Flea circus

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A flea circus refers to a circus sideshow attraction in which fleas were attached to miniature carts and other items, and encouraged to perform circus acts within a small housing. Fresnel lenses were mounted on all sides to allow visitors to view the attraction.

There are different types of flea circuses. Firstly, those with real fleas in — they can be live or dead; it is actually possible to train fleas. Some "flea circuses" do not contain any fleas at all and the skill of the performer convinces the audience of their existence. This has a reverse effect when real fleas are used. A number of electrical, magnetic, and mechanical devices were used to augment the exhibit. In some cases these mechanisms were responsible for all of the "acts", with loose fleas in the exhibit maintaining the illusion.

Dead fleas can also be painted and turned into an art form, such as the Mexican flea band and wedding party that can be seen in Tring Natural History Museum.

Flea circuses were first advertised as early as 1833 in England, and were a main carnival attraction until 1930. Some flea circuses persisted in very small United States venues as late as the 1960s. Since the flea circus has largely become a lost art form, the information that exists nowadays is largely anecdotal or steeped in lore, and is not authoritative.

Techniques for training real fleas

Real fleas are typically harnessed using thin gold wires. However there are historical reports of fleas glued to the base of the enclosure which was then heated, giving the impression of fleas playing musical instruments. The use of containers to train the fleas not to jump is commonplace. Chemicals such as camphor that repel fleas are also used to make the fleas look like they are juggling or playing football, as in the Munich beer festival Floh Zirkus. Once a non-jumping flea is harnessed, it can be made to pull miniature carts.

Performers

Famous flea circuses of the past include:

Professor Heckler's flea circus (in residence at Hubert's Dime Museum in Times Square, NY until 1957) which can be seen in the background of the film Easy Rider

L. Bertolotto's flea circus of Regent Street, London.

A famously televised flea circus (without fleas) was created by Michael Bentine in the 1960s.

Maria Cardoso toured the world with her flea circus in the 1990s.

Professor A. G. Gertsacov's Acme Miniature Flea Circus has performed primarily in the United States, touring numerous venues and festivals since 1995. [link]

References

National Geographic, May 1988.
[Current Science], December 15, 2000
[www.flea-circus.com]
[www.trainedfleas.com]
[Connected Traveler article]
Jay's Journal of Anomalies, ISBN 1593720009
Wild Tigers & Tame Fleas by William Ballantine, ISBN 1377057179
Annals of the New York Stage by George C. Odel (Columbia University Press, New York, NY, 1928)
[www.fleacircus.co.uk]

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