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Music and Theater Posters => General Discussion => Topic started by: Popculturefan on March 27, 2013, 06:33:32 AM

Title: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Popculturefan on March 27, 2013, 06:33:32 AM
Hello all,

I'm kinda interested in these freakshows, you know, tallest man, sword eaters, etc.
Are there any posters of these? I know there are some expensive photo's from the old days, but i've never found any posters.
Or just didn't look good enough.

If you got some in your collection, please show.
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Bruce on March 27, 2013, 07:49:51 AM
99% of what there was was homemade for the specific show, so what is left is super rare and expensive.

I have never seen a printed poster for one of these.
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Threenero on March 27, 2013, 10:16:21 AM
Some of my closest friends are freaks  ;D

the early ones where handpainted on canvas or bedsheets using any old paint they could find and hung on the middway (public entrance to show) on large wooden frames or from ropes strung between trucks and tents. by the end of a long traveling season they would have been folded hundreds of times and most of the paint would have flaked of. so they would either be repainted or painted over with a new act. later on the painting was done directly onto the sides of truck bodies or large wooden/metal panels that would hinge onto the trucks and known as flash panels...again they would be painted over when the acts changed. Freaks where part of sideshows and usually only the top billing artistes where put on the posters for the main show. The days of handpainted panels ended about 20 years ago and most of the artists that painted them have long gone along with most of their work.

However there are some modern shows today that mainly feature freaks and they feature them on their posters. try http://www.circusofhorrors.co.uk/home.html and check the shop for posters. tell Doc haze Luke sent you  ;)
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Threenero on April 02, 2013, 02:59:51 PM
OK.. i asked a friend in the states if he had any pics of the old side shows and if he had any info of the whereabouts of any old banners. There a few still knocking around but mostly rotting in old barns...He's looking into rescuing some... Mean while he sent me nearly 100 pics.

Here's a selection for your viewing pleasure  8)

Some of these go as far back as the '30s

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/3408_10151348773756904_1355730239_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/3408_10151348773746904_368225959_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/714_10151486119186904_709159862_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/644573_10151450606631904_1505677569_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/603095_10151361164236904_362619685_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/602740_10151499102681904_570565569_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/601314_10151364936591904_1678552750_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/578430_10151348765936904_2012105201_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/577242_10151453891471904_1994070613_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/576184_10151469863271904_297279985_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/559806_10151450606661904_1338903838_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/556538_10151374540146904_1810204108_n.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/549942_10151462452081904_519069857_n.jpg)

That should do for now.
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: stewart boyle on April 02, 2013, 03:09:31 PM
Those are great!

"Sealo-Man or Seal?"

Brilliant..Love the Barnum and Baileys pic too  :D
There`s a van like that in The M.O.Transport here in GLW,It`s beautiful.

Stew
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Threenero on April 02, 2013, 03:29:11 PM
Here's an "in progress pic" of a circus artist at work

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/26961_380579961109_6635402_n.jpg)

The guy in the pic was a good friend of mine and a brilliant artist and artiste.

Here he is playing a freak on stage (front and centre) surrounded by his own art work.

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r26/3nero/sideshow/5192_1203006875503_3533413_n.jpg)

His name was Barrie and he was one of the last great sign and banner painters. He passed away back in 2005

Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: brude on April 02, 2013, 08:41:39 PM
Those pictures are really a treasure.
Someone should consider making S2-like recreations of those designs.
I'd bet that they'd sell like hotcakes.

Nevermind.
Seems like several places have been at it for a while:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sideshow+posters&FORM=HDRSC2# (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sideshow+posters&FORM=HDRSC2#)
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: CSM on April 02, 2013, 10:15:54 PM
Thanks for sharing those pics!
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Threenero on April 03, 2013, 06:52:19 AM
Those pictures are really a treasure.
Someone should consider making S2-like recreations of those designs.
I'd bet that they'd sell like hotcakes.

Nevermind.
Seems like several places have been at it for a while:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sideshow+posters&FORM=HDRSC2# (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sideshow+posters&FORM=HDRSC2#)

Wow that's a great link Thanks  8)

some of those might be the real thing. How would anyone tell the difference if they where hand painted.
I mean if i painted one up and told you it came from such and such show you would believe me.
After all i worked nearly 20 years in that business and us carny folk would never make stuff like that up, now would we?  :P
Plus i can get as many "references" to authenticate them as i needed.

Now where's my paint brushes  ;D
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Threenero on April 03, 2013, 07:14:35 AM
Here's the rest of the album, for anyone that's interested

http://s140.photobucket.com/user/3nero/media/sideshow/11375_10151415826711904_95207747_n.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/3nero/media/sideshow/11375_10151415826711904_95207747_n.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2)



Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Popculturefan on April 04, 2013, 02:19:27 PM
Great replies guys! And thanks for the PM's, i might be able to get some things in my collection in time.
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on September 04, 2015, 08:33:57 PM
Hey--just saw this thread the other night. Not that it helps but in January or February I was in Venice Beach (oh man, that place has gone down hill soooo bad. Nothing but medical marijuana stores, "doctors" offices to prescribe Medical marijuana, bong shops and tattoo parlors! UGH!) and I was surprised and disappointed (it was obviously long out of business) to discover a modern freak show in one of the buildings along the beach walk. I took a quick, crappy photo of it and just found it. The signed for the freak show are STILL up on display (at least they were when I was there). I don't know where you are, but perhaps you can contact the owner of the building and try to get them for yourself? Just a thought.

Pic is attached.

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a66/boinnng/20150202_162225_zpsgxy5e1gx.jpg)

CHEERS!
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: brude on September 04, 2015, 08:43:33 PM
The Human Blockhead?
Must be where T's been this month...
 wynk
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: CSM on September 04, 2015, 09:18:34 PM
Lady Twisto sounds intriguing
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: brude on September 04, 2015, 09:20:03 PM
Lady Twisto sounds intriguing

Right about now, Steve must be preparing a cameltoe comment...
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: 50s on September 04, 2015, 09:48:43 PM
Wow, what an amazing cameltoe

Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: CSM on September 04, 2015, 10:40:07 PM
Wow, what an amazing cameltoe



(https://slaymyboredom.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/camel-toe-model.jpg)
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: erik1925 on September 04, 2015, 11:28:04 PM
Hey--just saw this thread the other night. Not that it helps but in January or February I was in Venice Beach (oh man, that place has gone down hill soooo bad. Nothing but medical marijuana stores, "doctors" offices to prescribe Medical marijuana, bong shops and tattoo parlors! UGH!) and I was surprised and disappointed (it was obviously long out of business) to discover a modern freak show in one of the buildings along the beach walk. I took a quick, crappy photo of it and just found it. The signed for the freak show are STILL up on display (at least they were when I was there). I don't know where you are, but perhaps you can contact the owner of the building and try to get them for yourself? Just a thought.

Pic is attached.

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a66/boinnng/20150202_162225_zpsgxy5e1gx.jpg)

CHEERS!

I went by the Venice Freakshow building no more than 2 hrs ago, when i was on a run. It was not open and operating today.

The guy that is the carnival barker sounds like those guys from days of old, with the lingo, the accent and his pair of 2 headed turtles for all to see, out front, in a plastic tub, as a teaser to get people to come in and see the rest. The admission is $5.00 per person.  :D

And there is a lot more than bong shops and tattoo parlors there, MAGG. Gotta give credit to the multitude of cheap clothing and T shirt shops, fast food joints as well as the homeless and runaway waifs that dot the boardwalk.

 posterbroke.gif  (thanks to Steve for this gif)

Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on September 24, 2015, 03:08:57 PM
I went by the Venice Freakshow building no more than 2 hrs ago, when i was on a run. It was not open and operating today.

The guy that is the carnival barker sounds like those guys from days of old, with the lingo, the accent and his pair of 2 headed turtles for all to see, out front, in a plastic tub, as a teaser to get people to come in and see the rest. The admission is $5.00 per person.  :D

And there is a lot more than bong shops and tattoo parlors there, MAGG. Gotta give credit to the multitude of cheap clothing and T shirt shops, fast food joints as well as the homeless and runaway waifs that dot the boardwalk.

 posterbroke.gif  (thanks to Steve for this gif)

It's still open?  When I was there i thought it was long defunct. You run in Venice? I thought you were more towards Santa Monica (and yes, I realize they connect--the Santa Monica side is much nicer). I'm sorry. The Venice beach walk area is soooo skeezy now. I was shocked. It was always sort of questionable, but lately--yuck! I won't be back for a long, long while--if ever.
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: erik1925 on September 24, 2015, 04:24:38 PM
It's still open?  When I was there i thought it was long defunct. You run in Venice? I thought you were more towards Santa Monica (and yes, I realize they connect--the Santa Monica side is much nicer). I'm sorry. The Venice beach walk area is soooo skeezy now. I was shocked. It was always sort of questionable, but lately--yuck! I won't be back for a long, long while--if ever.


Yes it is still open.. and that troupe has their own TV show, on Netflix, now, I believe. The have a large sandwich board out front (when they are they and offering shows) promoting the show, too.

I run between the Venice and Santa Monica Piers and back. A big loop. And the sites along the boardwalk are interesting, for sure, and never boring..LOL

Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: 110x75 on September 24, 2015, 05:30:14 PM
This was on ebay a while back. I really like it, but not $1000 like it

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjU1/z/UqsAAOSwLVZV3936/$_57.JPG)
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: erik1925 on September 24, 2015, 05:43:08 PM
Cool image, Matias.  thumbsup.gif

I like how they have all the imagery from Browning's Freaks on that poster, but this card looks to be for a local, live stage performance, right?
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: 110x75 on September 24, 2015, 06:10:36 PM
Yep.
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: erik1925 on October 27, 2015, 03:02:05 PM
It's still open?  When I was there i thought it was long defunct. You run in Venice? I thought you were more towards Santa Monica (and yes, I realize they connect--the Santa Monica side is much nicer). I'm sorry. The Venice beach walk area is soooo skeezy now. I was shocked. It was always sort of questionable, but lately--yuck! I won't be back for a long, long while--if ever.


It will be open, again, this weekend, for Halloween from noon til sunset!

https://www.facebook.com/venicebeachfreakshow

http://venicebeachfreakshow.com/

Freaky!

lol
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: monocle on October 27, 2015, 03:32:39 PM
Thanks for putting up these images chaps! Great stuff!!
Title: Re: "Freakshow" posters, are there any?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on November 20, 2015, 01:08:12 AM
Kind of off topic, but i thought I'd share any way. I had dinner with an old friend who was in town to help her sister out over the weekend. She made us dinner and I went to a little liquor store near the house (kind of in a rural area--not much out there) and picked up a bottle of FREAKSHOW wine. The label was fun, It wrapped around the bottle. I tried to capture the whole label by moving other bottles around on the shelf. The wine wasn't the greatest, but it certainly was not bad.

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a66/boinnng/20151107_175123_zpstzqkkxbx.jpg)