Freaxploitation

THU 10/21
Recently, Oprah Winfrey invited a pair of newly separated conjoined twins to appear on her show. Although Winfrey claimed to have lofty motives for the invitation, her segment arguably had roots in the sideshow business devoted to cashing in on human oddities. Filmmaker Jeff Krulik, however, makes no secret of his own attraction to such entertainment. “I’ve been obsessed with freaks and sideshows,” Krulik says. His documentary Traveling Sideshow: Shocked & Amazed is this month’s installment in the Indy Film Showcase and screens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cinemark Palace on the Plaza (500 Nichols Road), following a 6:15 appearance by Krulik.

Because old-school oddities such as Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy are now working on carnival midways in the sky, Krulik employs great newsreel footage of sideshows past, when ticket buyers often got “ten for one” — as in, ten freaks for a buck. Yet Krulik advances the genre’s resurgence through interviews with contemporary oddities — including some self-mutilating attendees at a tattoo convention — and more traditional entertainers, such as sword-throwers Felicity and Molotov Bouvier, who admit their act is “on the tail end of the comet.”

Audiences are more jaded now, Krulik says, but they’re still interested. Call 913-649-0024 for more information. —Steve Walker

Jews Like Us
Shmendriks need not apply.

THU 10/21
The winter issue of Heeb magazine (“The New Jew Review”) — with Passion of the Christ-inspired images of the Virgin Mary with nipple rings and a tattooed Jesus — offended goy and Jew alike. The New York City-based magazine’s current Guilt Issue repents, celebrating “that great Jewish-American pastime” of neurotic remorse. Expect lots of it at the Heeb Storytelling live reading Thursday at the Brick (1727 McGee). Readers include Rainy Day Books’ Steve Shapiro and KCUR 89.3’s Sara Lerner (as well as Pitch writers Gina Kaufmann and Jen Chen). Also, the Burly-Q’s Tempter Tantrum hosts the audience-participation game “Jew, Not a Jew.” The stories and their tellers might not be exclusively Jewish, but they all prove that the kosher feel can come from anywhere. That includes the Ozarks, home to the self-described “Jewbilly” band the People’s Republic of Klezmerica. The free event starts at 9 p.m. E-mail gina@heebmaga zine.com for details. —Christopher Sebela

Meet the Press
But where’s the Reverend?

THU 10/21
The fur flies at the Kansas City Press Club’s Political Night, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Writers Place (3607 Pennsylvania), where reporters fire away at D.C. hopefuls Kris Kobach and Jeanne Patterson and incumbent Dennis Moore. The Kansas lads face Kevin Wright of The Olathe Daily News, Bruce Rodgers of eKC, Joe Arce of The Kansas City Hispanic News and Brad Cooper of The Kansas City Star. Emanuel Cleaver reportedly opted out, but Patterson can expect a grilling from our own Tony Ortega, not to mention Tracy Abeln of The Northeast News, Arce, and the Star’s Steve Kraske. The event is free and open to the public; students may register for a 6 p.m. seminar. Call 913-362-3860. — Jason Harper

Part Deux

SUN 10/24
Reel Democracy, which recently received the Pitch‘s “Best Local Film Festival” award, gears up Round Two from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at Screenland (1656 Washington). Movies such as Bush’s Brain: A Documentary About Karl Rove, Voting in America and Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties accompany a grassroots activism fair. Tickets start at $5. Call 816-822-9373. — Annie Fischer