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Ringling Bros. Hottest Act: Brian Miser Lights Himself on Fire, Gets Shot From Giant Crossbow
By Marc Hartzman - AOL NewsWhen Brian Miser shouts "Fire!" at the launch of his human cannonball routine, he means it. The 47-year-old star of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's new show, "Fully Charged," has added a new twist to the circus classic: a blazing inferno. Called the "Human Fuse," Miser launches himself from a giant homemade crossbow more than 100 feet through the air at 65 mph -- completely engulfed in flames. copyright 2011 Feld Entertainment Brian Miser, the "Human Fuse," prepares to launch himself across the arena in flames during Ringling's new show, "Fully Charged." The idea for the ...
SC Woman Accused of Leaving Newborn in Toilet Bowl
By David Lohr - AOL NewsPolice have arrested a South Carolina woman who they believe gave birth in a restroom during a circus performance at an arena and left the newborn boy in a toilet. The baby was rescued by a janitor and is being treated in a hospital, where his condition is improving, officials said. Jessica Blackham, 25, of Easley, was arrested this afternoon and charged with felony child abuse and unlawful neglect, according to WYFF, the NBC station in Greenville. If convicted, she could face up to 50 years in prison. Greenville County Detention Center Jessica Blackham, 25, is accused of giving ...
DNA Results for Bearded Lady, Son to Be Unveiled (Exclusive Video)
By Marc Hartzman - AOL News
(Nov. 23) -- Shocking news, Maury Povich fans: This Wednesday's show will not feature a paternity test. But fear not, the upcoming "Maury" episode isn't straying far. This time, it's a maternity test -- conducted to prove a bearded lady and a young man are truly mother and son. Two months ago, AOL News first reported on the reunion of bearded lady Vivian Wheeler and her son, Richard Lorenc, after 30 years of separation. The story led to the taping on "Maury" and offered Wheeler and Lorenc a second reunion at the show's studio in Stamford, Conn. Wheeler, who wears an 11-inch beard, had ...
Want to Run Away With the Circus? PBS Will Show You How
By Marc Hartzman - AOL News
(Nov. 3) -- From escaping troubled pasts to fulfilling childhood dreams, there are many reasons people run away with the circus. Capturing every moment of it on film, however, may be a new one. When Maro Chermayeff and Jeff Dupre, creators and producers of the new PBS series "Circus," set off to spend 11 months with the Big Apple Circus during the 2008-2009 season, they intended to give viewers an experience unlike anything they would find under the tent. The New York-based Big Apple Circus is a one-ring show where no seat is farther than 50 feet away from the performers. With "Circus," that ...
Angry Clowns: Don't Call Washington Politics 'a Circus'
By Barry Weintraub - AOL News
(Oct. 29) -- You can call Washington a mess. You can call it a farce. But please don't call it a circus. Clowns, jugglers, carnies and other performers making their living under the big top are frustrated by the state of American politics, but they say it's unfair to compare their business to what's going on inside the Beltway. "If you look at the history of the American circus, you'll find that it's one of the most efficient and well-run industries," says Keith Nelson, also known as Kinko the Clown of the Bindlestiff Family Circus, a New York City-based group that has traveled the world. ...
Freaktown USA Unveils Giant Boot for 8-foot-4 Giant
By Marc Hartzman - AOL News
(Sept. 29) -- In most places, a giant boot might send a message of "get out!" But in Gibsonton, Fla., it couldn't be more welcoming. This morning, the town will unveil a monument featuring the colossal boot of one of its most famous and well-liked residents, Al Tomaini. He reportedly stood 8 feet 4 inches tall. The granite base of the memorial matches the giant's height, and with the replica of his boot on top, the structure will tower at 11 feet 1 inch tall. Courtesy of Robert Mudry The Tomaini memorial was unveiled Wednesday morning in front of the only remaining fishing cabin from the ...
Promoting Circuses Can Be a Real Sideshow
By David Moye - AOL News(Aug. 24) -- When kids think of running off to join the circus, it's usually to be a clown or a trapeze artist. But not James MacVicar. When he ran off to join the circus at the not so tender age of 22, he chose not to be a sword swallower or a strong man and certainly not a bearded lady. No, he chose to be an "advance man," the guy who comes to town a couple months before the circus shows up and gets the hype going. It's not nearly as glamorous as being center stage, but it does have a strange pull on the folks who choose to advance their careers in this regard. James MacVicar James ...
Clown Aids Tornado Recovery Efforts at Barnum Museum
By Marc Hartzman - AOL News(July 21) -- Last month a freak tornado struck the historic Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., causing damage to both the building and the exhibits. Starting Thursday, it's responding in a way one might expect of such a museum: by clowning around. Literally. Renowned clown Joe Barney is helping the recovery efforts by running a series of workshops through the end of this month at the museum's gallery event space, which was not affected by the storm. Funds raised from the programs will help replace lost revenue incurred during the museum's closing in the days immediately following the ...
Two-Headed Calf Could Be a Cash Cow
By Marc Hartzman - AOL News(July 13) -- A two-headed calf born in Egypt this month isn't just a biological marvel; it could also be a cash cow. Farmer Sobhy el-Ganzoury said the delivery took two hours and plenty of pulling. Due to the calf's two heads -- each with its own set of eyes and a mouth -- the animal's legs aren't strong enough to hold it up, so the farmer has been bringing its mother's milk to it in a bottle. A veterinarian who examined the calf expects it to survive. El-Ganzoury says he plans to keep the animal as a reminder that "God is able to do anything." AP Egyptian farmers feed a two-headed calf in ...
Clowns Entertain Barnum Museum With $10,000 Gift
By Marc Hartzman - AOL News(July 6) -- Clowns have a special way of either making people laugh or scaring the bejeezus out of them. But on Monday there was nothing but smiles at the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., when a pair of circus performers showed up with a $10,000 gift. The money was presented by Feld Entertainment, producers of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, in honor of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday Monday. Barnum Museum The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., received a $10,000 donation from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in honor of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday. The funds are intended to ...
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