Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Los Angeles California Institute of Abnormalarts (CIA)
California Institute of Abnormalarts (CIA) is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

California Institute of Abnormalarts (CIA)

Venue for strange sideshow displays and musical acts.

Los Angeles, California

Added By
Jeshii
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
(California Institute of Abnormalarts)   http://www.ciabnormalarts.com/Tour01.htm
(California Institute of Abnormalarts)   http://www.ciabnormalarts.com/Tour01.htm
(California Institute of Abnormalarts)   http://www.ciabnormalarts.com/Tour01.htm
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This unusual location in North Hollywood is home to strange sideshow displays, musical performances, and other live events that are more difficult to define.

Usually classified as "freakshows," the events, which draw large crowds that don't have many other venues that cater to them, fit right in with the decor.

As you can see in the pictures above, the body of a mummified clown, Achile Chatouilleu, is on display in a sealed glass coffin - still wearing his clown costume and makeup. The pride and joy of the owner, former mortician Carl Crew claimed that the body is that of a failed U.S. clown leased by the owners.

Scattered throughout the building are body parts, including skulls, bones, and petrified limbs. They take their place among other curios and oddities, including circus signage, man-eating monsters, screens showing clips from sci-fi and horror films, and more.

Update: Permanently closed as of June 2022.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Related Tags

Shops Unique Restaurants & Bars

Community Contributors

Added By

Jeshii

Edited By

kpryzk, Molly McBride Jacobson, foyec35486, nbj914

  • kpryzk
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • foyec35486
  • nbj914

Published

March 23, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-07-22/farewell-to-california-institute-of-abnormal-arts
  • Yelp: CIA - The California Institute of Abnormalarts: http://www.yelp.com/biz/cia---the-california-institute-of-abnormalarts-north-hollywood
  • TACO: California Institute of Abnormal Arts ~ 999 Eyes of Endless Dream Sideshow ~ North Hollywood: http://www.lataco.com/taco/california-institute-of-abnormal-arts-999-eyes-of-endless-dream-freak-show-north-hollywood
  • Dark Destinations: California Institute of Abnormal Arts: http://www.thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=c&location_id=california_institute_of_abnormal_arts
California Institute of Abnormalarts (CIA)
11334 Burbank Blvd.
Los Angeles, California, 91601
United States
34.172039, -118.377464
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Circus Liquor Clown

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Idle Hour

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Metropolitan Pit Stop

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 240
Stories 65

Nearby Places

Circus Liquor Clown

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Idle Hour

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Metropolitan Pit Stop

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 240
Stories 65

Related Places

  • Queens, New York

    5 de Mayo Food Market

    Head past the aisles of tropical fruit and imported candy at this bodega to discover a hidden, weekends-only taco stand.

  • Carton King Creative Park.

    Taichung City, Taiwan

    Carton King Creative Park

    Life-size animals and furniture made entirely from cardboard fill this odd paper-themed restaurant.

  • Dining room at Trader Vic’s Atlanta.

    Atlanta, Georgia

    Trader Vic's

    Mai Tais and Navy Grog served up in one of the original tiki bars.

  • The Mai-Kai’s roadside sign.

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida

    Mai-Kai Restaurant

    When you can't get to the Pacific, just go to Florida.

  • The Tonga Room’s pool.

    San Francisco, California

    The Tonga Room

    Tiki luxury on Nob Hill.

  • Destination Club

    Beijing, China

    Destination Club

    A progressive LGBTQ hub offers dancing, HIV testing, art, and more.

  • The bar at the Shameful Tiki Room.

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    The Shameful Tiki Room

    A high point in Vancouver kitsch.

  • Las Vegas, Nevada

    Frankie's Tiki Room

    The best Tiki bar in Las Vegas.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.