The Jim Rose Circus Show; The New Sideshow; Sideshow: Alive on the Inside

Narrated by Seinfeld sidekick Jason Alexander, the TLC-aired Sideshow: Alive on the Inside interweaves archival and contemporary footage and photos with interviews to chronicle the rise and fall (and rise) of this popular attraction from its 19th century, P.T. Barnum-influenced beginnings in dime museum exhibits to its flourishing in 1930s-era carnivals, and contemporary renaissance in daredevil acts such as the Jim Rose Circus. Spotlighting the performers as well, the program serves up spirited and poignant tales from entertainers that include Jeanie Tomaini (the "world's only living half-woman"), who got into the biz at the age of three and fell in l-u-v with the 8 ft. 4 in. “Giant Boy”; the 1952-born U.S. Siamese twins Ronnie and Donnie Galyon; the good-humored Sandy, world's tallest lady (7 ft. 7 in.); “the Lobster Boy's” children (who share the same genetic affliction); and “Percilla the Monkey Girl,” who married “Alligator Man.” With the arrival of PC sensibilities and more technologically advanced forms of entertainment, many sideshow performers were forced into retirement, and the program visits some in Florida's Gibsonton, a.k.a. “Showtown.” DVD extras include a bonus segment on the world's smallest lady, Frieda Pushnik, and a photo gallery. Vivid, interesting, and nicely-produced, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach narrates The New Sideshow, which focuses on the contemporary sideshow, a far cry from the grotesque performances of yore, with unbelievable feats rather than abnormality and deformation being the main draw. Providing brief historical background on sideshows, the program features the Jim Rose Circus (JRC), the Bros. Grim (BG) revivalist sideshow (which attempts to recreate time-honored acts), Toronto's Carnival Diablo, and UK-born 10-in-1 (“10 acts, one tent, one ticket”) female solo act Lucifire. Deemed here “Father of the Modern Sideshow,” Rose likens himself to a 20th century P.T. Barnum; in addition to JRC clips, we see a BG lady swallow a neon-light sword (purportedly a very rare feat for a woman), Carnival Diablo's insect-eating stunts, and Lucifire's “grotesque burlesque” featuring a metal bustier and plenty of fake blood. Definitely more intense and graphic (with partial nudity) than Sideshow, the gasp-worthy The New Sideshow is still recommended. Aud: P. Having witnessed the exploits of Jim Rose and his insane posse of curious oddities at a Godsmack concert, The Jim Rose Circus Show DVD is slightly less shocking to me on the small screen than in real-life (then again, I grew up in the '80s--can you say desensitized?). Nevertheless, this program--directed by music video deity duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris--centered around a February 1993 hometown performance at Seattle's Moore Theater is the most outré of the three titles, featuring colorful language, partial nudity, and freaky acts from players such as Matt “the Tube” Crowley (who does some interesting condom tricks), Mr. Lifto (who picks things up with his pierced nipples--and penis), and Jim Rose's wife Bebe the Circus Queen. Providing trivia facts about the tricks, Rose alternately incorporates and heckles the audience, when not performing his own stunts--swallowing razor blades, squirming out of a straitjacket, or sticking his face into broken glass (after finding a bit of paper in the shards, he yelps: “paper cuts are the worst!”). Although somewhat dated, this program nicely captures the early JRC in fine form with the only major drawback being an overscripted, frantic organ-based soundtrack. Luckily, DVD extras include a 36-minute “original version” that--although truncated--offers a nice alternate version with more audience reaction and less audio overkill. Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams)