World of Wonders Attraction

The Dream Realized - Memoirs of Scott McClelland

Ever since I was old enough to walk, I've been around my grandfather's carnival. The sights, the sounds and the smells are forever engrained into my memory.

Prof. Lewchuk's Freak Show circa 1948

Strangely, it was not the candyfloss or the rides that held my attention... but the 35 ft. trailer filled with strange artifacts and freakish delights that fueled my imagination. Yes, my grandfather's Freak show was a large personal magnet that drew me into the world of the lurid and taboo.

Sadly, I only witnessed it once in my life in the early 70's…. the impact of seeing it changed my life forever. After closing its door's in 1975, it remained at the carnival as a reminder of things forbidden. Every year I went to visit my grandfather and he always started up the rides for our enjoyment, but the Freak show was off limits. I asked him many times if I could go inside... but he always answered with a polite "no" without explanation. And so, year in and year out I would come to visit and would stand perplexed in front of this large mysterious trailer. I knew that many of the artifacts were over 100 years old and had a very sordid history. Shrunken heads, Freak Pigs, mermaids and monsters all resided inside the locked trailer. Nobody entered it... it always remained locked. When I was 25 my grandfather past away.

It wasn't for another year that I received word that the Freak Museum was up for sale. I spent my life savings buying the museum and most of his books and show posters.

Carnival Diablo Tent Show of Wonders 1997

I first opened the museum Carnival Diablo as a stationary attraction in Calgary Alberta in 1992...over 100 exhibits were on show and apart from the museum the patrons could watch a performance of Old Tyme Victorian Sideshow entertainment nightly. The shows became so popular that we created a touring company and have been on the road ever since. I had wanted to open the museum again in 1997...so I created 'The Carnival Daiblo Tent Show of Wonders', this was a precursor of things to come.I opened it up at the Beaches in Toronto for the summer every weekend.

But I wanted to go BIGGER!

Since 1994 I have proposed to Conklin Show's the idea of bringing back the Freak show to the carnival. In late April of 2001 my wish was granted. The president of Conklin shows, Alfie Phillips understood my need to create a Freak Show and gave me the chance to make it happen. If I could have my Freak Museum ready for Winnipeg in mid June, I could bring it out for the season.

circa 1995

For 7 years I had been making notes and sketches of how the trailer would look, and now I was about to make my dream a reality. Many concepts were brought up then discarded as the process of building the last traveling Freak show in Canada was about to commence. Over a month and a half many people came together to help realize the dream.

Scott in front of trailer base during construction May 2001

Mobilease built the trailer base from scratch and then Durashed built on top of the base the initial structure that would house the museum. My concept was unique in this day and age because the whole shell was built out of wood instead of aluminum and steel. This lends to the authenticity of the Victorian time period and changes the energy of the space when you enter it.

Al Stencil (retired circus owner) and Scott early June 2001

The most important thing about building the exterior was the fact that it had to look unlike anything that had been built before…yet still resonate with the ideals of the Victorian time period. I wanted the front to look a bit like an old Victorian house but also retain some of the aspects of the old tyme sideshows from the late 19th century. The color schemes were reminiscent of old Technicolor horror films.

Although the trailer was brand new, I wanted to age the wood and trim to give the effect that it had been on the road for decades. Admittedly, I created the banners on the front to be family friendly for the first season; this was done so not to impede sales (I admit to going commercial to test the market).

Nikolai and Mike Roberds aka Uncle Fester from the 'New Adams Family' at the Calgary Stampede July 2001

Finally on June 23, 2001 the Carnival Diablo World of Wonders was completed. Phew! During the summer of 2001 it has toured across Canada with Conklin Shows to the Winnipeg Exhibition, the Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days, Regina's Buffalo Days, Saskatoon's Red River Ex, Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition (C.N.E) and the London Western Fair. At the Calgary Stampede we flew in Mike Robards, a.k.a. Uncle Fester, from the New Addams Family TV Series, to do the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Scott and Al Stencil at the CNE September 2001

Carnival Diablo's World of Wonders has been well received right across Canada! This is just the beginning!!!

Kevin Quain of The Mad Bastards at the CNE September 2001

The whole museum has been redesigned for the second season to ring true to my darker wishes of what a freakshow should look like. The new format lends more mystery and decadence to the whole concept. The new freakshow banners are a lot more nightmarish. My wish to create an exciting and unforgettable experience at the carnivals has slowly become realized with every step I take. I would like to take the way people perceive banner art to new heights…moving away from the folk arts and truly produce fine works of art on panels that can be admired for there artistic merits.

Nikolai and Little Man aged 27 at Calgary Stampede July 2001

Admittedly, I also want to strike a bit of fear into the jaded hearts of the public before they even enter these most unhallowed walls. In a world that has access to everything at the touch of a button, I feel it’s time to create a little mystery and intrigue…and OK…fear for the UNKOWN.

Nikolai performing 'The Barker' in Calgary July 2001

Every season Carnival Diablo will be expanding and you can look forward to more sideshow attractions in the future... bringing the Freak show back to the carnival, BIGGER
and BETTER then it's ever been!

Scott McClelland and Jennifer Lilley in Calgary 2001

And Now 4 years have passed...and Carnival Diablo's World of Wonders has morphed and changed into an even more EXTRAVAGANT Attraction! For the past 4 years we have been on tour with Conklin Shows...and during that time I have added even more to the museum and created 2 more amazing Carnival Diablo attractions. Carnival Diablo is pround to present to the public touring sideshow attractions that you will never forget!




Watch for our upcoming attraction shows
in the tour dates section.

THE FREAKS ARE COMING.....