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 to allow visitors to view the attraction.

A number of electrical and magnetic mechanisms were used to augment the exhibit. Some evidence suggests that these mechanisms were responsible for all of the "acts", and that loose fleas in the exhibit maintained the illusion.

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.

References

1. National Geographic, May 1988.