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

The circus is coming to town ... and your computer screen.

By Carly Tennes

Published 5 months ago 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. 

  • 1

    “A circus performer, 1948, New York City by Stanley Kubrick.”

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

  • 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."

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

  • 3

    “Acrobat Norma Fox (Nee nielsen) shows of her arms, around the 1950s during her prime.”

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

  • 4

    “Ringling Brothers Circus Elephants March Down US 41. Sarasota, FL 1950.”

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

  • 5

    “Gerald R. Ford campaigns from atop a circus elephant. 1950.”

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

  • 6

    “Grandma when she was in the Circus (1950's).”

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

  • 7

    “Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”

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

  • 8

    “Circus Showgirl, 1950.”

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

  • 9

    “My grandmother ran away and joined B&B Circus in the early 1950’s. Here she is with her elephant, Ruthie.”

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

  • 10

    “Traveling circus performers, c.1950

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

  • 11

    “My totally ripped great grandmother in the circus 1950’s.”

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

  • 12

    “Trapeze artist Rose Behee of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus walks around before a show in 1940s.”

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

  • 13

    “Bears riding a motor-scooter in Circus Schumann. Cirkusbygningen, Copenhagen. Late 1950s.”

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

  • 14

    “Circus Clown taking a smoke break, 1950’s.”

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

  • 15

    “Circus Clowns backstage, 1940”

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

  • 16

    “A Charles Cushman Kodachrome photo of a circus trapeze artist, taken at Soldier’s Field, c.1944, Chicago.”

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

  • 17

    “Emilien Bouglione, circus performer, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris - 1955.”

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

  • 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.”

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

  • 19

    “Marilyn Monroe, Circus appearance, 1955.”

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

  • 20

    “Ringling Circus clown Lou Jacobs with Carla Wallenda (1941).”

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

  • 21

    “Circus Performers, 1948. Photo by Stanley Kubrick.”

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

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