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jondark445 Special user 716 Posts |
Hi:
Curious if anyone knows if there was ever a tradition in the sideshow to feature "learned" or "intelligent" animals (as opposed to freak or oddity animals). Did sideshows have animals that "performed" rather than being exhibited? |
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sescarny New user 76 Posts |
Absolutely! There was learned monkeys, birds, kangaroos and so much more! The animals would show off particular skills, such as reading, drawing, smoking (!) and lots more. Hope this helps.
Ses |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Horses, pigs, mules, elephants, etc.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
But proof, you want proof! And proof you shall have.
http://ephemeralnewyork.files.wordpress.......ties.png Look to the far left of the stages in the back there and you will see a learned pig act. This poster comes from circa 1904. By the way, the show depicted in the poster was almost as great as the show JS#3 produced in Coney Island this summer. |
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Utah_Showman Veteran user Heart of Utah 350 Posts |
BONHEUR BROTHERS'
EDUCATED PONY "Fi -Fi" THE HORSE WITH A HUMAN BRAIN http://www.sideshowworld.com/BarnYard-FiFi1.html Prof. D. M. Bristol's Equescurriculum, consisting of wonderfully educated horses, ponies and mules, http://www.sideshowworld.com/BarnYard-Bristol.html http://www.sideshowworld.com/blowoff-Ama......ors.html |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
There was a trained animal at Coney?
Or was it just paper-trained?
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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sescarny New user 76 Posts |
Ha Ha Ha!!!! Harley, you're awesome!!
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Many things look better on paper.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
And of course there's the book of the same name as the thread by a certain Ricky Jay that will tell you about Learned Pig acts along with many other weird and wonderful bits.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
My home online Join me on Facebook Follow me on twitter |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
There was a Learned Dog act working in the UK up till a couple years ago,,,it did arithmatic (Tapping out the answers with its paw)It sang to a backing tape and sold autographs afterwards (Paw print on the reverse of its photo) Cant remember any more details.
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thegreatnippulini Inner circle of Hell because I've made 2582 Posts |
This makes me sad. Last week our baby pot bellied pig passed away. She never really gained weight, and after 10 weeks she only weighed 4.5 pounds. She was the sweetest little animal we have ever taken care of. In the short time we had her, she did learn lots of stuff. Pigs are 4th on the ladder of intelligent animals, just one notch under dolphins. We will miss our little Princess Buttercup.
The Great Nippulini: body piercer, Guinness World Record holder, blacksmith and man with The World's Strongest Nipples! Does the WORLD care? We shall see...
http://www.greatnippulini.com |
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gsidhe Inner circle Michigan 1725 Posts |
Aw....So sorry Nips...She was a cutie.
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Rod Pringle Special user 543 Posts |
Wayne Franzen had an educated horse act in his circus. The horse was Tonto, and would add and subtract by holding a card in his mouth with a certain number on it. Different volunteers from the audience would yell out an addtion, subtraction, or diviion problem, and the horse would pick the right numbers every time.
ROD |
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trey Loyal user 291 Posts |
When I was a kid. I played tic tac tow with a chicken. You payed 25 cents. And the chicken would play a game with you. There was also a duck that played guitar. And a chicken that would dance.
Trey |
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jondark445 Special user 716 Posts |
Thanks....what a wealth of information....and love the solid proof!!!!
It wasn't in a sideshow, but I recall being a kid and going to (what I believe was) Steel Pier in Atlantic City. There was a Diving Bell at the end of the pier where you could take a ride down under the water (it was never operational) but nearby there was a little case with a chicken in it. You deposited a quarter and the chicken danced (I like to think they were giving it little shocks through the floor, but that's just me). |
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Martin_Ling Loyal user 269 Posts |
My condolences again nipps. I wish I had gotten to meet her.
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-17 14:49, jondark445 wrote: Not shocks but a heating element that made the surface hot. Not everything can be done with kindness. |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
And the tic tac toe chicken tradition lives on:
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/arts_liv......_in_draw Plus, put "tic tac toe chicken" in the search at youtube and a number of videos come up. |
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tim_mantis Regular user UK 117 Posts |
A dancing chicken - the joys of YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUcTvhyof8I&feature=related Looks like it's not a hot plate in this version though... |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-09-18 10:37, tim_mantis wrote: It doesn't look like a hot plate on that one. It looks like some true animal behavior modification ala B.F. Skinner was used. |
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