Results: Freak Show
Published on 03/21/2016
The 1800's was a boom time for the "freak show" where people would pay to walk through a tent to view people with abnormalities or deformities-either real or fake. Today, they are far more rare and even outlawed in many states.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Would you consider paying money to go through a freak show? Yes
11%
203 votes
No
69%
1247 votes
Undecided
11%
197 votes
Not Applicable
10%
173 votes
2.
2.
Even at the height of their popularity, many people viewed freak shows as immoral and exploitive. Do you agree? Yes
54%
988 votes
No
15%
276 votes
Undecided
16%
284 votes
Not Applicable
15%
272 votes
3.
3.
While some of the performers were undoubtedly exploited, and sometimes even slaves, others did quite well. One particularly successful performer was Charles Sherwood Stratton aka "General Tom Thumb". Stratton, who had dwarfism, was put on the road in a deal between his father and PT Barnum at the age of five and became most famous for impersonating Napoleon. He performed his entire life and among his fans were Queen Victoria and Abraham Lincoln. He became very wealthy for the times owning a house in New York, a custom built mansion in Connecticut and a steam powered yacht. He even bailed out PT Barnum and became his business partner. Before this survey, were you familiar with Stratton? Yes
23%
411 votes
No
56%
1024 votes
Undecided
6%
113 votes
Not Applicable
15%
272 votes
COMMENTS