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Pic: Burstow&Hewett/BNPS
Zaro Agha - The oldest living veteran in the wolrd.
These are the weird and wonderful performers who entertained Brits during the heyday of the travelling circus in the early 20th century.
Today some of the acts would be seen as highly insensitive, but back then parading people who were different to the norm on stage was seen as harmless fun.
One performer made a name for himself hanging a heavy case from his eyelids, while another caused wonderment by balancing five sharp knives on his face and a fearless showman smoked a cigarette through his eye ball.
Other acts which enchanted British audiences were the 7ft tall German sisters, the world's shortest man who was billed at a mere 2ft 6ins and the very politically incorrectly titled curvaceous French lady 'Reine de Colosses' (collosal queen).
Zaro Agha - The oldest living veteran in the wolrd.
These are the weird and wonderful performers who entertained Brits during the heyday of the travelling circus in the early 20th century.
Today some of the acts would be seen as highly insensitive, but back then parading people who were different to the norm on stage was seen as harmless fun.
One performer made a name for himself hanging a heavy case from his eyelids, while another caused wonderment by balancing five sharp knives on his face and a fearless showman smoked a cigarette through his eye ball.
Other acts which enchanted British audiences were the 7ft tall German sisters, the world's shortest man who was billed at a mere 2ft 6ins and the very politically incorrectly titled curvaceous French lady 'Reine de Colosses' (collosal queen).
©Burstow&Hewett 15 Jun 2018 5031x3468 / 2.6MB