October 20, 1873

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1873 Phineus T. (P.T.) Barnum opened a hippodrome in New York City and disappointed thousand of school age boys who thought it was going to be a 30 foot tall mechanical hippopotamus that would shoot fire from its mouth and butt. To their subsequent delight, it was a large building that housed Barnum’s circus and they were able to watch as monkeys threw poo at one another and paying guests who strayed too close to their cages. When ask why he threw poo, Chim-Chim a southpaw chimp said, “It’s expected from the American audiences. They just love seeing a snooty woman and her top-hat wearing gent getting poo-ed. I delight in watching the little one’s ugly human faces light up when I’m able to score a strike upon a white silk shirt or dress.”

About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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