Today’s things are: circus, carnival, freak show
Miss Teresa decided we could all go on an excursion to the circus. Mum wanted to know what educational value there was in visiting a circus, but she signed the permission note, gave me a few dollars to spend at the carnival surrounding the circus and off we all went.
At the front gate, there was a sign saying children needed to be under the control of parents or responsible adult and Miss Teresa reminded us we needed to be on our best behaviour as she feared some of us may quality as exhibits in the freak show. That was her little joke, and we stood mystified as she giggled to herself.
Adult humour we thought, was just a huge mystery to us.
Written for: https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2018/08/05/three-things-challenge-05-august-2018/
Morpethroad 
I’m dealing with a 12 year old girl who belongs in a freak show…lol (my son has an online admirer…another one…lol)
In 1932 there was a film made called Freaks, they used the people employed by a circus at the time when ‘freaks’ were part of the circus program. What I found interesting was I researched the individuals concerned and found most of them lived to an age beyond 80.
I LOVE that movie.
Its an eye opener isn’t it…thankfully we have moved on from those days.
I actually think if they were run with respect, it provided a way for people to be independent and earn their own livlihood.
Yes that is true, from what I know many of them became very much in charge of there own destiny.
For the most part, that’s how they were until around the 50s when the rise of the roadside stand and frauds took over. Add in the “you shouldn’t treat people this way” people who thought they were doing a good thing. I have heard a lot of negative things about Barnum but when you read the letters of those who worked for him it was quite the opposite.