Flea circuses are a sideshow attraction purporting to show trained fleas performing circus acts such as trapeze artistry and being fired out of a cannon. Some actually utilise harnessed fleas whereas other “humbug” circuses use magical techniques to provide the show (some use both techniques).
Flea circuses were first seen around 1833 in England, and were a main carnival attraction until 1930 but became unpopular not long after.
The flea circus was a lost art form, and although most have heard of the phrase flea circus many don’t know from where it originates.
