Whether it’s fashion trends or urban landscapes, each vintage scene highlights the evolution of human civilization. Today, we’ve gathered fascinating snapshots of circus performers from the subreddit “r/Damnthatsinteresting”. Many of us know about entertainers like acrobats and clowns, but these photos of retro artists share a glimpse into the world of old circuses. Many traveling circuses in the 1800s and 1900s featured sideshows or freak shows. People with biological rarities were showcased in such events. Referred to as “freaks of nature” in popular culture, they had physical deformities such as excessive hair growth, additional limbs, unique tattoos, and missing body parts. In 1881, P.T. Barnum, known for his promotion of sensational attractions and hoaxes, joined hands with James Bailey to create the Barnum & Bailey Circus, often dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth”. The biggest sideshow was part of their circus as one of the chief attractions. In the late 1800s, while touring in London, a group of 40 or so of these performers rightfully staged a labor strike. They demanded that the management of the Barnum and Bailey circus shouldn’t use the term freak for their show’s promotional items. However, the public’s perception has changed and such immoral and unethical acts aren’t acceptable in modern times. Social norms have shifted and activists are fighting to end such injustices. What are your thoughts on this? Have you heard about circus sideshows before? Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
