Figure 1.--Here we see children, apparently welcoming the Ringling Bros circus to town. The location is not identified, but it is likely some time in the 1930s. |
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Children have been since early times involved with the circus in vrious ways. The most obvious way is as what might be expected, being taken to the circus to see the various attractions. In a time before television or even the movies, the circus was hugely exciting for children. The animals were a big draw for children, but just one part of the circus excitement. The circus traveled by train. And upon arrival in the various circus venues there would a wonderful parade to the grounds where the circus could set up. This gave the children a womderful preview of what the circus offered. And the little mites were soon begging their parents to take them to see the circus. Boys dreamed of running away with the circus. A few actually did. This was depicted in several movies, such as Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus. This of course rarely happened, but children were involvd in cicus acts. These were rarely children who ran away to join the circus. But there were many fmily acts who brought the children into the act as they grew up. Here the photographic record offers us many such examples. And children lso like to play circus. This appars ht seems to be going on with American children here as the circus arrived in town (figure 1).
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