Don't Try Breathing Fire Until You Watch This Video

After a 70-year career, Ward Hall's claim to the title "King of the Sideshows" is undisputed.

However, his seven-decade career almost went up in smoke before it began.

When Hall was 14, he ran off to join a circus and was hired after he convinced the carnival owners he knew how to breathe fire.

The second day on the job, he had an epiphany.

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"I told these people I can eat fire, I better see what I can do about learning to do it," he tells Huffington Post in a video documentary.

Hall went over to where the trucks were kept and got a can of high-test gasoline, which he points out, "is not what you use to eat fire."

He then set about making torches and dipping them into the gas.

"I probably even put a little bit of the gas into my mouth," Hall said. "I don't know what I expected to do, but what I did do is burn the hell out of my face."

Not only that, but he set the building on fire.

Things turned out OK. Not only did he own his own sideshow within 11 years, but his life story has just been turned into a new book, "Ward Hall: King Of The Sideshows" (Casa Flamingo).

To see Ward Hall's amazing story check out our full documentary Ward Hall:King Of The Sideshow

Video by Emily Kassie of Huffington Post.

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Ward Hall: King Of The Sideshows

Ward Hall, 83, has spent nearly 70 years of his life working in the sideshow business.
Ward Hall, 83, has spent nearly 70 years of his life working in the sideshow business.

Stella, The Bearded Lady

In the process, he has worked with various ""human anomalies," such as Stella the bearded lady.
In the process, he has worked with various ""human anomalies," such as Stella the bearded lady.

Two-Headed Baby

Now Hall's life is going to be the subject of a new book that will tell about his life, including his experiences as a sideshow barker selling people on sights such as this two-headed baby.
Now Hall's life is going to be the subject of a new book that will tell about his life, including his experiences as a sideshow barker selling people on sights such as this two-headed baby.

Ward Hall: Ventriloquist

Hall has worked as a fire eater, circus owner, snake charmer and ventriloquist.
Hall has worked as a fire eater, circus owner, snake charmer and ventriloquist.

Gaylon Twins

Author Tim O'Brien said Hall helped "human anomalies" earn money when it was hard for them to get regular jobs and taught them the basics of the carnival business.
Author Tim O'Brien said Hall helped "human anomalies" earn money when it was hard for them to get regular jobs and taught them the basics of the carnival business.

Bob Melvin: Two-faced Man

Many of the acts who worked with Hall stayed with him for years.
Many of the acts who worked with Hall stayed with him for years.

Ward Hall and Little Peter Terhune who Traveled with Ward for more than 50 years

Little Peter Terhune (right) traveled with Hall for more than 50 years.
Little Peter Terhune (right) traveled with Hall for more than 50 years.

Pete Terhune

Terhune worked in the sideshow as a "freak," a clown and a fire eater.
Terhune worked in the sideshow as a "freak," a clown and a fire eater.

Percilla The Monkey Girl And Her Husband Emmett The Aligator Skin Man

The sideshow community is tight-knit and marriages between performers like Percilla the Monkey Girl and Emmett The Aligator Skin Man are common.
The sideshow community is tight-knit and marriages between performers like Percilla the Monkey Girl and Emmett The Aligator Skin Man are common.

Ward Hall and Author Tim O'Brien

Author Tim O'Brien is writing a book on Hall's life if he can raise $10,000 on Kickstarter by Aug. 8.
Author Tim O'Brien is writing a book on Hall's life if he can raise $10,000 on Kickstarter by Aug. 8.

Ward Hall: King Of The Sideshows

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.