Circus History

[thejugglepunk]

Circus Salvation

Welcome to my circus blog!! During the last couple years I have become truly enamored with the circus. I began researching the history of the circus and the various performing art forms that are known as circus arts— juggling, wire walking, clowning, acrobatics, tumbling, and animal training. I like to read everything that I can about where these forms originated, and their evolving history within the circus. My intention with this blog is to teach and spread these histories and forms to more young people, especially those groups who are marginalized and found a home in the circus in the past.

Personally, I have been teaching myself the basics of some of these disciplines and exploring their relationships with other performing art forms. The histories of touring musicians, dance companies, theatre companies, minstrel shows, and drag shows have all been touched by the influence of the circus. It is my view that reviving the circus and its place in popular culture can elevate performing arts, and even provide a path out of the soulless, exploitative, consumerist frame that has come to define modern media.

My DMs are always open to fellow circus freaks, performers, or particularly enthusiastic circophiles.

[thejugglepunk]

I’m working on a post related to animal training right now, and my research path has filled in so much of my understanding of the relationship people have with animals and nature and even colonialism.

It’s been so crazy to me how ubiquitous the association between circus and animal abuse is, and it points to the broader misunderstanding of the circus following its decline in the early 20th century.

Don’t get me wrong— in its time, there was no shortage of circus owners willing to do anything to put an elephant or leopard in their ring. But, most people don’t know that the circus as an art form had been developing for nearly a century before anything more exotic than a canary was trained for performance.

Obviously, climate sensitivity and species’ population decline is a major contributor to many exotic animals being phased out of circus performances. But given the resources needed to properly care for animals like this, most modern circuses forgo animals for financial reasons long before ethical concerns began.

So, I think the clearest reason for this shunning of the circus is the very same reason for its popularity in the U.S.— unabated capitalism. If there was genuine cultural interest in circus as an art form, I don’t think the average American would consider Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Bros. As the be-all-end-all of what circus is.

[thatonelesbianfander]

The circus as an art form is so misunderstood and it hurts my feelings as someone who has a special interest in the circus and circus history. The circus is such a spectacular display of human creativity and wonder, but because that fuckass PT Barnum is the one who popularized it in the US it gets a bad rep of being abusive and scandalous and dark (and don't get me wrong, the circus does have its fair share of ethical concerns but it's not all bad like how it's popularly represented)

[thejugglepunk]

No posts because mental health is failing. New circus pics coming soon <3

[weirdvintage]

Philomena the Knife Juggler, 1906

(Source)

[thejugglepunk]

Stumbled on another hugely important resource for circus research today. The more I read, the more this field entices.

Sometimes, I think I’m just doing a hyperfixation or whatever, but then I see passion for the circus just spill out of people in this space— it makes me think that there really is something special about this art form that is worth spreading.

[random-brushstrokes]

Francesco Longo Mancini (Italian, 1880-1954) - Harlequin

[thejugglepunk]

Come one, come all!

[thejugglepunk]

I’m working on a post related to animal training right now, and my research path has filled in so much of my understanding of the relationship people have with animals and nature and even colonialism.

It’s been so crazy to me how ubiquitous the association between circus and animal abuse is, and it points to the broader misunderstanding of the circus following its decline in the early 20th century.

Don’t get me wrong— in its time, there was no shortage of circus owners willing to do anything to put an elephant or leopard in their ring. But, most people don’t know that the circus as an art form had been developing for nearly a century before anything more exotic than a canary was trained for performance.

Obviously, climate sensitivity and species’ population decline is a major contributor to many exotic animals being phased out of circus performances. But given the resources needed to properly care for animals like this, most modern circuses forgo animals for financial reasons long before ethical concerns began.

So, I think the clearest reason for this shunning of the circus is the very same reason for its popularity in the U.S.— unabated capitalism. If there was genuine cultural interest in circus as an art form, I don’t think the average American would consider Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Bros. As the be-all-end-all of what circus is.

[thejugglepunk]

Front row tickets were extremely worth it.

[thejugglepunk]

I’m realizing that learning more French would make circus research a lot easier… So, if you are a native French speaker and want to talk with someone about circus, I would love to do some circus-flavored language practice with you!

[thejugglepunk]

I came across something new while fact-checking my post on Beni Hasan that I was surprised I hadn’t heard of before.

Akhnaten is an opera by Philip Glass which ran for the first time in 1984. Its story is centered around the first ruler of the New Kingdom period, Akhenaten, who sought to revolutionize Ancient Egyptian religion by centering Aten as the one true god of the kingdom bestowed to him. He is also notable for being the husband of Nefertiti and mentor of Tutankhamen, both of whom are subjects of major archaeological artifacts.

Now, at this point, I have little reason to care about this show. I don’t really care for opera. But after premiering in several countries, it returned to the UK in 2016 with a new addition: jugglers.

Sean Gandini is one of the greats from the tail end of the revival era of circus and juggling. He started the Gandini Juggling Company to introduce juggling to new art forms and venues— including contemporary dance performances, street festival performances, and operas.

Though I likely will never have the chance to see this show, I have been absolutely enchanted with this clip of the show shared by Gandini.

[thejugglepunk]

Ok I lied I’m gonna keep posting stuff from this circus bc I got so many great shots. I’ve never used tumblr’s gif maker before but I love how this looks

[victusinveritas]

In Hugo, Oklahoma, there is a section of a cemetery that is call Showmen's Rest. It is reserved for for circus workers and showmen. Technically my great grandfather could be reburied there—he was a long term roustabout and animal handler in the 1930s, when he wasn't playing exhibition baseball games with the likes of Babe Ruth and Satchel Paige. I think he'd probably haunt me if I reburied him in Oklahoma, far from his family plot in Rhode Island.

[thejugglepunk]

An equestrian and his gallant steed… why he in the Black Parade outfit though??

I have one more edit from the Jordan Circus coming soon! It needs some extra context.

[thejugglepunk]

Jordan Circus

Lynden, WA 2025

[thejugglepunk]

I was juggling outside during a break at work, and one of our regulars struck up a conversation with me about the circus.

She went on to describe her audience at one of the first shows ever ran by Cirque du Soleil in the United States back in the 80s.

This was back in 1987, when the Los Angeles Arts Festival invited the young company to perform. In an unexpected turnout for what was an uncertain time for contemporary circuses, tickets sold out weeks in advance. The celebrity and eccentrics of LA showed out in a crowd of 55,000. The show, We Reinvent the Circus went on to play in Santa Monica and San Diego (where my customer attended!), and ultimately proved the company’s ability to sell to an international, commercial audience.

This customer told me that she has seen other Soleil shows since, but that they couldn’t compare to that first show in a tent.

I won’t make any assertions about Cirque du Soleil, as I’ve never actually seen one of their shows— but I will say that I am especially charmed by the success of what was a complete shot-in-the-dark startup that ended up becoming the monolith of circus that it is today.

[set1914]

Paranormal Cirque III Friday 30 May 2025 Arundel Mills Mall, Parking Lot Hanover, Maryland