Sideshow Freaks – Amazing Medical Stories

If anyone were to put together a group of people born with gross physical deformities and tour from city to city profiting from charging people for the privilege of staring at them like we would animals in a zoo, we would be outraged. This practice was common in the 1800s and early 1900s in the USA and the UK when sideshow freaks were a popular form of entertainment. Touring shows and museums of science drew huge crowds and lined the pockets of the operators with cash.

In the golden era of the sideshow freaks, the collective imagination of the masses was captivated by 'wild' children who were claimed to have lived in the woods and been raised by animals; giants and dwarves; conjoined twins; bearded ladies; and people with all manner of physical deformities. The most famous sideshow attraction was 19th century Englishman, Joseph Merrick, who was popularly known as the Elephant Man and has been the subject of a film and a number of books. Merrick’s condition was only recently diagnosed as Proteus Syndrome, a rare inherited disorder, which causes debilitating lumpy growths and ensured that he could never lead a normal life.

The physically deformed had little choice of career in a society that ridiculed the abnormal and were forced to work a sideshow attraction to earn an income. The sideshow operators varied in their treatment of their star attractions; from maltreatment and exploitation to offering a supportive environment and quality of life. Eventually the public's interest waned as popular opinion decided that the exploitation of the physically disabled was unacceptable. These days there are some live shows around that feature freaks but these are people who have transformed themselves through tattooing, piercing or by practicing amazing feats of fire eating, sword swallowing, contortionism and pain endurance. The important difference is that this is a path that they have chosen to follow, people born with physical deformities had no choice.

In our supposedly enlightened society, Channel 9's airing of the US series 'Amazing Medical Stories' has been a ratings success and is nothing but offensive. The medium has changed to a television show in the guise of a documentary which has pretensions of legitimacy through the inclusion of the word 'medical' in its title but the concept is the same - put the most extreme cases of people with physical deformities on show for all to see. The show does not treat its subjects with sensitivity and compassion like they do on RPA, it takes a sensationalist approach focussing on the shock value of the deformity rather than the person behind the disorder. So far we’ve seen the fattest man ever, the behavioural disorders Tourette's Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, brain injuries and facial deformities with more to come. Progress is not merely technological advances but hopefully also a change in attitudes and with the public’s acceptance of shows like 'Amazing Medical Stories', have we moved on from the 1800s?

Comments (17)

Sxc written by hiii on August 15, 2006 : your unbeleivable written by lulu on August 16, 2006 Dear person, That was possibly the most incredible essay i have ever read!!! i love you, will you marry me?? Love Lulu love u to death written by gigi on August 17, 2006 love u too I THINK THE PROGRAMME IS GREAT written by sprinklestargirl on October 14, 2006 I HONESTLY THINK THAT THIS PROGRAMME IS INFORMATIVE AND SHOWN AT A SENBIBLE TIME THANK HEAVENS WE HAVE REACHED A STAGE IN OUR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHEN PEOPLE WITH SEVERE DEFORMATIES CAN BE SEEN IN PUBLIC AND THAT THE SAME PUBLIC HAS THE CHANCE TO BE EDUCATED I SEE NOTHING REPRESENTING "BAD TASTE" IN THESE EPISODES. I FIND THEM INTERESTING IT'S TRUE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH GROSS DEFORMITIES AND PAINFUL AND UNSIGHTLY CONDITIONS IF THEY OR THEIR FAMILIES GET PAID TO BE ON TV THEN GOOD, THEY NEED THE MONEY FOR HELP NO DOUBT ALSO - SEEING THESE PEOPLE MAKES ME GIVE THANKS THAT I HAVE NOT GOT THESE ISSUES IN MY LIFE AND THE THINGS I DO HAVE AND HAVE HAD SEEM LITTLE BESIDE THE LOT OF THESE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE SPRINKLESTARGILR doctors and money written by g on October 31, 2006 as a future doc, i think that all ppl should be educated to a certain degree regarding diseases. but they should NOT be placed on show for money or nething of that nature, these people are like us, they may look different, more so then others but none of us are the same!!!! I Love The Show written by R on November 9, 2006 Amazing Medical Stories is a great show and I enjoy watching it. I find it fascinating. I'm by no means watching it for the "freak factor". Stuff like that truly engross me, and I have an interest in the medical feild. suck ass written by sexy ass biatch on November 13, 2006 the show is allright written by perfectlife on November 18, 2006 I am torn between the need to be open and raise awareness about disabilities and physical deformities and the concern that viewers are simply watching animals in a zoo. These people, who would have once only been able to survive as sideshow freaks, are still being treated as sideshow freaks. But it's OK because the show has the word "medical" in the title, so it has got to be good for you..... chill written by scarlett walker on November 27, 2006 i can understand where you are coming from- but think about it. if the so called freaks on this television show didnt want to be seen as freaks, why would they agree to go on it? obviously they dont have that much of a problem. maybe they want to show people their story and help others who might be in the same situation as them. and im pretty sure if there was alot people who think the show is just broadcasting freaks like you do, and not for the medical show that it is, that it would have been taken off the air. and i also dont think amazing medical stories portrays its patients as sideshow freaks, the way i see it, you're the one who gave them that title. whatever written by Bob on December 13, 2006 Get off your soap box, princess. At least amazing medical stories is interesting. RPA is staged,edited rot. ... written by Bob on December 13, 2006 blah blah well looky here written by scarlett walker on February 12, 2007 ha haa suck shit, amazing medical stories is back on the air mehh.. written by mehh.. on March 5, 2007 i agree with "chill" absolutly, ilove amazing medical stories, just for the fact of how these amazing people work.. good on them for showing and sharing with the rest of us.. i think they meant well written by hey on March 12, 2007 I just love this show. I am shocked when I was browsing the internet and someone commented about having freaks here. I don't see them as freaks, they're merely people who are in unfortunate circumstances which they intentionally/unintentionally put themselves in. I'm interested in the medical field and I don't care if these people look like freaks to other people-- I still see them as human beings, complete with senses and organs and obviously, a brain that separate them from animals. How did I know that they've got a brain? Because they're wise enough to ask for help when they needed them, when they know that it's either ask for help or just die miserably. I don't think they put up this show as another version of a freak show. I think they meant well. I'd say, this show is just truly amazing. In addition to.. written by hey on March 12, 2007 Besides, I think the show just shows viewers how far we've reached in the medical field, that they could actually help people whom they previously thought cannot be helped. ... written by tayloroxy on March 23, 2007 According to the macquarie dictionary the word "freak" means : any curiously unusual object; unusual, odd. Therefore these people by definition are indeed freaks. I occasionaly watch the show...I agree with both comments happening here, yes, these people are blatantly put on show for all to gawk at...and yes it is interesting to do the gawking !! Either way, it is a very hard to not feel inspired by these people...for that reason alone, does it matter? Amazing Medical Stories ROCKS written by Amalthea666 on March 31, 2007 I have been watching AMS for over two years now, I watched the first episode and NEVER miss it. Everything stops when it's on. I have watched Rose Siggins, she is an inspiration to all. Have you heard of a guy by the name of Johnny Eck? Yes? No? Well he was in the sideshow, he was born with nothing from the waist down. He was healhy as his twin brother and he could do anything he wanted. He died in 1991 and I believe the world lost a true inspiration. A movie came out in 1932 called FREAKS. It had many different kinds of people in it, Johnny Eck was in it, Prince Randian; the human torso, Daisy & Violet Hilton; siamese twins, Pinheads; Schlitze was the most famous. This film was banned for 30 years and was re-released in the 1960s, with a crap load of stuff taken out. That shows how far we have come in accepting people with deformities. In hindsight, he haven't come very far at all.

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 Actually, my SOLE reason for watching this rubbish is because Rebecca Harris is basically the most gorgeous thing on TV! Aside from that, it's just another low-grade U.S cheapie which costs Nine bugger-all to run...

Keats, April 17, 2006 6:11

 Having personally suffered psoriasis (and mildly at that) - I was blown away by these gorgeous girls and their amazing and dedicated parents! My skin condition pales inbelievably and my heart goes out to these strong families. I appreciate the raised level of awareness this skin condition now has due to the programme. I would like to obtain a copy of the programme and wonder how I may go about this?

Natalie, March 4, 2006 2:45

 In reference to your article, I am heartened to see that all of the responses have been contrary to your immature, cynical and cruel view of such a program. I myself, not being an avid TV watcher could not turn this off and was so deeply moved that I too, was compelled to research this issue further. To those who watched this educational program with your "Roll up, roll up, freak show" attitude need to take a moment to be thankful, and spare a thought for those families affected. These young girls make it plain to see that your taken-for-granted good health has rendered you shallow and unappreciative of the miracle that is one's health. Any person who shares your "Freak show" attitude should look at the way in which these sufferers have risen above thier disability and are genuinely good people. Just take one moment to think about how you would cope?

Renee, February 28, 2006 12:59

 I came across this sit after looking for information on the same disease. The show itself has obviously done the job it intended to in raising awareness of this disease.The disease was Harlequin Ichytosis. The full run down of the show can be found here. http://www.qmul.ac.uk/research/newsrelease.php?news_id=148

Gail, February 25, 2006 8:03

 You have to try and remember that as upsetting and disturbing as they shows appear they also serve the purpose of promoting awareness and possibly help for those touched by ANY illness/deformity.

mandy, February 23, 2006 4:44

 It is funny that I stumbled across this site the same way that others did - because of the show of those sweet girls and looking for information to support research to help their condition. But I would like to comment on the above article. - I can see that on the surface 'amazing medical stories' looks like a TV circus in disguise, but now that I have watched it I actually disagree. Personally it turned my perception of these aesthetically different people around. It showed, quite clearly and profoundly that these people are just like me, with passions and goals, who want to live life the best way that they can, and are probably better at it than ‘normal looking’ people. I think that it perhaps challenges our automatic perception and ideas about people who do look different, and forces us to see them as normal human beings. I think it would be hard to come across more inwardly beautiful girls than those girls who have Harlequin ichthyosis. I think if I hadn’t have seen the show I would have been more prone to viewing these people as ‘them’ circus types, and not as they should be, one of us.

Rachel Bards-Sm, February 23, 2006 3:38

 i looked up Harlequin ichthyosis and its a different disease...i even tryed tpying in peeling skin disease.. that might be it.. but if not i would like to know what it was if anyone else does.. thanks

Anna, February 23, 2006 1:32

 Hi Kim I didnt see the show but my mother told me about it. I think that the disease that these children have may be called Harlequin ichthyosis. Not sure but it sounds like what my mother was telling me. Isabella

Isabella, February 22, 2006 1:41

 its the 21st feburary 2006 i live in australia (new south wales) and i just watched amazing medical stories and there where these four little girls that had a skin disease i was just inquiring in what it is called it was a heart moving story as i know what it is like to just want the "perfect" child so to speak! it would be great if you could email me back with the name of it! thankyou for your time!

kim , February 21, 2006 6:21