Circus Stories: A Circus History Podcast

A sneak peek of our Patreon because it is the season for giving!!   Here is a sample of what you can expect  if you subscribe to the patreon ... get ready for a killer interview with Callie B's father as he recants his time as a kid visiting Jungle Land and seeing Mabel Stark perform,  PLUS  his experience traveling with Circus Vargas in the 1970s,  some scary storm run ins and a few wild ani...

CLOWN JUSTICE! Learn about the time honored tradition of painting  EGGS -- YAH! You read that right -- Eggs ...  to register one's clown makeup and protect the artist's identity.  This  seriously silly episode covers official clown business practices, info on a famous clown CHURCH and how clowns police within the clown community... resulting in -- you guessed it -- CLOWN JUSTICE! Clowns...

Get your best clown shoes and a funny pen that squirts water - its time for a clown quiz. We do a medium dive into the origins of clowning.   We discuss  the three different types of clown face paint and where it stems from, we chew on some solid "clown-isms" and show lingo, AND explore when and WHY did people start viewing clowns as "scary". Click the link below if you want to...

In this flipping rad episode we discuss  how seals AND ...sea lions have become a thing of the past in American circus. We discuss some SERIOUS seal and sea lion cuteness, habitat behavior,  early circus beginnings, their life performing on the road and of course some silly animal shenanigans. These incredibly intelligent and ADORABLE land and sea creatures have shown audiences far and wide how th...

In this episode we move out WEST!!! We explore the wild life and adventures of Annie Oakley, best known for her sharp shooting skills and top billing act with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.   Hear about how Annie was requested to shoot at people's faces -- OFTEN, how she helped advance the way film captures motion, her brief run in with a cocaine mishap, and most importantly ...her dog D...

All we gotta say is WHOA! In our devilish episode 13, we merge the two best things; Circus/Sideshow and True Crime.  We explore the unbelievable murders and trials that centered around Grady Stiles Jr.  AKA "The Lobster Boy".   This dude is a real SOB and trigger warning - this episode is a real life horror movie. You have been warned.   Also, most events in the story take place  in Flor...

Gooble Gobble, Gooble Gobble -   One of us, One of us ... Join us for this BEHEMOTH episode as we deep dive into the controversy that swirled around the cult classic, Tod Browning's 1932 film FREAKS! Callie B and Mark are joined by sideshow aficionado, Krysta Z as the trio explore Browning's film career; it's ups and downs and where Browning found the "suggestion" for the...

Today's episode we explore the illusive act - The Hair Hang! Yeah! The act of quite literally hanging by one's hair. No tricks or magic here, this act is legit. BUT how the heck do these performers do it!? And what is their hair care regimen? ALSO does it hurt? All of this and more will be answered! Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.c...

Half Man  / Half Elephant  ...  HARDLY!! Join us as we revisit the life of Joseph Merrick aka The Elephant Man. We discuss his trials and tribulations as he navigates an unforgiving world but DO NOT WORRY.. this story has a happy ending ....sorta!  We also chat about David Lynch's film adaption of this true story, and discuss the topic of chickens as doctors.   Support the show +Follow Us on...

The riveting conclusion to Mabel Stark's incredible story. We continue our journey with the infamous Tiger Queen of the circus and her increasing number of husbands and tiger attacks. Mabel gets a taste for Hollywood, rubs elbows with Mae West and discovers a magical place called Jungle Land!  Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Re...

Tiger King move OVER!! Mabel Stark can surely be labeled the Tiger Queen. As the first female headlining a Big Cat act in a U.S. circus, Mabel paved the way for so many female trainers that followed. Small in stature, but tough as nails, and a voice that could arguably shatter glass. Join us while we explore Mabel's rise to stardom as she does all she can, and we mean ALL, to leave her past b...

 We do a deep dive and discuss the astounding lives of the original "Siamese Twins" Chang and Eng Bunker, and explore how they navigated a wild world of pirate captains, sideshow careers, crappy managers, and ... surely a complicated love life/lives. YES, this episode is longer than usual, but just like these two conjoined twins, we didn't DARE separate the episode into two parts!! ...

What is good luck? What is bad luck? What are the generational practices to help ensure you survive your performance every day??!! Today we discuss the origins of some well known and not so well known Circus superstitions... and maybe Mark creates a few new ones. Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever you Li...

This episode sheds light on an incredible talent that is not too well known in circus history as a whole, however Miss Lala was undeniably a force to be reckoned with, breaking both gender and racial barriers; a true superstar of her time.  Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever you Listen! Thanks for Listen...

Today we are going to explore the amazing story of the first recorded human cannonball act -- and get this ... the performer was a woman!!! GTFO Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever you Listen! Thanks for Listening + Check those Boilers !!

Today's episode revisits a darker, but more infamous day in circus history; the Hartford Circus Fire, which took place during the summer of 1944, taking the lives of 168 people and injuring over 700. Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever you Listen! Thanks for Listening + Check those Boilers !!

We explore the continued story of PT Barnum as he meets many Bailey's including the one and only James Bailey -- the start of a beautiful friendship and maybe more fires. Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever you Listen! Thanks for Listening + Check those Boilers !!

Welcome to the circus! We kick off the pod with the bad boy of circus, the man who coined the phrase "there's a sucker born every minute" -- MR PT BARNUM. Step right up and hear all the good, bad and ugly of this non - Hugh Jackman type circus impresario. Support the show +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever...