Randal Levenson is a talented photographer whose career was based on documenting the circus life of American artists. His collection of photos called ‘In Search of the Monkey Girl’ reveals an unseen side of this fascinating world. All photos Randal Levenson

Mark of the Beast, 1970s

Fred Luccino, fire-eater, Gibsonton, Florida, 1975

Arb and Ed Schaeffer, 1979

Alive Gorilla Girl, 1970s

World’s largest steer, Saratoga Springs, New York, 1974

Willie ‘Popeye’ Ingram, who could dislocate his eyes from their sockets, in Maumee, Ohio, 1974