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Postednon March 28, 2014
Postednon March 28, 2014
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nOnnthis date in 1881, the “Greatest Show on Earth” was created.
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nCircus owner P.T. Barnum merged his show with James A. Bailey’s circusn– and together their circus really was greater.
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nOnnMarch 29, 1919, the seven Ringling Brothers merged their circus withnBarnum & Bailey’s – I guess creating the Even Greatest Show onnEarth?
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n(Actually,nit’s still just called “Greatest Show on Earth.” By the way, Infind it strange that “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & BaileynCircus” is still the name of this most famous of U.S.ncircuses—which is strange, because people can’t even be bothered tonsay “Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie,” so you would definitely thinknthat this circus’s name would have been streamlined by now. MaybenRingling BBB? But I guess long names are part of the culture ofncircuses. Barnum’s first circus was called “P.T. Barnum’s GreatnTraveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome”!)
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Justnwhat is a circus, anyway?
Justnwhat is a circus, anyway?n
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nAncircus in a company of performers who do stunt-oriented performances,nsometimes with animals. Some of the performers commonly seen inncircuses include clowns, acrobats, stunt riders, stilt walkers,ntightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists, and animal trainers. Aerialnacts using one or more trapezes, ropes, rings, or hoops are annexciting part of most circuses. n
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| I generally think of “circus animals” nbeing elephants and lion and tigers… nBut this early Barnum & Bailey poster nlures viewers to come watch the n“geese roosters”!!! |
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nModernncircuses began in the mid-1700s in England, and they were almostnentirely about horse riding skills and tricks. Within the next 50nyears many other sorts of acts were presented, including huge,ntheatrical battle reenactments! By the late 1800s, the ringmasternpresenting acts choreographed to music became the favored style ofncircuses—and this style lasted a century! n
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Nowadays,nmost people think Cirque du Soleil rather than Ringling Bros. Thennouveau cirque (which is French for “new circus”) featuresnfewer (or no) animal acts and a more theatrical, artistic show, shownnin a theater, complete with sets, lighting, avant-gardencostumes, and original music.
Nowadays,nmost people think Cirque du Soleil rather than Ringling Bros. Thennouveau cirque (which is French for “new circus”) featuresnfewer (or no) animal acts and a more theatrical, artistic show, shownnin a theater, complete with sets, lighting, avant-gardencostumes, and original music.n
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nButnyou can still get your Barnum & Bailey fix, often in a “bigntop” tent, with elephants and lions, dancing dogs and speedingnsteeds, clowns crammed into a tiny car and lovely ladies flyingnthrough the air with the greatest of ease.
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nCelebrate!
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Ifnyou can’t run away to the circus today, perhaps a little virtualnviewing would help celebrate:
Ifnyou can’t run away to the circus today, perhaps a little virtualnviewing would help celebrate:n
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nAndn this traditional circus act features lions.
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nOrngo the distance, think big, and have a circus mini-party! There arentons of ideas for crafts, snacks, games, and all manner of circus funnhere.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Teachers’ Day in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Teachers’ Day in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
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nWeednAppreciation Day
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nWhat’snin a Name Day
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nRagnarnLodbrok Day in Scandinavia
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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n n Historicaln anniversaries in March
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nApriln holidays
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nApriln birthdays
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