The Circus: 1870-1950 (Hardcover)

by Noel Daniel (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
During its heyday one hundred years ago, the American circus was the largest show-biz industry the world had ever seen. From the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, traveling American circuses performed for audiences of up to 14,000 per show, employed as many as 1,600 men and women, and crisscrossed the country on 20,000 miles of railroad in one season alone. The spectacle of death-defying daredevils, strapping super-heroes and scantily-clad starlets, fearless animal trainers, and startling freaks gripped the American imagination, outshining theater, vaudeville, comedy, and minstrel shows of its day, and ultimately paved the way for film and television to take root in the modern era. Long before the Beat generation made "on the road" expeditions popular, the circus personified the experience and offered many young Americans the dream of adventure, reinvention, and excitement. Organized into nine thematic chapters, the book sheds new light on circus history, from a behind-the-scenes look at life on the move, to the freedoms enjoyed by early female performers, to the innovative production skills that demanded as much know-how as a modern-day film production. For the first time ever, contemporary readers can now experience the legend of the American circus in full effect. The book's broad subject matter, riveting images, and diverse visual material will appeal both to the circus aficionado and those who have never before been to circus.

From the Publisher
With 670 pages and nearly 900 color and black-and-white illustrations, this book brings to life the grit and glamour behind the circus phenomenon. Images include photographic gems by key early circus photographers such as Frederick Whitman Glasier and Edward Kelty, about 180 of the earliest color photographs ever taken of the circus from the 1940s and 1950s, 200 posters by the famous Strobridge lithographers, iconic circus photographs by Mathew Brady, Cornell Capa, Walker Evans, Weegee, Lisette Model, and little-known circus images by Stanley Kubrick and Charles and Ray Eames; also included are rare color and black-and-white lithographs and engravings from the 16th-19th centuries illustrating the worldwide roots of the circus, as well as original sideshow banners by legendary sideshow banner artists Nieman Eisman, Fred G. Johnson, and David "Snap" Wyatt.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 670 pages
• Publisher: Taschen; Mul edition (July 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822851531
• ISBN-13: 978-3822851531
• Product Dimensions: 20.7 x 15.6 x 4.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,585 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CIRCUS 1870 --- 1950, July 5, 2008

By	Jack D. Hunter - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE WELL WORTH THE PRICE FOR THIS BOOK NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THEM....THE ONLY DRAWBACK A GREAT AMOUNT OF THE TEXT IS FRENCH And GERMAN AND THERE ARE SOME PHOTOS THAT GO BEYOND 1950 WHICH IS GREAT....ANY CIRCUS FAN WOULD ENJOY....A VERY LARGE BOOK BRIEFCASE SIZE AND WEIGHS ABOUT 20 LBS.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Circus-1870 to 1950, September 30, 2008

By	Harry Lea Kingston (Beaumont, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own many circus books and i was advised about this one is a must.
For a $200 circus book it better be great one and the waters better part.
When it arrived I was amazed at the size and the weight of it. Then i open it up and it was like the land of Oz going from black and white to TECHNICOLOR.
In all my life I have never seen a book printed like this with all those beautiful color photos of the circus. Where ever they got those photos they are the best I have even seen in any book.
The WOW factor and it is just amazing book.
It is a must for the circus collector.
I am so glad I got a copy and it is worth every penny of the price.
Harry Kingston

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than a novelty, September 8, 2008

By	Coates Alan Mr (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whilst by size this may be considered a novelty item and of particular interest to students of American Circus this has much more value than that. The oversize format and use of fold out pages presents an opportunity to display visual reproductions which otherwise would not be possible on this scale. Of particular interest to me was the presentation of items from very early circus history. This must have been a mamouth publishing enterprise with some commercial risk considering the total scope of the circus book reading customer base but the contributors and publishers must be complemented upon the finished product.

Not one to read in bed but a valuable addition to the collections of those interested in circus and visual presentation.

AC.