Vintage Circus Photos

"A group of 20+ circus clowns in 'Clown Alley' posing informally while preparing for the ring."


"'Billy' Winslow, a clown and wire walker with the Barnum & Bailey Show, with a prop he used in his performance." (1910)


"Two early Ringling Brothers' circus clowns, whose photographs appeared in the 'Ringling Annual' under a section titled 'Last of the Old-Time Clowns'." (1901)


"An overview of the Norris & Rowe Circus setup on tour in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The show toured Canada and Mexico and played to packed houses."


"Al G Barnes Circus on Mud Lot" (1935)


"Fred and Ella Bradna, equestrian director and performer for Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey. There are several other performers and a dog, relaxing in their circus wagon." (1890)


"A man and a woman, in the process of getting dressed for a circus performance, pose informally in the back of a circus wagon."


"'Diamond Kitty,' a performer with the Shrine Circus, poses with a large group of people in front of the sideshow tent housing the 'World's Fattest People' attraction."


"A group of 11 circus clowns poses with a pretty young female performer in a circus tent. This could possibly be part of a movie set."


"A clown in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus stands outside a tent near a wagon, with his left hand holding onto a tent rope. He is wearing a beret-style hat, bow tie, and white shoes."


"Spader Johnson dressed as a clown."


"RKO clown "Toto" distributes cardboard Easter bunnies packed with lollipops from W.T. Grant Company. This event was held in the 2nd floor playroom at UW Children's Orthopedic hospital, 436 N. Randall Street." (1932)


"Erma Ward, a circus trapeze artist, dangles by one hand from a ring high in a circus tent."


"A circus clown sits astride a donkey outside a tent." (1909)


"Five circus performers, female and male, sit or stand astride a horse with a tent as a backdrop."


"RW Cast & Crew (possibly The Clyde Beatty Show)"


"Personnel of the old Miles Orton Circus outside a tent in their 1891-92 New Orleans' quarters."


"Personnel of the Walter L. Main show in 1904 and 1905, photographed outside a tent, include clowns, the driver of a four horse chariot, and air performers. Their contemporary, circus man Frank B. Miller, described the group as 'A bunch of real old time actors, all damn good ones...'" (1905)

-
Circus Photos at Wisconsin Historical Society [link]
Sideshow World [link]