Whilst researching the history of the Flea Circus, I perioducally do a search for "Flea Circus", "L Bertolotto" or "Industrious Fleas" in both the google search and the google books search. The book search returns an increasing number each time I run it. Many of these are simply references to politics or cheap jokes about badly run guest houses.
However, today I found a couple of new links including
The diary of Lord William Russell and his wife, 1815-1846
The life and adventures of George Augustus Sala
Which are present in local libraries to me. So there could be some intersting progressions soon....
Monday 30 April 2007
Chasing the Industrious Fleas
Thursday 26 April 2007
New and Old Circuses
Faust's Fantastic Flea Circus is available for Magic Clubs, Magic Conventions, or any organisation that wants to book it.
Wednesday 25 April 2007
April 27th, Flea Circus in New York
As part of the Ensemble Studio Theater / Sloan Center’s First Light Festival’s closing night celebration, Adam Gertsacov is performing an excerpt of the flea circus at the Cabaret Scientifique. This is a power-packed evening of song, dance and comedy--"specially comissioned by the EST-Sloan Project to celebrate the mergin of art, science and technology. Quirky, hilarious and endearing, these top acts are sure to close the First Light Festival with a night to remember"
The Flea Circus will be about 7-10 minutes from a 40 minute show.
Admission is free, but the theatre is small.
YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR FREE SEATS BY CALLING. Call 212 247 4982 to make a reservation and don't forget to mention you are there to see the flea circus.
Info: http://www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/first_light-2007.html
Ensemble Studio Theater, 549 West 52nd St. NYC (Between 10nth & 11nth)
Saturday 13th Feb 1751
"... turning did find that my other friends were already gone ahead, being Attracted by the gathering of a crowd; and to join them, to find a Watchmaker who had setup a Booth near Durham Yard in the Strand. There on trestles he had set out a tiny Chaise with four wheels, this being mighty small; and then he coaxes a Flea out of a box and sets him to draw it; other fleas being taken out which did turn water mills and march in troupes like soldiers; at which I was amazed, having never attributed aught of Intelligence to Fleas but a Malignant Instinct. This London be a marvellous place, where one may see more Wonders in ten yards than one would see in ten Miles at home; the which is no doubt wht the inhabitants are more hare-brained, constant Surprises shaking the Wits and enervating the Reason."
This extract comes from the "The diary of a surgeon in the year 1751-1752" by John Knyveton, a who was surgeon in London and later on HMS Lancaster, kindly provided by the Wellcome Trust Library. This is quite a significant find as it's 10 years before the previous earliest record of a flea circus and provides significantly more detail of the acts performed. If the proceedings of the old bailey are anything to go by there were several watch makers in the area of Durham Yard and it was a favourite for theives who were running away from crimes.
Stop Press
There is evidence to indicate that these diaries perhaps works of fiction rather than fact, for example errors in dates of key events. However there are other references to this event in the London, Daily Advertiser and other newspapers that report this booth was in existence between 1742 and 1763.
Monday 23 April 2007
Flea Films
As well as my own flea film and the numerous movies and adverts mentioned on the Flea Circus Research Library there's a few other interesting examples I've recently found.
British Pathe have a collection of films on their site that look at old Flea Circuses in the UK and France.
Animal Makers Inc built and operated a puppet flea for a Flea Circus trailer for PBS's Evolution series.
Thursday 19 April 2007
Flea Circus In Ireland
Cahoots from the Children's Theatre Company in Northern Ireland will be performing their musical flea circus at the Sticky Fingers Festival. In a child-sized theatre the team will be performing their flea act with live music to children aged 5 to 9.
Sticky Fingers Festival
A celebration of arts for early years
Narrow Water Castle and the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry
MAY 17 – 24 2007
Dawkins Flea Circus
Perhaps to counter all of the Christian claims over the symbology of the flea circus RichardDawkins.net has posted their own flea circus. And it's quite a fine circus too.
Saturday 14 April 2007
Flea Plushies
If you want a flea to cuddle or to throw across the room then you can purchase a flea online from one of these suppliers. Alternatively you might fancy Streptococcus Pneumoniae or Treponema Pallidum!?
UK
http://www.voga.co.uk
http://www.initialideas.co.uk
http://www.giantmicrobes.com/uk
USA
http://www.giantmicrobes.com
http://www.scienceartandmore.com
http://www.trollandtoad.com
Friday 13 April 2007
Sony, the Church and Flea Circuses
Tuesday 10 April 2007
Texas - Flea Circus
On Saturday 14th April, George Esparza will be performing with Phydeauxs Flying Flea Circus at the 21st Folkfest, and Kindermasken in downtown New Braunfels, Texas, USA.
http://www.herald-zeitung.com/story.lasso?ewcd=49b057aabefb2b30