This historic 1917 building, complete with tiny outside Barker stage, and decorated painted canvas sideshow banners, used to be a restaurant that employed singing waiters. In the 1950’s and 60’s a guy by the name of David Rosen turned it into the Wonderland Circus Sideshow where such legends as Sealo the Seal Boy, JoJo the Dogfaced Boy and Jack Dracula the tattooed man, once performed. (I have never heard of these people…but I am the first to admit I am not up on my sideshow performers.) I do know that the Great Houdini performed in Coney Island, which brings me to how I got here, to this unusual 99-seat theater, in the first place.

About two years ago I did “Good Morning America”. I was with the Ripley’s Believe it or Not people promoting their latest book. One of the other world record holders on the show was The Great Throwdini, aka (The Rev. Dr.) David Adamovich. This guy was billed as the World’s Fastest Knife Thrower and rightly so since he has won both national and world championship titles as a competition knife thrower at two knives per second. In all he holds 7 world records and 1 Russian record. (He has a DVD on knife throwing by the way, at his website, www.knifethrower.com) Anyway, as most of us world record holders do, we exchanged numbers.

We stayed in touch over the next two years on occasion. Then one day I get an interesting email. “Hey Fran, how would you like to be part of the biggest week in Coney Island Sideshow history?” From April 13 to 22, Coney Island is putting together the 1st annual Congress of Curious People event. Every night is something else, starting on Friday the 13th with five freak show legends (PT Barnum, The Elephant Man, Tom Thumb, etc.) being inducted into the “Freak Hall of Fame”, to performances all weekend long by freaks like the bearded woman and Koko, the Killer Clown to a world record attempts day and culminating in a final show called, “The First “INI” show. (A show where all performers names end in INI.)”

At this point I stopped reading trying to figure out where I fit into all of this. I mean I know people have told me I’m a character, but not quite sure I qualify for freak show status and besides, my name ends in the wrong vowel.

I kept reading. “If you want to help with the event or be part of the INI show, we’d love to have you. Just think of how great it would be to perform in the same arena as Houdini.”

That last line caught my eye. Actually it would be pretty neat to perform in the same place as the great Harry Houdini. I emailed Throw back. “Sure I’m game. Do I have to change my name to the Great Frannini or something? Otherwise how do I fit in, unless I emcee?”

Throwdini already had an emcee but we worked on the idea of me co-hosting…the main thing was “not the name” he said, but the fact that everyone on the show was a world record holder – so since I am the fastest talking female (and a comedienne) I happen to fit right in – scary thought huh 

I sent out an email to friends that I thought would get a kick out of this sort of event. My friends; Charles & Dale and my sister, Shahira – (the bellydancer) and my six-year old niece, Athena showed up.

When we first got there, it was pretty empty, with only Dale, Charles and two other people in the room. That was scary. I thought about doing my act in my car at this point. But they say never judge a crowd by its numbers…and we did have twenty minutes left…so hopefully an audience might spring out of the cement sidewalk and show up.

To pass the time, I went out to the lobby, snapped a few pictures of signs and such…and checked the streets. Nope still no people.

“Okay Capo - make the best of it!”

I decided to snap more pictures. Then I spotted a sign that said, “No Photos.” I shrugged and snapped a picture of it…“Oh well, when did I ever listen to rules!”

I went back inside. The performers were all milling around ready to start the show.

It was a strange feeling performing there, I felt like I was transported back in time to Vaudeville. I expected to see a bearded lady in the corner and a midget run out, kick me and tell me that he now owned my first born. The only other act I knew on the show was Throwdini. I had no clue really what to expect.

I was brought back to present day when an announcer yelled out, “Performers, five minutes to show time…the audience is waiting.”

I decided to sit in the audience with my friends instead of hanging out in the dressing room backstage, this was one show I wanted to see up front and center, besides at the last minute we decided it was best if I was just one of the acts instead of co-hosting so the pressure was off.

I joked with my friends about the small audience telling them I could do a private show for them from the seats. Well the last laugh was on me, because the next thing I knew, five minutes had passed and about a hundred people walked in! I was stunned. I ran outside to see if a little bus labeled “Freak Show Convention” had arrived. Either way I was thrilled, the atmosphere was alive and buzzing.

Dick Zigun, El Grand Kahouna of Coney Island, got up thanked everyone for coming and then turned it over to the INI Emcee, Chris McDaniel.

Chris jumped to the stage with energy and enthusiasm. Chris is a world champion - world record holding trick roper and bull whip artist. (He reminded me a little of Colonel Saunders.) He did some bullwhip samples to open up with and then introduced the first act, a comic named Matt Francis.

Since Matt’s last name didn’t end in “INI” and he wasn’t a world record holder, he wanted to do something of shock value to get the audiences attention.

He casually walked to center stage with newspaper in hand, proceeded to undo his pants and then sat down…right on a toilet.

My niece, Athena, closed her eyes, thinking he might not stop at his Fruit of the Looms, which would be a whole other show…but he stopped and there he sat. Athena asked me if this was real. I said, “No this is just and illusion.” She gave me a weird look.

The next act up started the series of “INI’s”. First INI to the stage was, The Great Cindini (World's Preeminent Female Escapologist)…and what exactly is that you ask? Good question…an escapologist is a person who studies the art of escaping…escaping from a strait jacket, handcuffs, anything restricting…you know like maybe an ex-husband…you name it.

Cindini did her act in old Vaudeville style. Dressed as a mix of Mae West and Phantom of the Opera complete with an old style cop chasing her, catching her, and then her doing her great escape.

Poor Athena asked me again, “Is this real?” I said, “Well in a way…she is being chained and getting out…but she is not really being arrested.” She gave me another weird look.

The next INI to move the house was Shakesherheini (an International Belly Dancing Sensation). Athena’s ears immediately perked up… “Hey, mommy’s a bellydancer too!” Athena watched mentally taking notes on the performer's style. Before Shakessherheini (I’m not making this name up)…even did a move, the men in the audience were hooting and hollering.

Shakes did her moves, flirted with the audience and the crowd loved it.

Now it was time for a change of pace…time to have a manINI on the stage. To fill that role, The Great Fredini (a magician, sword swallower extraordinaire) came to the stage in his silvery blue outfit and top hat.

First he did some magic tricks…with some funny side comments.
Then it started to get freaky. First he stuck a nail in his nose

Then he proceeded to pry it out with a hammer.

Athena of course looked at me…”Franny, is this real?”
“Yes, but never NEVER try this at home. It could kill you!”
“How old was he when he put the first nail up his nose? Why did his mother let him do it?”
“I have no clue. I don’t think his mother knew. Watch the show.”

After he finished with his nose, he started on his throat. First a baby sword, then the mommy sword…

and just for good measure…a curved sword to really clear out the palate.

Athena looked at me before she could say anything… I said, “Yup…he’s really doing it.” She shrugged in disbelief. He finished up his act and the place went wild. The energy was amazing.

A short intermission was then taken. At which point people bought souvenirs, drinks and popcorn. It was a this point that Athena kept trying to figure out the rabbit trick that the Great Fredini just did, forget the swords, forget the nails…she wanted to know where that darn rabbit disappeared to. There was also a two headed moose on the wall…I told her it was a freak of nature. She insisted that someone just glued two heads together to pretend and make money. (Maybe she was onto something either that or we had a budding PT Barnum.)

The second half of the show started and Chris again showed off some of his world record talents, this time…his trick roping skills.
He wowed the crowd.

It was now my turn to take the famed stage. The sold out crowd was fantastic. I demonstrated my fast talking skills, feeling rather normal doing it…I looked around for a hammer or rope to add to my act.

Originally I was planning on doing 5-7 minutes, but Throwdini and Chris said, “Stay longer if it’s going well.” I wound up doing 15 minutes. The energy in the room was amazing.

The audience caught all the jokes and were really out to have a good time. I ended with my fast talking rendition of the “Three Little Pigs” complete with huffs and puffs at supersonic speed.

The second half of the show was filled with two more INI’s. First up was Dirty Martini, an award winning burlesque star. Now this was a sight to see, a two hundred fifty plus pound woman with grace and style. I’m telling you this woman was proud of her body.

She of course came out fully clothed.

Slowly she slipped off her clothes one shoulder strap at a time.

We all were watching her in amazement, especially the women. Most of us won’t model if we are ten pounds overweight…but here’s a woman happy as can be peeling off the layers. Gracefully, off came the dress.

Athena didn’t know what to make of it. At first she closed her eyes, then she just watched. “Why is she taking her clothes off?”
I was stumped. If I said, because she wants too, Athena might think its okay…yet here was a crowd of people cheering her on.

“Well, she is showing us an old fashioned style of dancing called, Burlesque…don’t worry she’ll keep something on”. I checked the brochure… it did say family style show.

Finally she was down to the tassels. The room erupted in thunderous applause.

All I can say is, I can climb to Kilimanjaro, dive down to the Titanic, but there is no way in hell, I could or would ever do a strip tease on stage! For that matter there’s no way I’d go to a nude beach either…maybe I’m more old fashioned that I thought. Yet in no way was I offended. It made me smile to see how much fun she was having.

Finally it was time for the grand finale…the biggest INI of them all…the Great Throwdini.

The Throw master came out with his lovely assistant and explained how the whole idea of the INI show was to honor the great HoudINI. Then he explained about the sharpness of the knives, how this was a lost art and how he is a minister by day and knife thrower in his spare time. I guess knowing that fact will keep couples in line during their vows.

He started right off the bat, with the crowd oohing and ahhing at every throw.

Then he had his lovely assistant expose her neck for an extremely close encounter…Now there is one brave woman and trusting…don’t know if I could ever trust a man that much. I mean what if he gets something in his eye or a last minute itch! And what is practice time like? Ahhhh.

To up the ante and the drama…he then was blind folded and hooded! He simply (if that word can actually go here) threw it at the assistant via sound. She would bang the board and he would aim at the sound.

Then he went one step further…he would do it without sight and sound. The assistant put up a sheet and stood behind it quietly.
He threw to where he thought she wasn’t.

He then asked for a volunteer and the guy looked like he was going to have a coronary on stage…once again the act was finished to a magnetude of applause. For 100 people in the audience – a sold out crowd - it sounded like thousands.

We all came out and took our final bows. Photographers snapped dozens of pictures. The crowd cheered again.

It wasn’t revealed to the end of the show that Throwdini was actually performing with an injured hand. Earlier in the day he had caught a knife and the blade broke in his hand. If you looked closely, you saw the bandage and bleeding. Wow! Talk about the show must go on! That is truly a performer.

After the show I took Dale, Charles, my sister, and Athena backstage.

Everyone was talking to Athena…she was loving all the special attention. One magician backstage, Thomas Blacke, even gave her a private show complete with balloon animals, disappearing coins and a souvenier book on Houdini...sure is nice to be the only kid in the place.

But then again…from the looks of it…we were all just kids in adult bodies living out our fantasy…. performing in one wild place on a magical and unique night. Ain't life grand!

Say the Fran the fast talker sent ya

Learn how to eat fire, walk on glass, do burlesque, sword swallow any side skill you want to stick on a resume that will make you stand out!