P. T. Barnum's Top, also referred to as The Barnum Top, is an artifact featured in "For The Team".
Origin[]
Used by P.T. Barnum to increase the shock of the crowd by regrowing the limbs and internal organs of his "freaks". However, if the extra body part isn't amputated, it'll keep growing till it bursts.
History[]
Artie used this artifact to repeatedly grow his appendix back in order to lure the Warehouse doctor, Vanessa Calder, that Artie had a crush to the Warehouse to remove it. However, the last time Artie used this artifact Vanessa was called away to treat a Regent for tungsten poisoning before she had time to remove Artie's appendix again. Artie's appendix continued to grow and would've eventually bursted if Pete hadn't rushed Artie to the office of local veterinarian Kelly Hernandez who was able to perform an emergency appendectomy and save Artie's life.
Real World Connection[]
Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman (and conman) in the 1840's. He employed sensational forms of presentation and publicity to popularize amusements like the public museum, the musical concert, and the three-ring circus. He made the circus a gigantic and popular spectacle declaring it "the greatest show on Earth".
Trivia[]
- The lid of the jar the top is kept in features an illustration of a sad clown,[1] similar (but not entirely identical) to a painting of a sad clown stored in the Dark Vault.[2]
- These paintings are most likely inspired by the "Weary Willie" character originated by Emmett Kelly, which was based on the hobos of the Great Depression. Kelly worked for a number of circuses, including "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus", which he worked for 1942-1956 (many decades after Barnum's death). In 1944, Kelly was preparing to perform for the Ringling circus in Hartford, Connecticut when the tent caught fire; Kelly helped many in the audience evacuate and was famously photographed in his Weary Willie costume carrying a bucket of water to combat the flame.
