Seeing this article got me thinking… I do think that political correctness will ultimately annihilate the tradition of the American side show. Is it exploitative? Probably for some… but a lot of side show folks love the life that comes along with being on stage and let’s face it, their statures, girth, talents, or unusual features were a ticket to profitable careers in show business that would otherwise have been lost to them. Would it be better for them to get vanilla jobs like the rest of us, bagging groceries, ringing up customers, for crappy wages while being stared and jeered at anyway? You may disagree, but I think not!!!
Consequently, I base my observations not only on personal opinion, but also from a discussion I had with the man in the picture with Mr. Snowden, the fire-eating, Mr. Pete “Poobah” Terhurne : ) I met him at a side show that traveled through the Penn State Fair a few years ago. He told me that he had been in the movie and side show business his whole life (He was even cast as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz!) and he lives comfortably on the money he takes in doing what he loves: traveling and entertaining and amazing people with his unusual talents. Sounds good to me : )
Any thoughts?
- Miss Sabrina
The original article appears here.
Images resourced to http://sideshowworld.com/Tribute-Bruce-Snowden.html and http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/6/4/647168/1264718754028.JPEG
