Snake Man of La Perouse

The show was held on the same site in La Perouse since the early 20th century.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TH19090612.2.119.22|title=Snakes!|date=12 June 1909|work=Taranaki Herald|accessdate=9 March 2010}}

The original Snake Man was "Professor" Frederick Fox,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q1UQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IZIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7068,1463432|title=Proof against snake poison|last=F.C.H.|date=2 February 1910|work=The Sydney Mail|accessdate=9 March 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} also known as the "Snake King",{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19110121.2.124|title=A Snake Hunt at Kurnell|date=21 January 1911|work=Evening Post|accessdate=9 March 2010}} who was proud of the immunity to snake venom that he had developed. However, like other such showmen, he did have his own special antidote.

In 1913, Fox travelled to India to sell his antidote.

While demonstrating his antidote in Calcutta in 1914, Fox was bitten several times by a krait. He treated himself but overlooked one bite and died after a few hours.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iysuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_9QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3578,3173311|title=Fox Dies from the Bite of a Poisonous Snake|date=11 March 1914|work=The Miami News|accessdate=10 March 2010}}

Another local, Herbert See, took over the La Perouse show but he was bitten by an Eastern Brown Snake and died in hospital.{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19131226.2.104|title=Snake-charmers killed|date=26 December 1913|work=Evening Post|accessdate=9 March 2010}}

George Cann took on the show in the 1919 and the Cann family ran the show thereafter.{{cite web |url=http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/About_Randwick/Heritage/Plaque_46/index.aspx |title=La Perouse Tram Terminus, The Loop, Snake Pit |work=randwick.nsw.gov.au |access-date=8 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620184550/http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/About_Randwick/Heritage/Plaque_46/index.aspx |archive-date=20 June 2010 |df= }} Snake bites were an ongoing hazard.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5wpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=suYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2718,1602791|title=Handler survives tiger snake-bite|date=5 June 1967|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=10 March 2010}}

John Cann was awarded an OAM in 1992 for service to the community, conservation and the environment.{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/878288|title=John Cann OAM|date=26 January 1992|publisher=itsanhonour.gov.au|accessdate=10 March 2010}} The area surrounding the snake pit has been named Cann Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/Places_for_people/Recreation_and_leisure/Parks/By_suburb/La_Perouse/Cann_Park/index.aspx?setTextOnlyMode=false |title=Cann Park, Anzac Parade, La Perouse |work=randwick.nsw.gov.au |access-date=10 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615195850/http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/Places_for_people/Recreation_and_leisure/Parks/By_suburb/La_Perouse/Cann_Park/index.aspx?setTextOnlyMode=false |archive-date=15 June 2011 |df= }} The last snake man, John Cann, indicated in 2010 that he was soon to retire.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/time-to-say-goodbye-to-some-not-so-cuddly-friends/2010/01/22/1263663161706.html|title=Time to say goodbye to some not so cuddly friends|last=Elliott|first=Tim|date=23 January 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=8 March 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/snake-mans-tail-end/|title=Snake man's tail end|last=Moncrieff-Hill|first=Nick|date=11 January 2010|work=southern-courier.whereilive.com.au|accessdate=8 March 2010}} His last show was held on 18 April 2010.{{cite news|url=http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/snake-shows-over/|title=Snake Show's Over|last=Cormack|first=Briget|date=1 April 2010|work=southern-courier.whereilive.com.au|accessdate=7 April 2010}} The 7.30 Report broadcast a story on Cann on 13 April 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2871906.htm|title=Snake man calls it a day|last=Sims|first=Geoff|date=13 April 2010|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=13 April 2010}}

Since John Cann's retirement in 2010, the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society has been conducting the shows every weekend.{{cite news|last=Bliss|first=Raylene|title=Are we doing enough to preserve the history of La Perouse's snakeman? |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/are-we-doing-enough-to-preserve-the-history-of-la-perouses-snakeman/story-fngr8h22-1226869417300|accessdate=31 August 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia|date=21 March 2014}}{{cite news|last=Horin|first=Adele|title=No Cann do any more as snake man farewells family tradition|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/no-cann-do-any-more-as-snake-man-farewells-family-tradition-20100418-smrc.html|accessdate=31 August 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://laperouse.info/?p=736|title=END OF THE CANN FAMILY SNAKE SHOWS |work=laperouse.info|accessdate=31 August 2014}}{{cite news|title=The century long Cann family tradition of snake shows at La Perouse continues|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/the-century-long-cann-family-tradition-of-snake-shows-at-la-perouse-continues/story-fngr8h22-1226900010894|accessdate=31 August 2014|newspaper=dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal|date=30 April 2014}} John Cann is still an active member of the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society, of which he is the patron.{{cite web|url=http://hawkesburyherps.com.au/about-hhs|title=Hawkesbury Herpetological Society – About Us – Our Patron|publisher=hawkesburyherps.com.au|accessdate=31 August 2014}}

In November 2012 it was announced that the La Perouse Museum would include a permanent exhibition to recognise the Cann family.{{cite news|last=Power|first=Julie|title=Honour for snake man with a passion for turtles |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/honour-for-snake-man-with-a-passion-for-turtles-20121107-28yi9.html|accessdate=8 November 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 November 2012}}

In 2014, the snake pit was damaged by vandals,{{cite news|last=Suckling|first=Laura|title=The historic Snake Pit at La Perouse has been vandalised|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/the-historic-snake-pit-at-la-perouse-has-been-vandalised/story-fngr8h22-1226863071816|accessdate=26 March 2014|newspaper=Southern Courier|date=24 March 2014}}

The Snake Man performed in a 13 m x 7 m area of grass defined by a metre-high corrugated steel fence.

He stood in the 'pit' and removed reptiles one by one from canvas bags to show them to people lining the fence. He held a snake by the tail as he talked about it, or he may have walked around the perimeter of the pit with the reptile just centimetres from the onlookers.

Often he allowed a harmless reptile, such as an Australian water dragon, to roam the pit for the duration of the show.

At the conclusion of each half-hour show 'the hat' was passed around for a small donation. The show was usually at 1.30 pm on Sundays.

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Image:Snake man.jpg|{{center|The Snake Man of La Perouse}}

File:Snake pit La Perouse.jpg|{{center|The Snake Pit, La Perouse, on a Sunday afternoon}}

Image:snake_man_snake_lizard.jpg|{{center|The Snake Man of La Perouse in action}}

Image:audience_and_lizard.jpg|{{center|The audience watches the show while a bearded dragon roams the enclosure}}

Image:holding_back_snake_with_foot.jpg|{{center|The snake man holds back a snake with his foot}}

Image:holding_snake_by_tail.jpg|{{center|The Snake Man holds a snake aloft by the tail}}

Image:snake_reentering_bag.jpg|{{center|A snake reenters its bag after being shown to the audience}}

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Category:Tourist attractions in Sydney

Category:La Perouse, New South Wales