Sideshow Gathering 2006, Wilkes-Barre PA

Sideshow Gathering 2006

31 August – 3 September, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

emcee Aye Jay
[This photograph is copyright © 2006 James G. Mundie. All rights reserved.]

Aye Jay, everyone's favorite emcee

Once again the Annual Sideshow Gathering took place over Labor Day weekend in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I say it every year — but this time I mean it, so I'll say it again: "If you were not at the Sideshow Gathering, you should be kicking yourself." Why? It's a whole holiday weekend of sideshow mayhem! It's the only convention of its kind and features the top performers from the sideshow world. Dick Zigun, founder of Coney Island's Sideshow by the Seashore received the 2006 Ambassador of Wonder award. The strange, the unusual and the freakish took center stage at the 5th Annual Sideshow Gathering. Showmen from across the country congregated in Wilkes-Barre to celebrate the giddy thrills and forbidden mysteries of the circus and carnival sideshow. Over the holiday weekend, carnies swapped lies (or “cut up jackpots”, as they say), performed outrageous feats of physical daring – and allowed the public to watch. Firefly and Insectavora catching up Playing to a packed house all weekend, performers at the 5th Annual Sideshow Gathering included: New York’s Bindlestiff Family Cirkus; Sideshow Bennie, the One-man Ten-in-one; The Pickled Brothers; Natasha Veruschka, Queen of Swords (rebounding from a catastrophic accident last autumn that left her in traction); Matt the Knife; Todd “Carnival Knowledge” Robbins; Ses Carny; John Shaw, and a surprise appearance by Doc Wilson. Additionally, for the Thursday night 'insider's party', the entire cast of Coney Island's Sideshow by the Seashore graced the stage. In addition to the performers, vendors such as Shocked and Amazed!, Big Head Studio, and Toni-Lee Sangastiano were on hand to display hand-painted banners, two-headed animals, pickled kittens and freakshow memorabilia. Sideshow by the Seashore The kids from Coney Island kicked off the weekend's festivities Heather Holiday, world's youngest female (and Mormon) sword swallower Down the hatch Scott Baker mental flosses with a reservoir-tip “Coney Island whitefish” Insectavora climbs the ladder of swords Serpentina and her dance partner Roc Roc It gives Howie Mandell a run for his money Todd Robbins selects a hapless lightbulb... ... devours it ... ... and washes it down with a healthy swig of Windex®. M-mmmm! Ses Carny Staple gun + legal tender = a hard way to make an easy living Ses earns his money the old-fashioned way: with a staple gun The Pickled Brothers Sideshow A bit of audience participation The Pickled Brothers offered up sword swallowing, dangerous juggling, a whip act, and a bed of nails routine that is a real crowd pleaser. Snapping a flower from the mouth of the lovely Susan with a bullwhip Eric juggles machetes from a precarious perch on top the bed of nails — and under a low ceiling Ouch... but wait! There's more! 800 pounds of humanity pins Travis to his bed of nails John Shaw Human pincushion weight lifting John Shaw skewers himself with pins (drawing a large quantity of blood in the process) and then lifts a heavy object. Audience appreciation Pele, James Taylor and Firefly enjoy the spectacle on stage The Great Red Stuart Sword Raffle Red talks, Natasha drops This year, Red Stuart announced that from this point forward he would annually draw a name from a hat and bestow one of his swords on a working sword swallower. It just so happened that this year's recipient was Natasha Veruschka — so the affair was one Guinness World Record® holder to another. ...and again, so Red can actually see it happening Sideshow Bennie Tassle-twirler in training Sideshow Bennie raises the sexual tension a notch with the display of his new pasties (courtesy of Pele). Human dartboard Mr. Chuckles laughs in the face of danger The many facets of Sideshow Bennie: He can't swallow a sword, but a glow stick goes down nice and easy. Oh, the colors, children! Getting more iron in his system, via tongue... ... and nipples. Matt the Knife Handcuffed and vacuum-sealed for freshness Friday night's performance was interrupted by a bomb threat (no, really). But if Matt doesn't perform, the terrorists win; so he returned to the stage on Saturday night. Bound with hand- and thumbcuffs and wrapped in a plastic bag attached to a vacuum cleaner, Matt the Knife escapes from the airless deathtrap. The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Straight from the Catskills Stephanie Monseu's alter-ego Lil graces the stage Top notch act Keith Nelson (a.k.a. Mr. Pennygaff) under the big top That's entertainment! Mr. Pennygaff simultaneously swallows a sword and juggles machetes Col. Hunsley's two-headed turtle Mojo happily floats in its tank. Stephanie Monseu and Firefly and Matt the Knife and Kate Mundie chatting during Saturday night's after-hours auction. If you like what you see here, you'd better make sure you get to the 6th Annual Sideshow Gathering in 2007.
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