20 miles from Tampa,
there exists a town entirely inhabited by
circus folk, exotic animals, and retired carnival rides. That town is Gibsonton,
Florida, originally a small hub for Floridian
lumber workers and fishermen. Since then, the town
has become a haven for bearded ladies, fire eaters,
tiger tamers, conjoined twins, anyone in the sideshow business. If you ran away to join
the circus in those days, chances were you’d end up
in Gibsonton for a season or for life. Before we get started, be
sure to leave a comment, and subscribe to
our Weird History. Now let’s begin. For the working
circus man or woman, Gibsontown– or
Gibtown, as the locals call it– was a great place
to lay one’s head or heads, whether the goal was to make
it through the off season or finally cashing in on a
lifetime of getting gawked at by strangers for money. World famous entertainers who
have called Gibsonton home include Al “The Giant”
Tomaini and his wife Jeanie, the half woman, Melvin “The
Rubber Faced Man” Burkhart, Grady “The Lobster Boy” Stiles,
Priscilla “The Monkey Girl”, and the conjoined
Hilton sisters. Sadly, Gibtown’s glory days
are pretty far behind it. Happily, its unusual
history endures, thanks to king of the
sideshow, Ward Hill, who serves as the town’s
spokesperson and resident storyteller. The sideshow is, for the most
part, an obsolete industry. There are still those
who are fascinated by the dramatic disabilities,
quirks of nature, and brain-breaking talents
that made human beings professional freaks. But they tend to
limit this fascination to the privacy of the internet. Though we thankfully live
in a more broad-minded time, we shouldn’t forget that
this was once a way of life. And for some, it still is. Fame, fortune, and a
chance to see the world– these things were made
possible by the very quirks that made a normal life in
the old days impossible. These days, Gibsonton
is a place to hang out with other performers
and recount war stories from the good old days, when
you could see your name up in lights. And the bad old days,
when the world treated you like a subhuman. According to Ward, you
take the bad with the good. One Gibtown bartender
put it perfectly. It’s not a job,
it’s a lifestyle. How does one settle down
to enjoy the autumn years of a lifetime in the circus? Gibsonton created a
cozy little village for the retired
entertainer, because he and/or she has definitely
earned some rest and relaxation. In that spirit, the
International Independent Showmen’s Association maintains
the town’s circus museum and its retirement community,
all through dues and donations from its members. Thanks to the
association, all retirees can enjoy their own
private apartment, complete with front
porch and barbecue, without having to worry
about how to get by. Since many suffer
from disabilities– try to imagine the
level of arthritis a 65-year-old
contortionist might endure– this is honestly a
beautiful and wonderful thing. Given the nature of
the neighborhood, Gibsonton was further
ahead of the woke curve than the rest of Florida. The growing town fully
recognized its duty to meet the special needs
of its special residents, and built America’s first little
people-friendly post office. Even though little people have
been sending and receiving mail for as long as
mail has been a thing, somehow no one had thought
to offer a low counter anywhere else in the country. Gibsonton changed that by
specifically designing its post office to be convenient
for people of all sizes. The counters may not
see much use now, but they made postal
service history. A town doesn’t just accidentally
become a hub for circus people. These were entertainers who
wanted to get away from it all, literally. It all being
rubberneckers, gawkers, and the judgmental, who made
just existing a daily grind. Gibsonton has declined
a great deal since then. But there’s a lot of material
in its well-maintained history for fiction writers–
often aided by Ward Hill– looking for a story. Meanwhile, its citizens are just
trying to go about their day. As you might imagine, it gets
old quick, unless you’re Ward. Speaking of Ward, he was
the first to be inducted to the International Independent
Showmen’s Association Hall of Fame. The IISA itself is
essentially 52,000 square feet of ancient rides, politically
incorrect yet fascinating exhibits, genuine used
costumes– including one belonging to famous
burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee– and, of course, a whole
lot of incredible pictures of even more
incredible people doing absolutely incredible things. The site centers around
an aging Ferris wheel and features irreplaceable
pieces of sideshow history. There’s nothing like seeing
that level of dedication to the preservation of
a strange era up close. Seriously, ask Ward. In Gibsonton’s heyday,
it wasn’t unusual to see elephants, tigers, lions,
monkeys, and other exotic– illegal– animals
in someone’s yard. And if you did see
one and report it, you’d be informed that said
animal was exactly where it was supposed to be. This holds true even today. Trainers and performers who
worked with exotic creatures can also live with them, thanks
to Gibtown’s special zoning laws. Carnival rides were
included in those laws. And you can still see them
on many a Gibtown lawn. If you’re lucky, you might
even meet the lone Gibtowner who, according to the
grapevine, continues to keep elephants in the yard. Grady Stiles was born with his
fingers and toes fused together to form claws, a defect
called ectodactyly. That would earn him the
stage name Lobster Boy and lead to a colorful life
in the sideshow business, and, eventually, to
two grizzly murders. Although he developed
incredible upper body strength as a result of his
condition, Grady didn’t have a great handle
on his emotional life, not necessarily because
of said condition. He was notoriously
quick to boil. He drank. He abused his own family. And he shot his daughter’s
fiancee to death the night before her wedding, a crime
for which he received zero jail time despite his confession. Mostly because no prison
could care for anyone with his disability. His wife and stepson didn’t
care for him, either. After putting up with his
rage abuse and alcoholism for years on end, not
to mention the murder, they hired another entertainer
to gun that lobster man down. And all three were
put in a cage for it, where they stayed for
the rest of their lives, despite Stiles’s son’s
denial that it was a hit. By definition, the
modern world has become a kind of anti-carnival. There’s simply no place for it
outside of Gibsonton’s museum, because gawking at obese hairy
women or of lobster-handed men is now frowned upon. The death of the sideshow
can be partially attributed to a rise in education
and awareness in society. Of course, we can’t forget the
role of TV and the internet. When it comes down to it,
even the noblest of us would probably rather
look this stuff up online than slog through
sawdust and elephant dung to see it up close. That’s right. Our laziness and
fickle attention span is at least as much a
factor as our modern morals and the decline of the circus
sideshow and Gibsonton. Gibsonton was reborn in fiction
as the infamous Jupiter, Florida, although idealized. For instance, the character
Jimmy Darling in real life was the murderous Grady Stiles. Freakshow also memorialized
the town’s creeping decay by setting it in the ’50s, a
desperate time for the sideshow business. The portrayal is not inaccurate. Little by little,
Gibtown is fading away, leaving only pieces
of its history behind. Before American Horror
Story, another iconic show used Gibsonton’s unusual
residential makeup as a setting for one of
its best known episodes. During its second
season, The X-Files filmed “Humbug”, episode 12. The episode centered around
a serial killer prowling among the community of sideshow
performers a la Gibsonton. America has more than a
few oddball little towns. But Gibsonton, Florida
holds the distinction of being professionally odd. And although it may
be dying, its legacy is already well-preserved. What do you think of this town? Leave us a comment and
check out more videos of our Weird History.
I think my mother in law was part of that show 🤔
How are they not at a million subs yet?
They had to add that they are all alive?? They were gonna allow people TO see dead "freaks"?
Do
You
Know
Who
Is
The
Most
Beautiful
Person
In
The
World?
Answer: Read The Second Word 😉
I live 15 minutes south of Gibsonton and I can tell you the sideshow is very alive and well. It's called the Gibsonton WALMART!
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/http:/www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/deputies-man-tried-to-run-people-over-with-golf-cart-inside-gibsonton-walmart
Very respectful view of the "Carny"
First
Coool vid👍 I liked the old movie…freaks. OLD "retro" stuff iz just AWESOME like thiz channel😉
Good job on the depressing music. Same sad guitar for 8 minutes is properly not great for watch time.
I was here before a million likes
It reminds me of one episode of X-Files that i love… ^_^
This reminds me of that one episode of My Name Is Earl
I understand the need to be ignored. I have a large, unconventional, but excellently trained service dog, so just walking through a Walmart means I have a ton of conversations with curious, kind, or nervous people. I'm used to people constantly stopping and turning to look as we walk past while he just does his job.
I can't imagine having a very visible disability, or a freaking elephant.
I live in Ruskin, about 10 minutes south of Gibtown. It's an interesting town with nice people.
R.I.P. Ward Hall
Truly unique!
AHS SEASON 4 INTENSIFIES
Nicely and tastefully done. Enjoyed it very much.
Our Mailman has Lobster Claws. He's a Nice man but It's very distracting.
It's all so pathetic & thank God it's finally over after 150 years of abuse
America is such a devilish place, I think you're all going to have to pay for all the blood you shed there during the 1800's.
I GO THERE TO PICK UP HAIRY MIDGET BITCHZ
I used to read a lot of 'true crime' books……and first learned of Gibsonton, from a paperback about Grady Stiles ( The Lobster Boy )…..that I bought back in the late 90s or early 2000s. It sounds like a fascinating place, and it makes sense that such a community exists. Aside from the story of the people themselves……..where else could you find a place, where zoning laws would allow you to park massive carnival rides &/or wild & exotic animals on your property?
GIBBY
I'm surprised that Gibsonton inhabitants had trouble blending into Florida society
A sign of the times…the fat ladies do NOT look that fat! And thank goodness…we now don't pay them to go on a stage to be laughed at!! We now just point and laugh at them on the streets and on YouTube and on tv!!! Have we come that far? SAD!!!
Yeah thats an odd city, i live really close to it, there friendly but kinda odd too lol
That explains why the state is so……..nvm
I saw this as a child. Truly weird place
A series of unfortunate events anyone??
Looks like I'm moving back home 😎🤡
They seem a lot cleaner than the people living on the
Streets of Ca. The hand of God Almighty is amazing,!!!***
Wish it still existed in real time.
Historically the reason why people up north would go to Florida is because the state was more secluded than California which already had a large population which is a perfect place for a former circus freak who wants to retire.
I'm intetested in how a man with 2 fingers shoots a gun.
Freaks should be in quotes, they deserve normalcy
How the fuck does lobster man use a gun
Of course it’s in Florida 😅
Cool
I love Weird History!
I enjoyed the video thanks
Yeech! 🤢
'Orrible.
I used to live 5 minutes from Gibsonton and never knew about any of this, surprised I never did
I live in Tampa. Not far from gibtown.
Of course they put it in Florida lol
lol I used to shop at the gibsonton Walmart
I'd love to visit to see the museums and make friends with the people, i just generally love exploring towns and seeing how it was back in the day!
Does it reminds anyone of American Horror Story and the X-Files?
It is a really great town for circus people to retire to, and I am not surprised that strangers are sometimes not welcome, I am glad that the people who have now retired, the few that are left, have somewhere to call home. 👍
Gibsonton came into an existence for circus workers because John Ringling began land speculating there in the teens. Sarasota is where he built his palatial home Ca-de-Zan. The Ringling clown college was there and now the Ringling museum is in its place
This narrator is my favorite. Everything is interesting when he's talking.
It's true Gib town is/was carny capital. But the Giants Camp Restaurant was one of the best places to get Eggs, bacon and grits at 3 am. What I'm wondering is why they left out the Race Track?
Lived in Florida my whole life and never heard of this town 😔
I grew up and spent over 60 years within five minutes of Gibsonton. Do not be misled by this video, Gibsonton is a very small place. You seldom see anyone who looks different than you, but you do see a lot of carnival rides being repaired in the off season. If you drive or walk through town, you would not even know it was a carnival town unless you had seen the signs.
Did you mean to use Rob Gavagan's video thumbnail art?
He did a story about "The Killer Lobster Boy."
Great video…but what the hell was that music
Some of them lived the best life they could… example:
Sam Torr recruited Joseph Merrick (aka "the Elephant Man") to join his travelling freakshow, partly out of compassion. It is said that Merrick was happy living among this group and considered them much like a family.
After touring the East Midlands, Merrick posed as an exhibition for a showman's penny gaff shop in London. While working at the shop, Merrick was visited by a surgeon, Frederick Treves. Treves invited Merrick to be examined and they developed a personal friendship. After leaving the penny gaff shop, Merrick ventured on other road tours and encountered many hardships. When the last of the travelling was over, Merrick took board at the London Hospital, returning to the care of his trusted friend and doctor, Frederick Treves. Near the end of his life, while comfortably under the personal care of his friend and doctor, Merrick expressed to Treves that he wished he could meet a woman. Treves arranged for a young widow he knew to meet Merrick; she was the first woman to ever smile at him and to shake his hand. It was a short meeting overall, as Merrick "quickly became overcome with emotion". They still kept in touch with each other regularly through letters and occasional gifts. Treves ensured that his friend's care and expenses would be covered at the hospital indefinitely.
Does anyone know what the application fee is?
You should do an episode about Rasputin
Song?
I love this narrator’s voice. Wish he did more episodes.
I was born in Tampa and my family lived there for around a year in the 60's. Everyone was very kind to me when I was a little girl. My Father was a carpenter and he would do small jobs on the weekends for them'.
I think it’s awesome. And at 4’11” I’d appreciate that post office.
Now Weird History really hit the weirdest town in Florida
Looks like a nice place to live.
Nope! Couldn’t get through it. 🤣
so no jail could house lobster boy, but the family that suffers from the same condition was able to be housed by the jails? sounds funny to me…not funny haha but funny like some one paid some one off…
I would like to know more about it, but I don't want to bother the town. Where can I learn more about it?
There is enough weird shit on the internet and society in general to keep everyone freaked out for quite a while.At least these circus folks lived a life of community and had/have each other.
Don't be surprised for a second that this is in Florida this is pretty much what every neighborhood was like
Still waiting for that golden age of railways video
Grew up in Tampa, been in Gibsonton many times. I liked it.
Still waiting for that Battle of Vienna video…
Could you do a video on Tchaikovsky? He’s one of my favorite composers, and had a really interesting life!
A truly disgusting human being, I'm glad he isn't alive to terrorize the people anymore.
📍Sarasota is were most of the circus performers retire, or back in the day I think everyone came because of the John & Mable Ringling museum.. that and they could practice all year around. We were also entertainers and have lived here for almost 40 years In Sarasota.. 🤩🍭🧩🤹🏻♂️🎭🎟🎪🏆🎠🎆🧸
It's interesting that the video says that freak shows don't go on much any longer. Haven't you seen Washington DC and the Whitehouse for a couple of years?
Looks like Zoidbergs cousin from Earth in the thumbnail
Loved this video! "Humbug" is one of my all-time favorite X-Files episodes, so it was awesome to see the history behind the setting. 🙂
I live right next door in Apollo Beach. I didn't know this but it explains so much.
Who's the nurse/provider at 2:33? She's goergous.
I live 5 minutes away
Coney Island New York USA keeps the freakshow alive to this day 🙂 it is AMAZING!! The Freak Bar is a blast! Incredible freakshow
It's a really cool place. We used to stay there when we went to Florida bc we had friends that lived there
Anybody notice the circus freak with the elephant penis at 6:15? What a guy.
I grew up in Tampa, and we sat with, "the half lady", she was a wonderful person. My brothers, my friends and I played on trapeze, and stilts. Neighbors often had circus animals in their yard. When I tell the younger people about it they think I'm lying until I show them the pictures.
Yep it would be in Florida.
AHS??
I've lived here long time difference between this place and anywhere else is at least with these people they admit they're freaks
Gibsonton, Florida…hometown of Florida Man
American horror story.. they did this
You guys should make a video on being a GI in the Vietnam war, I’m sure you can find gross stuff there.
If you were super tall why would you go to the circus when you could probably just join the league
@5:18
"… [lobster boy] was notoriously quick to boil …"
Ahahaha….I had to rewind the clip in order to make sure I cought that.
Ah yes Gibtown as a few of the locals used to call it. Me and my wife used to live there for a couple of years on Palm Avenue. It was actually fairly quiet most of the time, but very run down.
trying to leave a comment but as yet i have not seen the tube ??
Superb audio.
I might move their for some normalcy, out here in society its just batshit crazy everywhere.
Only town in the world with no racism. Everyone excepts everyone as they are
Geez wonder what you were subliminally saying at 6:09