The circus seems so interesting and nostalgic to me. But I've only ever been once. I kind of wish I could see it more often, and that it was in town more. Can you tell me anything about its history?
Sure, the modern circus really began around 1768 in England, it was developed by a man named Philip Astley.
In England? I wouldn't have guessed that. Is there anything more specific about what types of acts and animals were first used in the early circuses?
Sure, the first acts used back then included riding horses on tracks, acrobats, tightrope walkers, jugglers, and clowns.
Yeah, that's about what I thought. Are there any fun facts you could tell me about it that I may not have known?
and clowns to the English public, but he was the first to create a space where all these acts were brought together to perform a show. Astley rode in a circle rather than a straight line as his rivals did, and thus chanced on the format of performing in a circle. Astley performed stunts in a 42 ft diameter ring, which is the standard size used by circuses ever since. Astley referred to the performance arena as a circle and the building as an amphitheatre; these would later be known as a
about anything...He was a genius, a fine man and, yes, I miss him every day." In his last phone conversation with Randi, Andrus said, "I've been every place I've ever wanted to go, I've met everyone I've wanted to meet...I've never done this before, and you don't get a second chance out of it, I'm told. I'm observing really interesting things. I wish they wouldn't fill me with so many chemicals because I want to