has heard his story, doesn't wish they had been born at a time when they were able to take away all that pain by giving him the love all humans deserve.

[sherriarmstrong]

The freak shows also gave the people a chance to make a living and support themselves.

[stevejessemey]

This content is well written and extremely well narrated.

[alexissandusky]

As someone with Ehlers Danlos syndrome I love the tactful way this documentary on the societal views and treatment of those with visible differences was done. I also heavily recommend special books by special kids. It’s great for adults and kids alike to learn about people who are different from themselves.

[SoberOKMoments]

Wonderfully narrated. Shape shifting indeed. Thanks for a lovely, interesting and thought-provoking video.

[Takedownman]

I have extensive experience working at numerous carnivals, sideshows, and circuses, and I've witnessed a wide spectrum of treatment of the workers. Some of these establishments have demonstrated genuine respect for their employees, offering compensation that exceeds what they could earn in conventional jobs. Conversely, others have operated in a manner akin to exploitation and servitude. I wholeheartedly support those that provide an opportunity for a better life, surpassing the standards found elsewhere, but I vehemently oppose those that seek to take advantage of individuals.

[minimalbstolerance]

Freak shows have never gone away. It's just that today, we call them "Twitter, " "Tiktok" and "Reddit."

[clammer]

Good ol PT Barnum. Born, raised and buried in Bridgeport, CT. I worked next door to his downtown Bridgeport mansion. It's still there in the middle of Bridgeport's small skyline. He's buried right on Boston Ave. Growing up we had the PT Barnum parade and one young school boy and school girl were announced as the current years Gen. Tom Thumb and his wife and rode in the parade. Good memories.

[jameslanning]

It seemed that many of the people, who worked in the side shows as 'freaks, ' enjoyed the work.
For some of them, it brought them fame and fortune.
The side shows brought normal people, to view the freaks. But maybe the freaks only wanted to view the people who had 'normal bodies, ' and see how they had abused themselves, with over eating and over weight, alcohol abuse and the poor interaction between them.
Had it not been for the side shows, what else would the freaks do? Hide in the shadows and remain unknown, uncared for, unloved.
And don't we have enough of that in our society today?
"Normal people, ' live abandoned in the streets, hungry, alone and lacking many things others take for granted.
I just wonder, 'who's really the freaks?'

[johnheilds]

We can see freak shows all over the internet now. Free of charge.

[jurgen-fritz]

Ever since I found this channel I never realized how simple my vocabulary truly is

[Leo_-]

This with a fat joint is a trip! Thank you 🙏

[janaiello]

As a child, my mother took me to NYC for the PT Barnum circus. She would not take into the freak show tent, so I was not exposed to that spectacle. I was, however, terrified of the clowns. As an adult, I am still creeped out by clowns.

[ldavanzo]

I met Grady Stiles ( lobsterman) at a carnival when i was in my 20s he was the nicest most interesting person.
Grady used his booth to inform people about the syndrome he had letting you feel his hands and raising donations towards his cause.
All the people in this video are truly amazing!

[lawsliveby]

So Very well done. What an outstanding host. I wish I had the ability to verbalize my appreciation for his presentation of this video. He goes into all the corners and brings out all the shy thoughts one doesn't usually think about.

[anitaheart]

Wow, what a great documentary! Subscribed! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[zohan]

Beautiful people. They're all beautiful.