Jake the Alligator Man

I am crazy about hokey, strange roadside stops.  The places that have a jackalope on the roof, or have a sign reading "World's Smallest Wolf in a Jar", or claim to sell the only chocolate covered scorpions in Arizona.  You know...that kind of place.
If you also like that kind of place, I can't recommend "Marsh's Free Museum" highly enough.  It was packed with just the sort of kitsch I was looking for.

Just look at the roof.  Wouldn't you have been throwing on your brakes, too?

We drove past this place on the way to get settled to the cottage.  I pointed it out and told Violet she could come see Jake the Alligator man if she was feeling better. "What in heck is an alligator man?"  She was very skeptical, but wanted to hear lots more about  it.

 

When this is the first thing you see when you walk into a place, you know it's going to just keep getting better.

 That coffin had neat handles.

See? Acorns.

Rawr.

Random note:  That is so not a Violet Outfit.  She was chilly so we borrowed a sweatshirt.  Not that anyone cares, but I hardly recognize her in these photos.

As you can see below, she was less than thrilled to make Jake's acquaintance.

 

"He's yucky."

 

"What's wrong with his head?"

 

What else?  According to the museum:

Inside you’ll find turn-of-the-century machines, from Victorian era music makers such as an imported French Canary music box and a self-playing violin, to fortune tellers, nickel peep shows and a love meter.

There were more vintage fortune telling machines than I've ever seen in one place.  If she'd felt better, I'd have gotten a roll of coins and played every single one.

  Violet sat in the Love Chair until all the lights sparked on and it started playing annoying music as loud as a fire engine.  She said, "I don't love that chair."

 

This self-playing orchestrion (automated strange instrument thingy) was also very noisy.  

Pretty, though.

 I didn't get a photo, but they also had a bowl made of human skin. Ew.

This stuffed canary actually opens its beak and sings.

More fortune telling machines.  Where's a roll of quarters and two extra hours when I need them???

They have a bunch of neat "peep show" type machines.  They remind me of those vintage stereoscopic photos held on wooden frames.  Do you know what I'm talking about?

 These.

I bet these were scandalous back in the day.

I bet mothers would gasp and throw their hands over their children's eyes.

Some very ookie bits of Americana.

I have a soft spot for ridiculous side show stuff, if you can't tell.

Except for clowns.  I hate clowns.

 

Estrella reminded me of the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks.  Isn't that how he got changed into a grown-up? If I remember correctly, he told one of these fortune ladies he wanted to be "big".

See why I liked this place?

 

Comments

[Laura Tieri]

Oh my, oh my! I want to go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where exactly is it? Is it somebody's personal, private collection?
I just watched a show about magicians & there was a guy who had a place like this but all having to do with the history of magic acts.
Those fortune telling machines are so cool & creepy at the same time!

[Vanessa]

LOooooooved it!! Violet is hilarious! I think she looks soo cute with her hair in a chongo (what we call a messy bun hairdo in spanish) and her borrowed oversized sweatshirt.

I remember things so vividly from that age. I am sure Jake the alligator man will go into the memory vaults and she'll tell stories about him throughout her life.

What fun fun! Love her sense of humor too!

What a place, my goodness!!

LOve, V