tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53989837069024374952024-03-08T19:52:20.576+00:00Flea Circus Research Library BlogThe Flea Circus Research Library's look into the microscopic world of educated and trained fleas.FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-10037964974945060122015-12-31T20:14:00.000+00:002016-07-29T18:16:44.214+01:00Pulgas Vestidas for SaleIn my research into trained fleas, I came across Painted Fleas or Pulgas Vestidas, I've quizzed a few experts on why they are made. The natural history museum passed on the following article that was first published in an edition of Flea News by Frans Smit from the Rothschild Zoological Museum at Tring.<br />
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<blockquote>Just a small point - the fleas themselves are not actually dressed, they form only the head of the tiny figures. They are amazingly detailed considering they are hand-made, probably without much magnification and best appreciated under a microscope. Tring has the peasant couple (2 fleas) and the NHM (not on display) two bridal couples accompanied by a 6-piece Mariachi band (10 fleas). None are more than a 5mm tall.<br />
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In 1910 the Hon. N. Charles Rothschild was offered a fine collection of fleas from Mexico - in those days quite a terra incognita as regards these insects. To his intense disappointment (but surely to NCR's amusement) the collection proved to consist of twelve dressed fleas, known as pulgas vestidas. They consisted of two "peasants", a man carrying wood and a woman with a basket which form one of the more popular exhibits in the public galleries at Tring Museum. The other is a set piece comprising two brides and bridegrooms with a Mexican band that now reside in the Entomological collections of the British Museum (Natural History) in London.</blockquote><br />
This week I received an email telling me about big collection (pun not intended) of these fleas, 12 in total on sale on the Canadian Ebay.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ebay.ca/itm/RARE-VINTAGE-PULGAS-VESTIDAS-DRESSED-FLEAS-MEXICAN-FOLK-ART-BULK-12-PACK-LOT-/182220042033?hash=item2a6d292f31:g:33wAAOSw-YVXluYc">Rare Vintage Pulgas Vestidas Dressed Fleas Mexican Folk Art Bulk 12 Pack Lot<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j70eC69tsVI/V5uGQ34vA_I/AAAAAAAAGqc/y-qmjkjHab4aE1Bdd2oWhDMas0zs4SR3ACLcB/s320/Fleas.JPG" width="320" height="240" /><br />
<img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZhNLSP8si0/V5uNNte-zTI/AAAAAAAAGqs/DldOgR-HFVADXRigrzhY_2m-sw-DKjDogCLcB/s320/FleaHeads.jpeg" width="320" height="240" /> </a><br />
<blockquote>Each box is 2 match heads high by 3 match heads wide. Each doll's head is a flea, and each color of material is a different material. there are 2 different displays. All photographs and microscope images are from actual items on auction. Photograph with Canadian $2.00 coin for scale.<br />
A) Bride and Groom (x 7) Each groom in a Tux, each Bride in veil, and has a bouquictttureet<br />
B) Farmer and wife 1 (x 5, Pink clothes) male dressed with sombrero, and carrying a bail of wood, and female in Mexican traditional head dress.<br />
D) Bulk packaging (outer packaging for 12 pack (7x bride and grooms, 5x pink farmer and wife) Scribe on side of box Indios (in Spanish meaning Indians – to the best of my ability). The outer package is in good to poor condition, but has protected the 12 inner displays, to a pristine quality. </blockquote><br />
As with everything in the flea circus world the history of Pulgas Vestidas is wrapped in flamboyant stories with suggestions that these were made by nuns or monks being common. The sets nearly always seem to be related to marriages so perhaps there is a religious connection. The seller does have evidence that dates the items back to 1920s so we can be fairly sure these items are pretty old.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-48665837252683889152015-01-30T10:29:00.001+00:002015-01-30T10:29:45.396+00:00Fleas on TVThe flea circus episode of <a href="http://fleascircuses.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/david-attenboroughs-natural-curiousities.html">'David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities</a>' is going to be aired on <a href="http://watch.uktv.co.uk/">Watch TV</a> on Monday (2nd Feb) at 9pm.<br />
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<a href="http://corporate.uktv.co.uk/about-uktv/article/our-channels/" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B2f74k9PItg/VMtcwMTTD1I/AAAAAAAAFXw/bupIETioDBw/s320/Watch.jpg" />Watch</a> is available on satellite and cable services <br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-70052146134272793462014-12-09T16:13:00.000+00:002014-12-09T16:21:12.502+00:00David Attenborough's Natural Curiousities<a href="http://www.svensons.co.uk">Svenson's Flea Circus</a> have teamed up with Sir David Attenborough for his new series of "David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities".<br />
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The episode highlights jumping feats in the natural world. David wanted a real flea circus to feature so Svensons were brought in to harness and train the fleas for the programme.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hyRMRWMtVx8/VIcfAF0aqMI/AAAAAAAAFTw/US-u6nOheLU/s1600/SirDavidAndEric.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hyRMRWMtVx8/VIcfAF0aqMI/AAAAAAAAFTw/US-u6nOheLU/s320/SirDavidAndEric.jpg" /></a><br />
The fleas were selected from candidates from the local vet, only about 1 in 10 were good enough to perform. Eric and son Sven harnessed the fleas using a traditional technique of a wire neck collar.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wrsID6_6cc/VIceN46JFoI/AAAAAAAAFTk/0kUaDFODFC0/s1600/good%2Bflea%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wrsID6_6cc/VIceN46JFoI/AAAAAAAAFTk/0kUaDFODFC0/s320/good%2Bflea%2Bpic.jpg" /></a><br />
"We do it all by hand without the use of ice, ether, or any other cheat" said Eric. Sven does it by eye but Eric does use a magnifying glass. They don't use tweezers as those tend to harm the fleas.<br />
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The fleas were hooked up to chariots, either singly or in pairs and performed well for the cameras.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lylxqc9UlOo/VIceN8u7AyI/AAAAAAAAFTg/NeZ8_0aWPuY/s1600/chariot%2Bwith%2Btwo%2Bfleas.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lylxqc9UlOo/VIceN8u7AyI/AAAAAAAAFTg/NeZ8_0aWPuY/s320/chariot%2Bwith%2Btwo%2Bfleas.jpg" /></a><br />
The program will be on the '<a href="http://watch.uktv.co.uk/">Watch</a>' channel very late this year or early in 2015 (Sky channel 109, Virgin 124), "<a href="http://watch.uktv.co.uk/shows/david-attenboroughs-natural-curiosities/">David Attenboroughs Natural Curiosities - Series 3</a>"<br />
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<a href="http://www.svensons.co.uk">Svenson's Flea Circus</a><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-85690264180033545632013-04-02T09:37:00.000+01:002013-04-02T09:37:16.072+01:00Fleas die in the coldMany thanks to everyone who's sent me the link the story about the poor <a href="http://www.focus.de/panorama/welt/massensterben-im-flohzirkus-kaelte-rafft-300-floehe-im-freilichtmuseum-hin_aid_951300.html">fleas who died in the cold weather in Germany</a>. The weather in Mechernich-Kommern has been dropping to -3°C over night and despite having the protection of a styrofoam container the 300 fleas died. <a href="http://www.flohcirkus.de/">Robert Birk</a> the flea circus director who performs at the Oktober Fest managed to retrieve more fleas from the University of Dusseldorf and hence the show at the Faire of Yester-year <a href="http://www.kommern.lvr.de/englische_version/the_museums/">Freilichtmuseum</a> in Mechernich-Kommern could go on.<br />
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The flea circus library is investigating to ensure such disasters do not happen again.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0LVR-Freilichtmuseum Kommern, Eickser Straße 1, 53894 Mechernich, Germany50.607275481028893 6.627543825378438750.604756481028893 6.6225013253784386 50.609794481028892 6.6325863253784387tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-54715919973627833382012-10-15T00:00:00.000+01:002012-10-15T08:10:07.325+01:00Heinrich Künstler - NürenbergLast week I was chatting on the emails with Janus Clausen, Curator of the <a href="http://www.cirkusmuseet.dk/">Cirkusmuseet</a> in Denmark. He advised me of a new name for flea circus history, "German Mecanicus called Heinrich Künstler from Sachsen". I quickly found in google books the following newspaper article.<br />
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<a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=svFDAAAAcAAJ&pg=PT487&lpg=PT487&dq=%22Heinrich+K%C3%BCnstler%22+Floh&source=bl&ots=IS36eM2DUL&sig=nF8XJa8SPacZfSxkgfWxHrXqUps&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ntN2UKPvHenJ0QXs4oCICA&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA">Nurnberger Zeitung 121 from Montag 1 Mai 1843</a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxDKqogFXFc/UHbbyjiDUwI/AAAAAAAADTU/cE6skng7kh0/s1600/HeinrichK%25C3%25BCnstler-NurnbergerZeitung121-Montag1Mai1843-ViaGoogleBooks.png" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" width="168" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxDKqogFXFc/UHbbyjiDUwI/AAAAAAAADTU/cE6skng7kh0/s320/HeinrichK%25C3%25BCnstler-NurnbergerZeitung121-Montag1Mai1843-ViaGoogleBooks.png" /></a><br />
Transalation thanks to <a href="http://fiverr.com/justinde">Justin</a><br />
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<div class="OldNewspaper">Advertisement<br />
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With authoritarian permission<br />
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Heinrich Kuenstler from Saxony arrived here on his journey with a unique curiosity that has never been seen before. <br />
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He'll be in town for a few days to present it to a honorable audience for their viewing pleasure in the "Guesthouse under Moonshine" in the Gostenhof, No. 11, one stairway up.<br />
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You'll see:<br />
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An extraordinary cabinet that consists of 160 trained fleas.<br />
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Among many shows these will also be performed:<br />
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1.) An English touring car pulled by 6 fleas.<br />
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2.) A Russian chaise pulled by 2 fleas.<br />
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3.) Two fleas pulling a barrel.<br />
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4.) One flea pulling an Italian chaise.<br />
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5.) A flea fires a cannon as a cannoneer at last. Additionally it is shown that the fleas are lying in silver chains.<br />
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The cost of entry is 12 fr., children pay half.<br />
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The fleas can be seen daily from 10-12 before noon and 2-7 in the afternoon.<br />
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If somebody doesn't find everything as advertised he'll get his entrance fee back.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0Nuremberg, Germany49.45203 11.0767549.1226 10.445036 49.78146 11.708464000000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-34030352417225131382012-09-27T14:21:00.000+01:002012-09-27T14:21:20.512+01:003 day festival of circus in IsraelNext week sees a festival of circus in Israel. Modi'in near Jerusalem is host to three days of circus fun and entertainment. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIYvvVClk5o/UGQ3SYbeltI/AAAAAAAADQ0/bgEqR1CMStI/s1600/Festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="225" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIYvvVClk5o/UGQ3SYbeltI/AAAAAAAADQ0/bgEqR1CMStI/s320/Festival.jpg" /></a><br />
Kirkas Minimax will be performing with tricks such as a high jump, tightrope and trebuchet.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLZy58THA5I/UGQ3SzUvYlI/AAAAAAAADRA/Lq3p6F9Vwag/s1600/KirkasMinimax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLZy58THA5I/UGQ3SzUvYlI/AAAAAAAADRA/Lq3p6F9Vwag/s320/KirkasMinimax.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0Sderot HaOranim, Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel31.890267 35.01039731.8363395 34.931433 31.944194500000002 35.089361tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-62240950968277108542012-02-03T09:30:00.000+00:002012-02-03T09:50:20.754+00:00Curious PursuitsThe flea chariot made it safely up to Manchester in time for the opening night of the Curious Pursuits exhibition by <a href="http://porterandjenkinson.tumblr.com/">Porter and Jenkinson</a> set in the delightful Portico Library and Gallery.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXOh3mWs7xM/TyuDnrElsJI/AAAAAAAAC-A/UTJCghm5iMA/s1600/Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="212" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXOh3mWs7xM/TyuDnrElsJI/AAAAAAAAC-A/UTJCghm5iMA/s320/Library.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKMZ3ZwtFk8/TyuDnVSzFyI/AAAAAAAAC90/mOMaachZ-AE/s1600/PoliteLiterature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="212" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKMZ3ZwtFk8/TyuDnVSzFyI/AAAAAAAAC90/mOMaachZ-AE/s320/PoliteLiterature.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3jhYnV2YGw/TyuDo9K48OI/AAAAAAAAC-c/iygv8bS83Fg/s1600/Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3jhYnV2YGw/TyuDo9K48OI/AAAAAAAAC-c/iygv8bS83Fg/s320/Lady.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vn6ngaCxBtc/TyuDpVowRRI/AAAAAAAAC-k/TeubSS1ef7I/s1600/FleaChariot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" width="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vn6ngaCxBtc/TyuDpVowRRI/AAAAAAAAC-k/TeubSS1ef7I/s320/FleaChariot.jpg" /></a>
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The exhibition runs till the end of February at The Portico Library & Gallery, 55 Mosley St, Manchester, Greater Manchester M2 3HY, UK<br />
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Photos by <a href="http://www.crunluath.org/">Keith Clark</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0The Portico Library & Gallery, 55 Mosley St, Manchester, Greater Manchester M2 3HY, UK53.4797206 -2.24069653.4702711 -2.2604369999999996 53.4891701 -2.220955tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-81151933423441710592012-01-25T12:00:00.000+00:002012-01-25T12:00:09.426+00:00Bertolotto rival in KasselFrom the "The Bavarian People's Friend,Volume 17, 1840" and "La Fame" - Journal of science, literature, arts,. industry and theaters 1840.
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Bertolotto, the flea tamer has found a rival in Kassel. Hr. Fiarenzi from Genoa announced, that he had trained "ants", taught them to march
in rank and file, to climb scaling ladders and conquer a fortress, which was built of sugar; also, they were, on word of command’ able to
retreat before the heat of a fire, while saving oats, crumbs of bread and small cut off pieces of cheese, with the result that they looked, in this way, like people who salvaged their belongings "under their arms" from the fire;
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People still say that the present century had produced no great men: Bertolotto and Fiarenzi eclipse the finest intellects of all time.
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<img border="0" height="163" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltslF0smbD4/Tx6b5ABBxOI/AAAAAAAAC7A/jg5CSa_wjoU/s320/Bertolotto%2BRival.png" />
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<img border="0" height="170" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEPdUqBAKIk/Tx6k49d1diI/AAAAAAAAC7M/iSOn9um5JFM/s320/Bertolotto%2BRival%2BIt.png" />
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Translation assistance from Google and from JohnThePotter<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0Kassel, Germany51.3127114 9.479746151.233309899999995 9.3218176 51.3921129 9.6376746tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-30123014495550370572012-01-20T18:39:00.001+00:002012-01-21T07:50:44.139+00:00Miniatures night @ExploreWellcomeYesterday was a late night event at the <a href="http://http//www.wellcomecollection.org">Wellcome Collection</a>. On arrival I was greeted by a large crowd of people listening to the Hot Potato Syncopators ukulele band who were having a great time. I collected a programme which itself was a miniature 3inches tall.
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3DsP8L5OVA4/TxiX_yOQtqI/AAAAAAAAC2k/hK6kELXBD-s/s320/IMAG0343.jpg" width="228" />
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I headed into the basement to get tickets for the talks by Author Steven Connor and Psychiatrist Isobel Heyman but despite the ticket office only opening 5 minutes before, all the tickets were gone. So I headed up the the first floor where most of the events were happening. The first floor of the Wellcome Collection houses their medical exhibits so the event was intermingled with giant sculptures of bodies, wierd bottles and masses of books. One exhibit was a mechanical eye that opened when you walked close to it (one for Poter and Jenkinson)<br />
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Over in the Forum area the people from Pestival had done an excellent job of creating a sideshow atmosphere. The first stall I visited was hosted by the entomologist and flea expert <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/staff-directory/entomology/a-whitaker/index.html">Amoret Whitaker</a>. She'd brought some dressed fleas along from deep in the archives of the Natural History museum and we got to look at them under a microscope.<br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-APo7qUYpgnI/TxiX6hXTwII/AAAAAAAAC6E/1WhVksxa8y0/s288/IMAG0334.jpg">
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Further around the room was <a href="http://www.fire-eating.com/">Tim Cockerill</a> he'd brought along his collection of flea items including some impressive chariots, more pulgas vestidas (dressed fleas) and many pamphlets, postcards and showbills from around the world.<br />
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<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zX-tcDrhi1A/TxiX9tbZwJI/AAAAAAAAC0k/J-kFdKBjdVs/s400/IMAG0341.jpg">
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<img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--J034uQHKV0/TxiX90YQTXI/AAAAAAAAC0s/oe2SIszBb20/s320/IMAG0340.jpg" width="320" />
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Tim had also filmed a short clip for the event telling you about flea circuses<br />
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<iframe width="300" height="182" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kfQ36aXMSfY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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The first showing for the flea circus was packed out. Whilst I was waiting I took the opportunity to sketch up some designs for an improved flea chariot based on what I'd seen. I left it on the wall of thoughts so that others might take inspiration.</br>
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-87Hg4jn3KI8/TxiX_KrOcaI/AAAAAAAAC3s/PNo1zSXFvak/s800/IMAG0324.jpg">
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The nanotechnolgy did not interest me that much so I visited the Medicine Man room which hosted some Bonsai and Zoe Hughes who was painting names of grains of rice. The Medicine Man collection is a permenant exhibit with some strange items such as a shrunken head. There was obviously a law put in place for importing shrunken heads at some point as the label made very clear that it had been brought into the country some time back.<br />
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<img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BHUZcIS8hY/TxiYDCfVpfI/AAAAAAAAC1k/bBOOoqy3TpY/s320/IMAG0325.jpg" width="320" />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pn0G7IRMDK0/TxiYD2iIxnI/AAAAAAAAC3g/ylJ_AiVVZEg/s320/IMAG0328.jpg" width="199" />
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I got to see second performance of the <a href="http://www.flea-circus.co.uk/">flying starts flea circus</a>. Before the show I had a chat and looked at their flea circus hall of fame, classic moments from flea history such as Vivaldi and the four flea sons and a member of the Fleamasons.<br />
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<img border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LmyDmDnpB1A/TxiX7_sMfyI/AAAAAAAAC3o/B5OJ_ww3G_4/s320/IMAG0337.jpg" width="320" />
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The flea show was excellent, a wide range of acts from around the globe all performed in an entertaining style. One of the trainee fleas had a bit of an accident with his trick and one of the props went up in flames but thanks the Mama Mia and her fire engine it was all put out without any issue. The audience loved the show and afterwards I bumped into a new flea trainer who was quizzing Michael for techniques for building props.<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qgSF0tnFlmI/TxiX6li31FI/AAAAAAAACz4/c4U1weZqnq4/s320/IMAG0336.jpg" width="240" />
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All in all an excellent evening, to finish things off I had to exit via the gift shop, there was a wide range of gifts and books including some on miniatures which I though was good, although it could have been a co-incidence.<br/>
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8jqRPIZKiMQ/TxiX0aNdIqI/AAAAAAAACzg/RPcfXiuJv7w/s288/IMAG0332.jpg" ><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-72050564176269883252012-01-12T12:00:00.000+00:002012-01-12T12:00:07.687+00:00More Events - A flea talkIt must be a popular month for <a href="http://fleascircuses.blogspot.com/2012/01/events.html">flea related events</a>, as well as the miniatures event at the Wellcome Collection, Tim Cockerill will be at the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/events/programs/naturelive/the_smallest_show_on_earth.html?date=11.01.2012">Natural History Museum</a> on the afternoon of the 19th Jan to give a <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/events/programs/naturelive/the_smallest_show_on_earth.html?date=11.01.2012">talk on Flea Circuses</a>.
Some of the secrets of how it is done, how circus 'professors' fed their fleas and the flea effects on Victoria ladies wil be shared.
<a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/events/programs/naturelive/the_smallest_show_on_earth.html?date=11.01.2012" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="93" width="207" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7ab9PThy00/Tw6qvWlw47I/AAAAAAAACzE/WArDkeiWVs4/s320/nhmOwlLogo.jpg" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-81476770601626334492012-01-10T09:32:00.001+00:002012-01-10T09:32:35.278+00:00Kickstart Stufenfedder's FleasRichard Mann is looking for backers for his flea theatre project in Chicago, IL
<iframe frameborder="0" height="410px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/freethefleas/my-life-infested-with-fleas/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/freethefleas/my-life-infested-with-fleas">My Life Infested with Fleas</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-7645210926262571572012-01-05T15:39:00.003+00:002012-01-05T15:39:56.701+00:00EventsA couple of new events coming up.
On 18th January the Wellcome Collection is running a <a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/events/miniatures.aspx">miniatures</a> evening, there will be talks about miniatures and collections and the fine line between collecting and hoarding. Free entertainment will be provided by nanotechnologists, bonsai experts and a flea circus from <a href="http://www.flea-circus.co.uk/">the flying starts</a>
<a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/events/miniatures.aspx" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="166" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJZ97D4IbeE/TwW-CWZlT9I/AAAAAAAACyc/1WPkvyFPn_U/s320/WellcomeMini.jpg" /></a>
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In Feb the Art Historian Collective <a href="http://porterandjenkinson.tumblr.com/">Porter and Jenkinson</a> are running an exhibition called "Curious Pursuits" at The <a href="http://www.theportico.org.uk">Portico Library and Gallery</a> in Manchester. There will be a preview evening Thu, 2 February, 18:00 – 20:00 and then the exhibition will run from 3 – 29 Feb 2012.
<a href="http://porterandjenkinson.tumblr.com" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="309" width="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6is8GgebxdE/TwXD3YKogOI/AAAAAAAACyo/gsVMRLgHfl4/s320/Curious.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-66979144019279518612011-10-27T17:42:00.002+01:002011-10-27T17:51:17.528+01:00The Abbot and the FleaFrom Aesop's Fables there is a tale about an Abbot and a flea.<br /><br /><div class="OldNewspaper">This is the story of the flea that was caught by the abbot. The abbot said, 'Now I've got you! You have bitten me many times, making it impossible for me to get a good night's sleep. I will never let you go; in fact, I am going to kill you right now!' The flea said, 'Holy Father, since you intend to kill me, please hold me in the palm of your hand so that I will be able to freely confess my sins to you. Let me make my confession, and then you can kill me.' The abbot was moved by the flea's piety so he placed the insect in the middle of his palm. The flea immediately leaped up into the air and flew away. The abbot yelled loudly at the flea, but the he refused to come back.</div><br />From <a href="http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/oxford/119.htm<br />">Aesopica - Aesop's Fables in English, Latin and Greek</a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=fleacircusresearch-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0865166951&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=aficionadoofc-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0192840509&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-20170321615279215532011-10-17T15:25:00.004+01:002011-10-17T16:10:17.587+01:00Sea FirefleasThanks to a rather silly kids TV programme, "<a href="htthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t9wjh">Barney's Latin America</a>" I now know about the sea fire fleas or <a href="http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/kramolis_kali/">Photeros annecohenae</a> a type of Ostracode Crustaceans.<br /><br />These tiny creatures make vivid light by mixing two chemicals which is used to attract mates and to scare off predators.<br /><br /><iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5x9C08RSz9o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Reference:<br /><a href="http://www.jstor.org/pss/3494749">Insect Behavioral Ecology '85</a><br /><a href="http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/kramolis_kali/">Discover the beauty and complexity of Photeros annecohenae</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-41630351594278976022011-10-04T17:49:00.005+01:002011-10-04T18:06:14.003+01:00Nikon International Small World CompetitionA water flea (Daphnia magna) has made it into the top 10 of <a href="http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/">Nikon International Small World Competition</a> with some help from photographer Joan Röhl.<br /><br /><a title="Small World #10 Water Flea by Joan Röhl" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/gallery/year/2011/10"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 151px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yS9lm8gwE_k/Tos50fZ0uLI/AAAAAAAACtM/EZWRmA8p_bI/s320/WaterFlea.png" border="0" alt="Small World #10 Water Flea by Joan Röhl" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659680930666952882" /></a><br /><br />This fantastic image is 100x magnified and was created with Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) Microscopy at the <a href="http://www.bio.uni-potsdam.de/">Institute for Biochemistry and Biology</a>, University of Potsdam, Germany.<br /><br />Other flea entries include a <a href="http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/gallery/year/2011/58">20x magnified mouse flea</a> by Dr. Jerzy Gubernator from the University of Wroclaw, Poland and another <a href="http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/gallery/year/2011/113">water flea with grean algae</a> by Dr. Ralf Wagner of Düsseldorf, Germany<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-63576042042086392072011-09-22T08:00:00.000+01:002011-09-22T08:00:05.109+01:00Fleas at the Natural History Museum 1926I occasionally check Ebay for interesting flea items and today I spotted <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ted-E-McKnight-Kauffer-Poster-ART-Postcard-Museum-Flea-/390344546647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae2591957">this one</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ted-E-McKnight-Kauffer-Poster-ART-Postcard-Museum-Flea-/390344546647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae2591957"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_uEyFzxDR0/TnrHwX3yFpI/AAAAAAAACso/kiXcnQVk2FI/s320/FleasAtTheNaturalHistoryMuseum.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655051915972712082" /></a><br /><br />"This modern postcard features a reproduction of a work by American artist Edward "Ted" McKnight Kauffer (1890-1954). Montana born McKnight Kauffer was one of Europe's most prolific and influential advertising poster artists during the Twenties and Thirties<br /><br />The original poster titled The Flea ( Natural History Museum) was created by the artist in 1926 for the British Natural History Museum in South Kensington. London."<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-11170996705610519822011-08-24T12:00:00.002+01:002011-09-05T18:19:32.188+01:00Camping fleas?<a href="
<br />http://www.flohzirkus-tonga.de/">Flea Circus Tonga</a> now has it's own circus tent and hence can provide shows whatever the weather or if you've only a small venue he's also available in a portable table top variation of the show.
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<br />"Betty LaBelle" is back from Australia and has brought more artists! Overall, six fleas their arts! Experience "Hannibal" the daring stuntman, "David Copperflea" and "Professor Fips" as a magician, as well as the Grand Dame "Mme Flohrentine" as a prima ballerina and many others more.
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<br /><a href="http://www.flohzirkus-tonga.de/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27_tUN3QkNg/TlJ-Psq6L3I/AAAAAAAACrU/TNDlKErsIzo/s320/Flohzirkus%2B%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643712091202924402" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://www.flohzirkus-tonga.de/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-boYZK5YsQWg/TlJ-P1QUJhI/AAAAAAAACrc/x4idiVAjQE4/s320/Flohzirkus%2B%25284%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643712093507298834" /></a>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-20479538988482226502011-07-07T17:30:00.001+01:002011-07-07T17:30:14.734+01:00ABC, My Grannie Caught a FleaSpotted in a castle bookshop in Scotland, a gripping insight into the author's grandmother's entomological studies including techniques for acquisition of new specimens.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1841589373/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=fleacircusdirectorblog-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1841589373"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ruRjGlmZSrQ/ThXdZG1o6gI/AAAAAAAACm4/WdCeBckhmf4/s320/ABC.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626646732871363074" /><br />ABC, My Grannie Caught a Flea</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=fleacircusdirectorblog-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1841589373" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-16296194087995566122011-07-06T12:00:00.001+01:002011-07-06T12:00:20.818+01:00Nu Way Flea Circus!<a href="http://www.freewebs.com/caputocollection/">Chuck Caputo</a> from the USA has announced his new "out of the box" flea circus that has no suitcase but still has plenty of contents. The acts contain some of the standards such as a high wire, diving board, strong flea but also some new ideas such as a bowling flea and Annie Oakly flea. The stage also has spot lights and a magician flea who makes a card rise from a pack.<br /><br />The circus platform "integrates sophisticated electronics, electronic pad control, pull bar and magnetic operations."<br /><br /><iframe width="300" height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a9XucPd8BVs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-75879429826630073592011-05-24T08:00:00.000+01:002011-05-24T08:00:00.433+01:00Fleas in NovelsThe latest from Lee and the <a href="http://www.victorianlondon.org">Victorian London website</a> is a <a href="http://www.victorianlondon.org/etexts/search.cgi">searchable index of literature</a>.<br /><br />Of course the first thing I did with it was to search for fleas. This returned an interesting selection of books with flea references. Here's a sample of the results at the time the query was run<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Middlemarch</span>, by George Eliot - <span style="font-style:italic;">"I should stick to it like a flea to a fleece for my own sake"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Way We Live Now</span>, by Anthony Trollope - <span style="font-style:italic;">"'With a flea in her lug,' suggested the farmer."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Martin Chuzzlewit</span>, by Charles Dickens - <span style="font-style:italic;">"I looks at him tolerable hard. 'Fleas?' says I. 'And more,' says he. 'Wampires?' says I. 'And more,' says he."</span><br />also<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Astonishment making him surly, he preferred the latter, and sent her into the toll-house with a flea in her ear."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Antonina</span>, by Wilkie Collins - <span style="font-style:italic;">"It is easier to make a drinking-vessel of the skull of a flea than to make an honest man of such a villainous night-walker as thou art!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Mysteries of London</span>, by G.W.M.Reynolds - Chapter 246 - The Party at Ravensworth Hall - <span style="font-style:italic;">"And bid smart onions rise To churn me in my mantling path and give A flea to nerve the thought that I may live To bask in thy blear'd eyes!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cometh up as a Flower</span>, by Rhoda Broughton - <span style="font-style:italic;">"I vault from the sofa, as if the spirit of a flea had passed into me, and walk across the room; my legs feel stiff and sore"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">After Dark</span>, by Wilkie Collins - <span style="font-style:italic;">"he is among my men and here am I ready to look for a flea or two in his bedstead"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Water Babies</span>, by Charles Kingsley - <span style="font-style:italic;">"the Queen of all the Fairies, who makes the clouds thunder and the fleas bite"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Adam Bede</span>, by George Eliot - <span style="font-style:italic;">"Aye, it's ill livin' in a hen-roost for them as doesn't like fleas"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Felix Holt</span>, by George Eliot - <span style="font-style:italic;">"the utmost stretch of their ideas will not place them on a level with the intelligent fleas"</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-8949623113591058412011-05-05T12:00:00.000+01:002011-05-05T12:00:09.761+01:00Magic Flea - Freddie Green 1968Michael Pettersen has transcribed one of Sammy Nestico's tunes as played by <a href="http://www.freddiegreen.org">Freddie Green</a> Master of the Rhythm Guitar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhref="http://www.freddiegreen.org/transcriptions/magicflea.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 84px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEoascJiPO8/Ta2zMa-zccI/AAAAAAAACfc/sc1tDxLesBs/s320/MagicFlea.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597326937873936834" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.freddiegreen.org/transcriptions/magicflea.html">Magic Flea</a> is very rapid piece with a tempo of 306 beats per minute. Freddie had a special technique called the "one note chord" which allowed the music to be simplified so it could be played. More details of this on the <a href="http://www.freddiegreen.org">Freddie Green website</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-62206450912275414182011-04-27T07:00:00.000+01:002011-04-27T07:00:00.225+01:00Jack Davies - Flea MusicFlea Circus is <a href="http://www.jdaviesmusic.co.uk">Jack Davies</a>' latest small group project, inspired by Dave Douglas' Charms of the Night Sky group, the French Bal-Musette, and Ivo Papasov's incredible Bulgarian band.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jdaviesmusic.co.uk"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 192px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icnAfxVh4gI/TafgfY1bOhI/AAAAAAAACfA/O5ChWx87d7E/s320/jacksmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595687891878230546" /></a><br /><br />In stark contrast to much of the electrified music being made today, Flea Circus is an entirely acoustic chamber group.<br /><br />Drawing on the canon of European jazz and contemporary music, Flea Circus juxtaposes lyrical melodies and exuberant improvisation.<br /><br />The line up<br /><ul><li>Jack Davies (trumpet)</li><li>Rob Cope (bass clarinet)</li><li>Aidan Shepherd (accordion)</li><li>James Opstad (bass)</li></ul><br />Current current works include<br /><ul><li>All The Night's Adventures</li><li>Three Miniatures<ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman"><li>Monster</li><li>So Let Us Melt</li><li>Lamppost</li></ol></li><li>La Puce</li><li>Zapushalka</li><li>Dance of the Proles</li></ul><br />For more information visit <a href="http://www.jdaviesmusic.co.uk">http://www.jdaviesmusic.co.uk</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-68405600658503946612011-04-21T12:00:00.000+01:002011-04-21T12:00:10.901+01:00How to harness a flea?Many have wondered just how you would connect a flea to a chariot or wagon. Well the answer is simply that you tie them by forming a loop with thin wire and pulling it tight as the flea passes through. This is not an easy task and even those who are well practiced might take between 10 minutes and an hour to complete the task.<br /><br />You can purchase a <a href="http://www.noonco.com">harnessed flea from Walt Noon</a>.<br /><br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J8wvlKJ_uwc/Taheuw5WMtI/AAAAAAAACfI/zG2EyAqrKCw/s320/FleaWithChariot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595826694500266706" /><br /><br />In <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/books?id=eDsDAAAAQAAJ&lr&pg=PA217#v=onepage&q&f=false">Episodes of insect life</a> by Acheta Domestica 1851, people question if the fleas were glued but Bertolotto insists that his are tied.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">These and all other such recorded feats have ceased to be marvels to the patrons of those "industrious fleas" who still, we believe, continue to ply their daily labours in Regent Street or the Strand; but they serve to show, that amongst the grand discoveries and inventions of this our 19th century, the art of breaking in fleas to harness is not one. Bertolotti asserts that the saddles, etc, on his flea company were really fastened by girths, not by gum, as the incredulous have thought, the corslets of the pygmy wearers being too highly polished for anything to stick upon them.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-59441116580984274242011-04-14T17:52:00.005+01:002011-04-14T18:29:14.772+01:00Records of real life in the palace & the cottageLatest flea find on google books, is some Industrious fleas and also our friend <a href="http://www.fleacircus.co.uk/HistoryBertolotto.htm">Bertolotto</a>. Given that the book is in the public domain, I'll quote the whole section.<br /><br /><a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FnoEAAAAQAAJ&d&pg=PA234#v=onepage&q&f=false">Records of real life in the palace and the cottage</a>, by <a href="http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/1500-1900/pigott/pigott.html">Harriet Henriette Pigott</a> revised by J. Galt, 1839, Page 234 - 237<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FnoEAAAAQAAJ&d&pg=PA234#v=onepage&q&f=false"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46fGjF6vcv4/Tacugf99EDI/AAAAAAAACe4/aAEPYmeHWOs/s320/Records%2Bof%2BReal%2BLife.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595492197903175730" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Close on the steps of these royal visitors from Belgium, arrives Signor Bertolotti, in pompous terms announcing " Les puces travailleuses," and himself, as having been the charm, " the enthusiastic enjouement" of the brilliant receptions in stirring high-life, during the London season. Well I recollect these sea lions engrossing the conversation alternately with the agitating question of the Reform-bill; il Signor Bertolotti, et ses enfans cheris, following close after the reforming senatorial elders and their aspiring eleves, as they mounted to the drawing-room, from the convivial banquet below; the groom of the chambers in the rear, carrying hot Mocha coffee. The wise men from the east, north, south and west, assembled with intellectual aspects round the table, and eventually held out their hands for the fleas to crawl thereon, " with what appetite they may;"—the signal recompense awarded by il Signor for industry in actively mounting their little ladders, carrying buckets. Oh! it was a pleasant sight, to see the senators of Great Britain thus amused ; whose hands had wielded the pen that signed a reform and emancipation bill, that have placed all England, and her church, in a pleasant chaos of thoughts, actions and creed; making time pass too rapidly, fraught with inteli lectual experiments.<br /><br />But this charming little caravan of amusing parvenus,—(because before the rapidity of intellect these animals were disdained, chased away by vulgar, uneducated chamber-maidens;) —are now, like many a youth, who by dint of pretending liberal principles and manoeuvres, obtains introduction into drawing-room circles, and dubbed by us conservatives " illiberals," (Oh! howunjustly !) "Parvenus."<br /><br />Before the front of the Bourse of Grecian architecture, they now stand in competition with a spurious race of fleas—an opposition! But like thorough-bred tories, they valiantly face the enemy; for tories are fearless, having naught to conceal; and few of them ought to gain,—being high in their country's annals, for patriotism; rich by commerce or husbandry, or by ancestral descent; and some of them in valourous deeds, displayed in rightful causes on the battle-field. Thus, in France, we have usurpers even amongst the insect tribe. There they stand, in contact with cracked fiacres, deltas, venders of tribunal discourses, and of attempts to assassinate the reigning King of the French:—for in life, the little will imitate the great.<br /><br />This classic edifice, which is of pure white stone, in the Grecian style of architecture, is a strange contrast, — a potent satire, on the ostensible purpose for which it was erected. French taste has not, in this instance, united the appropriate with the beautiful, by selecting the model of a classic Grecian temple, for the mercenary assignations of money-changers, and Jews' speculations; and amidst incongruous buildings.—They play a high game, amassing enormous riches by the credulity and ruin of others less adroit; sustaining or lowering, by false intelligence, (per telegraph,) les emprunts of revolutionary governments; their ignoble figures and hurried gait, their countenance inflated, convulsed with the avaricious agitations of their minds; while without, every adventurer is playing his game, by exhibiting his Punchinello, his industrious fleas, his games of hazard, and many inventive twopenny traffic, before the august elegance, before the pure colouring of its finely chiselled columns.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398983706902437495.post-11526942702024838312011-04-08T12:00:00.000+01:002011-04-08T12:00:07.266+01:00Mr Flea - Meister Floh<span style="font-style:italic;">"Meister Floh - A fairy tale in seven adventures of two friends is a story by ETA Hoffmann. Although conceived as an art fairy tale, the first version appeared in 1822 censored and truncated to two chapters, since it satirical allusions to a case containing the Hoffman previously served as a member of the "Immediate-Commission to determine hochverräterischer compounds and other dangerous machinations" in Prussia to investigate had."</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_554ZBhmdNS4/SmCCLp7FBqI/AAAAAAAABtI/KTQQDiJD7_Q/s1600-h/MeisterFloh.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_554ZBhmdNS4/SmCCLp7FBqI/AAAAAAAABtI/KTQQDiJD7_Q/s320/MeisterFloh.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359426693314709154" /></a><br /><br />Reference<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T.A._Hoffmann">Wikipedia</a><br /><a href="http://openlibrary.org/b/OL1676430M/Meister-Floh">Open Library</a><br /><a href=" http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/104798.html">Haus Arbeiten</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Flea and Circuses is brought to you by Ace Animation and the Flea Film project</div>FleaCircusDirectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05558753239327193795noreply@blogger.com0