Cigar Box Flea Circus

Sven Svenson is possibly the youngest flea tamer in the World. He has been building flea circus’ with his father since 2000, and now you can buy a handmade traditional ‘humbug’ flea circus from his website.

Flea circus’ became popular in the 1600’s where ringleaders would tour them around pubs and fairgrounds. Falling out of favour this century the art of the flea circus has all but died out, and it’s great to see Sven rekindling the art.

Technorati: Magic flea circus, sven svenson

Extraordinary Exhibitions: The Wonderful Remains of an Enormous Head, the Whimsiphusicon and Death to the Savage Unitarians

An informal history of sensational, scientific, silly and startling attractions based on 17th, 18th and 19th Century Broadsides from the collection of Ricky Jay. With some observations on the convention of promoting such appearances, and digressions on the manner and method of printing advertisements to do so, and with insight into the psychology employed to that end. Includes such attractions as Bertolotto's Industrious Fleas, the Pig Faced Lady, Capelli's Learned Cats and the Singing Mouse . [more...]