American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous + Curiously Strang

American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers Paperback, 304 pages, published in 2006, presented by Marc Hartzman Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.8 x 9 inches A fascinating look into the history of the American sideshow and its performers. Learn what's real, what's fake, and what's just downright bizarre. You've probably heard of Tom Thumb. The Elephant Man. Perhaps even Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins. But what about Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat? Or Prince Randian, the human torso? These were just a few of the many stars that shone during the heyday of the American sideshow, from 1840 to 1950. American Sideshow chronicles the lives of truly amazing performers, examining these brave and extraordinary curiosities not just as sideshow performers but as people, delving into the lives they led and the ways they were able to triumph over and even benefit from their abnormalities.