NY1’s Stephanie Simon takes a look at the more peculiar side of Coney Island at “Sideshows by the Seashore.”

Perhaps only in Coney Island could the sideshow become a main attraction. Behind the Coney Island Museum, you can find “Sideshows by the Seashore,” America's only remaining 10-in-1 circus sideshow.

From fire eating to sword swallowing, these death-defying feats are a nod to the past, but also hint at how the "freak shows" of the yester year have evolved into serious performance art.

“I feel like we're definitely preserving a dying form of America and just live entertainment,” says performer Remy Vicious. “And it's something very important to preserve and I think a sideshow is kind of a little bit higher edge on entertainment than what you'd think of at the turn of century, when it seemed very exploitative and horrible and negative. Now it's this wonderful free forum and variety of entertainers to show their talents in.”

Sideshows started as side attractions for the circus or fairs and often included people with physical oddities. But modern medicine and morals have lessened the market for showcasing physical abnormalities. Performers today are highly skilled and do unusual feats for thankful crowds.

“Everybody has different styles of what they do when they perform with the snake,” says performer Serpentina. “Some people do belly dances with the snake. For me, it's easier like doing stuff on the floor and picking the snakes up and twisting and winding them.”

Performer Donny Vomit says needs this job like he needs a hole in the head – but he loves it!

“Acts like fire eating and sword swallowing these are ancient traditions that we're happy to keep alive and keep going in modern society,” says Vomit.

Those who really love the sideshow can send them a valentine. That's what artist Marie Roberts has been doing for more than 10 years.

"Valentines is the traditional name for sideshow banners, which grace the front of a sideshow," explains Roberts.

Roberts is a highly-trained fine artist. Her studio is in the same building as the sideshow. She also grew up here. Her uncle was the talker for the sideshow and her dad sometimes worked the ticket booth and chauffeured the stars around.

It seems for many people here the attraction goes back to their childhoods.

“Well, as a little girl to the coming the show, seeing all these girls dress up and getting to play dress-up for a living and all this crazy stuff, I just really wanted to do that,” says performer Heather Holliday.

It may be hard to swallow, but it seems kids today still want to run off and join the circus – or at least its sideshow.

For more information on the show, go to ConeyIsland.com/sideshow.