Harry Lewiston (April 2, 1900 – June 1, 1965; legal name Israel Harry Jaffe) was an American showman, freak show director, and barker. He wrote his memoirs under his stage name, published posthumously in 1968 as Freak Show Man: the Autobiography of Harry Lewiston, as told to Jerry Holtman.
Early life and name change
Harry Lewiston was born Israel Harry Jaffe in Lithuania on April 2, 1900, and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1906. The eldest of four siblings, he was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts in a strict Orthodox Jewish household. In 1914, he ran away from home and joined the combined Sells Floto Circus / Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. He claimed that he was seventeen years old in order to be allowed to stay with the circus, and was renamed "Lewiston," reportedly assigned based on the first major city he worked in, Lewiston, Maine. While the circus toured the United States, Lewiston worked as a pony groomer and led the animals in the parade, wearing what he called an "Arab costume" as part of that year's "East Meets West" theme.
World War I
After World War I broke out, Lewiston left the circus to enlist. After briefly being attached for training with the Canadian Army (serial number S-4147), he proceeded to the United Kingdom and was posted to the 40th Battalion of Britain's Royal Fusiliers in the Jewish Legion in 1918, serving as a camp cook (regimental number J5873). In his autobiography, he mentions serving with David Ben-Gurion, who was in the 38th; those units were stationed together in Palestine and other sites. Throughout the war, he was stationed in Taranto, Italy; Port Said, Egypt; Kantara, Egypt; Lod, Palestine; and Damascus, Syria. He noted that while in Damascus he was promoted to lance corporal; his actual service records show him being discharged at the rank of private. After the war ended, he traveled to South Africa to see relatives, as well as Rhodesia, India, and Burma, and eventually shipped back to England. In December 1919, he was officially discharged from military service, sailed from Liverpool to New York City aboard the S.S. Cedric, and from there returned to Massachusetts.
Return to the United States
Lewiston stayed with his family in Worcester for a short period of time, working as a shophand in a machine shop. Subsequently, he worked various jobs in New York City, then rode the rails to a few towns. In his autobiography, he mentions being arrested for vagrancy in eastern Georgia and working on a chain gang for six days. He then went to Cleveland and briefly worked in a restaurant.
Return to circus life
In 1920, Lewiston went to Peru, Indiana, the winter quarters of five railroad circuses. He was hired by the John Robinson Shows, where he first worked as an usher, then as a "candy butcher," selling concessions during the show as well as during the concert after the show. After the circus season ended for the winter, he worked as a candy butcher for the Union News Company on their train the West Point Railroad, which traveled back and forth from Atlanta to Jacksonville.
In 1921 and 1922, Lewiston worked as a candy butcher and concessions buyer for Howes Great London Circus. In his autobiography, he mentions that this is when he learned conning, grafting, and short-changing techniques. He then wintered with Christy Brothers Circus in Houston and worked in their ticket booth the following season, where he began to practice his short-changing technique. Over the next few years, he worked as assistant manager of concessions and as the purchasing agent with Gollmar Bros. Circus, then as a ticket seller for Gentry Brothers circus, where he dated a hoochie coochie dancer. Subsequently, he switched to Golden Brothers Circus, where he ran the hamburger stand, sold balloons and novelties, and also served as the substitute announcer. This was his first experience as a barker, referred to as a "talker" in the circus community (though "barker" will be used throughout this entry for ease of understanding).