Girl to Gorilla Banner by Fred Johnson. Circa 1940s. Hideaway Antiques, Toronto
The Girl to Gorilla Illusion was one of the top-grossing grind shows on the carnival midway. Sadly, there are few if any working today. If you know of one, let us know! The last G2G that we saw was Jack Constantine’s and it was quite a few years ago. This vintage Girl to Gorilla banner signed by master banner painter Fred Johnson is being offered for sale by Toronto’s Hideaway Antiques. It gives an impressionistic idea of what to expect on the inside.
As the talker on a vintage clip of Harvey Fillmore’s Princess Uraana show posted by YouTube user ZAMBORA57 says, “You’re going to see a beautiful girl change before your eyes very slowly into an ugly male gorilla…From the top of her head to the tips of her toes you’ll see the hair grow. The Ape Girl. The Ape Girl. The Ape Girl. Anything can happen…” The illusion is done with mirrors but when the “gorilla” breaks out of the steel cage, the screaming audience runs out of the tent, attracting a crowd for the next show.
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August 6, 2012: Art of the Day: Madame Twisto by Marie Roberts
April 18, 2012: Rare & Vintage: A Neon Sword Swallower’s Sideshow Banner
November 4, 2011: Up for Auction: Ringling Bros Circus Side Show Poster
December 19, 2010: Rare & Vintage: Original Coney Island Motordrome Bike
Amusing the Zillion 
I remember the ape girl show in Coney Island- it was there for a short time, such a low tech illusion ,
But really wild fun!
The show in the video cost only 75 cents!
Great photo by Bruce Gilden taken in ’60s of ticketbooth in Coney Island. “See Her Change from Beauty to Beast” in first row of photos on his webpage
https://www.brucegilden.com/portfolio/coney-island/
I saw the same type of act around 1970 when the James Strates shows Carnival came to Delaware on its yearly visit.
When the girl turned into a Gorilla and ran into the audience, everybody screamed and ran out of the tent. It was one of the best tricks I’ve ever seen at a carnival.
Those were the good old days.
Yes, I was like 10 and went with my sister and brother in law. It was hilarious!! So glad someone from D-Ware also had a chance to enjoy this show.
When I was just young lad of 19 I toured with the “Gabora the Gorilla Girl” show, run by Tim Deremer and Fred Haydn. It was a blast! I played the gorilla, and I tell people my job was to induce riots of small groups of people.
I also worked for Fred Haydn in the early to mid 80’s but back then I was know as Princess Serena the Gorillagirl! I had more fun with that job! lol
Yeah that was great! I remember seeing it around 1986-88ish, maybe at Virginia State fair! “Gorilla, gorilla, gorilla…..” “Think back to the time when gorills ruled the Earth”…
My little brother was so scared, he didn’t run out the approved exit/entrance; he went out by climbing UNDER the side of the tent! LOL!
I worked a mirror maze next to the G2G in Pleasanton back in the mid 70’s. I’d love to get an MP3 of the spiel: “Was Darwin right? Did man come from ape?…”
Hey it’s me Paradice Sanchez, I am trying to get ahold of my Dad Jack
Here in Brazil, exactly in Campo Maior, Piaui, 2 days ago I came across a town carnival and saw the MONGA act. It consisted ofthe same performance, a girl becomes in a beast. I have a picture of the venue.
There will be a Girl to Gorilla performed before the Thursday evening show (in a tent) at the 79th Abbott Get Together on August 4th 2016 in Colon Michigan.
http://magicgettogether.com/specialevents.html#tent
The video that you posted here is Harvey Fillmore show and I am the one who posted that video of Princess Uraana and credit of the show show of been listed in your post and not JACK CONSTANTINE PLESE MAKE THE CORRECTION THANK YOU
TOM
Sorry I didn’t mean to imply that the vintage clip or Johnson banner were from Jack Constantine’s show. To clarify I added: a vintage clip of Harvey Fillmore’s Princess Uraana show posted by YouTube user ZAMBORA57
Thank You Very Much
Tom
1970 S CONEY ISLAND PRINCESS ALANA SHOW ME AND MY FRIEND WAS GORRILLAS FOR THE SUMMER 20 SHOW A DAY AND NIGHT I WAS 16 OR 17 .. TRICKS DONE WITH 2 BOXES AND LIGHTS ON A DIMMER SWITCH DIM ONE PRINCESS BOX AND LIGHT UP GORRILLAS BOX … ON SLIDING ANGLE REFLATING GLASS MIRROR LIKE GIRL TURNS IN TO A GORRILLA IN A TRANCE THEN AWAKENS AND BRAKES OUT OF A CHAINED CAGE OUT ON TIO THE STAGE TO SCARE THE HELL OUT OF THE PEOPLE ,,, THEN A GUN SHOT WAS TO PUT HER BACK IN THE CAGE CURTINE RAISES AND OUT GOES RUNNING PEOPLE WHAT A SUMME AND LOTS OF LOVLY PRIENCESS FOR COMPANY ON HOT SUMMERS DAYS AND NIGHTS IN A HOT GORRILLA SUITS WORSE PART GOING HOME AT MIDNIGHT AT CONEY ISLAND WITH BLACK MAKEUP AROUND YOUR EYES STOPPING AT NATHENS FOR HOT DOGS AND FRIES LOOKS GOTH OR GAY ,, HAND CREAM TOOK OFF SOME BLACK MAKE UP AROUND MY EYES TO HIDE SKIN UNDER MASK … I LOVE TO SCRAE THE HELL OUT OF EVERYONE WHO SAW THIS I WAS ALSO THE ANOUNNCER