Tag Archives: Freakshow

The CNE Midway, Freaky and Fabulous!

It’s been about a hundred years since the days of the pictures below, and it occurred to me that while people once flocked to the Midway to see Freaks and Curiosities, people now flock there to eat deep-fried butter and snickers bars, the Freak-Foods of the modern age. Having said that, it also seems strange that people would pay money to see obese people. Today, one would simply need to look through the crowds at the CNE, at the games, in the deep-fried line-ups to see many people just as large as the stars of Johnny J. Jones’ Congress of Fat People. Perhaps as a public service, the CNE should bring back the Sideshow.

card5front-Sm
CCT0005 CNE, Toronto c1913. Johnny J. Jones presents the Congress of Fat People (above) at the Midway. The “Congress” cast (below) featuring Big Boss Henry, Little Emma, and Baby Louis.
f1244_it0877
CAN-AudreyMiller&Cast(194?)f1257_s1057_it3706
ON-Toronto-f1244_it2374
f1244_it2516
ON-Toronto-CNE-f1244_it0279d
Posted in Canada, Canadian Celebrities, Canadian National Exhibition, Canadiana, Current Events, Entertainment, Historical, Pop Culture, Postcards, Toronto | Tagged , , | Leave a comment