Circus

A circus is a company of performers who put on shows that typically include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists, as well as other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists. Circuses are most often associated with large tents set up temporarily in fields or parking lots in which these spectacular performances take place.

Origins and History

The circus arose from ancient Roman circus shows, which often featured chariot races and gladiator combat. In the 18th century, equestrian acts became popular entertainment in European royal courts. Philip Astley is credited with founding the first modern circus in 1768 in London when he brought together multiple acts into a combined show including equestrian stunts, acrobatics, clowning, and circus animals.

In 1793 in the United States, John Bill Ricketts set up the first American circus in Philadelphia and later opened others in New York and Boston. In 1825 Joshuah Purdy Brown became the first American to establish a circus using a large canvas tent which allowed mobile touring shows to reach rural areas.

Growth of the Railroad Circus Era

In 1841 William Cameron Coup expanded the concept by launching the first circus train tour, allowing rapid transport of full tent shows by rail across America. This kicked off the golden age of circus entertainment, as touring shows brought excitement to towns across the growing country. Famous early railroad circuses included P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling American Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome and the Ringling Brothers Circus .

Competition between different traveling shows was fierce during the late 1800s. Major circus operators competed to create the largest tents, recruit the most death-defying stunt artists, present the most exotic animals, and develop the most clownish clowns. The public couldn't get enough, making the circus the most popular form of entertainment in America during this vibrant era.

Components of the Circus

Modern circuses have many traditional components, though exact styles vary by region and troupe. Most feature a 13-meter wide circus ring where main acts perform surrounded by seated audience tiers under the covering of the Big Top tent .

Clowns

Foolish clown acts provide comic relief between major stunts. Popular clown characters include the Auguste with white face makeup and outlandish clothes, as well as the hobo and tramp clowns with scruffy beards and tattered clothing. Clowns may perform slapstick routines, bumble through stunts, tell jokes, squirting flowers, or engage in comedic stunts with the audience.

Acrobatics & Aerial Arts

Death-defying acrobatic skills never cease to amaze audiences. Common acts include aerial silks dancers, teeterboard tumblers shot high into the air, unicyclists juggling while riding high wires, trapeze flyers performing flips between raised bars, and contortionists bending their bodies into incredible poses. Gymnasts and athletes may demonstrate incredible strength and balance as well.

###Circus Animals

Trainers showcase the abilities of exotic animals with extravagant lion, tiger, elephant, horse, and dog shows. Trainers demonstrate their close relationships with animals who follow verbal commands and perform exciting stunts, showcasing their natural strengths. While some modern circuses have moved away from using animals, many still contain traditional circus animal acts.

Sideshows & Freakshows

In classic American circuses, various "sideshow curiosities" might be exhibited in small tents adjacent to the Big Top. These included displays like snake charmers , fat ladies , sword swallowers , bearded ladies , skeletal thin men , and people with abnormalities termed "freaks". While exploitive, these were consistent draws, aiming to shock audiences. Today, "freakshow" performers with body modifications voluntarily exhibit themselves as living curiosities.

The Circus Today

While circuses enthralled the public for over a century, attendance declined with the rise of film, radio, and television entertainment. However, the tradition still continues today, both in enduring touring tent shows and permanent Las Vegas style circus productions like Cirque du Soleil and Circus Circus .

The circus arts remain popular both as entertainment and recreational pursuits like acrobatics, juggling, riding, gymnastics and more. Circuses also continue their historic role of providing a supportive community for people seeking to pursue non-traditional lifestyles on society's fringes.

The exotic excitement of the Big Top continues to inspire nostalgia and fascination with this original form of traveling spectacle entertainment.