Looks like all the freaks will return to Coney Island this summer. Sideshow operator John Strong, who you may remember from 5-legged-puppygate, announced yesterday that his show will go on. He'll be moving to the ex-Grashorn's Hardware building site on Surf Avenue, according to the NY Post, which is Coney's oldest buliding. He's allegedly made a new deal with developer Joe Sitt, but mums the word for now—however, Strong said he wants to expand and is the front-runner to lease more Sitt-owned land on Stillwell Avenue. So much for supporting Coney Island mainstay, Dick Zigun and his Circus Sideshow. more ›

Coney Island sideshow operator John Strong is still battling to get the former 5-legged-dog back from the nice lady who saved her from a life in freakshow hell. The dog underwent a bit of a rush operation when Strong announced he planned on taking a legal route to get her back; later he expressed his desire to reattach the leg. It doesn't get much freakier than this guy! And now the Daily News reports that the showdown will be aired on Fox, of course. more ›

Stop it, John Strong. Just. Stop. It. The Coney Island freakshow proprietor is hell bent on getting his 5-legged puppy, even now that it has undergone a procedure to remove the extra limb. He declared, “I’m going to get it back on the dog. I don’t like people cutting off my puppy’s leg. When it became personal, and she’s (Siegel) being made out as a hero, and I’m being out as a bad guy, that’s not fair to me … (I’m) not going to be portrayed that way, at least not without a fight.” Mr. Strong, sometimes bad press is bad press. And that is certainly all it will be if you re-attach a 5th leg to a cute little innocent puppy. The HSUS's Patrick Kwan told us, "I think what's important for the dog is a loving, caring, permanent home and no animal deserves to be made into a spectacle. I doubt anyone would consider a Coney Island freak show to be the best home for an animal, especially considering Coney Island's future is often up in the air." Indeed. But at least he's no longer showing his two-headed baby (or maybe he is, photos aren't allowed inside his show). more ›

In case you missed the update, the 5-legged puppy that was saved from a life in a freakshow was brought under the knife ahead of schedule to have her extra leg amputated yesterday. Coney Island's John Strong had been threatening legal action to attain the pup, since he had put a down payment on the canine before the current owner Allyson Siegel stepped in. CNN has video of the dog prior to her operation: more ›

Congratulations John Strong, you are giving Ringling some competition in the cold-hearted, animal-hating, soulless human being contest. The Coney Island freakshow proprietor, who recently relocated here from California, is trying to get custody of the 5-legged pup that a North Carolina woman saved from a lifetime in sideshow hell. Strong had handed over a $1,000 down payment when Allyson Siegel convinced the seller (who was told by Strong that the dog would be going to an "amazing animal farm") to sell it to her instead. Her story touched so many that a Manhattan vet even offered to amputate the extra leg at no cost, an operation scheduled for next week. However, now Strong says he's the rightful owner of the dog, and is hinting that he'll take the case to court ("I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too!"). Our Hero, Siegel, declared: "over my dead body." UPDATE: The amputation was done early! This morning the pup went under the knife in part because of this threat by Strong. more ›

There's one thing certain about the future of Coney Island: there will be no 5-legged dog in John Strong's freakshow. A North Carolina woman named Allyson Siegel changed the pup's fate when she outbid Strong and paid $4,000 for the animal. more ›

It's on! John Strong's freak show is officially headed East to set up shop on Coney Island this summer, just blocks from Dick Zigun's Coney Island Circus Sideshow. A press release announces that this summer visitors to the area will be greeted by more than 25 fun-filled rides and dozens of circus freaks, courtesy of John Strong’s Shows, allegedly the largest collection of oddities and freaks in all of America. Did we mention his entourage includes a 17-inch horse named Tiny? more ›

It's a rumble in the...surf. Word is that dueling freak shows may soon be battling it out as neighbors on the Coney Island Boardwalk. A West Coast sideshow act is angling to set up two blocks from the freak show mainstays of Dick Zigun's Coney Island Circus Sideshow, which includes fire eaters and sword swallowers. The big shot Hollywood honcho, John Strong, would bring in 250 oddities, including a two-headed cow and a 19 inch horse. If his plan comes through, he'll be opening up on April 9th at the former Astroland Park site under the name Coney Island Freakshow (however Thor Equities says they have not picked him for the spot yet). Strong's boasting a big game in the meantime, saying, "My show will do 50 times what Dick Zigun's show does every day. We're going to be on every major talk show and we're hoping we can revive Coney." He better watch his back, though, Zigun says he's ready to protect his turf, and it's likely he's got the locals on his side. more ›