from Wikipedia.

Flea Circus

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 of the housing to allow visitors to view the attraction.

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. Some "flea circuses" do not contain any fleas at all and the skill of the performer convinces the audience of their existence.

The first records of flea performances were from watch makers who were demonstrating their metal working skills. 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 venues in the United States as late as the 1960s. Since the flea circus has largely become a lost art form, much information about them is anecdotal or steeped in lore, and is not authoritative.

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.

Techniques for training real fleas

Human fleas are used for performances as other fleas are too small. For the same reason, female fleas are preferred over males. The fleas live only for a short time and hence training of fleas is an ongoing requirement.

Fleas are trained not to jump by keeping them in a container with a lid. Once trained, they are harnessed by carefully wrapping a thin gold wire around the neck of the flea. Once in the harness the fleas usually stay in it for life. The harnesses are attached to the props and the strong legs of the flea allows them to move objects significantly larger than themselves.

Chemicals such as camphor that repel fleas are placed on lightweight balls and the fleas kick them away, this makes the fleas look like they are juggling or playing football. A recent example of this is the Munich beer festival Floh Zirkus.

There are historical reports of fleas glued to the base of the flea circus enclosure, instruments were then glued to the flea performers and the enclosure was heated. The fleas fought to escape giving the impression of fleas playing musical instruments


Recent flea circuses:

* Professor A. G. Gertsacov's Acme Miniature Flea Circus performs primarily in the United States and Canada, touring numerous venues and festivals since 1995.

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

* The Alberti Flea Circus tours the country, and can be seen at county and state fairs and private shows.

* "Captain Franko's Fantastic Flea Circus" tours Ireland, and can be seen at festivals, and council events and private shows.


Famous flea circuses of the past:

* 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.

Flea Circuses in Popular Culture

Many cartoons over the years have featured flea circuses in one way or another, mostly in cartoon-ish and unrealistic ways:

* The Tex Avery cartoon The Flea Circus featured a French flea circus that broke up when they saw a dog and attacked it, and one flea, Francois, who played a sad clown, hitches with the star flea, Fifi, and has enough fleas together to bring the flea circus back to life.
* A Sesame Street skit for the letter f, featured a flea circus with a family of fleas all with names starting with F.
* A Bug's Life, the Disney film, centers around a troupe of flea circus performers, including their owner, P.T. Flea, a parody of the real-life circus entrepreneur P.T. Barnum.

Movies have also featured or referenced flea circuses:

* The Charlie Chaplin movie Limelight features Chaplin performing a flea circus.
* In the movie Jurassic Park the owner of the park John Hammond says that he got his start as the owner of a flea circus at Petticoat Lane.
* Mischa Auer plays a flea circus owner (with real fleas) in Orson Welles's film Mr. Arkadin.