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Located near Tampa, it was the home of sideshow “freaks” and daredevils,
and other circus performers. It wasn’t unusual to see Priscilla the Monkey
Girl checking her mail at the post offi ce, where the counters were even
lowered for the little people who were employed by the circus. For convenience
El Jobe-An became El Jobean, and an invitation to come and stay
there had to come from Suicide Simon.
Simon, also known as “The Human Firecracker,” was well known for stunts
such as climbing 150’ into the air, dousing himself with gasoline, setting
himself on fi re, then diving into a 6’ pool of water. He also liked to lock
himself into a crate with sticks of lit dynamite, an act which also earned him
the name “The Human Bomb.”
When Suicide Simon wasn’t performing around the country he would
come home to El Jobean. He loved to fi sh and hunt alligators (an act that is
more like a walk in the park for a man who sets himself on fi re on a regular
basis). He loved to talk to his
circus performer friends about his hotel, and at some point
even the Great Wallenda family came to stay, and constructed
Photos of Suicide Simon’s shenanigans.
38 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE May/June 2020
a myriad of trapeze and tightrope stations on the
grounds.
Believe it or not, Suicide Simon died a peaceful death in
1972. His hotel was eventually abandoned, and its ruins sit
right near the Bean Depot Cafe.
The Bean Depot is a well-loved little spot by locals and
tourists alike. If you don’t have the history of it being a
common destination, you may not understand the draw. It
isn’t a fancy place, but it’s one of the few left in Florida that
have the old original booths inside and the traditional dollar
bill collection on the walls. The outdoor seating consists
of simple patio tables and chairs with shell gravel on the
ground, and quite often there is live music there.
On one visit, the rustic charm of the place was confi rmed
when a waitress casually asked, “Know any bands that want
to come play? They don’t have to be super good, and they
won’t get paid. But they will get beer and tips.” The food
is far more than adequate, and some of the daily specials
are downright delicious (try the bread pudding). The drinks
are a reasonable price, and the ambiance is more like a
backyard and less like a tourist trap. For many, this is a very
good thing.
In a little room adjoining the restaurant, the museum can
be found. An old silver saxophone and a player piano sit in
one corner, and posters and photos of Suicide Simon cover the walls. One poster shows a picture of a
chimp and says, “WANTED! Athletic man to earn $5 per second by holding 85-pound ape’s shoulders
on the fl oor (up to four seconds).” Another says “Also wanted: Boxers and runners to earn $1 per
minute at the gorilla show.”
Suicide Simon may have passed away, and the circus no longer comes to El Jobean. However, that
little museum keeps his spirit alive in the fact that so many who pass through have a lot of questions
when they leave … and that’s enough to keep one of the most interesting historical aspects of
El Jobean alive.