sideshow

A sideshow, which became popular in the United States in the late 19th century, was a supplementary exhibition to a main circus performance. Often housed in its own tent, sideshows featured human "abnormalities" like giants and dwarfs, as well as illusions and curious inventions. A key element was the "talker" or "grinder" who enticed customers with exaggerated descriptions of the attractions inside. P.T. Barnum was a significant influence in developing sideshows. By the mid-20th century, sideshows declined due to changing social attitudes and the rise of other entertainment forms like cinema and television.123