Episodes

  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.23 Ricky Richiardi: Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.23 Ricky Richiardi: Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing
    May 10 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.23 Ricky Richiardi: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we discuss legendary sword swallower Ricky Richiardi, who learned sword swallowing from Lady Betty Bancroft in the early 1950s, started performing at the age of 23 with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, worked with Hoxie Brothers Circus, and taught sword swallowing to Lady Sandra Reed, and worked with many other circuses and sideshows for 15 years from 1955 to his untimely suspicious death in 1970.


    Ricky Richiardi is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    For more on To The Hilt book, visit

    https://ToTheHiltBook.com


    Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

    https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf


    Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:


    To The Hilt Podcasts

    https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php


    #ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

    #swordswallower #RickyRichiardi

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #HoxieBrosCircus #RinglingBrosCircus #RinglingBrothersCircus
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    13 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.22 Baron Bill Unks: A Sword Swallower’s History Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.22 Baron Bill Unks: A Sword Swallower’s History Sword Swallowing
    May 8 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.22 Baron Bill Unks: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we discuss legendary sword swallower Baron Bill Unks, who started performing at the age of 24, and went on to perform from 1947 to 1997 with Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus, Hoxie Bros Circus, Coney Island sideshows, with Bobby Reynolds Sideshow and other circuses and sideshows over 50 years!


    Baron Bill Unks is one of more than a hundred sword swallowers featured in the book, To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing, by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more


    For more on To The Hilt book, visit

    https://ToTheHiltBook.com


    Buy To The Hilt on Amazon:

    https://amzn.to/3EbUsQf


    Listen to more To The Hilt Podcasts, both historical and modern living sword swallowers:


    To The Hilt Podcasts

    https://www.swordswallow.com/podcasts.php


    #ToTheHilt #ToTheHiltPodcast

    #swordswallower #BaronBillUnks #TheBaron #BillUnks

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #ConeyIsland #DreamlandSideshow

    #ConeyIslandSideshow

    #ClydeBeattyColeBros #HoxieBrosCircus
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.21 Sandra Reed: A Sword Swallower’s History of Swore Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.21 Sandra Reed: A Sword Swallower’s History of Swore Swallowing
    Apr 15 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.21 Lady Sandra Reed: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Lady Sandra Reed, who started as an albino lecturer in the 60’s and learned sword swallowing from Lady Louise Chevanne and Ricky Richiardi, performing as a sword swallower from 1969 to 1980 with Ward Hall’s World of Wonders, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, and many other shows over the years. But she is best known for being the subject of the iconic photo taken of her by photographer Diane Arbus that sold at auction for more than $25,000.


    Lady Sandra’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    https://ToTheHiltbook.com


    https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p


    #ToTheHilt

    #swordswallower #LadySandra #SandyReed

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #circus #sideshow

    #RinglingBrothers #RinglingBros

    #WardHallsWorldofWonders

    #WorldofWonders

    #DianeArbus
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    14 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.20 Count Desmond: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.20 Count Desmond: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing
    Apr 13 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.20 Count Desmond: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of legendary sword swallower “Count Desmond”, Edward Benjamin, who received three Guinness World Records, one for swallowing 13 swords at once, who swallowed a sword while hanging suspended upside down over Niagara Falls, and who worked as a sword swallower with circuses like the Shrine Circus, Circus Bartok and many other circuses and sideshows between 1957 and 1994.


    Count Desmond’s story comes from his chapter in book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p

    https://ToTheHiltbook.com


    #ToTheHilt

    #swordswallower #CountDesmond

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #circus #sideshow #daredevil

    #CircusBartok
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.19 Francis Doran: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.19 Francis Doran: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing
    Apr 12 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.19 Sir Francis Doran: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of legendary sword swallower Francis Doran, who worked with circuses and sideshows first as a half-and-half, and later as a sword swallower with Bailey Brothers Circus, Dailey Brothers Circus, Ward Hall’s World of Wonders Sideshow, and ultimately with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Hoxie Bros Circus, and many other circuses and sideshow between 1941 and 1979.


    Francis Doran’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    https://ToTheHiltbook.com

    https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p


    #ToTheHilt

    #swordswallower #FrancisDoran

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #circus #sideshow

    #HoxieBrosCircus

    #RinglingBrothersCircus

    #WardHallsWorldofWonders
    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.18 Lady Diane Falk Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.18 Lady Diane Falk Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing
    Apr 8 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.18

    Lady Diane Falk: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Diane Falk, who worked as a sword swallower for over 30 years from 1979 to 2009 with John Bradshaw’s Sideshow, Coney Island Sideshow, Ward Hall’s World of Wonders, and many other shows, including being the sword swallower featured in Bruce Springsteen’s “Tunnel of Love” music video in 1993.


    Lady Diane’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    https://ToTheHiltbook.com


    https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p


    #ToTheHilt

    #swordswallower #LadyDiane

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #circus #sideshow

    #JohnBradshawsSideshow

    #ConeyIslandSideshow

    #WardHallsWorldofWonders

    #WorldofWonders
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.17 Capt Don Leslie: A Sword Swallower’s History Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.17 Capt Don Leslie: A Sword Swallower’s History Sword Swallowing
    Apr 7 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.17

    Capt. Don Leslie: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Capt. Don Leslie, who ran away with the circus at the age of 14, worked with King Bros Cristiani Circus, Royal American Shows, Ringling Brothers Circus, and many other circuses, shows and films over 46 years from 1952 to 1998.


    Capt. Don Leslie’s story comes from his chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    https://ToTheHiltbook.com

    https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p


    #ToTheHilt

    #swordswallower #CaptainDon

    #CaptDonLeslie

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #circus #sideshow

    #KingBrothersCircus

    #CristianiBrothersCircus

    #RinglingBrothersCircus

    #RoyalAmericanShows
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.16 Patricia Zerm: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.16 Patricia Zerm: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing
    Apr 6 2025

    To The Hilt Deep Dive Podcast Ep 1.16

    Lady Patricia: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing


    In this episode, we take a deep dive to explore the life of sword swallower Lady Patricia Zerm, who worked as a sword swallower for 37 years from 1939 to 1976 under the stage names “Miss Patricia” and “Lady Patricia” with Ringling Brothers Circus, Royal American Shows, Ward Hall’s World of Wonders, and many other shows, including being the sword swallower featured in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 film “Greatest Show on Earth”.


    Lady Patricia’s story comes from her chapter in the book “To The Hilt: A Sword Swallower’s History of Sword Swallowing” by sword swallower Dan Meyer and sideshow historian Marc Hartzman (Schiffer Publishing), now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Target, Walmart and more:


    https://ToTheHiltbook.com


    https://amzn.to/47Qqw6p


    #ToTheHilt

    #swordswallower #MissPatricia

    #LadyPatricia #PatriciaZerm

    #swordswallowers #history

    #swordswallowing

    #circus #sideshow

    #RinglingBrothersCircus

    #RoyalAmericanShows

    #WardHall #WorldofWonders
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins