He was the Human Blockhead and proud of it. He was the Anatomical Wonder who could breathe with one lung at a time, the Two-Faced Man who could frown with half his face and smile with the other ...

For most of his life, on carnival sideshows across the country, Burkhart was better known as Melvin the Human Blockhead.

In "the biz," this act is known as the "Human Blockhead." To demonstrate, he enlists his squeamish wife, Suzanne. He tips back his head, gingerly slips the implement in, then she removes it.

In sideshow circles this type of act is known as "The Human Blockhead," made famous by Melvin Burkhart, a sideshow performer popular in the 1920s. It's said when Robert Ripley (of "Ripley's ...

An unveiling of the science behind the circus blade box, a human blockhead, sword swallowing and more. The circus is full of marvels of human strength and agility. Contortionists. Acrobatics. Sword ...

Melvin Berkhart, the Human Blockhead, has been with the Sutton Side Show for 24 years. In the photo he was performing at the New York State Fair on August 26, 1980. (John Dowling / Herald Journal ...

Numbskull, the Human Blockhead is the reason to see the show, but together the two acts provide interesting commentary on the ways we use and abuse our bodies. Through 6/30: Thu 8 PM. Neo ...

Melvin Burkhart, who earned his mark in sideshow history as “The Human Blockhead,” has died at the age of 94. Burkhart had retired to a Florida trailer park populated by other carnival ...

Thom Britton visits WGN Radio’s Nick Digilio to talk about his show, “FreakShow and Tell,” and perform “The Human Blockhead,” a stunt involving hammering a nail into his head. WARNING: Do not attempt ...