The Hirsute Kostroma People, at Lyric Hall
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Title
The Hirsute Kostroma People, at Lyric Hall
The Hirsute Kostroma People, at Lyric Hall
Reference
SC_GL_ENT_100-149 page 107 (Collage 323105)
Date
Collection
London Metropolitan Archives: Entertainments Scrapbook
Description
There have been showmen as long as there have been crowds to profit from. They have exhibited all kinds of people, animals and objects for education and popular entertainment. Showmanship was a hard business. People and animals with unusual characteristics were ruthlessly exploited and there was little care for them once they lost their popularity with the audience. The Kostroma People (the Russian Jeftichejev family) were displayed as part human and part animal. Showmen sometimes used Darwin's theory of evolution to claim they were displaying a true 'missing link' between humans and animals.
There have been showmen as long as there have been crowds to profit from. They have exhibited all kinds of people, animals and objects for education and popular entertainment. Showmanship was a hard business. People and animals with unusual characteristics were ruthlessly exploited and there was little care for them once they lost their popularity with the audience. The Kostroma People (the Russian Jeftichejev family) were displayed as part human and part animal. Showmen sometimes used Darwin's theory of evolution to claim they were displaying a true 'missing link' between humans and animals.
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