circus SIDEshows -- fake and real

Arts & Entertainment Forum

Some characteristics of the circus SIDEshow can fall under the category of illusions because some of those oddities were faked. For example, P.T. Barnum made a fake of a mummified mermaid.
On the other hand, there are some Sideshow stunts which I used to think were fake but I now find they are Real, for example, Sword-Swallowing. I used to think the performer was using a Collapsible blade which would retract backwards into a hollow handle. But I later found they use Real blades. That was proven by an X-RAY of the blade going down into the performer's esophagus.
At one time, even SIAMESE TWINS (Conjoined Twins) were, at first, scoffed at as being fake. But I believe they are Real. What do you folks think?
There was a court case where a Man fell in love with ONE lady from a pair of Siamese Twins. But the Judge refused to grant the marriage on the grounds of BIGAMY, that in spite of the fact that the man wants to marry ONLY ONE of the Two. Do you folks agree or disagree with the Judge? Last I heard, the man was appealing to a Higher Court. Do any of you know what the outcome was?
Recently, I was talking to somebody who said that Siamese Twins are fake. But I myself believe they are Real. What do you folks think?

I think that judge was an idiot.

Well, siamese twins really do exist, and there's plenty of evidence to back that up... in that there are hundreds (probably even thousands) of cases out there. At a carnival though? Who knows! Maybe they'll fake it, maybe they'll actually come across real siamese twins... I guess you'd have to look into each individual show.

As for that bigamy thing... hehehe pretty funny, but I agree with Whidden. The judge is an idiot. He'd only be marrying the one sister, the fact that they're combined doesn't mean he'd be marrying the other sister too... and if it did, it would only be because they're seen as one person, in which case it wouldn't be bigamy at all.... wooo... *thinks of how profound he is*

I knew sword swallowing was real eventually (probably when I was about 10, I figured out there's no way it could be retractable), though when I was growing up I was told it isn't. I guess because no one wanted me to swallow knives and stuff.

Circus sideshow freaks are seriously sad to see .. they all look so depressed and worn down. I saw the world's smallest woman, and she was sitting on a small booth in a tiny chair, with a bucket next to her for donations. People started talking to her, and she seemed really tired and just plain unhappy.

I also saw the world's tiniest horse, and it was basically a pony they kept in a deep, low pit. Very depressing.