The Zagmianda Sideshow, where the action took place. They were from Texas. The Sideshow was the flipside of their main identity, which is a dirty jazz, bluesy, honkytonk band called “Lowbrow.” The lead singer sounded like Tom Waits.

The Stronger Than Average Man awaits his cue. I have some greenish streaks on my ribcage and arms, from practicing with Michelle, whose body paint rubbed off.

Assistant Stacy secures a double strand of steel chain around my wrist. Doubled, the chains have a load limit of 90 pounds. Earlier that summer, I had trained for this in the gym using weight stack cable pulls. When I got up to a controlled pull with 100 lbs., I figured I had what I needed to part the chain, since I'd be giving that a jerk and the momentary load would probably be effectively greater. Turned out I was right.

After two hard uppercuts, the links attached to my right arm have opened up; with the next yank, they failed completely, sending a shower of chain links into the audience. Then I did the same with my left. It happened fast and we couldn't catch it on film. You had to be there.

The Grand Finale: The Stronger Than Average Man supports both Stacy (135 lbs., on shoulders) and Michelle (red elf suit, green skin, 80 lbs., clinging to midsection). I wanted to support two more women but we got no volunteers.