How To Write An Essay About The Circus In The 1920s And 1930s

Sam Lynch

Milner, Period 6

Research Paper - Travelling Circus/Carnival 1920s and 1930s

05 March 2023

The circus always surprises us

"Circus is what real life should be like. It's sincerity, feeling, emotions. All real. There are no lies in circus. There are artists working together to give a smile. It's a world where people help one another. It's the only show where a family, everyone from children to their grandmothers, can sit together and all be entertained by the same thing." said Princess Stephanie of Monaco Circuses are a group of entertainers such as clowns acrobats trapeze artists and of course a menagerie of trained animals. The traveling circuses were a significant part of the 1920's and 1930's despite the difficulties and struggles

Back as far as the seventeenth century when the first circus was created by Philip Astley a showman and formerly, a cavalry Sergeant-Major. " (Jando 2). In 1768 Astley settled in london and opened a riding-school near Westminister Bridge, where he taught in the morning and performed his "feats of horsemanship" in the afternoon." says Circopedia. The first circus was an equestrian show performed in a circular areana which he called the circle, or circus. Eventually Philip decided to add novelty to his performances in the form of acrobats, rope dancers, jugglers and clowns. Quickly after circuses began to incorporate menagerie of exotic animals such as tigers and elephants into their performances; some making it the majority of their acts. By the 19th century stationary circuses were not getting enough attraction due to the American frontier moving westward, naturally circuses followed, travelling from place to place with foldable tents to perform. Thus the first traveling circuses were

Animals were often beaten into compliance as this was the popular western animal treatment for circuses. "Van Amburgh, believing that the trainer must demonstrate physical superiority over his 'pupils' customarily beat his animals into submission." (Parkinson 6). From his debut in the 1920's until his death in 1965. These animals were portrayed as wild vicious beasts only tamed through violence and domination. This portrayal made the abuse impressive, resulting in the audience to over look the cruelties. The animals were not the only ones suffering in these circuses however. According to Rupert Croft-Cooke and Peter Cotes in the book Circus, A World History. "Various deaths, sometimes violent, others in suicide form, of clowns with broken hearts are 'happenings' no more peculiar to the circus than they are to life outside the Big Top:" in Paris 'pappy' the dwarf clown hanged himself after paying his bill and drinking a beer he ordered from room service. Marceline -an internationally renown clown- was found dead with a bullet in his brain in New York. Although these deaths were not a commonplace in the circus, they were treated as just another part of the