- Like, for instance, did you know that popcorn has been around since 400 BC?
These fun facts about the circus are all as surprising as hold old popcorn is. There’s a crazy name for the circus curtain, too, and so much more.
- Human cannonballs travel between 60 and 70 miles an hour when they’re shot. (The air speed feels equivalent to this is driving down the freeway without a windshield.
- Performers don’t eat peanuts backstage as it’s another circus superstition.
And not the good kind. - The first circus that John Bill Ricketts ever presented in American was on April 3rd, 1793, in Philadelphia and even George Washington was there. This may be the funnest of all the fun facts about the circus.
- The idea of the modern circus with equestrian acts, clowning and feats of strength and agility has been around since Philip Astley in England all the way back in 1770.
- The curtain that separates the ring from the backstage of the circus is called the vorgang.
- Giuseppe Chiarini, an Italian equestrian, led the most well-traveled early circus, visiting 15 countries on five different continents during the late 19th century.
- A musical written about P.T. Barnum named “Barnum,” by the founder of Barnum and Bailey Circus, came out on Broadway in 1980 in the St. James Theatre.
- Jumbo the Elephant was sold to P.T. Barnum after living in the London Zoo for 16 years. “Jumbomania” was inspired by the elephant and became the synonym for large.
- The circus is over 2,000 years old.
- Chinese circus dates back +to Qin Dynasty of 225-207 BC.
- The traditional Chinese cooking act that involves plate spinning and juggling food or kitchen utensils is known as “Happy Cooks.”
- The first week of August is National Clown Week all thanks to President Richard Nixon.
- There is Whiteface the clown, which is the oldest. Did you know this as one of the fun facts about the circus?
- Auguste the clown, who is zany and dim is the second type of clown.
- Character clown is the third type of clown, both called Happy Hobo and Sad Tramp.
- There are social circus programs who aim to engage marginalized kids in circus arts, utilizing skills and ensemble-building as tools to empowerment.
- Sword Swallowers practice their skills with spoons, plastic tubes, knitting needles and wire coat hangers, all before they attempt a long and pointy, sharp sword.
- Contortionists can be frontbenders or backbenders, depending on which way
they are most flexible. - The practice of squeezing one’s body into a very small box or container is known as enterology.
- There is only one full-time, permanent sideshow left in the world and it’s in New York City at the famous Coney island Circus Sideshow.
- Circus clown cars are hollowed out small cars to make as much space as possible and then also pile as many clowns and large props in as possible. Did you know this as one of the fun facts about the circus.
- A rola bola is also called a bongo board.
- A rola bola is a flat piece of wood balanced on a wooden cylinder. Circus performances with these include one or many stacked bola boards for all sorts of acts, from acrobatics to juggling.
- The world record for most balls juggled was completed by Alex Barron. He once completed 25 cascades of 11 balls he was juggling all at once.
What was the craziest item on the list of all the fun facts about the circus? Let me know what you thought in the comments!