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?
skilled equestrian, began performing exhibitions of trick horse riding in an open field called Ha'Penny Hatch on the south side of the Thames River. In 1770 he hired acrobats, tightrope walkers, jugglers and a clown to fill in the pauses between the equestrian demonstrations and thus chanced on the format which was later named a "circus". Performances developed significantly over the next fifty years, with large-scale theatrical battle reenactments becoming a significant feature. The traditional format, in which a ringmaster introduces a variety of choreographed acts set to
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