The World in a Circus

Before I-phones, I-pads, TVs, DVDs, and talking movies was the CIRCUS!  I hope you've experienced a circus at least once in your life.  When I was 7 years old in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, my dad took me to a circus at the local indoor arena.  I still remember the beautifully costumed women dangling from a rope hanging and doing acrobatics upside down.  I was mesmerized by the trapeze artists, seemingly barely missing the bar and tumbling high into the air.  There are so many other performers in a circus: the clowns, the equestriennes, cowboys, animal trainers, to mention several.  Many support staff are required, executives, laborers, cooks, etc.

"Circus people receive a geographical education that might well be the envy of every one interested in broadening his mental horizon.  The big show covers thousands of miles in a single season visiting areas of States and frequently foreign cities," ("The Land of Sawdust and Spangles - A World in Miniature," Francis Beverly Kelley, National Geographic Magazine, October, 1931, p. 463).

Apparently in 1931, the circus was much bigger than we can imagine now.  In addition to the performing lions, tigers, horses, bears, and, of course, the elephants, there must have been animals on exhibition.  Ms. Kelley lists "Under a single spread of canvas are gathered hundreds of animals and birds," (p. 463) leopards, giraffes, deer, antelope, tapirs, polar bears, hippopotamuses, monkeys, llamas, pumas, macaws, sea-lions, sea-elephants, rhinoceros, hyenas, camels, zebras, water buffaloes, kangaroos, and zebras.

FYI: Elephants: "It is not true that they never forget although elephants do have good memories; also, they do not live to a phenomenal age.  The elephant's span of years is about that of a man.  Some of them live to exceed the century mark" (pp. 470-471).

In 1931, the Circus was definitely a big business that could expect 2 million customers in one season.  The circus didn't travel in winter but stayed mostly either in Indiana or Florida.  "The largest circus carries its own doctor, lawyers, detectives, barber shop, blacksmith shop, fire department, chefs, business experts, and postal service, and it travels on 100 railroad cars in four sections" (p. 476).  There were many competing circuses.  The Ringling Brothers circus and the Barnum circus were mentioned as major circuses.

"Circus exhibition in the United States had its beginning in 1785. . . Circuses were not presented under canvas until 1826, and the combination of performance and wild animal menangerie did not enter the picture until 1851. . . Canvas inclosure (tents) . . . served to hide the circus from those who had not paid admission . . . Even today nearly all European circuses and those of other continents present their programs in a single ring and travel overland, clinging to the traditions of another generation" (p. 478).  In America, we like to think big: railroad travel of circuses began in earnest in 1872.

In 1931, the Ringling Brothers circus erected a big top tent "large enough to accommodate 15,000 spectators at one time" (p. 478).

FYI: Camels: "Whether one- or 2-humped, members of the camel family have double-barreled tempers, swivel joints permitting kicking in any direction, and no sense of humor" (photo caption, p. 484).

Let's not forget the midway, or side show.  For a small fee, one could marvel at "freaks," the giant tall man and the midget, bearded ladies, armless wonders, sword swallowers, super-fat ladies, snake charmers, the tatooed lady, fire-eaters, the human cannon ball, and other wonders.  Missing from this account of the midway was the many rides, such as the ferris wheel which are still in amusement parks and county fairs today.  Perhaps those attractions came at a later date.

FYI: Midgets: "The smallest man on exhibition anywhere is Major Mite, and he does credit to his stage name.  His height is less than 30 inches and he weighs about 25 pounds.  He has a brother who is 6 feet tall, and his parents were normal height" (p. 487).

Have you seen movies in which a circus parades through the Main Street of a town before the performance?  Ms. Kelley reports that in 1931, due to the busy motorcar traffic, this practice was no longer followed.

FYI:  Languages: Do we truly think America is bilingual in English and Spanish now?  In 1931, "The flaming circus lithographs (posters) that herald the approach of the spangled caravan must be printed in several different languages in a number of places: posters with Hebrew lettering in New York City's Jewish districts, Italian in both New York City and Chicago, French in parts of Montreal and Quebec, and Spanish in certain Southwestern cities" (p. 496).

Have you seen trapeze artists skillfully jump from one swing to the next and back again?  "It is frequently 20 degrees hotter directly under the canvas top than on the ground" (p. 512).

Even a deaf person could enjoy a circus because there are very few words spoken, usually those of the Ring Master, the announcer.

Here's a story to end this report of circus entertainment: "Johnny Patterson, famous Irish clown, lay dying in a dressing tent.  The physician who attended him tried to cheer him up and upon leaving, said, "Goodnight, Patterson.  I will see you in the morning."  A smile flickered across the old clown's face.  "I know you will, doctor," he replied, "but will I see you?" (p. 516).

Seriously, this was a long article, 52 pages long. I had intended to take at least 2 days to read it.  But it was so engaging, once I started, I had to finish and ended up having a late supper tonight!