All about the flea circus in five minutes or less
February 11, 2021 11:06 AM Subscribe
history of the flea circus, flea jumps through a hoop, fleas pull carriages
I am reminded of pet leeches.
I am reminded of pet leeches.
I suspect that I am not alone in getting psychosomatically itchy watching those.
posted by hanov3r at 11:39 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by hanov3r at 11:39 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
This is great!
I do shudder at the thought of putting a leash on a flea/dressing up dead fleas in tiny costumes. Though I do love tiny costumes.
I was a kid when I learned that flea circuses often had no fleas in them at all and I thought it sounded much nicer that way.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 11:56 AM on February 11, 2021 [5 favorites]
I do shudder at the thought of putting a leash on a flea/dressing up dead fleas in tiny costumes. Though I do love tiny costumes.
I was a kid when I learned that flea circuses often had no fleas in them at all and I thought it sounded much nicer that way.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 11:56 AM on February 11, 2021 [5 favorites]
The only flea circus I ever saw, as part of a traveling fair, pretty clearly had no fleas whatsoever — at least not intentionally. It was just a bunch of motorized trapeze swings, tiny carts moving via magnets (or whatever) and the "value" was in seeing the miniature stuff. I had no idea actual fleas were ever used.
That seems so much weirder.
posted by heyitsgogi at 12:26 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
That seems so much weirder.
posted by heyitsgogi at 12:26 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
I thought a flea circus was, e.g., a couch you find on the side of the road.
posted by aniola at 3:55 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by aniola at 3:55 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
Coincidentally I recently heard the owner of a New York based Flea Circus guesting on a 1940s-era episode of Fred Allen's radio show and it sent me on a deep dive into this history. Really fascinating in a sad, weird, creepy, fun way!
posted by acroyear at 4:31 PM on February 11, 2021
posted by acroyear at 4:31 PM on February 11, 2021
Has anyone else ever used "flea circus" as a description to disparage some undertaking? I am thinking today of Trump's defense in the impeachment trial.
posted by mermayd at 7:06 AM on February 12, 2021
posted by mermayd at 7:06 AM on February 12, 2021
I was a kid when I learned that flea circuses often had no fleas in them at all and I thought it sounded much nicer that way.
Until watching this video, I thought this was the only type of flea circus that had ever existed.
posted by HeroZero at 8:07 AM on February 12, 2021
Until watching this video, I thought this was the only type of flea circus that had ever existed.
posted by HeroZero at 8:07 AM on February 12, 2021
Likewise, and I was so flabbergasted I went and checked with my wife to see if *I* was the idiot, but no, she thought the same thing.
posted by The Tensor at 1:00 PM on February 12, 2021
posted by The Tensor at 1:00 PM on February 12, 2021
I can remember a flea circus in the early 60s at Belle Vue zoo/amusement park in Manchester (Lancashire). It was a smallish circular pavilion with the punters standing around 2/3 of a table which the performers were on. I cannot remember if there was a screen between the performers and audience or not.
I am fairly certain the fleas were shown to us via a magnifying glass and baffled by the idea of flea-free flea circuses, what did people pay to see?
posted by epo at 11:44 AM on February 14, 2021
I am fairly certain the fleas were shown to us via a magnifying glass and baffled by the idea of flea-free flea circuses, what did people pay to see?
posted by epo at 11:44 AM on February 14, 2021
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posted by aniola at 11:08 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]