Black Scorpion (performer)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Black_Scorpion_and_Li%27l_BS.jpg/220px-Black_Scorpion_and_Li%27l_BS.jpg)
Black Scorpion (born August 26, 1979, Austin, TX) is a writer, director, performer known mostly for his contribution to the revival of modern freak show and sideshow arts. Known for his bizarre and surreal stage performances, multi-colored self-designed bandit mask and shoes, as well as his "trademark" claws, also called Ectrodactyly[1] by some and lobster claw syndrome by others. His feet are like his hands, three toes to a foot.
Black Scorpion performs as a freak working to change the word from a negative to a positive through educational humor. He has also worked for over fifteen years at the Austin, Texas television news station KEYE-TV. In 2006, after being discovered by Mr. Lifto, Black Scorpion burst onto the sideshow scene with one of the last traveling authentic vaudevillian Freak Show the 999 Eyes.[2] He appeared for the first time onstage as National Geographic filmed the troupe for their show Taboo.[3]
In 2008 Black Scorpion joined the cast of Coney Island USA's[4] world-famous Sideshows by the Seashore.
On November 30, 2009 Black Scorpion and the Lil Black Scorpion puppet appeared with the cast of Sideshows by the Seashore on the TLC show the Cake Boss titled "Freaks, Fast Food & Frightened Frankie!"[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/BS_and_the_Bat.jpg/220px-BS_and_the_Bat.jpg)
Black Scorpion is the inventor of the Hammer Hands illusion and also a co-founder of the Austin, Texas band Built by Snow.
On June 9, 2012, Black Scorpion was shown on the show Oddities.[6] in their episode "Keeping Austin Odd". Black Scorpion illustrated his Hammer Hand illusion.
In 2013 Black Scorpion introduced the world to his newest surreal creation, a Bill Murray-esque puppet as a beheaded P.T. Barnum.
Black Scorpion also plays musical instruments. Some of his original sounds can be heard at his #BUILDNEWLEGENDS page. He is also a director. His work can be seen on his BSTV page.
In 2014 Black Scorpion became the consultant for Evan Peters character Jimmy Darling for the fourth season of American Horror Story: Freak Show.[7]
References
- ^ News, ABC (2007-01-29). "Medical Mystery: Ectrodactyly".
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has generic name (help) - ^ Robinson, John (2007-07-15). "Sideshow World Black Scorpion Interview".
- ^ Geographic, National (2007-10-21). "Extreme Performers".
- ^ Island, Coney (2008-04-21). "Sideshow Performers".
- ^ Boss, Cake (2009-10-30). "Freaks, Fast Food & Frightened Frankie!".
- ^ Oddities, Discovery's Science (2013-10-21). "Keeping Austin Odd".
- ^ Dixon, Marcus James (2015-05-27). "Evan Peters On Emmys, Challenges Of 'AHS: Freak Show' And Playing Drunk (Exclusive Video)".