Contortionists

I started thinking about contortionists again when I happened upon a feature on them in an old issue of Life. In my novel Spondulix I had a character who was an "enter-ologist," a great term I found in Ricky Jay's wonderful history of sideshows and freaks, Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women. Enter-ologists get into impossible places, rather than escape from impossible places.

In any case, a short search of the web turned up lots of online contortionist info, including the Contortion Home Page, which is where I found this pic of April Tatro. That's her in the video below as well.

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Comments

Big Gary--good taste again! I assumed LPAFW was OOP and sought-after when I saw the high Amazon price!

Posted by Paul on 09/12/08 at 11:38 AM

If you don't mind a used paperback copy, they're much cheaper on half.com.

Posted by BikerPuppy on 09/12/08 at 12:26 PM

BikerPuppy--excellent idea!

Posted by Paul on 09/12/08 at 01:03 PM

Avmayes--we aim to satisfy every possible human craving!

Posted by Paul on 09/12/08 at 01:03 PM

Manda--yoga: not so unusual. Yoga plus cake-baking: unusual!

Posted by Paul on 09/13/08 at 12:21 PM

I think I've lived my life as an amateur enter-ologist, without even knowing it...
I can get into weird places extremley easily... Even if it involves weird positioning....
=D

Posted by Lucy Boomcrackle in Tennessee on 09/16/08 at 09:23 PM

Lucy--I remember as a kid squeezing under a kitchen cupboard. That's a sensation most adults can't reclaim.....

Posted by Paul on 09/17/08 at 10:18 AM

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