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Coney Island Freakshow Battle Continues
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 13, 2009
Modified Apr 13, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 13, 2009
Modified Apr 13, 2009
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Photos via me-myself-i's flickr
The battle of the freakshows continues on Coney Island, as Mr. John Strong III (Coney newbie) and Mr. Dick Zigun (Coney mainstay) unleash the freaks for the season. Zigun told the NY Times last week that while Strong claims to run the world’s largest freak show, "It’s likely you’ll see a lot of strange animals and only one live person. We’re a classic 10-in-one circus sideshow with a cast of sword swallowers, fire eaters and other freaks. No animals.”
Meanwhile, Curbed points out this flyer for Joe Sitt's Dreamland (which will allegedly house Strong's freaks in the old Astroland space), and the photographer notes that they're hiring some entertainers that mimic Zigun's show. The flyer states: "Help Wanted: Now hiring: Fire eaters, sword swallowers, snake charmers, pretzel girls, rubber lady, human pincushion."
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coney island
dick zigun
Dreamland
freakshow
John Strong III
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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