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Circus History Publications

Reference       Early History       Recent History       Biographical       Performance/Acts       Periodicals       Other

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Reference - information on performers, staff, circuses

Slout, William L. Olympians of the Sawdust Circle. 1998. Biographical Dictionary of the 19th Century Circus, over 6,000 entries, premier biographical source for circuses and people. A valuable tool for circus historians and genealogists.

Parkinson, Robert L. Directory of American Circuses 1793-2000. Baraboo, Wisconsin: Circus World Museum, 2002.

Thayer, Stuart. Annals of the American Circus, 1793-1860.. The 3 volume edition is available for $55 postpaid from Stuart Thayer, 430 17th Ave. East, Seattle, WA 98112. Thayer's work is a comprehensive history of the American circus in the 1800s. He was painstakingly thorough, examining the existing soures, primarily newspaper advertising, editorials and reprots. His appendices list in chronologic order an encyclopedia of circuses and menageries, including rosters and routes, an invaluable reference for circus history.

Thayer, Stuart. Traveling Showmen.. Available for $20 postpaid from Stuart Thayer, 430 17th Ave. East, Seattle, WA 98112.

Coxe, Antony Hippisley. A Seat at the Circus. An analysis of every imaginable circus act with historical background for each. In discussing the performance the author goes back to the 18th century and the origins of the modern circus and across every continent to trace the development of everything from aerial acts to zebra training. An update of Coxe's 1951 publication, see below. (Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1980)

St Leon, Mark. Circus in Australia, the American Century 1851-1950. St Leon's third volume in his project to document the history of circus in Australia. Chronicles the history of interaction between the circus of Australia and that of the United States of America: Australian (and New Zealand) tours by American circus companies, American circus people who pursued careers in Australian circus, American tours by Australian circus companies, Australian circus people who pursued careers in American circus. Annotated, indexed, illustrated. Limited edition. More information

St. Leon, Mark. Circus in Australia, Printed Ephemera, 1833-2007. St. Leon's project to document the history of circus in Australia. A collection of items of printed ephemera, about 200 images, that chronicle and summarise the history of Australian circus. Reproductions of images of Posters, Advertisements, Program covers, Handbills, Tickets, Letterheads, Business cards, Medals, tombstones. Describes Australia’s circus history within Australia. A number of images describe the activities of Australians overseas. Limited edition. St. Leon's website

St. Leon, Mark. Circus in Australia, May Wirth, The Bareback Queen. Biography of one of Australia’s finest contributions to the annals of international circus, the great bareback rider, May Wirth. Limited edition. St. Leon's website

St. Leon, Mark. Circus in Australia, An Index of Show Movements 1833-1969. A reference work for performing arts research, genealogy, local and economic history. Chronological listing of over 9,000 show movements (organised by date, location and name) over a period of 137 years, from 1833 to 1969, mostly throughout Australia and New Zealand, but also some other parts of the world. The majority of entries are 1850-1914, the golden age of the travelling show. More information

Toole-Stott, Raymond. Circus and Allied Arts: A World Bibliography. 4 volumes (5th a typescript at U. of California at Santa Barbara). Derby, England: Harput & Sons, 1958-71.

Saxon, A. H. Circus Language, A Glossary of Circus Terms, Fairfield, CT: Jumbo Press, 2000. 36 page pamphlet, concise but comprehensive.

Wilmeth, Don B. American and English Popular Entertainment: A Guide to Information Sources. A reference work that lists and often annotated almost 2,500 articles, books, periodicals and collections dealing with all aspects of popular entertainment from Tom shows to carnival, brulesque to showboats and circuses. The best bibliography since Raymond Toole-Stott's. Wilmeth includes references that Toole-Stott did not provide. (Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1980)

Early History

Barnum, P. T. Circus Life and Celebrities. Struggles and Triumphs. The autobiography of this famous man and the story of his circuses. Several editions. Currently out of print.

Brown, T. Allston. Amphitheatres and Circuses: A History From Their Earliest Date to 1861, edited by William L. Slout. 1994.

Brown, T. Allston, History of the American Stage, New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, 1870. Show business biographies from 1753 to 1870. Out of print.

Chindahl, George L. A History of the Circus in America. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1959.

Dahlinger, Fred, Jr. & Thayer, Stuart L. Badger State Showmen: A History of Wisconsin's Circus Heritage. 1998.

Day, Charles H. Ink From a Circus Press Agent: An Anthology of Circus History From the Pen of Charles H. Day, edited by William L. Slout. San Bernardino, CA: Borgo Press, 1995. Collection of Charles H. Day's recollections of circus life in the 19th century.

Durant, John & Durant, Alice. Pictorial History of the American Circus. New York: A. S. Barnes and Co., 1957.

Fox, Charles Philip. America's Great Circus Parade: Its Roots, Its Revival, Its Revelry. 1993.

Fox, Charles Philip & Parkinson, Tom. The Circus in America. Santa Monica, California: Hennessey & Ingalls, 2002 reprint.

Frost, Thomas. Circus Life and Celebrities, Chatto and Windus, London, 1881). A very complete history of the early English circus. Out of print.

Hoh, La Vahn G. & Rough, William H. Step Right Up! The Adventure of Circus in America. Whitehall, Virginia: Betterway Publications, 1990.

Jensen, Dean. Biggest, the Smallest, the Longest, the Shortest: A Chronical of the American Circus From Its Heartland. 1975.

King, Orin Copple. Only Big Show Coming. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris Publications. Routes, reviews and incidents of circuses traveling in Kansas, 1853-1878.

Koon, Helene Wickham, Gold Rush Performers: A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Singers, Dancers, Musicians, Circus Performers and Minstrel Players in America's Far West, McFarland & Company,1994.

Kunzog, John C. Tanbark and Tinsel: A Galaxy of Glittering Gems from the Dazzling Diadem of Circus History. Jamestown, New York: by the author, 1970.

May, Earl Chapin, The Circus from Rome to Ringling, New York: Dover publications, 1963.

Nelson, Hilda. The Ecuyere of the Nineteenth Century in the Circus. Cleveland Heights, Ohio: Xenophon Press. Careers of prominent Lady riders and four contemporary performers.

Reynolds, Chang. Pioneer circuses of the West, Los Angeles, CA: Westernlore Press, 1966.

Rowe, Joseph Andrew. Californias Pioneer Circus, H. S. Crocker & Co., 1926.

Slout, William L. Popular Amusements in Horse and Buggy America: An Anthology of Contemporaneous Essays. 1995.

Slout, William L. Theatre in a Tent. San Bernardino, CA: author. Study of tent shows from last half of 19th century into the Twentieth century. Popular amusements that incorporated aspects of the circus, moving pictures, vaudeville, Chautauqua and touring opera house companies.

Slout, William L. A Royal Coupling: The Historic Marriage of Barnum and Bailey. San Bernardino, CA: author, 2000. Events in the circus world that led up to the Barnum and Bailey partnership, the golden age of the circus.

Slout, William L. Clowns and Cannons: The American Circus During the Civil War. San Bernardino, CA: author, 2000 (reissue). American circuses during the Civil War.

Speaight, George. A History of the Circus. London: Tantivy, 1980.

St Leon, Mark. Spangles & Sawdust: The Circus in Australia. Melbourne: Greenhouse Publications, 1983.

St Leon, Mark & Ramsland, J. Children of the Circus: The Australian Experience. Springwood, NSW: Butterfly Books, 1993.

Sutton, Felix. Big Show: A History of the Circus. 1971.

Thayer, Stuart. Annals of the American Circus, 1793-1860. Manchester, Michigan: Rymack Printing Co., 1976. The 3 volume edition is available for $55 postpaid from Stuart Thayer, 430 17th Ave. East, Seattle, WA 98112. Annals of the American Circus, 1830-1847. Seattle, Washington: Peanut Butter Publishing, 1986.

Thayer, Stuart. Traveling Showmen, 1997, published by Astley & Ricketts. 19th Century show management explained from raising the money to the daily movements to the effect of growth and change on the milieu. $22.00, postpaid, from Stuart Thayer, 420 17th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112.

Thayer, Stuart. Mudshows and Railers: The American Circus in 1879. Ann Arbor, Michigan: author, 1971. The author covers the circus season of 1879 when circuses were on the threshold of their greatest era.

Thayer, Stuart and Slout, William L. Grand Entree: The Birth of the Greatest Show on Earth. San Bernardino, CA: author, 1998. Introduction of P. T. Barnum into the circus. Covers 1870-1875.

Covers Recent History

Dahlinger, Fred, Jr. Trains of the Circus 1872-1956.

Dahlinger, Fred, Jr. Show Trains of the 20th Century.

Hippisley Coxe, Antony D. A Seat At The Circus (Evans Brothers Limited, London, 1951, reprinted 1952). An excellent overview of the performance in modern times.

Kelty, Edward J. Step Right This Way. Traveling circus 1920-1930s, more than 100 photos documenting large and small shows. $30.00. Wordwise Press.

Biographical

Carlyon, David. Dan Rice, the Most Famous Man You've Never Heard Of.

Conklin, George & Root, Harvey W. The Ways of the Circus: The Memories and Adventures of George Conklin, Tamer of Lions, New York: Harper, c1921. Paperback reprint, Athena Books, 2004. Memoirs of a lion trainer and menagerie superintendant for "Pogey" O'Brien, W. W. Cole, and Barnum & Bailey.

Coup, W. C. Sawdust & Spangles: Stories & Secrets of the Circus. Reprint. Washington, DC: Paul A. Ruddell, 1961.

Davis, Janet M. Circus Queen and Tinker Bell: The Memoir of Tiny Kline. University of Illinois Press, Summer 2008.

Fisher, Linda & Carrie Bowers. Agnes Lake Hickok: Queen of the Circus, Wife of a Legend. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 2009. Linda A. Fisher and Carrie Bowers have written the first biography of this colorful but little-known circus performer. Agnes originally found fame as a slack-wire walker and horseback rider, and later as an animal trainer. Her circus career spanned more than four decades. Following the murder of her first husband, Bill Lake, she was the sole manager of the "Hippo-Olympiad and Mammoth Circus." Agnes later traveled with P. T. Barnum and Buffalo Bill Cody, and managed her daughter Emma Lake's successful equestrian career.

Harris, Neil. Humbug: The Art of P.T. Barnum. Boston: Little, Brown, 1973.

King, Orin C. Circus World of Willie Sells: With Accounts of Circus Performances in Topeka, 1858-1908. 1983.

Kunhardt, Philip B. Jr., Kunhardt, Philip B. III & Kunhardt, Peter W. P.T. Barnum: America's Greatest Showman. Illustrated biography. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.

North, Henry Ringling and Hatch, Alden, The Circus Kings: Our Ringling Family Story, with afterword by Fred Dahlinger Jr. The story behind "The Greatest Show on Earth." The best source for their history. Originally published in 1960, told by the nephew of the original Ringling brothers. University of Florida Press, 2008.

Plowden, Gene, Merle Evans: Maestro of the Circus, E. A. Seemann, 1971.

Robinson, Gil, Old wagon show days, Brockwell company, c1925.

Sanger, George. Seventy Years a Showman. London: J. M. Dent, 1938.

Saxon, A. H. P.T. Barnum: the legend and the man. New York: Columbia University Press, 1989.

Slout, William L. Chilly Billy: The Evolution of a Circus Millionaire. San Bernardino, California: author, 2002. Biography of W. W. Cole. A few copies are still available, $25 postpaid, order from author: William Slout, 2995 Ladera Road, San Bernardino, CA 92405.

St Leon, Mark. The Silver Road: The Life of Mervyn King, Circus Man. Springwood, NSW: Butterfly Books, 1990.

St Leon, Mark. The Wizard of the Wire: The Story of Con Colleano, Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press 1993. The true story of one of the great circus artists, Con Colleano, king of the tight wire. A tribute to this artist, with more than 60 photographs.

St Leon, Mark & Cannon, J. Take a Drum and Beat It: The Story of the Astonishing Ashtons 1848 - 1990s. Sydney: Tytherleigh Press, 1997.

Wallace, Irving. The Fabulous Showman: The Life and Times of P.T. Barnum. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1959.

Performance/Acts

Gossard, Steve. A Reckless Era of Aerial Performance; The Evolution of Trapeze, Author, 1994. Circus historian Steve Gossard spent thousands of hours scrolling through 19th century periodical tracing the evolution of the various types of trapeze performances. What he uncovered is more than a historical study - an adventure and a mystery - as Gossard chronicles the exploits of dozens of long-forgotten aerial daredevils.

Thayer, Stuart. The Performers.. History of the best-known circus acts. When they started, who performed them, what they looked like. Available for $23 postpaid from Stuart Thayer, 430 17th Ave. East, Seattle, WA 98112.

Periodicals/Magazines

New York Clipper, weekly newspaper carried various amounts of circus news, published 1852-1924. Only source of concentrated information before 1900. Has formed the basis of many articles by circus historians. Microfilm copies held at a variety of repositories.

White Tops, Partial Index 1927-1997:

     1927-1942     1943-1950     1951-1960     1961-1969

     1970-1976     1977-1984     1985-1992     1993-1997

     White Tops is the official magazine of the Circus Fans Association. CFA has indexed recent issues on their website (click on link).


Circus Fanfare,  Index 1971-2006   Circus Fanfare is the publication of Windjammers Unlimited, a historical music society dedicated to the preservation of traditional music of the circus. Fanfare has pictures and stories of circus bands and their musicians, stories of mud shows, traveling circuses, Shrine circuses, and more.

Sixty Years of the Circus, Magazine Article Index 1912-1972. An index of articles on the circus, circuses and people published in a variety of popular magazines (USA).

Other

Bogdan, Robert. Freak Show: Presenting Human Oddities for Amusement and Profit. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988.

Davis, Janet M. The Circus Age, Culture and Society Under the American Big Top. University of North Carolina Press.

Goldsack, Bob. A History of the Johnny J. Jones Exposition, Midway Museum Publications, 1990. The price is $21.95 plus $ 3 p&h. We take Visa-MC and AE credit cards or a check or money order can be sent to Midway Publications, 70 Dublin Ave., Nashua, NH 03063. Tel # 603-883-9405

Stencell, A. W. Girl Show: Into the canvas world of bump and grind, ECW Press, 1999. Seeing is Believing: America's side shows ECW Press, 2002. Both have information relating to circuses and circus side show operations as well as a lot of carnival history. Stencell owned and operated his own circus for 19 years. Always an avid collector, he has found thousands of photos and illustrations of circuses, and interviewed hundreds of ex-carnival people.

"Route Books." Usually published yearly, contain daily record of where a circus played, mileage, accidents, deaths and other important events. Lists of performers and personnel in circus' departments, etc. Usually compiled by someone with the circus and published at the end of the season. Can be found at various repositories of circus material.

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