As Featured in the Washington Post's Weekend Section
"If the workings of the world were left up to me, every day would be a day at the carnival and every weekend would be Halloween. We'd all go to our jobs as trapeze artists, lion-tamers and belly dancers. So I say, "GOD BLESS THE PALACE OF WONDERS"! This place is Vaudeville, Kitch, Boho, Glam, Carnival (with a capitol C), Freak Show AND pub...all in one. I ventured in to see "The Weirdo Show" and got an eyefull of some of the most talented, manic, wacko, energetic and amazing stagecraft I have ever seen. I thought I had died an gone to heaven as soon as I walked into the small, darkly lit, funhouse on a bender bar, complete with a extensive collection of Dime Museum and freakish artifacts (located up the bordello like staircase), and as if that wasn't already tickling my vaudevillian sensibilities, the entertainment performed on that little stage sent me into complete sideshow bliss.
"The evening started with a bang and a pastie, emceed by the hypnotic Professor Sprocket. Soon burlesque artist Shortstaxx stormed the tiny stage. She was followed by the duo of Dutch and Dupp, Magician extraordinaire Brian Wendell Morton, and then fire artist Malibu. After a brief break the show resumed with more burlesque, a feisty and fun girl dancing with a hula-hoop to the Devynl's "I Touch Myself." More Brian, and finally Silver Raven, dancing with a flaming sword and finally, spinning poi on that tiny stage! I was beside myself with glee. I'm still amazed such a place exists within DC. If you really can't leave your desk job but dream of running away to join the circus, you really need to plan a visit to Palace of Wonders."
-- Cynthia Rudzis, Yelp.com
"Professor Sprocket demonstrated why he is known as the 'Talker of Renown'...he did an amusing 'Guess Your Weight' skit and sounded like he had just stepped off the midway. Great comic relief...That guy is terrific!"
-- Walt Hudson, Sideshow World / The Circus Report
“Billing itself as the only bar in the world dedicated to the vaudeville stage and a museum of oddities, Palace of Wonders really does...well, make you wonder... Simply labeling the Palace as ‘uniqu’” is an injustice to freaks everywhere – the Palace is ‘unabashedly bizarre.’ Despite the carnival décor and its immediate charm, you can’t fully appreciate the novelty of the Palace of Wonders until you venture upstairs. Here you’ll find the venue’s Museum of Oddities, an eclectic collection of gag-inducing monstrosities of nature inherited from Baltimore’s historic Dime Museum.
“On the third Thursday of each month, the Palace hosts its signature sideshow, ‘Professor Sprocket’s Weirdo Show.’ The show is billed as an Astounding Assortment of Aberrations of Nature and Culture, and it’s a good ol’ fashioned variety show. The Weirdo Show combined the sultry sexuality of burlesque, the whimsical hypnotism of Diablo, fire dancing, and the crowd-pleasing kitsch of quirky musical performances. The mastermind behind the event is the delightfully eccentric Professor J. Mathias Sprocket, also the show’s MC (or “Talker”). Before starting the Weirdo Show in early 2006, the Professor spent 30 years in avant-garde theater.
“This month’s show opened with the tastefully playful burlesque of the lovely Sugar Ann Spice. Subsequent acts included two fire dancers (Malibu and Silver Raven), juggling and Diablo guru, Randy Early, and a pair of ukulele-strumming beauties (Tippy Canoe and Uni & Her Ukulele)...the spectrum of emotions and sheer absurdity of the show make it well worth the $10 cover. The Palace of Wonders may not be for everyone, but most creative treasures in this world aren’t.”
-- John Griffith, Metromix DC
Palace of Wonders Benefit Show Tonight
“Tonight, step right up to the Palace of Wonders for a special Weirdo Show performance to benefit Johnny Anderson, who has been in and out of the hospital after having his leg crushed by a car last June... The benefit features performances by conjurer Eric Henning, vaudeville comedians Phillips & Flathead, glass-walker Mab Just Mab, Scottish Cowboy Johnny McLeod, fire dance from Malibu and Silver Raven, and burlesque dancer L'il Dutch. Proceeds will go towards Anderson’s surgical bills... The benefit costs $10 at the door; throughout the show, the audience can also engage in some betting games to help raise additional funds. Be glad it’s going to a good cause: “Never bet against a carny,” warns Spitzer. * * * *
Palace of Wonders Benefit Update: Last night’s Weirdo Show benefit for local side-show jack-of-all-trades Johnny Anderson raised $1,700! Proceeds will go toward Anderson’s surgical bills.”
-- Amanda Hess, The Washington City Paper
Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, step right up for final edition of the Weirdo Show, the world-famous Congress of Curious Peoples. After two wonderful years of bringing you weird, strange, unbelievable freaks, wonders and curiosities, as well as the best in Burlesque, Vaudeville, Dance, Magic, Circus, Sideshow and Variety arts, the Weirdo Show is folding it’s tent, but we went out in an explosion of wonderment and excitement! The roustabouts have pulled up stakes, the canvasmen have kicked back, and there's nothing on the lot but lots of great memories.
On Thursday May 21, the Weirdo Show proudly presented it's Last Show Ever -- the best of the best from out last 30 Shows! You thrilled to the unbelievable Magic of world famed Conjurer ERIC HENNING, were amazed by the daring and death defying Fire Dance of the incredible MALIBU, not to mention a very rare fire duet with the sensational SURPRISE! You were further astounded by that One-Woman Ten-in-One, DC’s Own Sideshow Girl, the incredible MAB JUST MAB, and you laughed ‘till you’ll cried at the world’s only known Boylesque Clown, the amazing ‘STACHE! You swooned at the breathtaking Belly Dance of the brilliant and beautiful BELLADONNA, and were thrilled by a special Telephonic Telepathy appearance from the Most Dangerous Beauty Alive, CHARON HENNING! And, of course, your host for the evening, that charming Carny and Talker of Renown, PROFESSOR SPROCKET, with his pitches, ballies and acts, presented ten big acts for ten little dollars! That is, if you were lucky enough to there...
If you weren't there, don't despair. The Professor isn't quite ready to retire. He'll be doing quarterly variety shows at the Palace of Wonders, broadcasting/podcasting, working up in Coney Island and Baltimore, and perhaps even touring. It's time to remake and retool, and Look Out for the Launch of Version 2.0! Keep posted on all the latest Weirdo happenings over at
CLICK TO VISIT PROFESSOR SPROCKET'S PAGE
Named as "One of the Top Ten Reasons To Go Out During the Week" by the Washington Post, the Weirdo Show has always brought you the very finest in variety entertainment, all set in the sulfurous glow of the Midway of the Palace's own Museum of Oddities. In the words of the Washingtonian: "Even the most bizarre and eccentric acts pale in comparison to the Weirdo Show...Now how can you pass that up, huh?"
The Weirdo Show has played host to legends of the Comedy and Burlesque worlds, as well as Multi-Media Extravaganzas, and Music from ukulele to musical saw. We have also amazed you with The Human Ostrich, Sword Swallowing, Prestigitation, Bellydance, Aerial Acts, Trick Roping, Geek Acts, Freak Shows, and the most astounding attractions of the past and present, and it's signature Fire Dancers Malibu and Silver Raven.
Remember, This PAGE WILL NOT BE MAINTAINED After July 1, 2009. Professor Sprocket Getting Up To His (Un)Usual Tricks and YOU Don't Want To Be Left Out, so
CLICK TO VISIT PROFESSOR SPROCKET'S PAGE and Befriend The Professor TODAY! You'll Be Glad You Did! Thanks For Two Great Years, and See You Down The Road. Soon.
WOW! 8 times! that is awesome and i was 2nd only to the fire artists. i'm puffin' up with pride like a blowfish! and yes! let's hang--i'll email you and we can make a plan. XOX!
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Come see our Gorey goodies! Edward Gorey, Tim Burton, Charles Addams, Mark Ryden, Gris Grimly, Michael Sowa, Shag, Edgar Allan Poe, Alice in Wonderland, Coraline, Emily, Lenore, Twilight, Tattoo & Pin-up Art, Dark Décor, Haunted Portraits, Vintage Halloween, Classic Horror Monsters, Vampires Skulls & Gargoyles, Pirates, Zombies, Alchemy Gothic Jewelry, Villainess, Rubber Stamps, T-shirts, Postcards, Toys, Books, Posters, and much more!
What a wonderful show last night! it was great to be back on the Palace stage among family and kindred spirits and i was so glad to perform with Silver Raven at her last Weirdo Show :-( she will be sorely, sorely missed. XO
Vixen Variety an exciting new all female variety show! More then just a feast for the eyes. These clever, sly and scandalous women will woo you with their willfulness and wiles! You don't want to miss the fun as these foxy females flaunt their finesse and show off their skills in a hodgepodge of heroins! A new medley an of talent each month! This month features an array of belly dance, fire dance, burlesque, drag king, side show and more! We are excite to bring to the stage the sultry Belladonna, the gender bending Ken Vegas, the daring Mab just Mab, the flair of Meredith Keen, members of BellaTrix and the spicy Ginger Leigh, member of Peek-A-Boo Revue, winners of the "Miss Exotic World", Best Troupe 2008 award!!! So come one, come all to the sly & sexy Vixen Variety Show!
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