They have a daughter, Asia, and a son, Phoenix. Mom Help Your Talented Daughter Land Sweet French Writing Gig, Man, 72, Reported Missing In Orange County: Silver Alert, $39 Million Stolen From SoCal Families In Skimming Scheme: FBI. L.A. Country records show the property is owned by a trust attributed to Leslie Ekker and Simone Scharff under the name General Real Estate Management Company. This counterculture mecca on the Pacific Ocean has always attracted freethinkers and visionaries. Jesse the Half Man and Jim the Armless Wonder show off their abilities; Todd must make a difficult decision. A Snapchat spokesperson told HuffPost by email despite the rumors, Snap Inc. only has a sublease on part of the third floor.. If that doesnt happen, hes willing to look at other places, including Las Vegas. The thing is, this cuts across all cultures. Homeless encampments have sprouted on the sidewalk. They talk with Grady "Lobster Boy" Stiles about his father's unique fame and their troubled relationship. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The same tape that I had played for the trees in Lancaster, South Carolina. Its been an ongoing thing for the past eight months, Ray told HuffPost. But is the show being forced out to make way for Snapchat, the ever- expanding Venice-based social media giant? For her debut Freakshow performance, Boobzilla would like to a lift Amazing Ali with her breasts. I do give them a lot of credit for moving out, Mr. Rago said. At the event, Morgue wants to perform a new stunt involving a bed of razor blades. The time has come to meet with the Circus Circus execs. Its not a man, woman thing. The show has been at the same location for 11 years . On Facebook, Ray promises that the final show, which hes calling a Farewell Party and Protest, will include performers, stunts, music and the wedding of Jessa the Bearded Lady. Through a spokesman, Snap denied being attached in any way to the sale at 909-913 Ocean Front Walk. I walked down there the other night, its like Mad-Max Thunderdome, said Mr. Hawkins, the former neighborhood council member. Venice Beach a hub for graffiti artists, body builders and street performers became a popular tourist destination long before the Venice Beach Freakshow took up residence. Murrugun defies the limits of the human body with his human pin cushion stunt. The expansion of Snapchat -- and a general movement of gentrification in the historically off-beat Venice community -- has been a point of contention in recent months among longtime residents, who say they fear a "Silicon Beach'' takeover. As an array of skilled, and not so skilled, performers audition, the Freakshow family realizes that finding a new addition won't be easy. Weve just been trying to be an example to the fact that it isnt necessarily binary.. But the freak show itself seemed to embody all that was still wacky and unusual about the neighborhood. Literally, its been devastating.. Creature meets his daughter face-to-face; Todd wants to throw a surprise party for Asia's 21st birthday. But whoever it is, he said, it will be a community that will continue to foster growth from the creatives.. Freak Show Best Price Guarantee 2 customer reviews Genres: $50s and under shows, Adult, Comedy, Variety Phone: 1-866-983-4279 Freak Show at The Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas is the bizarre, dark, twisted and hilarious show you didn't know you needed in your life. This week, the Freakshow gets a visit from Short E. Dangerously, an incredible "half man" who performs stunts including fire breathing and knife throwing. A collector all his life, after retiring from the music business Ray moved his collections to a storefront on the beach and opened the Venice Beach Freakshow, a throwback to the kind of dime museums that once inhabited Venice Beach. Snap paid for new showers at Safe Place for Youth, a organization that offers services for homeless young people, where Snap employees also volunteer. Wake up to the day's most important news. Before Asia is able to contact Miss Electra herself, Todd meets with her and discusses passing on the stunt to Asia. The story of its rise was the toast of Silicon Beach in Los Angeles. At the event, Morgue wants to perform a new stunt involving a bed of razor blades. T-Ray was the producer of Big Beat Records' first hip-hop 12-inch, 'Supa Cat' (1991- Todd is credited on the album as 'The Mad Racket'). [Elemental Magazine, Issue #62]. Judgment Night (Music From the Motion Picture), New Jersey Drive, Vol. It ran for two seasons. Creature is looking for a place to live but finds that his appearance is off-putting to potential roommates. Growing up in the rural South, Ray's living conditions and local entertainment options left much to be desired. An unusual library of dead things at the Rhode Island School of Design. LOS ANGELES For a lot of Venice die-hards, the thing that irked them most about Snapchat was the security guards. T-Ray produced 'I Aint Goin' Out Like That' for Cypress Hill's album Black Sunday (1993) and was nominated for a Grammy for it (Best Rap single). Update April 2017: The Venice Beach Freakshow will be closing its doors May 1, as the building was purchased bySnapchat. In 2017, it was announced that the Venice Beach Freakshow would be closing. 23 talking about this. Leonardo DiCaprio, Roseanne Barr, Patricia Arquette, and even Bill Bellamy have all come through the Freakshow. I run into a group called Ozomatli who I wanted to do 'Incredible Bongo Beats' with. worlds largest collection of two-headed animals. I watched the whole show and i enjoyed it seeing something different in a modern day freak show but at times it felt very staged and at times over reacted if you're looking for something new to watch that makes you was wow like Owen Wilson then i would recommend this show but beware some parts do feel stage but do love they way they follow the employees lives as apart of freaks some embrace it some are depressed some just see it as a normal job that pays bills so its not all about looking and judging about peoples disability's it can be inspiring in parts of the show. Todd Ray, the operator of the Freakshow, has said he isn't sure where the show will land, suggesting that Las Vegas was a possibility. As an expert on freakshow lore, Grady offers to give everyone a tour of the legendary sideshow town. an op-ed in The Los Angeles Times lamenting the loss. They ask Morgue about the state of his and Asia's relationship but he doesn't go into details. Rick is initially hesitant to build the bed of razors due to the potential dangers it presents but eventually agrees. Husband-and-wife Todd and Danielle Ray at the Venice Beach Freakshow; Credit: Nanette Gonzales for L.A. Weekly, Rays first love was magic. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Meanwhile, Ray has to pack up a lot of weird stuff, including a jar that holds the corpse of a two-headed baby. both appeared on American Horror Story: Freakshow. "The Tallest American," has moved to California and ended his relationship with his girlfriend Diane. To be honest, it felt weird. 'Supa Cat' sold 70,000 copies and was the true beginning of T-Ray's career as a producer. On Ocean Front Walk, just south of Brooks Ave. Todd needs to find new performers for the show; a man with stretchy skin makes an appearance. SUBSCRIBE! morgue and miss sunshine were impressive. "Snapchat started buying buildings in the area. Zamora the Torture King tests the skeptics; Ali and Matt consider the possibility of parenthood. On Market Street, all that remains of Snaps former presence are closed-up buildings and glazed-over windows that once shrouded whatever happened inside (plenty of locals say they hated that, too). I went up to him and I said, Im a young magician. The Venice Beach Freakshow will offer its final performances Sunday, forced to abandon its boardwalk home because its landlord declined to renew its lease, according to the founder. This is the peoples beach, so thats always made it a little weird, even to people who live in L.A., Ms. Solomon said on a recent day. "The idea that we have to fit into other people's boxes is really the trap that keeps us all so unhappy. His parents divorced when he was a teenager. There will be appearances by fire eaters, the smallest man in America, the wolf boy and even a marriage ceremony for Jessa the Bearded Lady on the freak shows steps. The last show at its Venice Beach location is on Sunday, and Ray says hes being pushed out by Snapchat. Its just the way it unceremoniously went away, all of a sudden, Mr. Olson said. Early episodes showed Rays daughter Asia training to swallow swords and electrify herself with Tesla coils while her father worked to recruit new performers including a bearded lady and a so-called lobster boy, named for his clawlike hands, the result of a congenital disorder. Yesterday at a media meet-and-greet, we got a chance to meet the family as well as a few cast members. It had sawdust on the floor, and plenty of regulars who seemed to dance on the fringes of homelessness or reality. As he, Asia and Morgue discuss the expansion, Todd reveals plans to separate Asia and Morgue and have one perform in Vegas while the other stays in Venice Beach. Official Homebase for AMC's TV show FREAKSHOW, the Venice Beach Freakshow and it's owner Todd Ray. VENICE, CA After more than a decade of thrilling visitors with acts such as the Bearded Lady, the Wolf Boy and an array of two-headed animals, the Venice Beach Freakshow will close its doors Sunday, thanks to a landlord who declined to renew the attraction's lease. Activists mapped Snaps properties and said the company took up 41 addresses in total, but the company said that it held roughly 30 leases in the area. "To get on as a producer, to go through turmoil, through hip-hop, and get to the point where I felt that people were doing hip-hop that I couldn't respect, so I moved to the West Coast to do rock & roll shit. The Venice Beach Freakshow is the last true Freakshow left in the world! That remains a mystery, but supporters of the Freakshow note that everyone in the Ocean Front Walk building that houses the attraction is being evicted -- except Snapchat. After setting up camp and pitching tents, the crew learns the ways of a wandering lifestyle from Ken "The King" Kurt "Dirti" Powell and other hobos who had formally worked at The Venice Beach Freakshow. In order to wow the heads of the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Todd decides to bring the Freakshow members with him to Sin City. First up is the Showmen's Museum where the group sees vintage ferris wheels and photographs of famous sideshow performers. A Snap spokesman responded to these and other criticisms by pointing to a list of Snaps philanthropic efforts with underserved communities in Venice, work the company has been modest about promoting in the public sphere. With Todd's urging, Ali visits a doctor who says hip replacement surgery is her only option. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. After Mr. Brown left the company, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Spiegel moved into the sea-blue cottage, which had previously housed a cannabis dispensary. rockstockbarrel January 15, 2015. Make sure you hang around to see the show. Ali & Matt debate the possibility of parenthood & find that they may have different views. Despite this, evidence shows that Snapchat did associate with Snapshot Partners in acquiring the building, which led to the Freakshow being a part of protests like #EvictSnapchat, fighting the gentrification of Venice Beach. At one such show, Ray met the human cigarette factory, a man who rolled and smoked cigarettes without the use of his deformed hands and legs. Todd wants everyone to take on new responsibilities in order to expand. Ray is married to Danielle. Brianna Belladonna "The Indestructible Woman", This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 14:38. (Earlier this year, the grassroots group Evict Snapchat organized protests over the displacement of small businesses.) "If everyone would just hold that idea in their heart, then in fact the Freakshow will still be alive. Corporate vehicles started shuttling executives and employees between buildings. Todd brings in people from around the world for a tattoo event; Creature considers a place to live. LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* Todd throws a wedding for Ali and fellow little person Matt, trying to replicate the famous Tom Thumb Wedding. Danielle and Asia argue; Todd is given a tour of the Magic Castle; Todd considers incorporating magic into the show. But what you just did for me, I dont think I could ever do in my life with all the practice in the world., Even the clowns are sad, Ray says. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 909-913 Ocean Front Walk housed the Venice Beach Freakshow until 2017. Theyre buying up the boardwalk because they liked the vibe, he said. Around the same time, rowdy crowds began gathering outside Snap-identified buildings in Venice, chanting Say no to I.P.O.!. In this episode of Canote's in CALI, the family heads out to Venice Beach, California to see all the craziness, especially the Venice Beach Freaks. "It's been an ongoing thing for the past eight months," Ray told HuffPost. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. He never charged more than $5 for admission. We all live in Venice, and it doesnt have to be Snapchat, or this new gentrified version of the world, or stuck in the past, Mr. Mathews said. Along the way, Google, BuzzFeed, Vice and other tech and media companies planted flags in Venice. Andrew Gatto November 17, 2014. Ray got a call back on his application as an intern at Big Beat Records. As a homeowner, sure, Ive gained, but I feel Ive also lost. Todd Ray was born in Lancaster, South Carolina. The series premiered on February 14, 2013, preceded by the mid-season premiere of Comic Book Men and followed by the series premiere of Immortalized. Since then, Ray says, hes been paying rent to Snapshot Partners LLC, an investment group that, according to a report last year in the L.A. Business Journal, was hired by Snapchat to acquire the leasehold interest in the building. The Freakshow travels to Gibsonton, Fla., to learn about its rich history as a carnival town and to try to revive it with a performance. Asia discusses her desire to bring more danger to her Electric Lady act. (It was originally segregated that way.). Todd Ray, the operator of the Freakshow, has said he isn't sure where the show will land, suggesting that Las Vegas was a possibility. Mark Rago moved to Venice in 1999 and began organizing protests against Snap in 2017. Between 2012 and 2017, Snap Inc. came, saw and conquered Venices commercial real estate market. Freakshow 2014 TV-14 Reality Being a freak is a family affair for Todd Ray, who owns and operates the world-famous Venice Beach Freakshow with his wife and two children. Miss Electra is reticent. A circus-style ragtag production that beckoned visitors on 909-913 Ocean Front Walk its concrete, so not a boardwalk because there is no wood, Ms. Solomon insisted on noting the Freakshow featured among its many attractions a sword-swallower, a little lady and a werewolf man from Mexico who grew hair all over his face. It was a slap in the face to the community, especially after what its been through in the past few years, he said. At first, the laid-back locals were intrigued. Something about this brand felt different, said Bobby Olson, 39, a lawyer and nine-year resident of Venice. To that end, the new Waterfront is hosting community fund-raisers and events for children and parents. Todd eventually ran out of money and had to move back to South Carolina. Marcus Boykin is perplexed. Know Before You Go. The tech giant also said it is unaffiliated with Snapshot Partners, the company reportedly leasing the space. Digger lets their visitors know that in order to stay on the property, "chores need to get done". Ray founded the Venice Beach Freakshow in 2006. . His 1993 remix of House of Pain/Helmet collaboration (Judgement Night soundtrack) led to his producing of the entire Helmet album, which led to more rock gigs, including 311, Kon, Snot, Hed PE, John Spencer Blues Explosion and White Zombie. Market Street in Venice, just steps from the beach, used to be Snaps headquarters. As an array of skilled, and not so skilled, performers audition, the Freakshow family realizes that finding a new addition won't be easy. You can also meet Rocky the five-legged dog and . Todd Ray has recently expanded his Venice Beach Freakshow and holds open auditions to find new talent. in Los Angeles history, right here in Venice. See production, box office & company info, American Horror Story FreakShow: Extra-Ordinary-Artists, enjoyed the strange but seems staged at times. But the closing of the freak show might also be the most potent metaphor for the neighborhoods transformation as a former home to free-spirited freaks, weirdos and poet outcasts like Jim Morrison and Charles Bukowski to a sleek new playground for the wealthy tech elite. As Snap, Google and other tech brands grew into Venice, homeowners saw rising property values by more than 80 percent since 2000 in some tracts, according to data compiled by Governing magazine. Protesters were animated, to put it mildly. [3] Todd then became closely affiliated with the DJ Muggs-led Soul Assassins producing for Cypress Hill and Funkdoobiest, among others. The Waterfront bar, which closed in December 2017, was a Venice Beach mainstay. People began paying handsomely for his chairs and he was able to save enough money to make the trip back to New York. Todd is hesitant, fearing they may be judgmental of his and Danielle's non-conventional lifestyle, but Todd brings Zamora the Torture King to test the skeptics. Wed all yell at them, Ms. Schultis said with a chuckle. The security guards are gone. Meanwhile, George Bell, a.k.a. Today the Freakshow has amassed the largest collection of two headed animals in the world. At the same time, it added a sense of security to the neighborhood, in a weird way.. Jessa, 'the bearded lady,' holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest beard on . But Snap was a tenant there, renting out a unit on the third floor in mid-2015. [6] Snapchat denied these claims, stating that they are unaffiliated with Snapshot Partners and was uninterested in the floor of the property in which the Freakshow was housed. Todd holds a suspension event; Phoenix starts dating. Phone calls to Simone Scharff at her office were not immediately returned. Next is Al Tomaini's Giant Camp and then the Showtown Bar, where they meet living legend, Ward Hall. Its not an age thing because were all curious. A woman named Simone Scharff was previously married to Werner Scharff, the now-deceased womens fashion magnate responsible for giving Venice a makeoverafter moving there in the late 1930s, though its unclear if that woman is the same one associated with General Real Estate Management. Some of my workers have had to leave the state. Regardless of the politics behind the move, the Freakshow will be no more after Sunday. I think a lot of companies saw how Snapchat was treated by the protesters, and they dont want to see the same thing.. Todd offers encouragement, explaining that the adversity Creature is facing will only make him a stronger person. After more than a decade of thrilling visitors with acts such as the Bearded Lady, the Wolf Boy and an array of two-headed animals, the Venice Beach Freakshow closed its doors Sunday, victim to a lost lease. The collection also includes shrunken heads, Rocky The Five-Legged Dog (Seen on the Dog Whisperer), Tony The Two Tailed Iguana, a giant Alaskan king crab and a genuine chupacabra. The news came . It started at the Blue House at 523 Ocean Front Walk, in December 2012, a year after the companys founders, Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown, debuted the initial form of Snapchat in mobile app stores. It definitely needed a remodeling, but its not the core local spot it used to be, Mr. Rago said with a frown. Come Celebrate Women! 2023 Atlas Obscura. Thanks, Gentrification | L.A. Weekly", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Todd_Ray&oldid=1105504566, "The Show Ain't Over Till the Fat Man Swings", co-produced w/ J. Diamond Washington & Stewart Harris, Back To The Grill (12") Back To The Grill (Remix) Def Jam Recordings 1992, Losin' Myself (12") Losin' Myself (T-Ray's Atlantic 1992, Our House (12", Promo) Turnstyle Records 1992, Sexual (CD, Maxi) Sexual (Safe Sex Mix), Big Beat 1992, From The Brick Jungle (12") Bitch Control (Da Fell Big Beat 1993, I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong Ruffhouse Records 1993, Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (12") Just Another Victim (T Epic 1993, Just Another Victim (CD, Promo) Epic 1993, Swim (CD, Single, Ltd) Swim (T. Ray H2O Mix) Columbia 1993, The Program (12") The Program (Soul Assa Mercury 1993, We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong (T- Ruffhouse Records 1993, Who's The Man? To create the razor bed, Todd, Morgue, and Asia visit Rick Lazzarini, a special effects artist. People are coming here still for the freak show and I have to break hearts and say, Sorry, the freak show is closed, said Catherine Schultis, a self-described homeless person who, along with her partner Rick Campbell, sells solar poetry burned into fragments of wood on the oceanfront walk. The time has come to meet with the Circus Circus execs. ", City News Service; Photo courtesy of Paul Zollo (Patch Poster). The same tape I made in that shack, the same tape that I played for Craig when I met him at Big Beat. Todd Ray is freaking out, and with good reason. This week, Todd and the Freakshow gang are looking to break some new world records. He's a star on AMC's hit reality show "Freakshow" and, he's well known as "the Creature" -- one of the most tattooed and pierced individuals in the world. In an oceanfront community still defined by hippie eccentricity, that didnt go over well. In order to up their game, Asia begins to work on a stunt involving a ladder of machetes and Morgue crafts a device to enhance his water regurgitation act. The company has funded a computer science program at a Venice elementary school, and tech training for women at St. Joseph Center, a longstanding homeless services organization. As he, Asia and Morgue discuss the expansion, Todd reveals plans to separate Asia and Morgue and have one perform in Vegas while the other stays in Venice Beach. CreditAdam Amengual for The New York Times. After mastering the concept of 'breaks', he quickly finished his group's first demo. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. A club in nearby Charlotte, North Carolina, was having a talent contest which Todd won several weeks in a row, which qualified him for the finals. Or, for that matter, look at the guys who invented Snapchat. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. At this time, their group did not have a name and people would simply refer to them as 'those white boys'. Snaps cartoon ghost logo had officially arrived at the beach. Todd, Phoenix, Creature and Morgue arrive at The Magic Castle where Max Maven brings them through various rooms and shows off magician memorabilia. Part of HuffPost News. Todd Ray, known professionally as T-Ray, is an American record producer and mixing engineer, known for producing Cypress Hill 1993 single "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" and having founded the Venice Beach Freakshow in 2006, as well as creating and executive producing the TV Series Freakshow for AMC . No one really understood what it was for, or what the tech was about, but they would always just throw parties, Mr. Olson said. He eventually founded his own label under Warner Bros. Records before becoming disenchanted with the business side of the industry and calling it quits. I felt like I had come 360 degrees!" Asia looks for an apartment, and Todd learns a dark secret about a performer named Lobster Boy. Todd unites tattooed people from all over the world for a tattoo event. I have these displays and some delicate pieces that are all packed up for storage, he said. "The Lobster Boy" joins Todd on a family trip to obtain a two-headed baby. The Amazing Boobzilla performs at the show; Ali goes through surgery. His father's life was plagued by violence and alcoholism and ended with a mysterious murder. A chronicle of life at California's Venice Beach Freakshow, a repository for unique performers, creatures and artifacts, begins with proprietor Todd trying to recruit a living giant and a. Theyre just doing this as an investment, but with their lack of vision, theyre also killing a lot of the culture along the way and really pushing out the family businesses that have made Venice what it is., In a statement emailed to L.A. Weekly, Snapchat denied it has any affiliation with Snapshot Partners LLC. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. A family drama that centers on former music producer Todd Ray as he pursues his dream to own and operate his own Freakshow on the famed boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA. There, through purchases and leases, it set up shop. Space Cowboy tries to break a world record; Danielle invites neighbors to dinner. Regardless of any relocation, Ray thinks the spirit of the Freakshow will remain in Venice Beach where it started. Todd Todd announces that he and some members of the Freakshow have been invited to The Magic Castle, a famed club for magicians in Los Angeles. The Venice Beach Freakshow is only the latest casualty of the gentrification sweeping Venice as a result of companies like Snapchat, which hasbought or leased a handful of properties including one that left a homeless shelter for teens with a homeless problem of its own since opening its headquarters there in 2013. The tour will be conducted by Max Maven, an acclaimed magician and mentalist who Morgue considers to be one of the best in the business. The series premiered on February 14, 2013, preceded by the mid-season premiere of Comic Book Men and followed by the series premiere of Immortalized. Soon, Snap took up at the Gingerbread Court, a brick-structure courtyard on the beach with small storefronts. But none made a bigger imprint here than Snap, which championed an independent narrative by persistently fighting off acquisition attempts. The Freakshow organizers planned to go out in style Sunday, staging a Farewell Party and Protest, featuring performances, stunts, music -- and even the wedding of Jessa the Bearded Lady. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. (It reopened under new management in October 2018). Make sure you show them some LOVE!!! If companies come here, they need to be willing to integrate.. In typical Venice Beach fashion, the freak show isnt leaving without one last spectacle. His performers depend on it. For Venice at large, a tipping point came with the loss of the Venice Beach Freakshow. While sword swallowing truly is an impressive skill, there are few jobs out there that look for that on a resume. We talked for about 10 minutes, just on the sidewalk. Im not railing against these guys, Mr. Lopez said, referring to Snap. Bit by bit, Snap Inc., as the company is now known, was built into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, resulting in the biggest I.P.O. They had a Wonderful Vegas Wedding and are so Happy Together!!! The freak show has always been a place where you can go to see the things you cant Google the things that seem impossible, where in fact the impossible is possible, Ray says. At the Freakshow, Todd is preparing for a special tattoo event. Most . Todd arranges a Strongman Competition at the Freakshow involving guests with unusual strengths. And the new owner of the building is ironically named Snapshot Partners. Competition between the performers heats up. And while rumors swirled that the building was being emptied to make way for Snapchat, a spokesperson for the Venice-headquartered tech firm Sunday firmly denied that. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Morgue is a regular on "Freakshow," an AMC series that depicts the day-to-day experiences of the members of the Venice Beach Freakshow, a sideshow based in Los Angeles.