A Blast From the Past: 21 Photos of the Circus in the ‘40s and ‘50s

Carly Tennes Published 11/11/2024 in wow

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.

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1.
“Trapeze artist Rose Behee of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus walks around before a show in 1940s.”
2.
“Circus Performers, 1948. Photo by Stanley Kubrick.”
3.
“Ringling Circus clown Lou Jacobs with Carla Wallenda (1941).”
4.
“Marilyn Monroe, Circus appearance, 1955.”
5.
“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.”
6.
“Emilien Bouglione, circus performer, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris - 1955.”
7.
“A Charles Cushman Kodachrome photo of a circus trapeze artist, taken at Soldier’s Field, c.1944, Chicago.”
8.
“Circus Clowns backstage, 1940”
9.
“Circus Clown taking a smoke break, 1950’s.”
10.
“Bears riding a motor-scooter in Circus Schumann. Cirkusbygningen, Copenhagen. Late 1950s.”
11.
“A circus performer, 1948, New York City by Stanley Kubrick.”
12.
“My totally ripped great grandmother in the circus 1950’s.”
13.
“Traveling circus performers, c.1950
14.
“My grandmother ran away and joined B&B Circus in the early 1950’s. Here she is with her elephant, Ruthie.”
15.
“Circus Showgirl, 1950.”
16.
“Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”
17.
“Grandma when she was in the Circus (1950's).”
18.
“Gerald R. Ford campaigns from atop a circus elephant. 1950.”
19.
“Ringling Brothers Circus Elephants March Down US 41. Sarasota, FL 1950.”
20.
“Acrobat Norma Fox (Nee nielsen) shows of her arms, around the 1950s during her prime.”
21.
"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."

1.
“Trapeze artist Rose Behee of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus walks around before a show in 1940s.”
2.
“Circus Performers, 1948. Photo by Stanley Kubrick.”
3.
“Ringling Circus clown Lou Jacobs with Carla Wallenda (1941).”
4.
“Marilyn Monroe, Circus appearance, 1955.”
5.
“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.”
6.
“Emilien Bouglione, circus performer, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris - 1955.”
7.
“A Charles Cushman Kodachrome photo of a circus trapeze artist, taken at Soldier’s Field, c.1944, Chicago.”
8.
“Circus Clowns backstage, 1940”
9.
“Circus Clown taking a smoke break, 1950’s.”
10.
“Bears riding a motor-scooter in Circus Schumann. Cirkusbygningen, Copenhagen. Late 1950s.”
11.
“A circus performer, 1948, New York City by Stanley Kubrick.”
12.
“My totally ripped great grandmother in the circus 1950’s.”
13.
“Traveling circus performers, c.1950
14.
“My grandmother ran away and joined B&B Circus in the early 1950’s. Here she is with her elephant, Ruthie.”
15.
“Circus Showgirl, 1950.”
16.
“Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”
17.
“Grandma when she was in the Circus (1950's).”
18.
“Gerald R. Ford campaigns from atop a circus elephant. 1950.”
19.
“Ringling Brothers Circus Elephants March Down US 41. Sarasota, FL 1950.”
20.
“Acrobat Norma Fox (Nee nielsen) shows of her arms, around the 1950s during her prime.”
21.
"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."