The Circus

While the circus didn't originate in America, it reached the height of spectacle, death-defying feats, and sheer "humbuggery" in late-19th-century rural and small-town America. This two-part PBS-aired American Experience documentary, directed by Sharon Grimberg and narrated by Michael Murphy, covers the great American circus, from its heyday of Big Top three-ring shows featuring strongmen, acrobats, jugglers, and wild animal acts to its slow decline beginning in the late 1950s. P.T. Barnum's goal was to construct a nonstop "village of entertainment," spurred by inflated claims and a blanketing of bills, posters, and advertising. Building word-of-mouth excitement, the circus was a welcome respite for farm families, who waited all year for the big show. In its 1880s golden age, the circus arrival was heralded by the multi-car train—a "kingdom on wheels"—followed by the all-important setting up and a parade down Main Street. The early circus was unregulated, segregated, and often dangerous, staffed by an army of poorly paid workers. Moralists scorned the circus’s alleged role in enticing idleness, its "nomadic ruffians," and skimpy costumes, although the menagerie acts scored points for their educational value. Topics covered include Barnum & Bailey's epic rivalry with the Ringling Brothers, the brutal process of animal collection, the hectic travel schedule from spring to fall, and the circus’s inevitable decline due to a wide range of factors, including movies, TV, economic depression, wars, flu epidemics, and a disastrous 1944 tent fire. Colorful personalities abound here—not just the exploited sideshow "oddities," but also the high wire divas and, of course, Jumbo the elephant. Illustrating how the circus left its everlasting mark on American culture, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)