Over-sized, bulbous, brightly-colored shoes have become an iconic staple of the American clown ensemble. I, for one, never stopped to think about the financial investment or manual labor that goes into producing such shoes. Until I was enlightened at Baraboo’s International Clown Hall of Fame. There are a handful of shoe makers who specialize in [...]
August 5th kicks off a weekend of activities honoring the legendary clown, Dan Rice. Born in 1823, Rice rose to fame as a clown before the Civil War. He became a household name and even used his notoriety to run for presidency in 1868. The festival will include a clown contest, sports tournaments, an antique [...]
In two weeks, a San Francisco gallery will debut the Sideshow Happening exhibition, an artistic space that will explore the “links between conceptual art and the carnival.” There will be “artists working in a variety of titillating forms, including: stand-up comedy, glass eating, instructive lectures, living sculpture, noise music, snake charming, fantasy travel, film, slideshow, [...]
The sideshow banner is an iconic element of circus and sideshow life. While originally thought of as cheap advertisement, the sideshow banner has now been elevated to the status of folk art and a few scholars and enthusiasts are documenting these rich traditions. For an educational and thoroughly entertaining review of banner art history, I [...]
Last Saturday, the North Dakota State Fair parade took place in Minot, ND. A seven-year-old girl attempted to climb off of a float mid-procession. She fell to the pavement and was run over by both wheels of the dual-axle trailer. She was taken to the hospital, but her name and the details of her injuries [...]
In case you’ve ever wondered what the fabric industry has to offer in the way of circus imagery, I’ve decided to do a little research for you. Blame it on my inner crafting addict, but I managed to find quite a few gems. Check them out below and click on the image to go to [...]
Many circus troupes try to recreate the nostalgic atmosphere and vintage aesthetics of the old circus, but few do it as well as the Gifford Circus. This UK-based troupe performs under a big top tent, a rarity for modern performers. Their costumes also have a traditional feel, avoiding most modern circus’s inclination for spandex and [...]
The app industry for iPods and iPhones is booming, and now there is a game for $3.99 that caters to lovers of dark, creepy circuses. The app, named Cocoto Magic Circus, has the following premise: “A mysterious and evil clown has kidnapped Pixie, the pretty fairy. It is your mission to aid Cocoto and his [...]
Spring Green, Wisconsin is home to the House on the Rock, an architectural wonder that has evolved into one of the more bizarre tourist attractions that Wisconsin has to offer. Architect Alex Jordan was not satisfied with simply designing one of the region’s most unusual buildings, which sits on top of a 60 foot tall [...]
The UniverSoul Circus has reinvented the modern day circus, incorporating elements of America’s black culture. It has provided a space to combine vaudeville and hip hop, and they’ve been performing under the big top since 1994. While their efforts to expand the circus’s cultural influences have gained notoriety, their treatment towards animals is another story. [...]