Why Sideshow Gaff?

When I was little the sideshow came to Rochester every year.  My mother  always took me and I remember how much fun we had. I started making gaff just recently but I really love it. I have a background in sculpting miniatures so this just came naturally. It has a sense of humor to it and a mystery about it that I can't explain. For those of you who have seen a sideshow you'll know the attraction.  The bed of nails, the bearded lady, the sword swallower, the tattooed man, the giant rat! For those of you who haven't seen one, you don't understand what you're missing.

Meeting The Three Eyed Man

One summer when the sideshow was in town mom and me ran into the three eyed man in the supermarket. I was really little and she told me it was rude to stare at him, but he was so nice and stepped up to talk with me. I'll never forget that experience and what the sideshow taught me. We're all the same, really, even if we've got three eyes, swallow swords, or are crazy artists covered with tattoos.

 

 

Bigfoot's Little Toe...

The expedition took us north to Canada in search of the mysterious Bigfoot. With my team along we headed into the deep woods. We camped with just a small tent and insufficient meals with hopes to catch a glimpse of him. But we did not. We heard him bellowing loudly and kept our weapons close at hand. The last day we awoke to the sound of our trap slamming shut. I rose quickly to investigate, but soon discovered, we had not captured the Bigfoot but had only snagged his little toe.   

 

Witches Wart

During my travels through the black forest I came upon a local doctor whose speciality was removing warts from witches. This fine large specimen was causing her pain so he sliced it from her cheek with a scalpel. I was fortunate enough to come calling before he disposed of it. And he graciously let me have it for my collection.           

 

 

 

 

The Devil's Minion Captured Alive

The town of Maramures in Romania is said to be the home of a mythical creature they call devil's minion. There had been quite a few sightings and we decided to try and capture one. We headed into the woods with tiny jars and bits of raw meat. We placed the meat in the jars and hid them up in the trees where it is rumored they like to sleep. Then we waited and waited. All of a sudden we heard growling and snarling and sure enough the minion was in the jar gnawing on the meat, face covered in blood. I reached up, grabbed the jar and quickly replaced the cork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pickled Pig Boy

 

 

Severed Ear of a Lover

It was 1939 and I had just married my high school sweetheart. He told me he was going away on business. I had no idea he was a spy. Imagine my surprise when I received this letter that he had been captured. I cried for weeks. One year later I received a package. There was no return address but inside was his ear. this small piece of him I have kept with me all these years. It is in the heart shaped box he gave to me the night we were engaged.

 

Blood Sucking Leeches...Alive?

When I was little there was a scary old woman that lived down the street. We used to think that she fed small children to the leeches that lived in her pond. One night we were seeking around her property and we found this jar sitting by the pond. She must have been out collecting them to terrorize people with. They've been living in this jar since 1960. It looks to me like they're still alive, but I'm not breaking the wax seal to find out. I can see blood particles that have fallen to the bottom and their little sucker  mouths are ready to latch on to the first human they can find. It's not going to be me!

 

 

 

Human Baby Discovered in Egg

I was making scrambled eggs early one morning when I cracked open this egg. I almost passed out from shock when I looked inside and there was a human baby. He looks perfect, even has a little hair on his head. He doesn't seem to cry much and is satisfied to sleep quietly in his little egg. I hope someone out there will adopt him as their own and raise hm well. Such a sweet little boy.

 

Jeffery Dahmer's Sunday Soup Recipe

I am an old woman of ninety five and on my death bed I am co nfessing to being a kleptomaniac. Over the years I  have stolen hundreds of trinkets. I fear if I do not tell someone these items will be lost forever. I lived in the same apartment building as Jeffery. He was a clean cut young man. One day he invited me over for soup and biscuits. I managed to sneak away with the recipe he had left laying on the counter and his spoon.

 

 

 

Flying Vampire Monkey

A customer said..."How did I ever live without one."

In Papua New Guinea we discovered a cave so deep men who lived there would not enter. We did not heed their warnings. As we descended the smell became like death. Suddenly we were surrounded by flying vampire monkeys. They were too small and fast to shoot, so we turned and ran. When we reached daylight we discovered one of our men had a monkey hanging from his neck, fangs deep in a vein. We found a small stake and ran it through his heart. He appears to be dead but the locals still warn, NEVER LET HIM LOOSE AND NEVER, EVER FEED HIM A DROP OF BLOOD!

Commander Silas

 

 

 

 

DEVIL PIG CAPTURED ALIVE!!! DANGER!!!

We headed to Uruguay and then on to the small village of O   mbues de Oribe where the depraved creature described as devil pig is said to exist. I did not at first believe the tall tales men told of the tiny yet fierce animal. But I learned the hard way when it lurched at men and dug its teeth deep into my leg, filling me with venom. If not for my guides quick action, cutting out a hunk of flesh and muscle, I would be just another victim. After we wrapped my wound we set out to capture my small nemesis. He has been sealed in this jar ever since. A warning to any and all who come upon this. Never, under any circumstances, let him loose. You will be in grave danger. Heed my warning and do not be fooled by his size. Evil of this kind knows no dimension.

Commander Silas

 

 

Dragon's Eye

To  be the owner of the dragon's eye is to be the host to great power. For centuries kings and warriors have fought for it, longing to behold its great beauty, craving its ability to provide unparalleled strength, energy and vitality. Gaze into it and your soul will absorb the power of the dragon, a beast more mighty than any other in all the universe.

 

Sacrificial Monkey Skull Shrine from a Voodoo Ceremony

After the ceremony the skull would be decorated with bits of fur, fabric, crystals, feathers and string. The skull would then be placed on the alter and be considered a prized possession. An offering would be left near it everday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doctor FrankEnstEins SparE Parts Box

I mEt thE good doctor FrankEnstEin latE onE Friday EvEning. As wE talkEd wE discovErEd wE had much in common and hE graciously invitEd mE to sEE his laboratory. At this timE his crEation was just a drEam. Though I mysElf did beliEvE hE had the ability and dEtErmination to makE it work. BEforE I lEft hE gavE mE this bEautiful box as a gift. It had bEEn in his family many, many yEars. I think hE did not rEalizE hE had lEft it full of Extra...parts.             CommandEr Silas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Severed foot of the Bigfoot

shot at Bluff Creek 1967

It was late October 1967. The story around town was the film clip Roger and Bob shot up at Bluff Creek. Some folks believed it was real, others said it was a fake. But my buddy Jim was bound and determined to prove it one way or the other. He headed up there, rifles loaded. To him eight hours ta' get there. We didn't hear from him for days. But then he was here, standin' on my front porch, wavin' this giant foot in my face and yellin' 'bout how it was proof Bigfoot really exists. 

Wilbur Whitley Jr.

The Bigfoot's foot is actual size. Over 16 inches long. Even the bottom looks real. It was custom made for an avid Bigfoot fan who actually knew the men who shot the famous Patterson-Gimlin film.

 

 

Cyclops Captured Alive!!!!