The History of Tattoos and the Circus
The popularity of the circus during the 19th and early 20th century helped to spread the popularity of tattoos or permanent body art. It was not uncommon for a person with a full body tattoo to be part of the side show of a circus. Both men and women were used for these acts. It was not uncommon for rival circuses to compete with each other to have the most elaborate displays of body ink performers.
The artists that traveled with the circus would sell their tattoo creations to the paying public as they moved across the countryside. The great showman, Phineas T. Barnum, came up with the concept of the “sideshow.”
One of his attractions was James F. O’Connell who was the first tattooed man exhibited in the United States. He told fabulous stories of world travel and adventure including the story of being captured by natives and being forced to submit to this form of branding at the hands of beautiful virgins. This awed the American crowds who had never even heard of the art form before.
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