Sep 2, 2009 10:59 pm US/Central
Step Right Up To The 'World Of Wonders'
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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They call it the World of Wonders, a circus side show, and it features the strange, the odd and the unusual.
CBS
The Minnesota State Fair Mighty Midway has something rare -- a traveling side show. Years ago they were commonly known as freak shows but the man who owns this show says no one is being exploited. In fact, he thinks the performers may be taking advantage of you and your natural curiosity.
"A man who drives nails and ice picks into his head with a hammer. Here you're going to be entertained," booms the voice on the Midway.
Eighty-year-old Ward Hall is an expert at getting people to step right up and see the show. He'll entice you by bringing out a man from Philadelphia who, after some olive oil and good licking, swallows swords.
"Fifty-two steel swords at one time. The world's champion sword swallower is John Stewart," said Hall.
They call it the World of Wonders, a circus side show, and it features the strange, the odd and the unusual. Like Natalie Zarrelli swinging a lunch pale that Hall says weighs 15 pounds -- by her tongue.
Hall says this show is an American tradition.
Poo Ba is 79-years-old and he eats fire. Looking at his wrinkled face you may feel sorry for him, but Hall has a different way of looking at things.
"The people who work in side shows are there because they want to be. And people who work in sides show, and I've been in this business now 64 years, and I would say 99 percent of them are ham actors," said Hall.
Admission to the World of Wonders is four Midway tickets. Not everything inside is a live act. Hall freely admits there are illusions and exhibits. He says this is the last traveling side show in the country and doubts they will be around 50 years from now.
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