Drew Friedman's Sideshow Freaks

(Hardback)

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Melvin Burkhart the Anatomical Wonder; Zip the Pinhead; Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins; Johnny Eck, the King of the Freaks; Koo Koo the Birdgirl; and 45 more fascinating sideshow freaks both famous and obscure are immortalized in Drew Friedmans delightful portraits. Before the politically correct impulses of the 1970s squelched the grand American tradition of the sideshow people born with abnormalities and others, like Jolly Jere the Fat Man, who created their oddity exhibited themselves to the shock and thrill of millions in sideshows nationwide. As a youth in the late 60s and early 70s, Drew Friedman often visited Coney Island with his family, and he and his brothers always insisted on seeing the "Freak Show." Drew Friedmans Sideshow Freaks presents 50 of his favorite historic human oddities famous and obscure in mesmerizing full-color portraits. As in Warts and All, Old Jewish Comedians, and More Old Jewish Comedians, Drew Friedman once again meticulously, brilliantly, and affectionately brings to life people in the show business, this time focusing on Americas oddest performers.

Reviews

"Drew Friedman is a guilty pleasure!" Matt Groening

"Drew Friedman has created the greatest sideshow lineup ever. His astounding portraits of the strange, the unusual, the bizarre, and the unconventionally beautiful truly capture the spirit of these extraordinary characters. This is a must-have book for anyone who is a fan of the joyously twisted world of the sideshow." Todd Robbins, Purveyor ofAmazement, coauthor, with Teller, of Play Dead

"Any book that contains sixcount 'em, six!pinheads is my kind of book. Drew Friedmans trademarked propensity to make 'normal' people look a tad freakish with his forensic attention to every wrinkle, wart, and nose hair is turned on its head in this impressive collection. Here, the 'freaks' look back at us as if to say, 'So whos normal' Friedmans uneasy affection for the 'weirdos' among us comes through in every lovingly drawn portrait." Bill Griffith, creator of Zippy the Pinhead

"Its true the sideshow is never what it seems, but Drew Friedman draws it like it really feels." James Taylor, creator and publisher of SHOCKED AND AMAZED! magazine, founder of the museum at the Palace of Wonders

Author Bio

Drew Friedman is the author of more than six books, including Old Jewish Comedians, More Old Jewish Comedians, The Fun Never Stops, and Private Lives of Public Figures. He is the recipient of the 2001 Reuben Award for newspaper illustration, and his portait of President Obama graced the cover of The New Yorker for Obamas inauguration, January 2009.