The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-24
FREAK BUSINESS GOOD
SNAKE CHARMERS AND TATTOOED
LADIES ARE IN DEMAND.
c. j. McMann, Sideshow Manager,
Talks of This Feature of the
Amusement Business.

'wanted-Lady snake charmer, tattooed lady
ana ao,I man 70 90 Punch and Judy; other sideshow
Delivery. Indiana polls. Ind
1t was this little advertisement, which
recently appeared in a copy of a popular
New York amusement weekly-set in small
type and almost obscure by reason of the
many heavy display ads surrounding it
that caused an inquistive newspaper man
TO institute a search for the person whose
requirements were Of such a peculiar ma
ture. c. ]. Mccain was not to be located
without considerable difficulty, as inquiry
proved that he was not a regular resident
of the city. but at last he was discovered in
the home of his sister-in-law near the City
Hospital-one of the little frame cottages
so numerous in that neighborhood.
Although not local resident at the pres
ent time, he proved to be a former Indian
apolis citizen who, as he explained, had
first started into the dime-museum and
sideshow business as a glass blower in the
old museum which occupied the first floor
of the original Park Theater, eighteen years
| ago, and which was managed at that time
| by J. III. Sackett, well-known Snowman
in those days. Many people will remember
| Professor Jupe, the glass blower and his
assistants, who for several months formed
one of the leading features in the "curio
halls of the place. Mccain was one OF
| the assistants and it was while filling that
engagement that he had his first taste OF
the business, which he has pursued steadily
| ever since.
The life Of the people making up such
| things dime museums and sideshows is
more or less of a deep mystery to the gen.
eral public; the freaks" and performers
come and go with the circus or the street
carnival; the public pays its dime to visit
| them for half hour or So and sthen re-
turns to the real world" outside the curl
osity building or canvas tent with the feel
ing that the performers and freaks are 1er
! behind in a world of their own. But the
people of the museum and sdeshow live
in the greater world just as ordinary hui
man beings do. despite the "curio plat
FORMS" the gaudy decorations and the tin
seled. bespangled costumes. 1t comes as
shock when one chances to discover tha
his fellow traveller on the cars has arm.
that are covered with indigo pictures, Of
when one learns that the quiet little woman
living next door once wore a tremendous
Albino wig and wrapped huge snake.
married and settled down to rear famil,
of six children.
MR.. MCANN'S EXPERIENCES.
Mr.. Mccain talks entertainingly abou
things of this kind. He seems to be a clos,
observer Of human nature, like most show
men, and he says that nothing amuses hin
more than the dense ignorance displayed
by the public concerning the lives of tn
professional museum and sideshow people
Mine persons out of ten would imagin
that that little advertisement of mine Il
the New York paper wouldn't be very pro
ductive in the way of returns" he said L
his visitor. but just look at the amour
of answers I've received" And he drew
a large bunch of letters from his Goa
pocket. II have here applications from al
parts of this country, and one from Can
ada. from people that are anxious to secur
the engagements I am offering, and il viii
be easy enough 10 reorganize my show
1 came here to Indianapolis just for tn
purpose of making changes in my company
as 1 was dissatisfied with the show W
were giving and wanted 10 strengthen |
before filling some of the good street car
nival dates which 1 have booked through
Indiana and other mid-western States
You'd be astonished TO know how man,
women there are in the United States tina
make a living as snake charmers or a
tattooed ladies', and as for Punch an
Judy men there are more than enough L
supply the demand, for this feature ism
used as much nowadays as it used TO be
l always include it in my show, however
as find that the children Of to-day like
just as much as did the youngsters Of tn
last generation.
Speaking of tattoced ladies. there is
Snowman in St. Louis that has been adver
Using for a dozen OF them. His name
F. ]. King. and he lives at 14l9 Choutea
avenue, in that city, so II you have an
tattooed ladies among your circle Of friend
just let 'em know that they can get a 10
there all right. j don't know what in tn
world King wants with so many of EN-
but suppose he has some new scheme u
mis- sleeve. There is tattooed woma
that I know OF who makes her home 1
Indianapolis when she isn't on the road
Her name 10 Mary Lerner. and her homo