List of famous circuses and circus owners
Encyclopedia
There have been many famous modern circus
es since the first modern circus was staged by Philip Astley
in London
on January 9, 1768. Some of them are better known by the name of their principal owner. The following is an alphabetical list of both circuses and owners. For more information on circuses in general see Circus
, or for information regarding the ancient Roman
circus, see Circus Maximus
.
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
es since the first modern circus was staged by Philip Astley
Philip Astley
Philip Astley was an English equestrian, circus owner, and inventor, regarded as being the "father of the modern circus"...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on January 9, 1768. Some of them are better known by the name of their principal owner. The following is an alphabetical list of both circuses and owners. For more information on circuses in general see Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
, or for information regarding the ancient Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
circus, see Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome, Italy. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire...
.
- Adam ForepaughAdam ForepaughAdam John Forepaugh was an American entrepreneur, businessman, and circus owner. He owned and operated a circus from 1865 through 1890 under various names including Forepaugh's Circus, The Great Forepaugh Show, The Adam Forepaugh Circus, and Forepaugh & The Wild West.-Biography:Forepaugh was born...
(U.S.) - Aerialize (Australia)
- Al G. Barnes CircusAl G. Barnes Circus-History:Stonehouse started the show in 1895 with a pony, a phonograph, a stereopticon. His circus was purchased by the American Circus Corporation in 1929 and was merged with the Sells-Floto Circus, John Robinson Shows, and Sparks Circus. That same year John Nicholas Ringling bought out the...
(U.S.) - Albert & Friends Instant Circus (UK)
- Antonio FranconiAntonio FranconiAntonio Franconi was an Italian equestrian.He started as a juggler and wandering physician, then arranged bullfights in Lyon and Bordeaux...
(Italy) - ArchaosArchaos (circus)Archaos is a French contemporary circus created by Pierrot Bidon in 1986. It is an alternative, theatrical circus without animals, featuring dangerous stunts like chainsaw juggling, fire breathing, wall of death, etc. Archaos found fame in the UK through Pierrot's association with Adrian Evans, who...
(France) - ArtcirqArtcirqArtcirq is a collective of Inuit circus performers based in Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada. The circus began in 1998, co-founded by Igloolik Isuma Productions, a film production company, and Guillaume Saladin, a Montreal acrobat, with financial support from Cirque Éloize in Montreal...
Linda Matchan. 22/Bringing-circus-and-new-hope-to-a-remote-Arctic-village "Bringing circus – and new hope – to a remote Arctic village".] The Christian Science Monitor. December 22, 2009.(Canada) - Batty's Hippodrome (U.S.)
- Bertram Mills CircusBertram MillsBertram Wagstaff Mills was a British circus owner who ran the Bertram Mills Circus. Originally from Paddington, London, his circus became famous in the UK for its Christmas shows at Olympia in West London...
(UK) - Big Apple CircusBig Apple CircusThe Big Apple Circus is a circus that is based in New York City. Opened in 1977, it has become a tourist attraction as well. It has been highly influential towards the creation of Cirque du Soleil, tent-based circuses and smaller non-profit shows, such as Circus Flora.-The 1970s:The idea of...
(U.S.) - Big Bang Cirkus (U.S.)
- Big Ben Circus (UK)
- Billy Smart (UK)
- Bindlestiff Family CirkusBindlestiff Family CirkusThe Bindlestiff Family Cirkus was founded in 1995 By Keith Nelson and Stephanie Monseu. Since then, they have toured the world with their mix of circus and sideshow...
(U.S.) - Blackpool Tower Circus (UK)
- Carson & Barnes Circus (U.S.)
- Chinese State CircusChinese State CircusTo say the Chinese State Circus is merely a show is grossly to underestimate it; it is the embodiment of a traditional art form which can trace its history back over 2000 years. The presentation lives and breathes with the enthusiasm of its acrobatic artistes whose whole lives centre in the...
(UK) - Chipperfield's CircusChipperfield's CircusChipperfield's Circus was the name of a famous British family circus. The show toured Europe and the Far East. The dynasty goes back more than 300 years, making it one of the older family circus dynasties.-History:...
(UK) - Circa (Australia)
- Circo Atayde Hermanos (Mexico)
- Circo de Teresa Rabal (Spain)
- Circo Mutante (U.S.)
- Circo Osorio (U.S.)
- Circo Romani (U.S.)
- CircubaCircubaCircuba is Cuba's national circus and is associated with the Cuban National Circus School founded on June 6, 1968.Members of the Circuba company have to first complete the normal academic course work required of all Cuban students before they can hope to be accepted for the four-year program of...
(Cuba) - Circus AmokCircus AmokCircus Amok is a New York City-based circus and theater troupe that produces free outdoor performances every year in the NYC parks. Founded in 1989 by performance artist Jennifer Miller, who directs the company, the troupe began touring the city parks annually in 1994...
(U.S.) - Circus Bassie & AdriaanCircus Bassie & AdriaanCircus Bassie & Adriaan was a large Dutch circus that had made different tours through the Netherlands and Belgium. It has been touring in the periods 1980-1982 and 1985-1989....
(Netherlands) - Circus Carl Busch (Germany)
- Circus Contraption (U.S.)
- Circus FloraCircus FloraCircus Flora is a One-Ring circus based in St. Louis, MO, USA. It has become a touring show yet it performs annually in St. Louis, usually at the beginning of the month of June. It combines the venue of a one-ring circus with the performance trappings of theater. Performances include skilled...
(Missouri) - Circus Gatti (U.S.)
- Circus Herman RenzCircus Herman RenzCircus Herman Renz is the largest circus in the Netherlands, and has been touring the Netherlands and other countries since 1911.-Establishment of the circus:...
(Netherlands) - Circus Joseph AshtonCircus Joseph AshtonAshton's Circus is the longest surviving circus in Australia, pre-dating most others in the English-speaking world. The circus was founded in Launceston, Tasmania, in February 1851 by James Henry Ashton, a man schooled in the tradition of English circus and who had experience the hard times of the...
(Australia)
- Circus KnieCircus KnieCircus Knie is the largest circus of Switzerland, based in Rapperswil.The circus was founded in 1803 by the Knie family and has existed in its present form since 1919 when it changed from an open arena to a covered tent. The circus has been long famous for its animals and now operates a zoo and a...
(Switzerland) - Circus KroneCircus KroneCircus Krone, based in Munich, is the largest circus in Europe and the only one in Western Europe to also occupy a building.-History:It was originally founded in 1905 by Carl Krone as an animal exhibition. Later the circus was run by his daughter Frieda Sembach-Krone and her husband Carl...
(Germany) - Circus Mondao (UK)
- Circus Mundus Absurdus (Finland)
- Circus of Tiny Invisibility (U.S.)
- Circus Olympia(Australia)
- Circus OzCircus OzCircus Oz was founded in December 1977, with its first performance season in March 1978. Circus Oz was the amalgamation of two already well-known groups - Soapbox Circus, a roadshow set up by the Australian Performing Group in 1976, and the New Ensemble Circus, a continuation of the New Circus,...
(Australia) - Circus of Pepin and BreschardCircus of Pepin and BreschardThe equestrian theatre company of Pépin and Breschard, American Victor Pépin and Frenchman Jean Baptiste Casmiere Breschard, arrived in the United States of America from Madrid, Spain , in November 1807. They toured that new country until 1815...
(U.S.) - Circus RenzCircus RenzCircus Renz was a German circus company. It was established in 1842 in Berlin by Ernst Jakob Renz as Circus Olympic and existed until 1897. The company had several stationary buildings in Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Breslau and Vienna....
(Germany) - Circus RoncalliCircus RoncalliCircus Roncalli is a German circus founded in 1976 by Bernhard Paul and André Heller. According to Bernhard Paul, the name was inspired by a film script of his fellow Austrian Peter Hajek, "Sarah Roncalli, Tochter des Mondes"...
(Germany) - Circus RoyaleCircus RoyaleCircus Royale is an Australian circus troupe owned by Damian Syred. The performers include 35 human artists, camels, horses, llamas, and four cows. According to Taleisha Gasser, who grew up in the circus and now does trapeze, the circus also has dogs and even a guinea pig that perform; they...
(Australia) - Circus SmirkusCircus SmirkusCircus Smirkus is a non-profit, award-winning, international youth circus founded in 1987 by Rob Mermin. Based in Greensboro, Vermont, the mission of Circus Smirkus is to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus and to inspire youth to engage in life-changing adventures in...
(U.S.) - Circus Sarasota (U.S.)
- Circus Staniewski (Poland)
- Circus Tyanna (UK)
- Circus VargasCircus VargasCircus Vargas is an American circus based in California. It was built on the premise to bring an old time circus to everyone; currently it has been billed as one of the world’s biggest traveling circuses still using a big top tent...
(U.S.) - Circus Vegas (Ireland)
- Cirkus Agora (Norway)
- Cirkus CirkörCirkus CirkörCirkus Cirkör is a Swedish circus company, and is today Scandinavia's leading performing circus company within the art form of contemporary circus. Cirkus Cirkör has toured the world with a number of successful and praised circus shows...
(Sweden) - Cirque Berzerk (U.S.)
- Cirque de Flambe (U.S.)
- Cirque du SoleilCirque du SoleilCirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
(Canada) - Cirque ÉloizeCirque ÉloizeCirque Éloize is a Quebec-based nouveau cirque troupe. It was founded in 1993 by Jeannot Painchaud, Daniel Cyr and Julie Hamelin. Having created seven original productions so far, it has presented more than 3000 performances in more than 375 cities and 30 countries...
(Canada) - Cirque Fernando (France)
- Cirque MedranoCirque MedranoThe Cirque Medrano is a French circus, that was located at 63 Boulevard Rochechouart, at the corner of rue des Martyrs, on the edge of Montmartre in Paris. It was originally called Cirque Fernando...
(France) - Cirque PlumeCirque PlumeCirque Plume is an internationally renowned contemporary circus company founded in 1984 by Bernard Kudlak in the Franche-Comté region of France....
(France) - Circus RedickulessCircus RedickulessA traveling circus created by punk-rock impresario Chicken John Rinaldi in 1995 in association with Michael Gump.-History:Formed largely with members of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Cacophony Society, the circus was formed on the premise of being completely without talent. No actual performers...
(U.S.) - Clown Snot Bombs Secret Circus (U.S.)
- Clyde Beatty Circus
- Cole Bros Circus (U.S.)
- Continental Circus BerlinContinental Circus BerlinThe Continental Circus Berlin is a touring circus featured in the UK and presented by the European Entertainment Corporation during the summertime.The Continental Circus Berlin also goes under the shortened name of Circus Berlin....
(UK) - Culpepper & Merriweather Circus (U.S.)
- Dan RiceDan RiceDan Rice , was an American entertainer of many talents, most famously as a clown, who was pre-eminent before the American Civil War. During the height of his career, Rice was a household name...
(U.S.) - Darix Togni (Italy)
- De La Guarda (Argentina)
- Dream Science Circus (U.S.)
- El Circo (U.S.)
- Electric Dollhouse (Australia)
- End of the World Cirkus (U.S.)
- Eroni's CircusEroni's circusEroni's Circus is a traditional travelling Australian circus, founded in 2007 and owned by Tony and Cathy Maynard.Acts include performing horses and ponies, trick roping, performing dogs, hula hoops, trapeze, and other aerial acts, acrobats, juggling, clowns, etc...
(Australia) - Fossett's Circus (Ireland)
- Foolhardy Circus Arts (UK)
- Franco DragoneFranco DragoneFranco Dragone is a Italian-Belgian theatre director. He is known for his work with Cirque du Soleil.-Early life:Dragone was born in Cairano, Italy, and moved to La Louvière, Belgium at age seven. In the 1970s, he studied theatre at the Belgian Royal Conservatory of Mons...
(U.S.) - FSU Flying High CircusFSU Flying High CircusLocated in Tallahassee, Florida, the Florida State University "Flying High" Circus is an extra-curricular activity under FSU's Division of Student Affairs. It is one of two such collegite circuses in the United States along with Illinois State University's Gamma Phi Circus...
(U.S.) - Gemini Circus (India)
- Gerry Cottle (UK)
- Great American Royal Circus (U.S.)
- Great British CircusGreat British CircusGreat British Circus Ltd is a company that specialises in circus entertainment. Unusually for a UK-based circus company it includes live animals such as tigers, camels horses and ponies in its acts.-Use of wild animals:...
(UK) - Great Bombay Circus (India)
- Great Royal Circus"Great Royal Circus begins soon". The Times of India. March 24, 2004. Retrieved August 26, 2010. (India)
- Great Australian Bite-sized Circus
- Hagenbeck-Wallace CircusHagenbeck-Wallace CircusThe Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was a circus that traveled across America in the early part of the 20th century. At its peak, it was the second-largest circus in America next to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It was based in Peru, Indiana....
(U.S.) - Hellzapoppin (U.S.)
- Hippodrome Circus (UK)
- Humboldt CircusHumboldt CircusThe Humboldt Circus is a club through Humboldt State University, although they do many non-school affiliated events as well. The Circus was founded by Shea Freelove in 2000. There have been many of performances put on by this Circus since its conception. Typically, each fall show is an adult...
(U.S.) - ISU Gamma Phi CircusGamma Phi CircusGamma Phi Circus, sponsored by Illinois State University, is the oldest collegiate circus in the United States. It began as the Gamma Phi fraternity, founded in 1929 by ISU gymnastics instructor Clifford "Pop" Horton. The fraternity's first circus performance took place in 1931...
- Janbaz Circus (Pakistan)
- Jordan World Circus (U.S.)
- Jumbo Circus (India)
- Jim Rose CircusJim Rose CircusThe Jim Rose Circus is a modern-day version of a circus sideshow. It was founded in Seattle by Jim Rose in the early 1990s. The sideshow came to prominence as a second stage show at the 1992 Lollapalooza festival, then called the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow...
(U.S.) - Kelly Miller Circus (U.S.)
- Lennon Bros CircusLennon Bros CircusLennon's Circus is a circus that tours in Australia. Its touring schedule covers Australia from the remotest towns to the largest cities. Touring for 11 months, before completing their season in late November....
(Australia) - Long Shadow Stilt Theatre - Circus of stilt walkers(AU)
- Lucent Dossier ExperienceLucent Dossier ExperienceLucent Dossier Experience is an interactive, avant-garde circus, electronic rock band, performance troupe and entertainment company...
(U.S.) - Lucky Irani Circus (Pakistan)
- Martin LaceyMartin LaceyMartin Lacey is a circus ringmaster, company director and trainer of wild animals. He trained most of the tigers that were used in the Esso television advertisements in the 1970s-Professional life:...
(UK) - Malabar Cannanore Circus(Kannur) India
- Moscow Cat Circus (Russia)
- Moscow State CircusMoscow State CircusThe title “Moscow State Circus” is used for a variety of circuses. Most commonly, it refers to one of the two circus buildings in Moscow, the “” and the “Bolshoi Circus” , or to traveling shows which may or may not be directly related to Russia.The Russian Circus rose to world acclaim during the...
(Russia) - New Old Time Chautauqua (U.S.)
- New Pickle Circus (U.S.)
- 999 Eyes Freakshow (U.S.)
- Nofit State CircusNofit State CircusNoFit State Circus is a contemporary circus company based in Cardiff, Wales.Formed in 1986, NoFit State Circus have been a mainstay of new and contemporary circus in the United Kingdom since their inception, and have toured tented and theatrical shows at home and abroad...
(Wales)
- P. T. BarnumP. T. BarnumPhineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, businessman, scam artist and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus....
(U.S.) - Pablo FanquePablo FanquePablo Fanque was the first black circus proprietor in Britain. His circus, in which he himself was a performer, was the most popular circus in Victorian Britain for 30 years, a period that is regarded as the golden age of the circus...
(UK) - Paul BinderPaul BinderPaul Binder is the founder and artistic director of the Big Apple Circus.The native of Brooklyn, has earned many doctorates, including an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Dartmouth College, his alma mater. He also was honored by Long Island University, Pratt Institute and Rhode Island College...
(U.S.) - Perry Bros Circus (Australia)
- Pickle Family CircusPickle Family CircusThe Pickle Family Circus was a small circus founded in 1974 in San Francisco, California, USA. The circus formed an important part of the renewal of the American circus. They also influenced the creation of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal...
(U.S.) - PURE Cirkus (U.S.)
- Ringling Brothers CircusRingling Brothers CircusThe Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
(U.S.) - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CircusRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CircusRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
(U.S.) - The John Robinson Circus
- Royal Hanneford CircusRoyal Hanneford CircusThe Royal Hanneford Circus is an American-based touring family circus. With origins dating back to 1690, it has been called the oldest circus in the world. The family first performed as a traveling troupe in 1807. In 1903, the family began its own circus as the "Hanneford Royal Canadian Circus" and...
(U.S.) - The Royal London CircusThe Royal London CircusThe Royal London Circus is a famous travelling circus show based in Danga Bay, Johor in Malaysia. The Royal London Circus has performed in the country since 1990. The circus is now officially under receivership and owed much money to creditors.-External links:...
(Malaysia) - SarrasaniSarrasaniSarrasani is the name of a German circus which reached world fame before World War II and was resident in Dresden, but became also known as national circus of Argentina during the years of German separation....
(Germany) - The 7 Fingers (Canada)
- Show Devils (U.S.A.)
- Shrine CircusShrine CircusThe Shrine Circus is a circus founded in the United States in 1906. It travels to roughly 120 cities per year in the United States and a separate unit travels to about 40 in Canada. It is affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a.k.a. Shriners.-History:The first...
(U.S.) - Silvers CircusSilvers CircusSilver's Circus, the original, was an circus started by Mervyn King along with tentmakers, David Hardie Snr. and his two sons Les and David Jnr. King, an orphan, was given to St. Leons Circus at the age of seven.He spent his entire life performing in the ring and became one of the Australian...
(Australia) - Societas Insomnia (U.S.)
- Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow (U.S.)
- Stardust CircusStardust CircusStardust Circus is a circus that tours in Australia. Its annual performance season lasts from January to late November, touring Australia from the remotest towns to the largest cities....
(Australia) - Stilt Circus (U.S.)
- Teatro ZinZanniTeatro ZinZanniTeatro ZinZanni is a circus dinner theater that began in the neighborhood of Lower Queen Anne in Seattle, Washington. It has since expanded to a site on the waterfront at Pier 29 on the San Francisco, California The Embarcadero....
(U.S.) - Tirana CircusTirana CircusThe Tirana Circus is a circus in Albania founded in 1952 and still fully active. The circus had its most successful years during the Communist Albania era and had difficulties in the 1990-2010 period when its personnel was reduced...
(AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
) - Tom ArnoldTom Arnold (Theatre Impressario)Tom Arnold, OBE was a theatrical producer in the United Kingdom.Born in Yorkshire, Arnold spent much of his life travelling although he considered Brighton his second home. His business activities were extensive and included opera, classical plays, films, revues, American rodeo and variety, ice...
(UK) - Tom Duffy's Circus (Ireland)
- Travelling Light Circus (UK)
- UniverSoul CircusUniverSoul CircusThe UniverSoul Circus is a single ring circus founded and run since 1994 by Cedric Walker. It currently contains 75 primarily African-American performers and 12 acts. The circus is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia....
(U.S.) - Vau De Vire Society
- Wanderlust Circus (U.S.)
- Webers CircusWebers CircusWebers Circus is an Australian travelling circus founded by Natalie & Rudy Weber in 2007. The circus is South American themed, and includes human and animal acts. Not to be mistaken with the New Zealand Weber Bros Circus, the two circuses are independently owned and operated, but closely...
(Australia) - William BattyWilliam BattyWilliam Batty was an equestrian performer, circus proprietor, and longtime operator of Astley's Amphitheatre in London. Batty was one of the most successful circus proprietors in Victorian England, and helped launch the careers of a number of leading Victorian circus personalities, such as Pablo...
(UK) - Will-o'-the-Wisp Fire Circus (AU)
- Zippos Circus (UK)
- Zirca Circus (N.Z.)