Ernest Vernweiller - Fire Eater

Date of Application: April 9, 1952
Name: Ernest Seiwell Vernweiller
Title of Act: Fire Eater

Description of Act:
I can eat fire in the traditional manner and spit flames as well. I can also walk coals and if you are willing to pay for my wardrobe, you can set me on fire to great effect. I am impervious to flame. I am not injured by fire, nor does fire hurt my flesh. My hair does not burn. I cannot explain this, but my mother says I may have been spawned by the Devil, which would surely explain my resistance to fire. If you would like to advertise me as such, I would have no objection.

Other Talents: I can smoke up to eighteen cigarettes at a time, using my mouth, ears and nose. I would like to make this an even twenty, given practice. I can make the smoke come out of my eyeballs as well.

Notes: A true oddity, I believe Mr. Vernweiller would be a prime addition to our outfit, especially given our current financial maladies. Since our old fire-eater, Thomas burned his esophagus and can no longer speak, I have no hesitation to replacing him with Vernweiller. I personally attempted to burn the fellow by dunking him into boiling French fry oil and hoisting him into the blacksmith coals. I must admit he showed no damage from my abuse, which was robust. I am not certain that billing him as the Spawn of Satan would be a good marketing move, especially in the South, but it would be apt and should certainly be considered.

- Miller Hatsfield
Manager in Charge of Hiring and Senior Roustabout
The Salty Peters Traveling Carnival, Roadshow and Burlesque Review
 April the 9th, 1952

Nettie Bingham - Bearded Lady

Date of Application: July 9, 1939
Name: Annette Rose Bingham
Title of Act: Nettie - The Bearded Lady

Description of Act:
I can grow a luxurious beard and mustaches and have my own trailer for travel and display. It is an elegant caravan and brightly-colored.

Other Talents: I can dance the bearded hoochie-coochie.

Comments:
Since "Glenda - The Bearded Lady" has taken the cancer, treatments for the disease have caused her hair to fall out. This includes her long beard. She has gone back to West Virginia to live with kin and left us with her caravan, which we have turned into a space for oddities. Miss Bingham has turned up at an opportune time and will join the group in Cincinnati, just in time for our Southern swing. Her beard is indeed luxurious and she has proven flexible in an exotic fashion and will do well for the late-nite hoochie cooch as well.

- Miller Hatsfield, Senior Roustabout
The Salty Peters Traveling Carnival, Roadshow and Burlesque Review
July the 9th, 1939

Mae Scriven - Mrs. Buster Keaton

Date of Application: May 14, 1943
Name: Mae Elizabeth Scriven
Title of Act: Mrs. Buster Keaton

Description of Act:
I was married to silent film star Buster Keaton from 1932 to 1934. I can tell stories about Buster and me and our travels. I can sign autographs.

Other talents: I am a nurse and a hair-dresser.

Comments:
While it would be a novelty to have Mrs. Keaton as a marquee name for signing autographs and the like, the need for a new nurse may supersede thoughts of such a display. Ever since Nurse Myra was bitten by Philleus's ill-tempered monkey, she has taken to her bed with a fever. Since there has been no one to treat her, her state has not improved. Mrs. Keaton has proven flexible and is amenable to being our resident nurse until Myra recovers. She is also willing to cut the hair of the troupe, especially the rousts, who tend toward the unkempt. Since she has no trailer, Mrs. Keaton will travel in my caravan for the time-being. This is on a temporary basis only, until we can paint the old oddities trailer in brightly-colored letters reading "MRS. BUSTER KEATON". She can then use that trailer for travel and display.

- Miller Hatsfield, Senior Roustabout and Hiring Manager
The Salty Peters Traveling Carnival, Roadshow and Burlesque Review

Sadie Burton - Bookkeeper

Date of Application: October 23rd, 1937
Name: Sadie Eloise Burton
Title of Act: Book-Keeper

Description of Act:
I do not have an act. I cipher and can keep books. Am looking for a full-time position and am available to travel.

Other Talents: I speak German.

Notes:
Miss Burton can cipher quickly and seems to have a knack for numbers. Her German is indeed fluent. She is a handsome woman and less mannish than most of the farm-girls we have seen in this part of Nebraska. She has all her teeth and a well-rounded figure. She has proven flexible and could possibly learn the Hoochie-Coochie given time and a patient mentor. I have hired her on to look after the books. She has no trailer at this time and as for now will share my caravan. This is strictly on a temporary basis.

- Miller Hatsfield
Senior Roustabout
The Salty Peters Traveling Carnival, Roadshow and Burlesque Review
 October the 23rd, 1937

Anaru Anahara - Primitive

Date of Application: April 17th, 1941
Name: Anaru Anahara
Title of Act: Primitive

Description of Act:
I am of the Maori. My name means "Andrew the Angel". I dance in a primitive manner, wearing authentic Maori costumes fashioned by my wife Maata. I can swallow fire, tame serpentine and walk coals. I have eaten the human flesh and am a master of its preparation. I also sing the songs of the ancient Maori.

Other talents:I can sharpen knives to a keen edge and throw with accuracy. My wife Maata can dance the hoochy-coochy.


Notes:
While the land of New Zealand is known for being populated by savages, criminals and thieves, I found Mr. Anahara a very straightforward individual. In fact, I found his constant eye contact quite unnerving. We are currently in the market for a quality fire-eater, since the loss of Jorie the Flame to the Ringling outfit. Mr. Anahara may be able to fill the bill and dance the primitive on alternating days. He managed to hunt out a snake from the brush, then toyed with the serpent using a stick and his fingers, then bit its head off and prepared it over a flame of his making, behind the cook tent. We ate the snake, which was delightful, then Mr. Anahara strolled over the coals, showing no ill effects. His wife Maata, while silent, has proven to be flexible and can dance Hoochie and also repair costumes as needed. They have their own caravan and will start a week from Wednesday, after he finishes his current obligation of tracking a ne'er-do-well in Steubenville.

- Miller Hatsfield
Senior Roustabout
The Salty Peters Traveling Carnival, Roadshow and Burlesque Review
 April the 17th, 1941