pire sirki // canavarlar

pire_sirki flea_circus

A flea circus refers to a circus sideshow attraction in which fleas were
attached to miniature carts and other items, and encouraged to perform
circus acts within a small housing. Fresnel lenses were mounted on all sides
to allow visitors to view the attraction.

A number of electrical and magnetic mechanisms were used to augment the
exhibit. In some cases these mechanisms were responsible for all of
the "acts", and that loose fleas in the exhibit maintained the illusion.

There are different types of flea circuses. Firstly, those with real fleas in -
they can be live or dead; it is actually possible to train fleas. Sometimes,
live fleas were glued to the base of the enclosure and it heated, to give the
impression of them playing musical instruments.

When dead fleas are used they are turned into an artform. They are
painted to look like the real thing.

Some "flea circuses" do not contain any fleas at all. However, many people
are convinced there are. This has a reverse effect when real fleas are used.

Flea circuses were first advertised as early as 1833 in England, and were a
main carnival attraction until 1930. Some flea circuses persisted in very
small United States venues as late as the 1960s. Since the flea circus has
largely become a lost art form, the information that exists nowadays is
largely anecdotal or steeped in lore, and is not authoritative.

Famous flea circuses of the past include Professor Heckler's flea circus (in
residence at Hubert's Dime Museum in Times Square, NY until 1957) and
Professor Bertolotto's flea circus of Covent Garden.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_circus