Prompt Cast
The Fascinating History of Flea Circuses
TLDR Flea circuses, a popular form of entertainment in the past, involved training fleas to perform various acts such as sword fighting and soccer. While some circuses used real fleas, others relied on stage magic and illusion. However, these circuses have faced criticism from animal welfare organizations for the potential harm caused to the fleas.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Flea circuses are a form of entertainment that involves training fleas to perform tricks, although the training is more like tying and gluing things to the fleas rather than actually training them.
04:44
Flea circuses became popular because fleas were easy to find, they were good at jumping, and an Italian impresario named Louis Bertolotto made them the stars of his show in London.
09:43
Flea circuses involved fleas performing various acts such as high wire acts, sword fighting, reenactments, soccer, high diving, and pulling chariots and carriages, and were popular entertainment for both children and adults.
14:16
Flea circuses were popular in the 1950s, with fleas costing as much as two shillings, but today it is difficult to find fleas for sale, although there is still a flea circus in Germany at the Munich Oktoberfest.
19:13
Flea circuses in the early 1900s were successful and profitable, with performers like William Heckler making $250 a day, but the performances were short and only had a small audience, and the fleas were not trained but physically restrained using a harness and other methods.
24:02
Fleas in flea circuses were physically restrained using harnesses and other methods, and were trained to perform various acts such as sword fighting, soccer, and juggling.
28:23
Flea circuses were popular attractions at county fairs and carnivals, and the performers would come up with new tricks and acts to keep people entertained, such as the High Wire Act and the Flea Walls where fleas appeared to play in an orchestra and dance; they would also dress up fleas as historical figures and even let the fleas feed on their blood as part of the show.
33:07
Flea circuses using real fleas have existed as recently as the 90s, but there are also fake flea circuses that use stage magic and illusion, with one example being a booklet written by magician George Tolerton in the 1930s.
38:12
In the 1950s, British performer Michael Bentin created an elaborate fake flea circus using magnets, remote control pumps, and mechanical devices to simulate the actions of fleas, inspiring others to create their own versions, including a woman named Maria Fernanda Cardoso who performed a live flea circus in the 90s.
42:58
Flea circuses have faced criticism from societies dedicated to preventing cruelty to insects, as the fleas are held in captivity, connected by a harness, and the tricks they perform are actually stress behaviors that may lead to premature death.
Categories:
Society & Culture
