I found that to be the most horrifying part of the movie, because it rings true. A bunch of Depression-era transients would never be missed. I don't know the history of the circus industry, but that sure added a disturbing element because of its credibility.
shareRedlighting really happened, you should read the book, it goes into more detail. The trains themselves were not very kind in their treatment of stowaways and hobos, either. Really, who could they complain to?
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Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. And you have to wonder how many people even survived, much less found someone to complain to. I doubt there are many people who know the history of Depression-era circus trains, but it seemed very plausible, because people can be ba$tards and especially then, industrialists would do anything they could get away with. The mining industry was bad enough, but when you're dealing with vagrants and all-around riffraff, there probably wasn't much they couldn't get away with.
shareIt's obviously complete nonsense. Of course people have been thrown off trains, but it cannot be a regular practice, since the Golden rule states: you're next.
shareI believe redlighting was actually leaving workers behind without paying them. It was a scam, but it didn't not involve throwing people off of trains. More like, "Hey guys, the train leaves at 10:00 so be back here by then. We'll have money to pay you for this weak when we sell some tickets at our next stop." And then the train leaves at 7:00.
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