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.

May 6, 3rd Annual Goth Day Festival 

Presenting:  Building your Cabinet of Curiosities

Poisons of the Past and their Strange Uses in America and England

See and hear about fascinating medicines and devices of the past that were strange and offtimes dangerous.

Oddities of the Past

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.

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 the fascinating medicines and devices (legitimate and quackery) in use while the Argonaut and Kennedy mines were in operation.

June 10, 2023  Oddities Show at Preston Castle

Presenting:  Building your Cabinet of Curiosities

Oddities of the Past

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.

Poisons of the Past and their Strange Uses in America and England

See and hear about fascinating medicines and devices of the past that were strange and offtimes dangerous.

July 29, 2023  2nd Annual Freakshow!

Presenting:  Building your Cabinet of Curiosities

Oddities of the Past

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.

Poisons of the Past and their Strange Uses in America and England

See and hear about fascinating medicines and devices of the past that were strange and offtimes dangerous.

August 12, 2023  Victorian World Faire

Presenting:  Building your Cabinet of Curiosities

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.

Oddities of the Past

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.