A look at the Sydney Show - where the country came to town - and especially the curios of sideshow alley with its flea circus, fat lady, Indian rope climber and voodoo mystics. This episode is part of the 'Sydney Stories with Warren Fahey' series.
Sydney abounds with curious history. Some stories are known and many have disappeared over time. Cultural historian and storyteller Warren Fahey has created a dozen video stories of the city's past; each offering a unique slice of Sydney’s hidden history.
Visit Warren's website: [ Ссылка ]
Sydney Stories with Warren Fahey features footage from the collection of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. It was created with assistance from the City of Sydney Creative Fellowships Fund and support of The Vine Foundation. The grants were under the auspice of the Folk Federation of New South Wales.

SHOWIES & SIDESHOW ALLEY
- The curious story of Sydney’s Royal Easter Show sideshow attractions.
Synopsis
For the majority of kids growing up in the 1950s and 60s, the two highlights of the year were Bonfire Night and the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Most saved up for both by doing odd-jobs and retrieving the deposit from soft drink bottles. Money went on bags of fireworks for Cracker Night and, at the Easter Show, it went on sample bags, rides and some very weird sideshows.

The first Show was staged at Parramatta, in 1923, a year after Sydney’s landed gentlemen had formed the Agricultural Society of New South Wales. Parramatta, at the time, being the centre of colonial agriculture. It then moved to Prince Alfred Park and, later, to Moore Park, before its recent move to Homebush Bay.

Our story tells how, by the 1920s, many weird and wonderful had been added to the agricultural attractions. This was the era of spiritualism, freaks and wonders. Sydney couldn’t get enough freakishness and craziness - and Sideshow Alley was born.

Tent shows have a long history in Australia. Even before the 1850s goldrush we were prepared to be taken in, offer up our pocket money, and gawk at a headless lady or some other improbably sight.

This program looks at some of the most-outlandish freak shows and questions why they were so popular.

Featuring Tam Tam the Leopard Man, Betty Broadbent the tattooed lady, Madam Zena’s flea circus, the Travesty Wild Man, Princess Ubangi, Lanky Bill and the midget Mae West, Princess Pontus, Wee Walla Walla, Ching Chang and Anna John Budd - half man and half woman!

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