When you take your seat at a circus and are confronted with death-defying stunts, as well as a spectacular array of sequins and glitter, union organization may be the last thing on your mind. Rest assured, however, that trade unions have influenced the development of the circus, just as they have with many major forms [...]
Rarely do we see new stunts in the circus and sideshow biz these days, and I’ll be the first to admit that even as an avid fan, performances often run the risk of being trite. Every once in awhile, however, performers startle audiences with genuinely new material, and of course, these are the moments that [...]
Oh, the joys of sibling rivalry in a wealthy, circus family! Check out this recent Associated Press release highlighting the ongoing war between Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CEO Kenneth Feld and his sister: WASHINGTON – The feud between the scions of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus erupted into profane shouting [...]
The logistics of a traveling circus are nothing short of awe-inspiring, and many a fanatics (not to mention Armies, with a capital A) have been moved to study the intricacies of such an operation. When engaging in a conversation on the topic, the more commonly cited stats refer to the early 1900s Ringling Circus-style operation, [...]
Getting a job with one of the largest and longest lasting circuses is no easy feat, and I’ve often wondered how performers charm their way into such a career. I recently stumbled across an interview with Andre McClain, a third generation cowboy who had never attended a circus in his life until the day he [...]
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 [...]
Some things you just can’t even make up: Police are frantically trying to find a mother who apparently gave birth in a dirty public bathroom and abandoned her newborn in the toilet. The incident reportedly happened after a Barnum & Bailey circus show in South Carolina, in the arena’s bathroom. The newborn is said to [...]
Michelle Wang was recently sent out on an assignment that would make most photographers drool. She was allowed to go backstage, onto the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus train and capture the performer’s lives. Wang certainly rose to the occasion, and below is some of her incredible shots: To view more of Michelle’s [...]
MSN.com has just announced the 10 Freakiest Freak Show Acts of All Time, which is no easy list to make, neither for a freak show performer nor for the author of this list. There are entire encyclopedias of famous anatomical oddities and countless icons of the sideshow world. Where does one begin? Well, here’s what [...]
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 [...]