Flea circus
Encyclopedia
A flea circus refers to a circus sideshow
attraction in which flea
s are attached (or appear to be attached) to miniature carts and other items, and encouraged to perform circus acts within a small housing. Fresnel lens
es were provided to help visitors to view the attraction.
performances were from watch makers who were demonstrating their metal working skills. Mark Scaliot in 1578 produced a lock and chain which were attached to a flea. Flea performances were first advertised as early as 1833 in England, and were a main carnival attraction until 1930. Some flea circuses persisted in very small venues in the United States as late as the 1960s. The flea circus at Belle Vue amusement park, Manchester
, England, was still operating in 1970. One or two flea circus performers such as Svensons can still be found working in the UK but most flea circuses are a sideline of magicians and clowns, they use electrical or mechanical effects instead of real fleas.
Fleas are separated by jumping and running fleas. Once sorted, they are harnessed by carefully wrapping a thin gold
wire around the neck of the flea. Once in the harness the fleas usually stay in it for life. The harnesses are attached to the props and the strong legs of the flea allows them to move objects significantly larger than themselves.
Jumping fleas are used for kicking small lightweight balls. They are carefully given a ball; when they try to jump away (which is not possible because of the harness) they shoot the ball instead.
Running fleas are used to pull small carts and vehicles or to rotate a Ferris wheel.
There are historical reports of fleas glued to the base of the flea circus enclosure, instruments were then glued to the flea performers and the enclosure was heated. The fleas fought to escape giving the impression of fleas playing musical instruments.
Some "flea circuses" do not contain any fleas at all and the experience and skill of the performer convince the audience of their existence.
In much the same way that viewers know that a magician won't really cut a girl in half
, her or his showmanship allows viewers to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy the show.
Famous flea circuses of the past:
Sideshow
In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction.- Types of attractions :There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:...
attraction in which flea
Flea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
s are attached (or appear to be attached) to miniature carts and other items, and encouraged to perform circus acts within a small housing. Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
es were provided to help visitors to view the attraction.
History
The first records of fleaFlea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
performances were from watch makers who were demonstrating their metal working skills. Mark Scaliot in 1578 produced a lock and chain which were attached to a flea. Flea performances were first advertised as early as 1833 in England, and were a main carnival attraction until 1930. Some flea circuses persisted in very small venues in the United States as late as the 1960s. The flea circus at Belle Vue amusement park, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, was still operating in 1970. One or two flea circus performers such as Svensons can still be found working in the UK but most flea circuses are a sideline of magicians and clowns, they use electrical or mechanical effects instead of real fleas.
Techniques with real fleas
Fleas live only for a short time and are not trained.Fleas are separated by jumping and running fleas. Once sorted, they are harnessed by carefully wrapping a thin gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
wire around the neck of the flea. Once in the harness the fleas usually stay in it for life. The harnesses are attached to the props and the strong legs of the flea allows them to move objects significantly larger than themselves.
Jumping fleas are used for kicking small lightweight balls. They are carefully given a ball; when they try to jump away (which is not possible because of the harness) they shoot the ball instead.
Running fleas are used to pull small carts and vehicles or to rotate a Ferris wheel.
There are historical reports of fleas glued to the base of the flea circus enclosure, instruments were then glued to the flea performers and the enclosure was heated. The fleas fought to escape giving the impression of fleas playing musical instruments.
Techniques without real fleas
Some flea circuses may appear to use real fleas, but don't. A variety of electrical, magnetic, and mechanical devices have been used to augment exhibits. In some cases these mechanisms are responsible for all of the "acts," with loose fleas in the exhibit maintaining the illusion.Some "flea circuses" do not contain any fleas at all and the experience and skill of the performer convince the audience of their existence.
In much the same way that viewers know that a magician won't really cut a girl in half
Sawing a woman in half
Sawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of different stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently sawn or divided into two or more pieces.-History:...
, her or his showmanship allows viewers to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy the show.
Performers
Current flea circuses:- Professor A. G. Gertsacov's Acme Miniature Flea Circus performs primarily in the United States and Canada, touring numerous venues and festivals since 1995.
- The Alberti Flea Circus tours the country, and can be seen at county and state fairs and private shows.
- Captain Franko's Fantastic Flea Circus has been touring Ireland since 2005.
- Dr Dillinger's Flea Circus and Caravan of Mystery has performed since 2007 in Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma, the show is often associated with Dr Dillinger's Freaks and Floozies, a contemporary Vaudeville/Burlesque troupe.
- Phydeaux's Flying Flea Circus of Fate tours the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware area. It also has done performances in Texas, Florida, and Virginia.
- Professor Payne's Phantasmagorical Flea Circus can be seen at public libraries and private shows in Washington state.
- Professor B's Flea Circus has been performing in the Northern California area for the last few years.
- The Flying Starts Flea Circus and Sideshow tours in the UK.
- Svensons Flea Circus performs in the UK.
- The Flohcircus Mathes at the Munich Oktoberfest
Famous flea circuses of the past:
- Maria Cardoso toured the world with her installation artInstallation artInstallation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
flea circus in the 1990s. - Professor Heckler's flea circus (in residence at Hubert's Dime Museum in Times SquareTimes SquareTimes Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, NY until 1957) which can be seen in the background of the film Easy RiderEasy RiderEasy Rider is a 1969 American road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It tells the story of two bikers who travel through the American Southwest and South with the aim of achieving freedom... - L. Bertolotto's flea circus of Regent StreetRegent StreetRegent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
, London. - A famously televised flea circus (without fleas) was created by Michael BentineMichael BentineMichael Bentine CBE was a British comedian, comic actor and founding member of the Goons. A Peruvian Briton by heritage as a result of his father's nationality, In 1971 Bentine received the Order of Merit of Peru because of his fund-raising work for the 1970 Great Peruvian...
in the 1960s.
Cartoons
- The Tex AveryTex AveryFrederick Bean "Fred/Tex" Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, voice actor and director, famous for producing animated cartoons during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. He did his most significant work for the Warner Bros...
cartoon The Flea Circus (MGM, 1954) featured a French flea circus that broke up when they saw a dog and attacked it, and one flea, Francois (voiced by Bill ThompsonBill Thompson (voice actor)Bill Thompson was an American radio actor and voice actor whose career stretched from the 1930s until his death.-Early career:...
), who played a sad clown, hitches with the star flea, Fifi, and has enough fleas together to bring the flea circus back to life. - Dixieland DroopyDixieland DroopyDixieland Droopy is a 1954 animated short subject in the Droopy series, directed by Tex Avery and produced by Fred Quimby for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
(1954), this Tex Avery-directed animated short in the Droopy series features John Irving Pettybone (Droopy) finding a flea band and being chased by a flea circus owner who wants the band for his circus - Curtain RazorCurtain RazorCurtain Razor is a 1949 Looney Tunes short directed by Friz Freleng and starring Porky Pig. It is notable as a showcase of the voice talent of Mel Blanc.- Plot :...
, this vintage Warner Bros.Warner Bros.Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
cartoon has Porky PigPorky PigPorky Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his star power, and the animators created many critically acclaimed shorts using the fat little pig...
as a theatrical agent auditioning acts, including a shaggy dog, who turns out to be the transport of a flea circus, which proceeds to set itself up, perform, and return to the dog, on command. - Batfink episode "Jumping Jewelry" (1967) features Professor Hopper, an owner of a flea circus, using his trained fleas to steal jewelry
- The Jetsons season 2 episode "Fugitive Fleas" (1985), a rock band of fleas take refuge on Astro to escape the tyrannical Solarini's flea circus.
- Flea Circus (mid-1990s), autobiographical comic strip by Vic PrattVic PrattVictor Alfred Cornelius Eustace Beltane Diggory Penrith Pratt more commonly known as Vic Pratt is an artist, writer, musician and actor born in 1971. He lives in Muswell Hill, North East London....
- Mona the Vampire second season episode Flea Circus of Horrors (2000)
- Grimmy's Flea Circus (2001), book in the Mother Goose and Grimm comic strip series
- Haunted Mansion issue 4 (August 2006) "Night of the Ghost Fleas" features Fifi, the ghost dog, being plagued by ghost fleas who create a flea circus that ends up on his head
- The Muppet Show: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson issue 3 (2009) features fleas who put on the act, Julius Prunes Amazing Flea Circus, on Animal's drums
Films
- Thundering FleasThundering FleasThundering Fleas is a 1926 Our Gang film featuring Oliver Hardy and directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 51st Our Gang short subject released...
(1926) An Our GangOur GangOur Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
film featuring Oliver HardyOliver HardyOliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
and a cameo appearance by comedian Charley ChaseCharley ChaseCharley Chase was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his work in Hal Roach short film comedies...
. - The ChimpThe ChimpThe Chimp is a Laurel and Hardy short film made in 1932. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.- Plot :...
(1932), this Laurel and Hardy short film features a flea circus given as a pay-off, which escapes into the bed, causing everyone to itch - It's in the Bag!It's in the Bag!It's in the Bag! is a 1945 comedy film featuring Fred Allen in his only starring film role. The film was released by United Artists at a time when Allen was at the peak of his fame as one of the most popular radio comedians.-Characters and story:...
(1945), Fred Allen is a flea circus ringmaster - Limelight (1952), Charlie Chaplin performing a flea circus
- Mr. ArkadinMr. ArkadinMr. Arkadin is a French-Spanish-Swiss coproduction film, written and directed by Orson Welles and shot in several Spanish locations, including Segovia, Valladolid and Madrid.Its history is convoluted...
(1955), Mischa Auer plays a flea circus owner (with real fleas) in this Orson Welles - Jurassic ParkJurassic Park (film)Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
(1993) creator, John Hammond, explains how he used to exhibit a flealess mechanical flea circus when he was first starting out. - The City of Lost ChildrenThe City of Lost ChildrenThe City of Lost Children is a dystopian French fantasy/drama film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet released in 1995. The film is stylistically related to the previous and subsequent Jeunet films, Delicatessen and Amélie. It was entered into the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:A mad scientist,...
(1995) features a former circus/freak show owner, Marcello, who uses performing fleas carrying poison to assassinate people. - A Bug's LifeA Bug's LifeA Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
(1998), the Disney/Pixar film, centers on a troupe of flea circus performers, including their owner, P.T. Flea, a parody of the real-life circus entrepreneur P.T. Barnum - The Death of the Flea Circus Director by Thomas Koerfer, a dark tale of a performer who switches from a flea circus to a play about the plague
Music
- "Flea Circus", country song on the album Don’t You Go Chicken (1960s) by Ramblin' Tommy ScottRamblin' Tommy ScottRamblin' Tommy Scott Allmusic: "Ramblin' Tommy Scott"]) was an American country and rockabilly musician.Scott was born outside of Toccoa, Georgia where he still resides and began playing the guitar at age ten. After high school he joined Doc Chamberlain's medicine show, and got his first job in...
- "Flea Circus", grunge song on the album Step on a BugStep on a BugStep on a Bug is the sole studio album by Seattle based grunge pioneers The U-Men. It was released in 1988 on Black Label Records.-Track listing:# "Whistlin' Pete"# "2 X 4"# "A Three Year Old Could Do That"# "Juice Party"# "Flea Circus"...
(1988) by The U-Men - "Flea Circus", modern creative song on the album Papa WoodyPapa WoodyPapa Woody is the first and only studio album by Ether Bunny, released on April 18, 1996 through Fifth Colvmn Records. It is the project of Daniel Vahnke, who is primarily known for his work in Vampire Rodents.-Recording:...
(1996) by Ether Bunny - "Flea Circus", anti-folk song on the album X-Ray VisionX-Ray Vision (album)X-Ray Vision is a 7", 33⅓ rpm EP released by The Moldy Peaches. There are three copyright dates listed on the album: 1994, 1995, and 1996. An insert inside the album states that Adam Green was the sole member of The Moldy Peaches at the time of the recording...
(1996) by The Moldy Peaches - "Flea Circus", folk music song on the album Circle (2006) by UiscedwrUiscedwrUiscedwr is a trio which plays British folk music influenced by world music. The group started off as a trio and was originally based in Manchester.Uiscedwr won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2002 ....
- "Flea Circus", song by Marder in the film FAQ About Time Travel (2009)
- Neon Flea Circus, psyche-funk band based in Cork, IrelandCork (city)Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, appeared in Solas FestivalSolas FestivalSolas Festival is the name used by a number of separate festivals. The Scottish Solas Festival takes place in Biggar, Scotland. This year it is on the weekend of the 24th-26th of June, 2011 - acts such as Iain Morrison Solas Festival is the name used by a number of separate festivals. The Scottish...
, June 2010. - "Flea Circus", a jazz quartet led by trumpet player Jack Davies.
Other
- The Flea Circus (1950s) by Billy Lee BrammerBilly Lee BrammerBilly Lee Brammer was an author, journalist, and political staffer in Texas and Washington, D.C.. He is best known for his set of three linked novellas, The Gay Place.- Life :...
- The Flea Circus (Islet Books, 1989) by poet Alan PizzarelliAlan PizzarelliAlan Pizzarelli is an American poet, songwriter, and musician. He was born of an Italian-American family in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in the first ward’s Little Italy.-Poetry:...
- Mighty Morphin Power RangersMighty Morphin Power RangersMighty Morphin Power Rangers is an American live-action children's television series based on the 16th installment of the Japanese Super Sentai franchise, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Both the show and its related merchandise saw unbridled overnight success, catapulting into pop culture in mere months...
season one episode "For Whom the Bell Trolls" (1993), reveals Bulk and Skull's hobbies include picking up fleas from stray dogs. They attempted to demonstrate their flea circus in their class' hobby week but the fleas escape onto their teacher Miss Appleby - Round the Twist episode "Dog By Night" (2000), at a flea circus, a rare Transylvanian flea named Count Dracumite sinks its teeth into Pete, turning him into a werewolf at night
- Flea Circus, a bi-monthly event in Angel Islington, London, UK featuring comedy, music, and poetry.
- Maxfield Rubbish and His Time Travelling Flea Circus, presented at the Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park, San Diego, California
- "Flea Circus" (2006), Hewlett-Packard commercial produced by Bent Image Lab
- Touch DetectiveTouch Detectiveor Mystery Detective in Europe is a point-and-click mystery adventure game for the Nintendo DS which makes use of the device's touch screen. It was developed by BeeWorks and released in Japan by Success Corporation. It was developed and released in the United States by Atlus, and in Europe by 505...
(2006), in episode 4 of this mystery adventure video game for the Nintendo DS, the main character, Penelope, claims that a murder happened at the flea circus in town - Flea Circus, a puzzle game on the FunOrbFunOrbFunOrb is a casual gaming site created by Jagex Games Studio. Launched on 27 February 2008, it was the company's first major release after their successful MMORPG, RuneScape...
website, originally developed by Andrew GowerAndrew GowerAndrew Christopher Gower is a British video game developer and co-founder of Cambridge-based Jagex Games Studio, the company he founded with Paul Gower and Constant Tedder. He wrote the MMORPG RuneScape with the assistance of his brother, Paul Gower. In December 2010 he left the Jagex board of... - William Heaven's Bi-Weekly flea circus is held in both Cambridge and Newcaslte upon Tyne
External links
- British Pathe News
- List of Historical Flea Circus Performers ShowHistory.Com
- Flea circus research and directory of current performers fleacircus.co.uk
- www.captainfranko.com An example of a Circus with no real fleas, with video available.
- www.fleacircuslondon.co.uk The website of the event in Angel Islington, London, UK.
- www.trainedfleas.com The Acme Miniature Flea Circus
- www.yourfleacircus.com "Buy your own Flea Circus"