Jul 13, 2023
Circus performers (1940s, 1950s)
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Ireland
seen from Russia
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seen from Türkiye
seen from Singapore
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seen from China
seen from Malaysia
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seen from China
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seen from Malaysia
seen from Singapore
Circus performers (1940s, 1950s)
Hulton Deutsch, Circus performer Lucia Muller walks along the pavement at Hammersmith Broadway carrying her sister Gerda on her head, 21st January 1953. Lucia and Gerda Muller of The Chaludis in Costume, who practice balancing on their heads for the Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1950
Josef Hlinomaz (1914-1978) — Circus Performers [oil on canvas, 1950]
So recently I went to the circus (my last time being there was like 20+ years ago), and one of the most notable things was that our circus has performers dressed up as popular superheroes.
Through out the show, I saw Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Power Rangers, Batman, Superman and Iron doing incredible trapeze and acrobatic acts.
Which makes sense, kids today are into superheroes, and the circus gotta do what they can to keep up with the time and draw in kids.
The kids loved it, of course, and it warmed my heart to see the hardworking performers being cheered on and idolised by their young audience just like they were actual superheroes.
Which they are! Circus performers, with their eyecatching colourful skintight costumes and death-defying feats of acrobatics, strength and dexterity, are truely the closest we've got to actual real life superheroes.
It is a nice bit of full-circle. Superheroes' looks and costumes were inspired by circus strongmen and acrobats, and now, superheroes has come back to inspire the circus.
Which make me think, this can work as an updated origin for Dick Grayson's Robin. Think about it:
The Flying Graysons dressed up as superhero-themed costumes for their acts.
To Dick, his parents were superheroes, and he was their sidekick.
He had his love for superheroes baked in him since the start.
battersea funfair, july 1951
Acrobats from the Ringling-Barnum and Bailey circus, 1940s-1950s. Unknown source, but the woman in the first and last photo is Lilli (or Lilli-Ana) Kristensen, who grew up in Denmark. The man in the last photo is likely her husband Svend. In the 70s they transitioned to a big cat act.
A day at the circus.
Creepy clowns, circus performers, spooky cats, costume ideas?
Lauterbach, C. (Carl), and Anatole Jakovsky. Postcard Album; : Also a Cultural History. First American edition. New York: Universe Books, 1961.