The Strangest Book on Earth: Take a Peek Behind the Sideshow Curtain with Showman C. M. Christ

In 2003, I spent a few days in Gibsonton, Florida—Gibtown, for those in the know—with Ward Hall and Chris Christ. The two legendary showmen ran the World of Wonders sideshow and had been in the business for decades. Hall shared stories with me for hours, which was hugely helpful in my research for American Sideshow. Chris was quieter, content to let Hall do most of the talking.

With so many years of experience, traveling, and working with the world’s most unusual people, they had no shortage of tales. Hall, in fact, had filled two books of his own with them: My Very Unusual Friends, and Struggles and Triumphs of a Modern Day Showman. In 2014, Tim O’Brien wrote his biography, Ward Hall: King of the Sideshows.

Sadly, Ward Hall passed away in 2021 at age 88.

Chris Christ remains in Gibsonton. And despite their longtime partnership, they’ve got different stories. Lots of them. Fortunately, they’re now available in the new book, Strangest Show on Earth: Tales of the Midway as Told to Kevin Gerrone by C. M. Christ (Ballyhoo Press).

Strangest Show on Earth is now available from Ballyhoo Press.

Christ recounts the good times, the bad times, and the truly bizarre times. Among the former was a stint with the Roller Brothers Circus: “There is nothing like being on the circus, and Roller Brothers was no exception. Helen Carpenter had the lion act. It was just four old lions, but there is nothing more peaceful than being out in the country on a humid night listening to them roar as you fall asleep. Like taking a handful of valium. It’s wonderful.”

Other tales share fond memories of Toby, Christ’s trained chimpanzee and friend, and not-so-fond memories of having his pickled punks (two-headed babies in jars) confiscated and later buried.

And then there was working with Burt Ward— better known as Robin from television’s campy Batman series of the 1960s. Christ doesn’t mince words about Robin, who was hardly the Boy Wonder:

Burt Ward was the absolute drizzling shits; he was terrible. He had some young girl, and they did something with a person in a gorilla costume, but it wasn’t a gorilla parody. It was some piece of shit that he had written.

Things got worse one evening when Robin started complaining in bad weather “I’m soaking wet and covered in mud,” Christ recalled.

Then “Robin” comes to me and says that he can’t work under these conditions. I’m not in the greatest mood, I’ve been out there since seven in the morning in the mud, and it’s six o’clock at night. I said, “Motherfucker, if you don’t work tonight you don’t ever work again.” The purchasing agent was there, and I told him to go someplace around here and get some mud boots for this guy to wear because he is going to work. I told him, “Either you are going to get a little muddy and work, or you are not going to be in any condition to work.” I was going to punch him out; I had about all his shit that I could handle.

Kevin Gerrone has been documenting stories of showmen for many years—all of whom have become close friends. Many can be found in his recently launched journal, On the Inside. But for a real, raw insider’s peek behind the curtain, Strangest Show on Earth delivers wonderfully and captures a unique era in the outdoor amusement business.

Weird Historian interviewed Gerrone about the book and putting it all together with Christ.

When and where did you first meet Chris?

I have known Chris and Ward for many many years.  I can’t remember if I met them in their home in Gibtown or out on the midway.  

What led to the idea to write the book? Did you approach Chris with the concept, or did he reach out to you?

There has been so much written by and about Ward and so little about Chris.  Ward was the spotlight guy by design. Chris did a lot of behind-the-scenes, so to say, work. One night Chris and I were sitting on his back porch cutting it up and we both kinda looked at each other and said….  Why not? Though Ward and Chris were partners for over 50 years they both have their own stories. Most have never heard Chris’s and it’s a shame. He is such an asset to the business. One hell of a showman.  This book will give the readers a different look at not only how Ward and Chris worked together for all those years, but about the changes that took place in the business.  

What was your process in putting Strangest Show together with Chris?

Chris is one of my closest friends. We have spent a lot of time together and talk pretty much every day. I try and spend as much time in Gibtown as I can—and I ALWAYS have my recorder on me when I’m around show people. We did a lot of recording at his house as well as over the phone. But the majority was recorded in Gibtown.

What are some of your favorite stories captured in the book?

The book is loaded with jackpots. My favorite one is the 1977 raid at Grayslake, Illinois, when the pickled punk show was busted and Chris was arrested. But, there is so much more…. How he met Ward and became partners, how he went bankrupt and built a circus, and Chris working for Ted Turner as a promoter for WCW wrestling.

What do you hope readers take away from reading it?

My hope is that this book will provide an idea of what it was like when there still were shows on the carnival midway. Ever since I was little I have been obsessed with the carnival business. I have interviewed lots of old showmen, sadly most have passed away. I promised every one of them to try and preserve as much of their history as I can. Unfortunately, there is more than I’ll ever be able to print.

Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I’m working on a few new projects but the third issue of my publication On the Inside is on top.  

Want a copy of Strangest Show on Earth ? You can purchase the book via Facebook at the Ballyhoo Press page or by emailing Ballyhoopress@gmail.com

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