Carnival Diablo
Encyclopedia
Carnival Diablo the Ultimate Sideshow is an award winning traveling sideshow operating primarily in Ontario
, Canada
. Performances by the troupe follow a traditional Ten-in-One format featuring such acts as fire-eating, sword swallowing and a human blockhead, with show times lasting two and a half hours. Carnival Diablo opened on April Fools' Day
1992 by Scott McClelland, whose family goes back three generations within the carnival and side show business. Shows have been performed across Canada, including shows at The Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days (Now the Edmonton's Capital Ex
,) Regina's Buffalo Days, and the Canadian Tulip Festival. In 2008 and 2009, Carnival Diablo was featured act at Carnivàle Lune Bleue
,; a dedicated revival of a 1930s old-time carnival located in Ottawa, Ontario.
Starting early in life, Scott began apprenticing under his grandfather at the age of 13. Scott produced a Vaudeville Show called, Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show in 1978 and performed it yearly at the Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days and Regina's Buffalo Days until 1985. He then toured the show to theatres until 1991. Scott was involved with two of Canada's largest haunted attractions. The first, 'The Caine Manor' built in 1981, was where Scott learned the ropes under horror special effects artist Charles Porlier
. The second, 'The Black Castle', was a two story horror attraction that featured a thirty minute journey from beginning to end. It was at this time that Scott began producing a Magic Torture Show featuring black magic illusions such as the Guillotine and a flaming Sword Cabinet. In keeping with the horror theme, these shows where performed by Scott in full zombie costume and makeup.
With the development of a working stage act, Scott invented Carnival Diablo as the Ultimate Sideshow, and began touring Canada in 1992. The act featured special effects combined with real feats and performances. Performers in Carnival Diablo's history have included Strongmen, Grindergirls, Human Pincushions, Sword Swallowers and Bug Eaters. The success of Carnival Diablo has led to appearances on television as well as a cameo appearance by Scott McClelland in the film Wolf Girl
.
In the summer of 2010, Carnival Diablo was featured in the "Historical Building" at the Ottawa SuperEx. They had a large exhibit that presented the history of Professor N.P. Lewchuck's Travelling Shows, an exhibit dedicated to "The Machines of Death," and their World of Wonders. Their exhibits placed 3rd overall for "Best Attraction." Scott also gave nightly lectures on the history of sideshow, as well as his experience as a showman.
Nikolai Diablo Leading the show, Scott McClelland eats razor blades, drinks boiling water, pierces his tongue with a hook and plays Russian Roulette with a nine-inch construction spike, among other amazing feats.
Ophelia A young Gothic Lolita who dances on broken glass, and lies on a bed of nails, allowing a cinder block to be crushed on her chest.
The Mighty Colossus The gargantuan strongman bends iron bars in his teeth, rolls frying pans into cigars, tears phone books in half and lifts a 300lb. concrete Atlas Ball!
and the Canadian National Exhibition
.
The World of Wonders Houses an assortment of strange and obscure objects, promising such marvels as 'The Mummified Prospector', 'The Killer Dummy' and much, much more.
Anastasia the Living Mermaid Hidden away under a carnival tent is a Living Mermaid ready to interact with anyone from within the confines of her tank of water.
The Missing Link The frozen remains of the missing link between Neanderthals and Homosapiens, complete with an archival documentary.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Performances by the troupe follow a traditional Ten-in-One format featuring such acts as fire-eating, sword swallowing and a human blockhead, with show times lasting two and a half hours. Carnival Diablo opened on April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
1992 by Scott McClelland, whose family goes back three generations within the carnival and side show business. Shows have been performed across Canada, including shows at The Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days (Now the Edmonton's Capital Ex
Edmonton's Capital EX
Edmonton's Capital EX, formerly known as Klondike Days or K-Days, is an annual 10-day exhibition held in Edmonton, Alberta, usually near the end of July. In recent years it has attracted between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors each year...
,) Regina's Buffalo Days, and the Canadian Tulip Festival. In 2008 and 2009, Carnival Diablo was featured act at Carnivàle Lune Bleue
Carnivàle Lune Bleue
Inspired by travelling carnivals of the 1930s, Carnivàle Lune Bleue is a live entertainment event created in Ottawa, Canada by Executive Producer and Founder Wayne Van De Graaff...
,; a dedicated revival of a 1930s old-time carnival located in Ottawa, Ontario.
History
Scott McClelland's grandfather, Nicholas Paul Lewchuk, had run and operated Canada's largest traveling sideshow in Canada from 1920 through 1968. Starting as a performance show with acts ranging from sword swallowing to an on stage seance, Professor N.P. Lewchuck's Travelling Shows grew to include rides and live animals. Nicholas, whose fascination with magic led to the birth of the sideshow, performed many mental acts himself, with his wife Anastasia acting as the show sword swallower. Starting in 1968, Nicholas Lewchuk maintained the shows as a stationary attraction, until 1987.Starting early in life, Scott began apprenticing under his grandfather at the age of 13. Scott produced a Vaudeville Show called, Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show in 1978 and performed it yearly at the Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days and Regina's Buffalo Days until 1985. He then toured the show to theatres until 1991. Scott was involved with two of Canada's largest haunted attractions. The first, 'The Caine Manor' built in 1981, was where Scott learned the ropes under horror special effects artist Charles Porlier
Charles Porlier
Charles E. Porlier Emmy Award-winning makeup artist and makeup effects teacher-lecturer.Charles Porlier was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and started his career as a child-puppeteer, inspired by, then meeting and learning from Jim Henson of the Muppets...
. The second, 'The Black Castle', was a two story horror attraction that featured a thirty minute journey from beginning to end. It was at this time that Scott began producing a Magic Torture Show featuring black magic illusions such as the Guillotine and a flaming Sword Cabinet. In keeping with the horror theme, these shows where performed by Scott in full zombie costume and makeup.
With the development of a working stage act, Scott invented Carnival Diablo as the Ultimate Sideshow, and began touring Canada in 1992. The act featured special effects combined with real feats and performances. Performers in Carnival Diablo's history have included Strongmen, Grindergirls, Human Pincushions, Sword Swallowers and Bug Eaters. The success of Carnival Diablo has led to appearances on television as well as a cameo appearance by Scott McClelland in the film Wolf Girl
Wolf Girl
Wolf Girl is a 2001 Canadian/American horror thriller about a girl who travels with a freak show because of her rare genetic disorder, hypertrichosis.-Plot:...
.
In the summer of 2010, Carnival Diablo was featured in the "Historical Building" at the Ottawa SuperEx. They had a large exhibit that presented the history of Professor N.P. Lewchuck's Travelling Shows, an exhibit dedicated to "The Machines of Death," and their World of Wonders. Their exhibits placed 3rd overall for "Best Attraction." Scott also gave nightly lectures on the history of sideshow, as well as his experience as a showman.
Today
In recent years, Carnival Diablo has evolved from a stage show embodying the look and feel of a 19th-century Victorian sideshow to a performance tinged with more sinister and otherworldly subtext. Today, the Sideshow features various performers fulfilling the Ten-in-One act.Nikolai Diablo Leading the show, Scott McClelland eats razor blades, drinks boiling water, pierces his tongue with a hook and plays Russian Roulette with a nine-inch construction spike, among other amazing feats.
Ophelia A young Gothic Lolita who dances on broken glass, and lies on a bed of nails, allowing a cinder block to be crushed on her chest.
The Mighty Colossus The gargantuan strongman bends iron bars in his teeth, rolls frying pans into cigars, tears phone books in half and lifts a 300lb. concrete Atlas Ball!
Attractions
Along with the sideshow performances that Carnival Diablo has become famous for, Scott McClelland has created several attractions that have been put on display at several venues, most notably at carnivals such as the Red River Ex, the Calgary StampedeCalgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
and the Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
.
The World of Wonders Houses an assortment of strange and obscure objects, promising such marvels as 'The Mummified Prospector', 'The Killer Dummy' and much, much more.
Anastasia the Living Mermaid Hidden away under a carnival tent is a Living Mermaid ready to interact with anyone from within the confines of her tank of water.
The Missing Link The frozen remains of the missing link between Neanderthals and Homosapiens, complete with an archival documentary.