I've been looking at show related movies this week. Two exceptional ones, both also directed by Tod Browning (who did Freaks) are "The Unholy Three" and "The Unknown".

Browning left home at an impressionable age, joined a circus, and worked as a contortionist and clown. This left him with a strong sense of what was "normal" from the eyes of both towners and showfolks. The differences are certainly an important part of quite a few of his films.

Both are silent films starring Lon Chaney Sr. I'd forgotten how amazing an actor he was.

Both are on Youtube. The Unholy Three is about 90 minutes. The Unknown is about an hour.

Check them out! They're well worth watching.

Tod Browning's The Show from 1927 is also worth seeing.

I still think that it is cool that "The Unholy Three" novel was written by Tod Robbins...one d.

Any chance of being related Todd?

No relation, but it makes people wonder if Todd Robbins is my real name. Clarence "Tod" Robbins also wrote Spurs, the short story Freaks is based upon.

I lucked out this year. My school library has a ginormous collection of obscure vintage flicks. They even have an entire series of Houdini silents!
Here's a bunch of short strongman videos:
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Videos/videos.htm

I also recently Netflixed the series "Carnivale." If you like showfolk and being depressed, that's the show.

Here's an interesting rescource for old film clips:
http://www.britishpathe.com/

Here's a bit more specific: http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php?search=sideshow

There's a search engine. Have fun.

"The Terror of Tiny Town" This is not a film to see, if you want plot, or good acting. But it's fun anyway, an odd parody.

"The Unholy Three" by Tod Robbins...the book on which the movie was based. This is a great read, and becomes one of those stories where the differences between book and movie, while not hugely significant, are details that do to your brain, what the first bite of a cinnamon bun does to taste buds. They just roll around, and make you go mmmmm.