Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, crowds gathered around the country at the sound of one phrase: "The circus is coming to town." Complete with skilled aerialists, talented clowns, and even the occasional guest performance from stars like Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe, the big top was the place to be. Just take a look at these high-flying, face-painting photos from those storied decades.
From a trapeze artist completing her act to the smoke breaks that made it all possible, here are 21 photos of what a trip to the circus looked like in the '40s and '50s.
1
“A circus performer, 1948, New York City by Stanley Kubrick.”
2
"Arealist and Trapeze Star/Diva Mara Campos aka María Papadópoulos y Vaquero (1934-2013) making 1 arm pull ups look easy and elegant. Around 1950s."
3
“Acrobat Norma Fox (Nee nielsen) shows of her arms, around the 1950s during her prime.”
4
“Ringling Brothers Circus Elephants March Down US 41. Sarasota, FL 1950.”
5
“Gerald R. Ford campaigns from atop a circus elephant. 1950.”
6
“Grandma when she was in the Circus (1950's).”
7
“Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”
8
“Circus Showgirl, 1950.”
9
“My grandmother ran away and joined B&B Circus in the early 1950’s. Here she is with her elephant, Ruthie.”
10
“Traveling circus performers, c.1950
11
“My totally ripped great grandmother in the circus 1950’s.”
12
“Trapeze artist Rose Behee of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus walks around before a show in 1940s.”
13
“Bears riding a motor-scooter in Circus Schumann. Cirkusbygningen, Copenhagen. Late 1950s.”
14
“Circus Clown taking a smoke break, 1950’s.”
15
“Circus Clowns backstage, 1940”
16
“A Charles Cushman Kodachrome photo of a circus trapeze artist, taken at Soldier’s Field, c.1944, Chicago.”
17
“Emilien Bouglione, circus performer, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris - 1955.”
18
“March of 1955, Marlene Dietrich as the Ringmaster of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus during their opening night in Madison Square Garden, NY. Same night there was also Marilyn, who arrived in a pink elephant.”
19
“Ringling Circus clown Emmett Kelly in a bubble bath: 1955, Sarasota, Florida by State Library and Archives of Florida.”
20
“Marilyn Monroe, Circus appearance, 1955.”
21
“Ringling Circus clown Lou Jacobs with Carla Wallenda (1941).”
22
“Circus Performers, 1948. Photo by Stanley Kubrick.”
