World Circus Sideshow

The World Circus Side Show was a sideshow owned and operated by "Professor" Samuel Wagner from 1922 to 1941 on Surf Avenue, Coney Island, New York.

Known as "The Godfather" of the Coney Island Freak Show, Wagner was a contemporary of other sideshow and circus legends, such as the Ringling Brothers and P.T. Barnum. He endured a legal fight against the famed Robert Moses. Moses, believing the age of sideshow entertainment was over, banned "Balyhoo and Outside Lecturers", which eventually and effectively put the sideshows out of business.[1]

Notable acts

A few acts were featured in the 1932 film, Freaks.

References

  1. This list has been compiled by Samuel Wagner's great grandchildren and is subject to additions and removals. All the listed acts have been confirmed by the living grandchildren of Samuel Wagner, the children of Wagner's daughter Adelaide Wagner Weiser: Howard Weiser, Virginia Einhorn, Joseph Weiser, and Stanley Weiser.
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