The Circus

A circus is an arena for acrobatic exhibitions and animal shows. Usually

circular and surrounded

by tiers of seats for spectators, a circus may be in the open air but is

usually housed in a permanent

building or sheltered by a tent. The term circus is also applied to the

performance itself and to the troupe

of performers. The entertainment offered at a circus generally consists of

displays of horsemanship;

exhibitions by gymnasts, aerialists, wild-animal trainers, and performing

animals; and comic pantomime by

clowns.

The first modern circus was staged in London in 1768 by Philip Astley, a

former sergeant major

in the English cavalry, who performed as a trick rider. Beginning with a

visit to Paris in 1772, Astley

introduced the circus in cities throughout continental Europe and was

responsible for establishing

permanent circuses in a number of European countries as well as in England. A

circus was first presented

in Russia in 1793 at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. By the early 19th

century several permanently

based circuses were located in many larger European cities. In addition,

small traveling shows moved from

town to town in caravans of covered wagons in which the performers lived. The

traveling shows were

usually simple affairs, featuring a fiddler or two, a juggler, a ropedancer,

and a few acrobats. In the early

circuses such performers gave their shows in open spaces and took up a

collection for pay; later, the

performers used an enclosed area and began to charge admission. By contrast,

the permanently-based

circuses of Europe staged elaborate shows. In the earlier part of the 19th

century a main feature of the

permanent circus program was the presentation of dramas that included

displays of horsemanship.

The circus was introduced in the United States by John Bill Ricketts, an

English equestrian who

opened a show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1792 and staged