Showie puts history on display

Story: Craig Warhurst

Story: Craig Warhurst

RICHARD Miller says the show circuit is in his blood. He is a third generation showman and his children and grandchildren make the Miller family five generation show people.

Mr Miller is proud of his show heritage, so proud he has collected the largest display of show memorabilia in Australia and has it on display at this year's Gympie Show for the first, and probably last, time.

Yesterday Mr Miller and his offsider were running around erecting the tent to house the collection of artefacts and photos that date back to the 1800s.

The pair worked quickly, seemingly knowing what each other was doing; tying knots, pulling ropes, adjusting banners.

"You are pretty good at putting that up," I said.

"Well, after this many years you get used to it," came the reply from Mr Miller.

Walk inside the tent and the thousands of photos take you back to a time when Side Show Alleys were full of boxing tents, illusion acts and freak shows.

Mr Miller said his Museum took people from the beginning of show culture where show workers would load up horse and carts to go to the next town, or load lorries and attractions on to the back of trains to get to the next venue.

He has collected old illusion acts like the Electric Chair, Head on a Sword, Indian Rope Trick and Zig Zag and has them on display along with a Mouse Circus, puppet acts, old movies and much, much more.

Mr Miller said he has so many objects in his collection he can't show them all and plans to start a permanent display in New South Wales.

Originally published as Showie puts history on display