The origin of this undertaking-- damn good word for it-- formed separately in the minds our two founders.  And there it began to moulder..... 

Until it emerged in casual conversation outside The Sarasota Showman's Club one February evening not too long ago.  So, we begin the enormous task of listing every novelty, variety, sideshow and freakshow performer who ever crossed the lot, creaked the boards of dime museum or bally, saw sun glint in the eyes of an audience in some small town, waiting for the sound of nickels and dimes clacking into a metal box.

In short, we wish to chronicle the lost, fading and future scene on the fringes of the American amusement business-- in biography, history, photographs, and whatever else we can find.  Collect the stories before they disappear, push and pull together the conflicting sources in books and memorabilia so that they can coexist in one place.

Here we go!  On with the show!