A recent article by CNN documents 15 of the world’s weirdest museums and, not surprisingly, there’s quite a bit of interesting material for sideshow lovers. Consider the excerpts below your official CliffsNotes: Kunstkamera Russia’s first museum might seem an odd selection for a “weird museum,” but even a casual glance at Peter the Great’s cabinet [...]
The 51st Annual Winter Circus Mixer will be hosted at the Farm Kitchen in Baraboo, Wisconsin on Saturday, January 21. Here’s the rundown: 2:00 pm Bull Room opens 5:00 pm Circus history lecture 5:30 pm Social hour 6:30 pm Buffet dinner All are welcome! Tickets are $25 at the door. For reservations, call 608-356-0890. Click here [...]
Many have a grossly romanticized idea of what circus life must have been like around the turn of the century, traversing the country by train, living amongst an oddball assortment of performers, freaks and roustabouts. The truth is, operations such as the Ringling Bros. made fortunes by running a tight ship, creating a highly hierarchical [...]
This Friday kicks off the Circus Model Show at Baraboo, Wisconsin’s Circus World Museum. Throughout the weekend, over 30 displays from across the country will be presented on these historic grounds for all to see. If you’ve never had the chance to see such an exhibit, allow me to warn you of your likely immediate [...]
From 1968 to 1997, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College educated hundreds of entertainers, eager to hone their clowning chops. Throughout the course of its lifetime, this school was located in Venice, Florida, Baraboo, WI and finally Sarasota, FL. If you were lucky enough to be admitted to this college, (“It was [...]
It is a serious understatement to say that Ned Kronberg has been been bitten by the circus bug. After a lifetime surrounding himself with circus culture, this enthusiast boasts the following achievements: Volunteer at Circus World Museum for over 40 years, where he’s helped restore a few wagons and been highly involved with the Great [...]
The great and inimitable Pabst Blue Ribbon! That’s right; John Ringling was a Wisconsin boy, and he loved the Milwaukee-brewed PBR best. Although John was born in Iowa, The Ringling Bros. Circus was founded in Baraboo, WI, in 1884 and the brothers wintered there for the following 34 years, giving John ample time to enjoy [...]
The book came out in May of 2006 and four years later, Director Francis Lawrence began shooting the movie adaptation with Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz. I’m talking, of course, about Sara Gruen’s award-winning novel Water for Elephants. While the film won’t hit the theaters until April 15, 2011, the official trailer has [...]
While Wisconsin may not sound like a destination hot spot in mid-January, you may want to consider bundling up for Baraboo’s annual circus winter mixer. On Saturday, January 15th, circus enthusiasts will gather at the The Farm Kitchen Restaurant for the following afternoon of festivities: 12:00 Noon – Room opens for anyone that wishes to [...]
The Onondaga County Public Library (OCPL) of Syracuse, NY are encouraging locals to read, and to promote reading this holiday season, they’re highlighting the circus books in their collection. I wish my school teachers would have taken the same approach! Below are three of the OCPL’s featured books according to Syracuse News (which is also [...]