I looking for some books or websites on the history of sideshow entertainment in general?

Not looking for anything that gives away any methods or the like, as I've heard the only way to really learn these feats is to be taught(for the safety factor), although if there are any instruction texts that are better than others I would love to read those also.

Any info would be greatly appriciated
Shawn

http://www.sideshowworld.com

'Secrets Of The Sideshow' by Joe Nickell. University Press Of Kentucky. Readily available.
A true gem of Historical info...not just saying that 'cause I'm in it...it's a 400 page good read!

Well you could always look for other performers in your area too.

But also check out http://www.Sideshowhistory.com http://www.swordswallow.org

Also shocked and Amazed and Memoirs of a swordswallower are also good ones about historical sideshow. There are a bunch of others, I just gotta dig through my books for them.

You might want to also look here:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/coneyislandtodd/myhomepage/

Is Memoirs of a Swordswallower by Dan Mannix the same book as Step Right Up by the same author, published in 1950?

Yes.

Thank you.

Thanks for the input everyone. This definatly gives me a jumping off point.

I appriciate it
Shawn

"Shocked and Amazed" has 8 volumes now. All are good stuff.

Ricky Jay's "Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women", and "Jay's Journal of Anomalies".

Marc Hartzman's "American SIdeshow".

Al Stencell "Seeing is Believing".

That's a starter's list.