Tod Browning's 1932 cinematic masterpiece Freaks tells the story of a close-knit group of circus sideshow workers who are wronged and take revenge. The film's use of real-life freaks so disturbed audiences that some ran screaming from theaters, distributors refused to handle the film, and it was banned in Britain for over 30 years. [more inside]
posted by flug on Jul 8, 2008 - 22 comments

Those familiar with the plaintive falsetto of Delta blues great Skip James will surely hear Skip's influence in the much lesser-known Johnny Temple's Evil Devil Blues, recorded in 1935, which features some delightfully unexpected melodic twists. And though Johnny Temple "never achieved stardom", he does have a Wikipedia page. [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite on Jul 5, 2008 - 9 comments

Jimmy Rodgers' blue yodel series started in 1927. He started with Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas). My favorite covers were by the Everly Brothers and by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. There's even a hip hop cover.
posted by RussHy on Jun 22, 2008 - 10 comments

"How does the wolf go?" Johnny Carson interviews Mary Storr's myna bird, Freud. ca. 1972.
posted by fandango_matt on Oct 28, 2007 - 6 comments

I was taking a shower and thinking about all of the music videos that include water/liquid in them. It is an overused theme according to this site, and I agree. I have included some painful ones to make my point. But wait, I stumbled upon this and was mildy turned-on in some strange way. God help me. Then my mind moved to a friend of mine who was obsessed with Johnny songs. There are quite a few of those too as you may well imagine... [more inside]
posted by haunted by Leonard Cohen on Sep 6, 2007 - 23 comments

The Czar of Bizarre Johnny Meah grew up with the circus, clowning and making circus banners. His artwork is now collected as "Americana" and is on display on his site.
posted by tracicle on Apr 15, 2004 - 4 comments

"The right man for the job will be aged between 18 and 21 and will presumably need to demonstrate an abundance of energy and the ability to withstand repeated showers of saliva, the traditional punk rock crowd's sign of respect for performers."

But who is the right man?
posted by oh posey on Jun 27, 2002 - 5 comments