Todd, Phoenix, Creature and Morgue arrive at The Magic Castle where Max Maven brings them through various rooms and shows off magician memorabilia. VENICE, CA After more than a decade of thrilling visitors with acts such as the Bearded Lady, the Wolf Boy and an array of two-headed animals, the Venice Beach Freakshow will close its. You can also meet Rocky the five-legged dog and Freddie the five . Jessa, 'the bearded lady,' holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest beard on . Later, Todd brings some Freakshow members to a nursing home to visit his sick pal, George French. Katy Perry and Luke Bryan Announce Summer Dates for Las Vegas Residencies Katy Luke By While Ray is hopeful that the Venice Beach Freakshow will continue on in a new location, he acknowledges that finding affordable retail space in Venice will be extremely difficult. Protesters were animated, to put it mildly. in Los Angeles history, right here in Venice. After mastering the concept of 'breaks', he quickly finished his group's first demo. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album, "Photographic image of article on Todd Ray", "Photographic image of article on Todd Ray (part 2)", "Photographic image of article on Todd Ray (part 3)", "Venice Beach Freak Show, a bizarre tourist attraction on the boardwalk, is closing", "Iconic Venice Beach Freakshow Is Closing Its Doors After 11 Years", "The Venice Beach Freakshow is Closing. Spectators gather to see truly unique people, specimens and creatures. Puffing away, he told Ray, Remember son, you can do anything in life.. By what name was Freakshow (2013) officially released in Canada in English? But PolygGram's rival, Def Jam, quickly became a household name and by the summer of 1987, the group broke up. The company has funded a computer science program at a Venice elementary school, and tech training for women at St. Joseph Center, a longstanding homeless services organization. Its not an age thing because were all curious. As an array of skilled, and not so skilled, performers audition, the Freakshow family realizes that finding a new addition won't be easy. Upvote Downvote. But first, Phoenix needs to find a date! Creature is looking for a place to live but finds that his appearance is off-putting to potential roommates. Some of my workers have had to leave the state. SUBSCRIBE! Snap took over an eatery that had been called Seans Cafe and as with Nikkis bar turned it into a commissary for employees. He prefers to think of it as a celebration, rather than a funeral. L.A. Country records show the property is owned by a trust attributed to Leslie Ekker and Simone Scharff under the name General Real Estate Management Company. I had made one copy for Eclipse (yes- that Eclipse), who originally lived in South Carolina too, who had sent it to an old friend in Rhode Island, who moved to L.A. and became one of the members of Jurassic 5, whose DJ just happened to be Cut Chemist. Meanwhile, Ray has to pack up a lot of weird stuff, including a jar that holds the corpse of a two-headed baby. An insane photo tour of the Venice Beach Freakshow, subject of the AMC reality series 'Freakshow' . A beautiful old horse stable hosts one of the largest collections of domestic animal skeletons and taxidermy. Soon, Snap took up at the Gingerbread Court, a brick-structure courtyard on the beach with small storefronts. Several properties on Market Street remain unleased. Miss Electra is reticent. As he, Asia and Morgue discuss the expansion, Todd reveals plans to separate Asia and Morgue and have one perform in Vegas while the other stays in Venice Beach. They ask Morgue about the state of his and Asia's relationship but he doesn't go into details. Come Celebrate Women! Todd tries to organize a pop-up show at a suburban mall; Short E. Dangerously visits. After setting up camp and pitching tents, the crew learns the ways of a wandering lifestyle from Ken "The King" Kurt "Dirti" Powell and other hobos who had formally worked at The Venice Beach Freakshow. At the event, Morgue wants to perform a new stunt involving a bed of razor blades. Freakshow Season 1 (20) 2013 TV-14 AMC's Freakshow follows Todd Ray's quirky family business - the Venice Beach Freakshow. Despite this, evidence shows that Snapchat did associate with Snapshot Partners in acquiring the building, which led to the Freakshow being a part of protests like #EvictSnapchat, fighting the gentrification of Venice Beach. It also garnered fans far beyond the boardwalk when in 2013 it became the subject of an AMC reality show, which ran for two seasons and offered viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the family business. But, as we're finishing the record he tells me this fucking story of how he was inspired by this fucking tape that he got from down South, and that tape was my fucking tape. Tony Bill, a 45-year tenant on Market Street, also defended Snaps legacy in town, calling its detractors claims inverted nostalgia. Mr. Bill, an Academy Award-winning director and producer, owns the building where Nikkis was located. Later, Morgue and Asia discuss the auditions and he informs Everyone at the Freakshow is excited for Boobzilla, a performer who crushes soda cans and lift objects with her size 44R cup breasts. Activists mapped Snaps properties and said the company took up 41 addresses in total, but the company said that it held roughly 30 leases in the area. But Snapchat told The Argonaut that it is only interested in the top two floors, not the retail space that currently houses the Freakshow. But what you just did for me, I dont think I could ever do in my life with all the practice in the world., Even the clowns are sad, Ray says. Ali worries about her job security after a man who's even littler than she is performs on a skateboard; Morgue is less than impressed with any of the performers' stage presences; and Todd is intrigued by a snake lady, but Asia is troubled by the sexual nature of the act. Make sure you hang around to see the show. In the process, Snap was blamed for displacing a youth homeless services center and a beloved but crumbling dive called Nikkis, which closed that June. People are coming here still for the freak show and I have to break hearts and say, Sorry, the freak show is closed, said Catherine Schultis, a self-described homeless person who, along with her partner Rick Campbell, sells solar poetry burned into fragments of wood on the oceanfront walk. Todd arranges a Strongman Competition at the Freakshow involving guests with unusual strengths. Competition between the performers heats up. Our goal is just to bring wonder back in the world.. As seen in the Guinness Book of World Records, they have the largest collection of living two-headed animals in history, including two-headed turtles, snakes and lizard. "The idea that we have to fit into other people's boxes is really the trap that keeps us all so unhappy. It was a slap in the face to the community, especially after what its been through in the past few years, he said. In order to up their game, Asia begins to work on a stunt involving a ladder of machetes and Morgue crafts a device to enhance his water regurgitation act. venicebeachfreakshow Follow 1,208 posts 36.3K followers 6,487 following Todd Ray Official Instagram of Todd Ray aka. Husband-and-wife Todd and Danielle Ray at the Venice Beach Freakshow; Credit: Nanette Gonzales for L.A. Weekly, Rays first love was magic. But he told The Argonaut newspaper he is trying not to be bitter. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The show served as a protest, a farewell and a fundraiser. an op-ed in The Los Angeles Times lamenting the loss. Freakshow is an American unscripted reality documentary television series from AMC that chronicles the operations of former music producer Todd Ray's Venice Beach Freakshow. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. A collector all his life, after retiring from the music business Ray moved his collections to a storefront on the beach and opened the Venice Beach Freakshow, a throwback to the kind of dime museums that once inhabited Venice Beach. Snapshot Partners didnt immediately reply to a request for comment from HuffPost. Starring Todd Ray, Danielle Ray, Asia Ray Subtitles None available This video is currently unavailable to watch in your location This week, Todd and the Freakshow gang are looking to break some new world records. In typical Venice Beach fashion, the freak show isnt leaving without one last spectacle. Todd is hesitant, fearing they may be judgmental of his and Danielle's non-conventional lifestyle, but Todd brings Zamora the Torture King to test the skeptics. Theyre just doing this as an investment, but with their lack of vision, theyre also killing a lot of the culture along the way and really pushing out the family businesses that have made Venice what it is., In a statement emailed to L.A. Weekly, Snapchat denied it has any affiliation with Snapshot Partners LLC. On Sunday, April 30, from noon until 6 p.m., Ray and his performers are hosting a farewell party they hope will also serve as a de facto protest against Venice gentrification. This counterculture mecca on the Pacific Ocean has always attracted freethinkers and visionaries. Long line to get in, but plenty of freaks outside to satisfy one's curiosity. At the same time, it added a sense of security to the neighborhood, in a weird way.. And the new owner of the building is ironically named Snapshot Partners. Its not a man, woman thing. Bit by bit, Snap Inc., as the company is now known, was built into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, resulting in the biggest I.P.O. In early 2017, Mr. Spiegel and Mr. Murphy took their company public. He grew up in a conservative Christian household in Montana and began teaching himself magic after being gifted a book about magic by his grandmother. 2023 Atlas Obscura. As an array of skilled, and not so skilled, performers audition, the Freakshow family realizes that finding a new addition won't be easy. He eventually founded his own label under Warner Bros. Records before becoming disenchanted with the business side of the industry and calling it quits. A Grammy-winning producer he earned the award in 2000 for his work on the Santana album Supernatural he says he spent decades in the music industry working with everyone from Mick Jagger and Jack Johnson to Nas and Beastie Boys. Today, the Waterfront is repainted and refurbished, and although comfy and clean, it feels a bit washed down. Todd is surprised that Phoenix is turning into such a "ladies man" but Danielle has concerns. To create the razor bed, Todd, Morgue, and Asia visit Rick Lazzarini, a special effects artist. But with Snaps exodus, what comes next? The final competition was judged by representatives from Def Jam and PolyGram. Asia takes interest in expanding her electric act. Ray wasnt always in the business of recruiting people he likes to call the tallest or the hairiest in the world. rockstockbarrel January 15, 2015. "To get on as a producer, to go through turmoil, through hip-hop, and get to the point where I felt that people were doing hip-hop that I couldn't respect, so I moved to the West Coast to do rock & roll shit. Whatever residue Snapchat left in terms of neighborhood animosity, its kind of ironic that some people are upset that Snapchat moved to Venice, fixed things up, cleaned up things, and then left, Mr. Bill said. Miss Electra Todd and the Freakshow family head to Gibsonton, Florida, a town that had once been the winter home for carnival and sideshow performers across the country. Can Todd pull off a surprise 21st birthday party for Asia? Snaps leadership moved to Santa Monica in June 2018. Creature tries to reunite with his estranged five-year-old daughter. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Street performers have had a big role in shaping Venices creative ethos. Danielle and Asia argue; Todd is given a tour of the Magic Castle; Todd considers incorporating magic into the show. The tour will be conducted by Max Maven, an acclaimed magician and mentalist who Morgue considers to be one of the best in the business. With Todd's urging, Ali visits a doctor who says hip replacement surgery is her only option. With the ink still drying on their deal, T-Ray and his group, moved straight from South Carolina to Rosedale, Queens, where they finished an album for Tin Pan Apple Records and appeared on the Fresh Fest Tour. Wake up to the day's most important news. Im not railing against these guys, Mr. Lopez said, referring to Snap. 23 talking about this. By 1996, Todd had begun to produce rock & roll. He was listening to Jake Mathews, one of the new owners, explain how passionately the new Waterfront doesnt want to displace its old regulars, people like him. It may not be a Snap, Amazon, Google or Facebook that comes in, said Jeff Pion, a vice chairman at CBRE based in Los Angeles. Andrew Gatto November 17, 2014. Snaps cartoon ghost logo had officially arrived at the beach. Today, For Lease signs dangle from the rooflines. Space Cowboy tries to break a world record; Danielle invites neighbors to dinner. Market Street in Venice, just steps from the beach, used to be Snaps headquarters. Freakshow is an American unscripted reality documentary television series from AMC that chronicles the operations of former music producer Todd Ray 's Venice Beach Freakshow. The tech giant also said it is unaffiliated with Snapshot Partners, the company reportedly leasing the space. I think a lot of companies saw how Snapchat was treated by the protesters, and they dont want to see the same thing.. Jesse the Half Man and Jim the Armless Wonder show off their abilities; Todd must make a difficult decision. The gang tries to attend a camp-out, hobo wedding for Digger and Paige; Ali and Matt have marital issues. Todd Ray, the operator of the Freakshow, has said he isn't sure where the show will land, suggesting that Las Vegas was a possibility. Before that, it was once a trailblazing restaurant known as 72 Market Street. At home, Todd shows Danielle some of his new oddities, including a pig that was born with his brain outside of its head. At its peak, Snap took up 305,000 square feet of office space in Venice, mostly on Market Street, Ocean Front Walk and Abbot Kinney Boulevard. [2] With no rural job opportunities, and his pre-med scholarship lost, Todd worked non-stop on music production. Ray is married to Danielle. Ray founded the Venice Beach Freakshow in 2006. Creature meets his daughter face-to-face; Todd wants to throw a surprise party for Asia's 21st birthday. No one really understood what it was for, or what the tech was about, but they would always just throw parties, Mr. Olson said. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. As Phoenix's "talking" lessons begin, he finds himself getting nervous and overwhelmed in front of his father. "If everyone would just hold that idea in their heart, then in fact the Freakshow will still be alive. His father's life was plagued by violence and alcoholism and ended with a mysterious murder. Ms. Schultis said she made friends with several Snap employees when they were around, but the companys security guards were hostile to homeless people. But theyre killing the vibe.. Brianna Belladonna "The Indestructible Woman", This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 14:38. Leonardo DiCaprio, Roseanne Barr, Patricia Arquette, and even Bill Bellamy have all come through the Freakshow. Asia wants to expand her electric act by a deadly Tesla coil stunt. As he, Asia and Morgue discuss the expansion, Todd reveals plans to separate Asia and Morgue and have one perform in Vegas while the other stays in Venice Beach. Todd brings in people from around the world for a tattoo event; Creature considers a place to live. Offer subject to change without notice. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Todd suggests that he attempt "The One-Armed Handstand," a stunt once performed by famed "half-man" Johnny Eck. A family drama that centers on former music producer Todd Ray as he pursues his dream to own and operate his own Freakshow on the famed boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA. Digger lets their visitors know that in order to stay on the property, "chores need to get done". He went on to produce an entire album for Double X, with 'Not Gonna Be Able To Do It" (1992) becoming his first video. Rays request was denied. As Snap, Google and other tech brands grew into Venice, homeowners saw rising property values by more than 80 percent since 2000 in some tracts, according to data compiled by Governing magazine. The Freakshow celebrates the history of giants with a "Living Giants" special event. Todd eventually ran out of money and had to move back to South Carolina. Todd tries to convince a living giant and a bearded lady to join The Freakshow and be a part of the two-headed bearded dragons birthday party. Or, for that matter, look at the guys who invented Snapchat. Location: The Jewel Box Theatre, The Erotic Heritage Museum Recently Seen SpouseParentChildSiblingFamily memberOther, Sweet James has my permission to help provide a free police report, Packed-up boxes at the Venice Freakshow; Credit: Courtesy Venice Beach Freakshow, Ciel Spa aka @CielSpaBH located the SLS Hotel i, Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, what beg, The holiday season is a time of giving! His parents divorced when he was a teenager. Its not as simple as a lot of people want to make it, said Will Hawkins, a founder of the nonprofit group Chamber of Hope, which hasnt received donations from Snap. So the business is going out in style, staging a Farewell Party and Protest, featuring performances, stunts, music -- and even the wedding of Jessa the Bearded Lady. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.