Arts

With the gleefully irreverent Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) proving that Marvel Studios could turn just about any oddball character (or five of them, for that matter) into a veritable money making machine, we here at Goliath decided to delve deep into the Marvel Comics catalog in order to take a peek at some of […] The post Marvel’s 10 Strangest Superheroes appeared first on Goliath.

By Jim Halden

We're a lot more respectful of disabilities and medical conditions nowadays, but once upon a time they were much more widely exploited for entertainment and profit. Check out these 10 bizarre circus sideshows!

By Kate Kershner

Yes, the circus gets weirder than clowns cramming in tiny cars and aerialists hanging by their hair. Delve into the bizarre history of the Big Top.

By Kate Kershner

Thought circus acts couldn't get more daring than fire-breathing? Guess again. Death-defying stunts are all in a day's work for some circus performers.

By Kate Kershner

We all wish we had super powers, and when we close our eyes and dream about our newfound awesomeness we see ourselves flying, being super strong, moving things with our minds, setting things or ourselves aflame. But for some the dream of being mutated and gaining superhuman abilities does come true, perhaps too true. For […] The post The 10 Worst Super Powers Ever Created appeared first on Goliath.

By Courtney MacDonald

We're all told as children that reading opens our horizons and helps us learn, but does "Harry Potter" expand young minds more than your average kids' book?

By Debra Ronca

Despite the significant progress made in the representations of women in writing and publishing literature, there’s still plenty of work to be done when it comes to popularizing and analyzing texts written by women. With that in mind, we here at Goliath have collected 10 novels that were written by women which you should read […] The post 10 Classic Novels Written By Women That You Need to Read appeared first on Goliath.

By Jim Halden

Magic's about making the impossible possible, but for these magicians the impossible remained out of reach – sometimes with deadly results.

By Becky Striepe

Daredevils testing the laws of physics and the outer limits of bikes and bodies. That's what the Globe of Death act is all about. It's a breathtaking performance, no doubt; but how do they do that?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

There's nothing quite like the circus, is there? The exotic animals, death-defying stunts and funny clowns have entertained folks for generations. But how did modern circuses get started? You have to go back to the 1700s.

By Laurie L. Dove

Seems like the circus has been around forever. The circus doesn't date that far back, but many troupes operating today started in the 19th century. So which is the longest-running one? It depends on whom you ask.

By Laurie L. Dove

Freak shows aren't part of the circus culture now, but for generations they were one of the main draws. So just how and when did circuses start displaying such curiosities?

By Laurie L. Dove

Circuses haven't changed too much through the generations, but one thing you'll be hard pressed to find now is a freak show. Yet, they were once an integral part of the circus experience.

By Laurie L. Dove

Let's just go ahead and say it: yes, knife-throwing is very dangerous. But there are strategies that a knife-thrower uses to keep an act as safe as possible.

By Laurie L. Dove

Working in some circus jobs is not for the faint-hearted. Tightrope walkers, lion tamers or human cannonballs all face death every day. Read on to find out which is the most dangerous job.

By Laurie L. Dove

Imagine jumping from four stories up and landing in a kiddie pool. Some brave souls make a living performing this crazy feat over and over. How do they survive that kind of punishment?

By Nathan Chandler

Since the 1600s, performances of "Macbeth" have been plagued by accidents and mysterious mishaps. Is it all because Shakespeare used actual witches' curses in the play?

By Laurie L. Dove

You might not be whipping knives at the wheel of death by the time you finish reading this article, but you'll be on your way. Ready to learn about this awesome pastime?

By Nicholas Gerbis

You may eat off them every day, but some performers prefer to entertain with their plates. Where did plate spinning start, and what are the physics involved?

By Nathan Chandler

The spotlight goes up on a man, alone except for a large aluminum ring that he grips with one hand. With perfect timing, he steps in, out and around the spinning and wobbling ring in a well-choreographed dance. How does he do it?

By Dave Roos

Tiny but mighty, fleas are capable of some pretty amazing feats. How is insectoid strength harnessed for human entertainment?

By Nathan Chandler

Born to be a showman, P.T. Barnum overcame a number of obstacles (including numerous fires, the loss of several fortunes and one dead elephant) in order to make a buck. Who was this man who was so determined to create the greatest show on Earth?

By Jane McGrath

You've probably seen these women gracefully performing pirouettes or juggling acts in the air — all while suspended by their hair. Does it hurt? And what conditioner do they use?

By Dave Roos

For some, being a circus performer is a job; for others, it is a way of life. Many circus families stretch back seven or eight generations. Who are some of the most storied circus families still under the big top today?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

They bend, they twist, they fold themselves into all sorts of strange and unnatural positions. How do contortionists become human pretzels?

By Chris Opfer