The Circus 1870s-1950s

The greatest show on earth The Circus - now accessible for everyone, at a freakishly good price "This is a gee-whiz spectacle of a book, a three-ring extravaganza as bright as a pinball machine." -The New York Times Book Review During its heyday, the American circus was the largest show-biz industry the world had ever seen. From the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, traveling American circuses performed for audiences of up to 14,000 per show and crisscrossed the country on 20,000 miles of railroad in one season alone.

The spectacle of death-defying daredevils and strapping super-heroes gripped the American imagination, outshining theater, comedy, and minstrel shows of the day, and ultimately paving the way for film and television.