New Orleans, Louisiana - Feejee Mermaid, Animal Freaks - Closed

Harry Anderson's shop Sideshow, along with his night club Oswald's, closed last summer. Harry has relocated to the Carolinas. [Dillon, 01/24/2007]

Harry Anderson (magician and comedian) and his wife Elizabeth run Sideshow, a unique store devoted to freakery, sideshows, magic, practical jokes, books, jewelry art. Elizabeth Anderson beautifully hand-crafts bracelets from antique dice and Mah Jong pieces.

Under the main counter, you see different runes, and tarot decks, and a unique ouija board, guarded by a "genuine" PT Barnum Feegee Mermaid. You may get your penny fortune read on who you will marry, if you spend too much money, or what the future may bring.

There are interesting items in the shop such as Blackbeard's booger, Pancho Villa's trigger finger, and a vampire child's heart. Two-headed ducks, a flying squirrel and more! Fluffy (a mummified cat) is one of the items in the back room (behind Madame Xanthia's tent). If you want to learn about Sideshows and their history, go visit the "tent." There is a video playing with the Human Blockhead with freaks and geeks. As well as books -- there are rare sideshow models of Schlitzie and others painted by Harry himself.

For magicians, there is magic to be had. Harry has moved his Spade and Archer "magic space" to SIDESHOW. He sells everything from Svengali decks, to linking rings, Needle thru the Arm, and more!

Harry has a great time demonstrating some of the tricks for sale...DEEP ASTONISHMENT caught my eye and I bought one! He baffled us with a "mentalism" trick with two books, made us laugh with the karate coin and refreshed my memory when he showed me the Limited edition, which he reminded me he performed this on Tricks of his Trade TV special in the '90's. [Ellen Kotzin, 11/10/2003]