Circus, The. 1870S-1950S

Beskrivelse

Discover the fascinating story and lasting impact of the American circus from the 1870s to the 1950s. This book captures the grandeur and excitement of an era when circuses were the biggest entertainment draw in the country.

An engaging look into the golden age of the American circus and its cultural significance.

During its peak, the American circus was an unparalleled entertainment phenomenon. From the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, traveling circuses attracted crowds of up to 14,000 people per show and employed as many as 1,600 performers and staff. These massive productions traveled across the nation, covering 20,000 miles by rail each season.

The circus captivated audiences with its thrilling acts-daredevils risking it all, heroic strongmen, dazzling starlets, brave animal trainers, and astonishing "freaks" that sparked the imagination far beyond what theater, vaudeville, comedy, or minstrel shows could offer.

This book offers a fresh perspective on the circus world, featuring stunning photographs of early performers alongside original posters, lithographs, sideshow banners, and engravings dating from the 16th to 19th centuries that trace the circus’s global origins.

Readers will find iconic images captured by renowned photographers such as Mathew Brady, Cornell Capa, Walker Evans, Weegee, and Lisette Model. It also includes rare circus photographs by Stanley Kubrick and the duo Charles and Ray Eames, transporting you into a realm of excitement, skill, grit, and glamour.

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