Jim Alberti began his career as an entertainer when he was in high school, touring his magic show with the USO - mainly in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia - and also performing at Walter Reed Hospital. After high school, as part of his Army service, he performed his magic shows for children at children's homes and other venues.

Continuing to perform, he earned his B.A. as a generalist in Drama, Art History, and English and his M.F.A. in Design and Theater History. Soon thereafter, he began a career in theater, working both on and off Broadway. In 1970, he married Barbara Virgo and added teaching/guest artist work at several college theater programs. Then, he became a full-time faculty member of Federal City College during their transition into the University of the District of Columbia. In 1980, he was hired by North Carolina School of the Arts (now the University of North Carolina School of the Arts) where he taught for eight years.

In 1988, he completed his own version of the Alberti Flea Circus based on the one his grandfather had toured in the 1920s through the early 1940s, and that summer, he and his newly adopted son, Darryl, took the Alberti Flea Circus to libraries across North Carolina in a program called "Get a Jump into Reading". From that time on, he has returned to full-time performing.

The Flea Circus has been a great success, playing at fairs and festivals across the United States and Canada. CNN and CBS have done features on Alberti and his fleas, and he has received front-page coverage in countless local newspapers. Alex Trebek has even used the Alberti Flea Circus on Jeopardy.

That popular notice has been gratifying, but perhaps even more gratifying has been the expansion of venues into historic sites and museums - children's museums, science museums, and then both art and cultural museums, and finally becoming sponsored by the National Council for the Traditional Arts.

Over time, Alberti added a vintage street organ, a Punch and Judy show, and Windjammer the automaton who inflates a balloon when a child shakes his hand. All of Alberti's shows have their roots in old-fashioned popular entertainment. They engage the audience, inviting the children as well as the adults to participate in the activities and create an atmosphere of accessibility and fun for everyone.