Prompt Cast
The History and Controversy of Flea Circuses
TLDR Flea circuses have a long history, dating back to the 16th century, but they have been criticized for their cruelty to the fleas involved. These circuses involved physically restraining and manipulating fleas with props to create the illusion of performing various acts, and while they were once popular, there are now societies dedicated to preventing cruelty to insects that argue against their use.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Flea circuses involve tying and gluing things to fleas, making them cruel acts of barbarity.
04:32
The use of fleas in flea circuses dates back to the 1570s when a man named Mark Scaliot used a flea as a prop to show off his skills as a blacksmith.
09:32
Flea circuses originated with Louis Bertolotto, who saw the potential for fleas to be the stars of his show and had them perform a variety of acts, including high wire acts, sword fighting, and political and historical reenactments.
14:19
Flea circuses in the 19th and early 20th centuries were often run by "professors" or other titled individuals, and the success of one flea circus would often lead to imitators.
19:04
Flea circuses required a lot of work, including constantly harnessing and training new fleas, as well as carefully selecting the ones that were fit for the job.
23:59
Fleas in flea circuses are not actually being trained, but physically restrained and manipulated with props like glue and harnesses to create the illusion of performing various acts.
28:35
Fleas in flea circuses would play soccer by kicking at a piece of cotton soaked in an odorous substance, and they would juggle by kicking at a piece of cotton glued to their legs, while flea circuses also included acts like the High Wire Act and the Flea Walls where fleas appeared to be dancing and playing music, and sometimes fleas were dressed up as historical figures or in tiny costumes made by Mexican nuns.
33:22
Flea circuses sometimes ended with the performer allowing the fleas to feed on their blood, and there was a Heckler's flea circus scene in the movie Easy Rider.
38:03
The use of stage magic and illusion in flea circuses was outlined in a booklet by magician George Tolerton in the 1930s, and later popularized by British performer Michael Bentin in the 1950s using magnets and mechanical devices to simulate flea acrobatics.
43:06
A woman named Maria Fernanda Cardoso brought back the flea circus in the 90s, using live fleas and performing at various locations, but there are societies dedicated to preventing cruelty to insects that argue against the use of fleas in circuses.
47:50
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Categories:
Society & Culture
