 The Background & History of the modern Circus
A cirus is most commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers,
unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists. The word also describes
the performance that they give, which is usually a series of acts that
are choreographed to music.
A circus is held in an oval or circular arena with tiered seating
around its edge; in the case of traveling circuses this location is
most often a large tent called the big top.
In
Ancient Rome the circus was a building for the exhibition of horse and
chariot races, equestrian shows, staged battles, displays featuring
trained animals, jugglers, and acrobats. The circus of Rome is thought
to have been influenced by the Greeks, with chariot racing and the
exhibition of animals as traditional attractions. The Roman circus
consisted of tiers of
seats running parallel with the sides of the course, and forming a crescent
around one of the ends. The lower seats were reserved for persons of
rank; there were also various state boxes, eg. for the giver of the
games and his friends. In Ancient Rome the circus was the only public
spectacle at which men and women were not separated.
The first circus in Rome was the Circus Maximus, in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills. Next in importance to the Circus Maximus in Rome was the Circus Flaminius, the Circus Neronis, from the notoriety which it obtained through the Circensian pleasures of Nero. A fourth, the Circus of Maxentius, was constructed by Maxentius; the ruins of this circus have enabled archaeologists to reconstruct the Roman circus.
Following
the fall of Rome, Europe lacked a large and animal rich circus.
Itinerant showmen traveled the fair grounds of Europe. Animal trainers
and performers are thought to have exploited the nostalgia for the
Roman circus, traveling between towns and performing at local fairs.
Another possible link between the Roman and modern circus could have
been bands of Gypsies
who appeared in Europe in the 14th century and in Britain from the 15th
century bringing with them circus skills and trained animals.
by Quinn Spicker
If you want to become a circus super star you are going to need a diploma, the circus is no exception. At least your studies will be fun and if you are a bit on the plump side you can expect to shed those kilos on your first day at school.
Some of the well known schools that you can go to study the arts of the circus are:
San Francisco School of Circus Arts
San Francisco, California
Phone: 415-759-8123
E-mail:
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A Bit of the History of Magic
One could enjoy watching magicians perform their amazing tricks. Whether they are in a circus,
in a school program, a friend’s birthday celebration, or in a favorite
television show, magicians are among today’s top entertainers.
Here are a few of the top magicians in their times:
The history of using magic as a form of entertainment may have begun
with magician Chevalier Joseph Pinetti. More than three centuries ago,
Chevalier Joseph Pinetti, wowed his audiences worldwide with his bag of
magic tricks. And that was in 1782!
Among his tricks was the ability to produce an orange tree blossoming
on stage that bore fruit. Pinetti’s wife even acted as an assistant,
helping the magician to do his mentalist and escape tricks. Known as
the “Professor of Natural Magic,” he was known for his great magic
tricks, tricks that belonged clearly to the modern era of magic.
Come the nineteenth century. The said century welcomed the use of
technical-assisted magic, with some of the magicians developing various
devices that would aid or help in their illusions. Using optical aids
or devices, electromagnets, as well as various stage lighting forms,
these magicians were able to amaze audiences from time to time with
their very elaborate and dazzling tricks.
One known magician in the nineteenth century was the magician Hermann
the Great. Alexander Herrmann was his real name, and this German
magician did his tricks with all of the kinds of stage
he had known, even from super close-up productions to fill-stage
events. An American rival, Harry Kellar, took over Herrmann’s
popularity for some time and became the most prominent magician for
more than 10 years.
Other magicians in the nineteenth century included T. Nelson Downs and
Howard Thurston. Downs is originally a vaudevillian by trade, but had
become great and famous in his magic tricks that he became known as
“King of Koins.”
Thurston, on the other hand, invested much of his money in building an
extravaganza, which is a show on magic. It reigned over the American
entertainment magic scene for over twenty-five years.
Probably one of the more known magicians in recent times was Harry
Houdini. Known as one of the best American magicians, he was known for
his great escape acts, including his own famous creation, the “Chinese Water Torture Cell.”
Another famous American magician is David Copperfield, who until recently performed numerous magic acts in shows and TV programs.
--Jack Turk
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