Past Events
November 5, 2023
Menagerie Oddities Event in Nevada City!
Join Dr. R. Snick (AKA Major Blaze) as he presents shows about Quackery, Oddities and Poisons! Come to learn about ODDITIES Collections from the Victorian and Edwardian eras! Collections will have some rotations so you will SEE something NEW at each SHOW!
September 23, 2023
Dunsmuir Steampunk Festival
11am to 10pm!
Set in the beautiful town of Dunsmuir in Northern California.
Join Dr. R. Snick (AKA Major Blaze) as he brings a collection of odd things and medical quackery from the 1800's to the early 1900's. Be SHOCKED to learn about CURES and POISONS of the past.
September 10, 2023
Solano Sideshow!
FREE EVENT
Meet the Menagerie (AKA Solano Sideshow) at the Midway on Solano Ave!
This event is the Bay Area's largest street fair, over a mile long, which kicks off with a parade at 10am!
Admission is free, there will be fun activities, food, music and your favorite Menagerie vendors!
For more information on the Solano Stroll, go here
Join Dr. R. Snick (AKA Major Blaze) as he brings out STRANGE ARTIFACTS and AMUSING STORIES to the Solano Sideshow at the Solano Stroll.
July 29, 2023 2nd Annual Freakshow!
Three New Dr. R. Snick Presentations:
#1 Famous Freaks (Oddities) and Using Vintage Frames for Displays
See many of the famous oddities who were a part of the P.T. Barnum museums of New York in the 1800's, and some from the early 1900's. Presentation includes tips on using vintage frames for displaying famous oddities.
#2 Strange and Dangerous Medicines
See many strange and dangerous medicines that were used in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Learn about the "Baby Killers" that existed before the Food and Drug Act of 1906!
#3 Bizarre Cures and Devices
Learn how "cures" were sold, making incredible amounts of money for the purveyors, from hundreds of years ago to the 18th century and the early 20th century. Bizarre devices from the civil war to the early 1900's are sure to entertain!
These are 30 minute presentations, and there will be four occuring during the event, on the hour starting at 2pm. #1 will be presented again at 5pm.
Times and sequences subject to change.
June 10, 2023 Oddities Show at Preston Castle
Presenting: Building your Cabinet of Curiosities
Oddities of the Past with Dr. R. Snick
In addition to mermaids and other strange objects, learn about oddities and urban legends of the past and how to collect them for your cabinet or museum! See many of the famous oddities who were a part of the P.T. Barnum museums of New York in the 1800's, in addition to other famous performers up to the mid 1900's.
The Dr. R. Snick Poisons and Cures Show -
Learn about several of the poisons used in the past and how "cures" were sold, making incredible amounts of money for the purveyors, from hundreds of years ago to the 18th century and the early 20th century
Who were some of the famous poisoners of the past?
What has been commonly used as poison?
What were some of the historic "cures" or poison "detectors"?
How have cures been sold?
What dangers did the cures have?
May 11, 2023 7pm Kennedy Mine Historic Talk
Presenting:
Quackery and "cures"- used in Amador County from the 1850's to the early 1900's
Join Major Blaze of "The Major Blaze Medicine Show" as he shares some of the fascinating medicines and devices (legitimate and quackery) in use while the Argonaut and Kennedy mines were in operation.
From Arsenic and Mercury to Strychnine to hidden ingredients such as Opium Derivatives, Alcohol, Ether and other damaging contents!
May 6, 3rd Annual Goth Day Festival presented by Menagerie, Oddities and Curiosities VALLEJO, CA
The Dr. R. Snick Poisons and Cures Show -
Learn about several of the poisons used in the past and how "cures" were sold, making incredible amounts of money for the purveyors. working up to the 18th century to the early 20th century
Who were some of the famous poisoners of the past?
What has been commonly used as poison?
What were some of the historic cures or poison detectors?
How have cures been sold?
What dangers did the cures have?
Sunday April 30
Days of 49 "Street" Celebration
Join Major Blaze as he portrays a Medicine Show Man after the Kiddies' parade!
This is the culmination of the Kit Carson Mountain Men WAGON TRAIN that travels from April 26 to April 30, 2023
April 7-9, 2023 Clockwork Alchemy Steampunk Convention
Presenting:
Patent medicines, poisons and bizarre devices of the Victorian and Edwardian times. Join sideshow performer and fan of fraud, hoaxes and history, Andrei Pischalnikoff, AKA Major Blaze, as he tells you about some of the curious and unsettling things that questionable "Doctors" or "Quacks" sold to the public over a hundred years ago.
Creating your own Oddities Collection Have you ever wanted to create an interesting oddities collection? Join sideshow performer and fan of fraud, hoaxes and history, Andrei Pischalnikoff, AKA Major Blaze as you learn where to find interesting items, some of which would come from the Victorian Era, and some which are created today with the same aesthetic. Learn how to frame photos of famous oddities using convex or bubble frames (through slide show demonstration). Learn about P.T. Barnum and his wonderful performers who were famous oddities in their time. Photos from Major Blaze's 2022 visit to the Massachusetts Middleborough Museum's amazing collection of Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) and Lavinia Bump Warren's family artifacts.
December 3, 4 2022
December 3rd and 4th, 2022 The Menagerie Oddities and Curiosities Holiday Market
6 Major Blaze Medicine Show presentations were given over two days, on the grounds of the Winchester Mystery House of San Jose, California. Content included: The history of Quackery from the 18th century to the mid 20th century.
The event was the Oddities and Curiosities Holiday Market presented by The Menagerie Oddities Market.