Los Angeles Herald, November 19, 1905. Americans in the 19th and early 20th century were nuts about "wild men," which is why circus geeks were a popular attraction: It was like a chance to see Bigfoot in captivity. Everybody knew wild men were out there in the wilderness: Newspapers at this time would report rural sightings [...]
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Circus History: Frank Skerbeck, Sr. (1847-1921)’s father traded a linen factory for a small circus about 1857 in what is now Czechoslovakia. The Skerbeck Circus toured Europe 1871-1876. Eventually the circus went broke. Frank’s son, Frank, Jr., learned trapeze skills and how to swallow a sword. In 1880 Frank, Jr. sailed to America and bought a “grape farm” [...] At its outset, the Pitt County Fair was probably the most remarkable spectacles that many residents had yet witnessed. The historical record of that 1920 event describes its many exhibits and a carnival midway that was touted as among the country’s largest. Much has changed in this community since, and the fair may not be the [...] http://www.circusinamerica.org/public/ Image via Wikipedia The American circus has a unique and often overlooked importance in American history. The first American circuses began shortly after the country was founded, and as the country’s population grew, moved West, went through the Industrial Revolution, and opened its gates to the world, the circus followed. Indeed, in many cases the circus provided [...] |
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