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Curator of the Unusual Seeks Sideshow Freaks & Working Acts for 2014

Posted in sideshow, tagged Big Circus Sideshow, circus sideshow, freak, help wanted, Jim Zajicek, job, job opening, working act on December 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Jim Zajicek’s Big Circus Sideshow. Photo © Jim Zajicek

Jim Zajicek, Curator of the Unusual and Proprietor of the Big Circus Sideshow recently wrote a Help Wanted post on Facebook that grabbed our attention. His idiosyncratic slang called up memories of carnival ads from the dear, old Billboard, the Showman’s Bible…

The BIG ONE IS NOW LOOKING TO HIRE
for 2014 Season..

Can place Couple and or Individual/s…
WANTED: Freaks, Working Acts, Swaller, Blockhead, BON, Fire, Those that double, given preference, let us know what you can do?…
Chinese involved
We Pay REAL Money, and you must deliver the goods…Salary/Cherry Pie..
A good home to save money for right people…
Don’t misrepresent or get by with smut as the Mgr is a Old Showman…
Only Serious Inquiries Only…
NO Boozers, Chasers, Dopers, Funny Book Readers No Tats on Dome or Bones in noses…This show plays Church spots…

IF you walk upright and eat with a Knife and Fork this could be a Good opportunity for you…

Contact: Jim Zajicek..
Big Circus Sideshow.
curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com

Or message Jim Zajicek on Facebook

Zajicek is taking applications for the upcoming season, which runs from mid-March through the first week of November. The Big Circus Sideshow plays mostly West of the Mississippi, he says. After starting in the circus business in 1979 with Franzen Bros. Circus, the showman started his own show more than a decade ago.

Here’s a video by Cris Siqueira of the show’s last three spots of the 2011 season at the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo in Waco, Texas; the Washington Parish Fair in Franklinton, Louisiana; and the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport.

Photo of The Day: The Lizardman on Stage in Coney Island

Posted in Photo of the Day, sideshow, tagged body modification, Bruce Handy, Coney Island USA, freak, Lizardman, Luna Park on May 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The Lizardman on Coney Island USA's Bally Stage, August 8, 2009. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Save the dates! As we reported on Monday, “The Lizardman” will return to Coney Island this summer to perform in a free stage show at the new Luna Park. “I will be there July 30 and 31 and August 6 and 7,” he tells ATZ. “I’m excited about it even though I don’t really know much yet. It’s just great that there will be another performance venue in Coney that by all I can tell thus far will be putting on great shows and I get to be part of it thanks to my friend Todd Robbins.”

If you missed the Lizardman’s appearance as “Guest Freak” at Coney Island USA last August, you have to see his photo to begin to understand why he is one of the luminaries of the sideshow world. This totally tattooed, self-made freak’s body mods include subdermally implanted horns, fangs and a lizardlike split tongue. “My physical appearance is part of a transformation project I began as an undergraduate working in body based performance art,” writes the Lizardman on his website. His new book Once More Through the Modified Looking Glass documents his transformation.

In addition to his striking looks, the Lizardman performs classic sideshow acts like sword swallowing, fire-eating, and escaping from a straitjacket as well as the weirdest stunt we’ve ever seen: mental flossing with live snakes! We’ll be curious to see if the Lizardman comes up with a lunatic new stunt for Luna Park.

“I’m just happy that reports of Coney Island’s death continue to be greatly exaggerated,” the Lizardman told ATZ. “And I am looking forward to working there again this summer, both at Luna and Sideshows by the Seashore.”

Coney Island Is Alive and Kicking in 2009 Photo of the Day: New Sideshow Banners on CIUSA Building

Posted in art, sideshow, tagged Coney Island, Coney Island USA, freak, Marie Roberts, Mat Fraser, sideshow, ten-in-one, The Lizard Man on May 28, 2009| Leave a Comment »

New sideshow banners by Marie Roberts on Coney Island USA’s Building advertise this summer’s special guest freaks. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

photo via me-myself-i, flickr

This season at Coney Island USA’s ten-in-one circus sideshow, “Special Guest Freaks” will join the resident sword swallower, fire eater, snake charmer, escape artist and human blockhead. The new banner advertisements painted by artist-in-residence Marie Roberts are already decorating CIUSA’s building on 12th Street and Surf Avenue. The guest freaks include The Lizard Man, Jackie the Human Tripod, and England’s Mat Fraser

Coney Island Circus Sideshow, 1208 Surf Avenue at 12th Street, Coney Island

Related posts on ATZ…

January 25, 2010: March 14-17: Coney Island Sideshow Banner Painting School with Marie Roberts

December 2, 2009: Dec 12-13: Open Studio with Coney Island Artist & Banner Painter Marie Roberts

December 1, 2009: TLC’s Cake Boss Sweet on Marie Roberts’ Coney Island Sideshow Banners