10 Unusual Facts About the Circus

The circus is brimming with oddities. By its very nature, the circus is unconventional. Its charm lies in its departure from the ordinary: we rarely interact with tigers, soar on trapezes, or witness clowns cramming into tiny cars. Given the inherent strangeness of circus acts, we’ve highlighted surprising details about its history and enduring legacy.

To begin with, you might be surprised to learn that the circus remains a thriving industry. Feld Entertainment, the company behind Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, reportedly generated $1 billion in revenue in 2013, while the founder of Cirque du Soleil boasts an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion [source: Mac].

Let’s explore some fascinating and peculiar circus facts that have shaped its unique and extraordinary identity over the years.

10: Performing Animals First Appeared in Theatres

Elephants, often associated with circuses, initially gained fame in a more refined setting than the Big Top. While they had appeared in traveling menageries and exhibitions, their breakthrough came in the prestigious world of theatre.

In 1829, a play titled "The Elephant of Siam" debuted at London's Adelphi Theatre and later toured nationwide. The production starred a trained elephant named Mademoiselle D'Jeck, who performed impressive feats like ringing a bell and using her trunk to steal and place a crown on someone's head [source: Speaight]. The play's success inspired circus promoters to feature elephants performing similar tricks in their shows.

Elephants weren't the only stars: Trained lions also made their stage debut in spectacular performances. Queen Victoria attended some of these shows, fueling public fascination with performing big cats [source: Speaight].

9: Tightrope Walkers Were Daring and Provocative

While modern audiences might feel sheer terror watching tightrope walkers, early circus-goers had a different reaction. In an era when even the sight of a woman in trousers could cause a stir, high-wire performers were both thrilling and scandalous.

Consider this: female wire walkers couldn’t wear skirts without risking exposure. Their attire, often consisting of leg-revealing doublets and hose, allowed men to gaze at women’s bodies in a way that defied the social norms of the time [source: Victoria and Albert Museum]. A 1699 review even hinted that a wire walker’s agility might have suggestive implications [source: Speaight]. Watching these performers became a socially acceptable way to indulge in risqué entertainment.

Now, let’s shift our focus from the daring rope dancers to explore the peculiar origins of the word 'circus.'

8: The Circus Owes Its Name to a Horse Ring

Whether you're a classics enthusiast or just recall a scene from "Spartacus," you might assume the Circus Maximus, the ancient Roman chariot racing arena, inspired the modern circus's name. While the term is the same, the connection ends there.

The first modern circus, established by Philip Astley in 18th-century Britain, was originally called an amphitheatre. According to George Speaight's engaging book "History of the Circus," the term was chosen simply because it sounded impressive. The name 'circus' became linked to the performances we know today when Charles Hughes staged a show titled "The Royal Circus." This likely had no connection to Rome's Circus Maximus but instead referenced the circular riding ring in Hyde Park where the elite exercised their horses [source: Speaight]. By the 1800s, 'circus' had become the standard term.

7: John Wilkes Booth Came From a Circus Family

The circus has its share of infamous figures, from the cunning showman P.T. Barnum to the members of the Insane Clown Posse. (Yes, they count—no arguments!) But did you know a circus-related incident played a role in the birth of one of America's most notorious villains?

John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, was born in America due to a circus-related feud. His father, Junius Brutus Booth, a celebrated British actor, got into a violent altercation in 1821 with Il Diavolo Antonio, a Portuguese circus performer and rope dancer, in Liverpool, England [source: Speaight]. To escape legal consequences and his wife, Booth fled to America with a flower seller, leading to the birth of John Wilkes Booth in 1838.

Now, let’s turn our attention back to the circus ring, where acts once deemed astonishing might seem less remarkable by today’s standards.

6: Leaping Was a Big Deal

Today’s circus performers face high expectations. They must not only defy gravity but also incorporate thrilling twists to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Imagine contortionists performing intricate routines while suspended by their hair or tightrope walkers balancing on chairs without a safety net. However, in the early days of the circus, audiences were easily impressed, and leaping was a major attraction.

Leaping, you ask? Absolutely. Simply jumping over objects was a crowd-pleaser. Even today, it’s not considered dull, especially if you’re into parkour. Back then, performers leaped over horses, people, carriages, and more, making it a central act. While modern acrobatics focus on aerial feats and contortions, leapers were the stars of the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1842, a clown named Dewhurst (a surprisingly tame name for a clown) wowed crowds by jumping over ten horses and through balloons [source: Speaight]. Behind the scenes, trampolines and springboards were cleverly concealed to aid these high-flying acts.

5: Circus Parades Were Grand Events

The dazzling allure of the circus is often assumed in today’s performances. While companies like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Cirque du Soleil exude prestige, there was an era when the main attraction wasn’t the acts under the Big Top but the circus’s grand arrival. The pre-show parade, announcing the circus’s presence, was anything but modest.

In 1880, one parade reportedly lasted five hours as it moved through New York’s streets, featuring themed floats nearly 30 feet (9 meters) tall [source: Speaight]. These parades were essentially free entertainment for the public. When Barnum & Bailey visited Germany, locals were so enthralled by the parade that many skipped buying tickets to the actual show [source: Speaight]. However, as railroads and larger trucks became common, the grandeur of circus parades diminished.

4: Circuses Were Masters of Publicity

You might assume the circus sells itself with its thrilling, death-defying acts and incredible feats. However, the circus was actually a masterclass in public relations, becoming one of the most heavily promoted forms of entertainment in American history. How did they achieve this? Through paper—lots of it. Posters became a massive industry, led by Strobridge Lithographing, a Cincinnati-based printing company that met the enormous demand [source: Duke University Libraries]. And the demand was staggering.

The Forepaugh Circus alone used over a hundred unique posters for promotion. By 1915, Ringling Bros. was reportedly posting 10,000 posters daily, employing 70 people in advance cities [source: Speaight]. The competition for poster space was fierce, with rival circuses often covering each other’s posters. The Showman's Association attempted to address this chaos with a 1911 Code of Ethics, but it was largely ignored—a telling insight into the circus world’s competitive nature [source: Speaight].

3: Riverboats Hosted Floating Circuses

While circus parades rose and fell in popularity, another innovation emerged: floating circuses. Traveling by wagon had its merits, but circus owners, who relied on quick setup and teardown, saw the advantages of staging shows along rivers. This allowed them to transport equipment swiftly between towns, revolutionizing the circus experience.

By the mid-19th century, an innovative idea emerged: placing the circus on a barge. The Floating Circus Palace became a reality, featuring a 42-foot (12.8-meter) ring and seating for 3,400 people [source: Speaight]. For years, it traveled along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers until the Civil War brought its operations to a halt. This floating venue not only provided a permanent home for the circus but also pioneered the concept of showboats in American entertainment.

2: A Tragedy Led to Improved Safety Standards

In July 1944, one of the worst disasters in American entertainment unfolded. During an afternoon show in Hartford, Connecticut, a fire engulfed the paraffin-coated tent of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The blaze triggered a stampede, claiming 168 lives, including at least 67 children [source: Daily Kos]. This tragedy highlighted the urgent need for stricter safety measures in the circus industry.

Following the fire, Hartford and Connecticut reevaluated their safety laws, particularly regarding fire exits. Temporary structures like the circus tent had previously lacked stringent regulations. In response, the state implemented some of the nation’s toughest safety standards. The American Standards Association also established new guidelines for temporary structures, creating a national code. In the 70 years since the Hartford fire, no deaths have occurred in commercial tent fires [source: The Hartford Courant].

1: Hot Air Balloon Ascents Were a Sensation

Look up there, soaring high above the circus ring! No, it’s not a trapeze artist—it’s a hot air balloon. Surprised?

Surprisingly, this was a real attraction. Balloon ascents became a staple of British circus shows in the 19th century. While it may seem odd today, hot air balloons—and flight in general—were groundbreaking at the time. They were as astonishing as seeing an elephant obey commands or contortionists twist into seemingly impossible shapes.

At Philip Astley’s circus in 1840, a balloon pilot even brought a leopard aboard to make the spectacle even more thrilling [source: Victoria and Albert Museum].

Balloon ascents were far from glamorous. Balloonists faced immense pressure to perform, often taking flight in dangerous conditions. In 1871, acrobat Professor Torres was performing stunts on a trapeze suspended from a balloon when it exploded. Although he survived the initial crash, he tragically drowned in another balloon accident later that same year [source: Kotar and Gessler].