Dan Meyer started life as a scared, shy, skinny wimpy kid who suffered from social anxiety disorder and was teased and beat up by bullies. He vowed someday to do real magic, real feats and somehow fly around the world like a superhero defying death and saving lives. After a near-death experience with malaria fever as a missionary in south India in the place where sword swallowing started, Meyer decided to put his fears to death and take on risks and challenges. Over 20 years later, he added sword swallowing to his bucket list of goals.

After 14,000 unsuccessful attempts over 4 years, Meyer finally swallowed his first sword in 2001. Since then, sword swallowing has taken Meyer on a remarkable journey to impact lives around the world, on over 100 TV programs, on 9 TED Talks, on 16 Got Talents including the finals of America’s Got Talent and Sweden’s Talang, and live in over 60 countries around the world.

Dan Meyer is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, coauthored by sideshow historian Marc Hartzman and published by Schiffer Publishing, now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

For more on To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #DanMeyer

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.29 Ling Look: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

Ling Look was a master sword swallower and illusionist from the mysterious Far East who travelled the world from 1868 to 1878. In reality, his real name was David Gueder from Budapest Hungary who performed around the world with his brother, until his death… and even for many years after that around Europe by an imposter.

Ling Look is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

For more on To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #LingLook

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.20 Count Desmond: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of legendary sword swallower “Count Desmond”, Edward Benjamin, who received three Guinness World Records, one for swallowing 13 swords at once, who swallowed a sword while hanging suspended upside down over Niagara Falls, and who worked as a sword swallower with circuses like the Shrine Circus, Circus Bartok and many other circuses and sideshows between 1957 and 1994.

Count Desmond’s story comes from his chapter in book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #CountDesmond

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow #daredevil

#CircusBartok

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.19 Sir Francis Doran: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of legendary sword swallower Francis Doran, who worked with circuses and sideshows first as a half-and-half, and later as a sword swallower with Bailey Brothers Circus, Dailey Brothers Circus, Ward Hall’s World of Wonders Sideshow, and ultimately with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Hoxie Bros Circus, and many other circuses and sideshow between 1941 and 1979.

Francis Doran’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #FrancisDoran

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#HoxieBrosCircus

#RinglingBrothersCircus

#WardHallsWorldofWonders

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.18

Lady Diane Falk: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Diane Falk, who worked as a sword swallower for over 30 years from 1979 to 2009 with John Bradshaw’s Sideshow, Coney Island Sideshow, Ward Hall’s World of Wonders, and many other shows, including being the sword swallower featured in Bruce Springsteen’s “Tunnel of Love” music video in 1993.

Lady Diane’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #LadyDiane

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#JohnBradshawsSideshow

#ConeyIslandSideshow

#WardHallsWorldofWonders

#WorldofWonders

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.17

Capt. Don Leslie: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Capt. Don Leslie, who ran away with the circus at the age of 14, worked with King Bros Cristiani Circus, Royal American Shows, Ringling Brothers Circus, and many other circuses, shows and films over 46 years from 1952 to 1998.

Capt. Don Leslie’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #CaptainDon

#CaptDonLeslie

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#KingBrothersCircus

#CristianiBrothersCircus

#RinglingBrothersCircus

#RoyalAmericanShows

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.16

Lady Patricia: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Lady Patricia Zerm, who worked as a sword swallower for 37 years from 1939 to 1976 under the stage names “Miss Patricia” and “Lady Patricia” with Ringling Brothers Circus, Royal American Shows, Ward Hall’s World of Wonders, and many other shows, including being the sword swallower featured in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 film “Greatest Show on Earth”.

Lady Patricia’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #MissPatricia

#LadyPatricia #PatriciaZerm

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#RinglingBrothersCircus

#RoyalAmericanShows

#WardHall #WorldofWonders

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.15

Lucky Ball: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Lucky Ball, who worked with Ringling Brothers Circus, Clyde Beatty Circus, Royal American Shows, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and many other shows, and was known as “The World’s Greatest Sword Swallower” for swallowing up to 16 swords at once. He also taught sword swallowing to Estelline Pike, and performed in a number of films.

Lucky Ball’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #LuckyBall

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#RinglingBrothersCircus

#RipleysBelieveItorNot

#RoyalAmericanShows

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.14

Charles Griffin: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sideshow manager and sword swallower Charles E Griffin, who was not only a sideshow manager but also sword swallower with Bob Hunting’s Circus, Ringling Brothers Circus, and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show during four years in Europe, who performed from 1886 to 1917.

Charles Griffin’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #CharlesEGriffin

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#RinglingBrothersCircus

#BuffaloBillsWildWestShow

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.13

Mimi Garneau: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Mimi Garneau, who learned sword swallowing in 1923, and performed with Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditoriums, with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Cole Brothers Circus, Al G. Barnes Circus, and many other circuses and sideshows for over 55 years from 1923 to 1978!

Mimi Garneau’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #MimiGarnrau

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow #Ripleys

#RipleysBelieveItorNot

#RinglingBrothersCircus

#ColeBrothersCircus

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.12

Marie DeVere: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Marie DeVere, who may have learned sword swallowing at the age of 14, and studied under legendary Barnum $ Bailey Circus sword swallower Edith Clifford. Marie DeVere went on to perform with Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cole Brother’s Circus, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Coney Island Sideshows, with Hubert’s Museum and with many other circuses and American Dime Museums from 1905 until 1928, and swallowing up to 15 swords at once!

Marie DeVere’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #MarieDeVere

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#Barnum&BaileyCircus

#ConeyIsland

#ColeBrothersCircus

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.11 Alex Linton: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Alex Linton, who learned sword swallowing from his father at the age of 12, and went on to perform with Clyde Beatty Circus, Coney Island Sideshows, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, with Hubert’s Museum and with many other circuses over 56 years!

Alex Linton’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #AlexLinton #Linton

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#ConeyIsland

#RinglingBrothers

#ClydeBeattyCircus

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.28 Toni Del Rio: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

Toni Del Rio was a snake charmer, dancer, fire eater, hypnotist, clairvoyant, and sword swallower. She was also a he.

Del Rio was born into a gypsy family of wire walkers who came from Andorra between France and Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains to Tampa Florida for a circus booking by way of Cuba in the early 1920s. Del Rio was born there on April 2, 1924, as Nilo Garrido. Nilo grew up as a boy, but was a pseudo-hermaphrodite.

An accident on the high wire led to nerve damage in one leg, but being a kid surrounded by sideshow performers, he soon picked up a variety of skills, including

sword swallowing from his uncle.

Before World War II, he took advantage of his natural anomaly and worked with circuses and sideshows as a "Half and Half."

During the war, while serving in the US Navy as a registered nurse in Hawaii, Garrido's breasts began to grow, and he was given a medical discharge. He underwent transgender surgery and according to stories, became the second person in the United States to become transgendered after Christine Jorgensen’s earlier surgery in Denmark in the early 1950’s.

He changed his name from Nilo Garrido to Toni Del Rio and went back to working with circuses and sideshows as “Half-and-Half” and sword swallower.

In the 1950’s Del Rio enhanced her sword swallowing skills under the guidance of Mimi Garneau while in her winter quarters in Gibsonton, Florida. Armed with some of Mimi's personal swords, Del Rio worked as a female sword swallower throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Standing just 5 feet, 2 inches tall, she would often pull a teenage boy from the audience to hold her waist as she placed a 17½-inch bayonet in her mouth. With the snap of a finger, the blade would drop down her throat. A flick of her pinky finger would thrust it into the air. After catching it in her hand, she'd ask the teen if he'd like a turn.

Del Rio performed with Johnny Meah on the Lou Walters Show during this period and trained both Eddie Miller (1963-64) and Red Stuart (1967) in the art of swallowing swords. Del Rio took in the 16-year-old runaway orphan Red Stuart and taught him sword swallowing and all the other sideshow arts in Louisiana in the spring of 1967.

In addition to gulping blades and performing her other acts, she also created her own attractions, such as the "Man Eating Fish." "When people bought their tickets and got inside, what they saw was a man sitting there eating a can of sardines," she told a reporter in 1976. "It was true-it's all in the punctuation." A similar act was billed as "The boy who plays with a pink rattler." Behind the ticket booth, curiosity seekers found a little boy playing not with a snake, but with pink baby rattle.

"You gotta be able to do everything in the carnival," Del Rio said.

She continued doing everything she could into at least the mid-1980s. On April 28, 1987, however, Del Rio suffered a heart attack and passed away at Tampa General Hospital. As for Toni's swords, they were bequeathed to her star pupil, Red Stuart, who dispersed them on to sword swallowers Dan Meyer and Charon Henning in 2003.

To The Hilt Podcasts:

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

To The Hilt Book:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.10 Mighty Ajax: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we interview two grandsons of sword swallower Joseph Milana, better known as the Mighty Ajax, who started performing around the age of 18, and went on to tour perform with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in Europe at age 19, with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus and Coney Island Sideshows for over 50 years, with Hubert’s Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and many other circuses and sideshows over 55 years without a serious injury!

Mighty Ajax’s story is one of over 100

sword swallower’s stories from the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

To The Hilt book:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

To The Hilt Podcast:

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #MightyAjax #Ajax

#JosephMilana #arabianswordswallower

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#BuffaloBillsWildWestShow

#ConeyIsland #DreamlandSideshow

#ConeyIslandSideshow

#RinglingBrothers #RinglingBrosCircus

#RipleysBelieveItorNot #HubertsMuseum

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.9 Estelline Pike - To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we explore the history of sword swallower Estelline Pike, how she learned to swallow swords from her sword swallower husband John “Lucky” Ball in 1927, how she taught her 12 year old son Jim “Lucky” Ball in 1947, and how she went on to become one of the top stars of Royal American Shows, Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus, Hubert’s Museum, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not for many years.

Read more about sword swallowers Lucky Ball, Estelline Pike and Jim “Lucky” Ball in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower

#swordswallowers

#swordswallowing

#history #circushistory #sideshowhistory

#EstellinePike #LuckyBall

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.8 Edna Price: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Edna Price, who started performing at 16, learned sword swallowing from her famous sword swallower uncle Delno Fritz at 20, and went on to perform with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus and many other circuses, with Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditoriums at the Chicago World’s Fair’s of 1933 and 1934, and the New York World’s Fair of 1939, for a total of nearly 29 years.

Edna Price’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #EdnaPrice

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#RinglingBrothers

#RipleysBelieveItorNot

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.7 Edith Clifford

In this episode, we explore the history of sword swallower Edith Clifford, how she learned sword swallowing at the age of 13 from Delno Fritz in 1897, and how as a teenager, she became one of the top stars of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus for years, praised by Harry Houdini in 1919, and finally retiring after 25 years in 1922.

Based on Edith Clifford’s chapter of the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #EdithClifford

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.6 Delno Fritz

In this episode, we explore the life and career of sword swallower Delno Fritz, who lost a leg at the age of 11, but conquered adversity to go on to become a fire-eater at 15, a world famous sword swallower at 17, a contemporary and rival of Chevalier Cliquot, who went on to perform with Barnum & Bailey Circus in Europe, teach sword swallowing to 13 year old Edith Clifford, to both of this wives, and to his niece Edna Price, before making it in the big screen in Hollywood in the 1920s.

Delno Fritz’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #DelnoFritz

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.5 Chevalier Cliquot

In this episode, we explore the life and career of sword swallower Chevalier Cliquot: Was he really a French Canadian sword swallower named Chevalier Francis Cliquot, or an American showman from Chicago named Fred McLone? We discuss Cliquot’s rivalry with fellow sword swallower Delno Fritz, how they performed the same Dime Museums for years constantly challenging and one-upping each other.

Cliquot’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #Cliquot #ChevalierCliquot

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.4: The Victorinas - Prince Karmi (Joseph Hallworth) and Miss Victorina (Katie Kitty Fischer) 1890s to 1950s, from the book, “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In episode 1.4 of “To The Hilt Deep Dive”, we dive into the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing”

In this episode, we explore the lives and history of sword swallowers The Victorinas, Prince Karmi (Joe Hallworth) and Miss Victorina (Katie “Kitty” Fischer-Hallworth), and their incredible story as sword swallowers starting in the early 1890s, working with Harry Houdini, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, vaudeville and more.

Based on the Victorinas’ chapter of the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#Victorinas #MissVictorina #Karmi #Houdini

#swordswallower

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.3: World Sword Swallower’s Day

In this episode, we explore what happens when sword swallowers gather to celebrate World Sword Swallower’s Day at participating Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditoriums around the world on the last Saturday of February.

Read more about historical sword swallowers and the history of World Sword Swallower’s Day in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing). The book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

World Sword Swallower’s Day:

http://www.swordswallow.org/wssd

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower

#swordswallowers

#swordswallowing

#history #circushistory #sideshowhistory

#WSSD #SSAI #WSSD2025

#SwordSwallowersDay

#WorldSwordSwallowersDay

#SwordSwallowersAssociationInternational

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast E 1.2 History of Sword Swallowers and Science on the Cutting Edge

In this episode, we explore the history of sword swallowing and how sword swallowing was used to advance the fields of science and medicine.

We look into Dr. Adolf Kussmaul’s development of the rigid endoscope on a sword swallower in Freiburg Germany in 1868, the first esophageal electrocardiogram on a sword swallower in Wales in 1906, and other stories of how sword swallowers have helped develop science and medicine.

Based on the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#science #medicine #medical

#swordswallower

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.1 Intro: To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this introductory episode of “To The Hilt Deep Dive”, we dive into the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” to explore

• ​the 4000 year history of sword swallowing,
• ​World Sword Swallower’s Day,
• ​Sword Swallowing in science and medicine
• ​Science on the Cutting Edge
• ​Dr. Adolf Kussmaul develops rigid endoscope on a sword swallower
• ​the lives of sword swallowers
• ​Lucky Ball,
• ​Estelline Pike,
• ​Jim Lucky Ball,
• ​and Moses Berg

Watch To The Hilt Ep 1.1 YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/zRcUU9U1QMQ

Based on the stories of over 100 sword swallowers in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Books), available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

To The Hilt Podcasts:

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt

#ToTheHiltbook

#ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower

#swordswallowers

#circus #sideshow #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.27 Johnny Nugent: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we discuss sword swallower Johnny Nugent, who ran away from home to join the circus as a teenager in the 1920s, and ended up performing as a sword swallower with dozens of circuses and sideshows over 50 years.

Johnny Nugent is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

To buy To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical bios and modern living sword swallowers’ jackpots:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #JohnnyNugent

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.26 Dr. Hans Rosling: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we discuss TED speaker Dr. Hans Rosling, a researcher, doctor, scientist, academic, professor, and sword swallower who went viral on his second TED Talks. Hear about his induction into the Sword Swallowers Association International Sword Swallower’s Hall of Fame in Stockholm Sweden.

Hans Rosling is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

For more on To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #HansRosling

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

In this episode, we discuss sword swallower Stan Marye, who ran away from home to join the circus at the age of 16, and ended up performing as a sword swallower with dozens of circus sideshows over 10 years and swallowing up to five swords at once.

Stan Marye is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

For more on To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #StanMarye

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.24 Johnny Fox: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we discuss sword swallower Johnny Fox, who performed first as a magician and fire-eater and then as a sword swallower for over 38 years.

Johnny Fox is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

For more on To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #JohnnyFox

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#MarylandRennFestival

#MarylandRennFaire

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.23 Ricky Richiardi: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we discuss sword swallower Ricky Richiardi, who learned sword swallowing from Lady Betty Bancroft in the early 1950s, started performing at the age of 23 with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, taught sword swallowing to Lady Sandra Reed, worked with Hoxie Brothers Circus and a variety of circuses and sideshows for 15 years from 1955 to his suspicious untimely death in 1970.

Ricky Richiardi is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

For more on To The Hilt book, visit:

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts:

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #RickyRichiardi

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#HoxieBrosCircus #RinglingBrosCircus #RinglingBrothersCircus

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.22 Baron Bill Unks: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we discuss legendary sword swallower Baron Bill Unks, who started performing at the age of 24, and went on to perform from 1947 to 1997 with Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus, Hoxie Bros Circus, Coney Island sideshows, with Bobby Reynolds Sideshow and other circuses and sideshows over 50 years!

Baron Bill Unks is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more

For more on To The Hilt book, visit

https://ToTheHiltBook.com

Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf

Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:

To The Hilt Podcasts

https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php

#ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

#swordswallower #BaronBillUnks #TheBaron #BillUnks

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#ConeyIsland #DreamlandSideshow

#ConeyIslandSideshow

#ClydeBeattyColeBros #HoxieBrosCircus

To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.21 Lady Sandra Reed: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Lady Sandra Reed, who started as an albino lecturer in the 60’s and learned sword swallowing from Lady Louise Chevanne and Ricky Richiardi, performing as a sword swallower from 1969 to 1980 with Ward Hall’s World of Wonders, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, and many other shows over the years. But Sandra Reed is best known for being the subject of the epic iconic photo taken of her by photographer Diane Arbus entitled "Sword Swallower at a MD Carnival" that sold for more than $25,000 at auction.

Lady Sandra’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:

https://ToTheHiltbook.com

https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

#ToTheHilt

#swordswallower #LadySandra #SandyReed #SandraReed

#swordswallowers #history

#swordswallowing

#circus #sideshow

#RinglingBrothers #RinglingBros

#WardHallsWorldofWonders

#WorldofWonders

#DianeArbus