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Le Cirque Molier, c'est l'histoire d'un passionné et autodidacte, Ernest Molier, qui fonde le premier cirque amateur à Paris, en 1880, dans l'hôtel particulier qu'il a lui-même imaginé. La passion des arts équestres, notamment des belles amazones, des animaux et de l'escrime le pousse à construire un manège chez lui, puis à organiser une première représentation avec mis pour, finalement, transformer son hangar privé en centre d'influence du Tout-Paris.
Des spectacles sensationnels, des personnalités de la haute société devenues acrobates, un lieu où tous les mondains et (demi-) mondaines se croisent : de gentille réunion d'amateurs, le cirque de la rue Benouville devient une institution dans le Paris de la Belle Epoque.

In this volume, twenty-four creators come together with three scholars to discuss Contemporary Circus, bridging the divide between practice and theory.

Lavers, Leroux, and Burtt offer conversations across four key themes: Apparatus, Politics, Performers, and New Work. Extensively illustrated with fifty photos of Contemporary Circus productions, and extensively annotated, Contemporary Circus thematically groups and contextualises extracts of conversations to provide a sophisticated and wide-ranging study supported by critical theory.

Of interest to both practitioners and scholars, Contemporary Circus uses the lens of ‘contestation,’ or calling things into question, to provide a portal into ways of seeing today’s circus performance.

Conversations with: Lachlan Binns and Jascha Boyce (Gravity and Other Myths), Tilde Björfors (Cirkus Cirkör), Kim ‘Busty Beatz’ Bowers (Hot Brown Honey), Shana Carroll (The 7 Fingers), David Clarkson (Stalker), Philippe Decouflé (Compagnie DCA), Fez Faanana (Briefs), Mike Finch (Circus Oz), Daniele Finzi Pasca (Compagnia Finzi Pasca), Sean Gandini (Gandini Juggling), Firenza Guidi (ElanFrantoio, NoFit State Circus), Jo Lancaster and Simon Yates (Acrobat), Johann Le Guillerm (Cirque Ici), Yaron Lifschitz (Circa), Chelsea McGuffin (Company 2), Phia Ménard (Compagnie Non Nova), Jennifer Miller (Circus Amok), Adrien Mondot (Compagnie Adrien M and Claire B), Charlotte Mooney and Tina Koch (Ockham’s Razor), Philippe Petit (high wire artist), and Elizabeth Streb (STREB EXTREME ACTION). [editor summary]

This beautiful book charts the development of the circus as an art form around the world, from antiquity to the present day.

Using over 200 circus related artworks from the French National Library's private collections, celebrated cultural historian Pascal Jacob tells the story of travelling entertainers and their art and trade. From nomadic animal tamers of the Dark Ages to European jugglers and acrobats of the 1800s, from the use of the circus as Soviet propaganda to the 20th-century Chinese performance art renaissance, this is an exhaustive history with a uniquely international scope.

Jacob draws on both rare and famous artworks, including prints dating from the 13th century, and paintings by Picasso and Doré. In doing so he demonstrates the circus to be a visual and physical masterpiece, constantly moving and evolving, and just as exciting an experience for audiences now as it was 1,000 years ago.

The nineteenth century saw the American circus move from a reviled and rejected form of entertainment to the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Circus Life by Micah D. Childress looks at this transition from the perspective of the people who owned and worked in circuses and how they responded to the new incentives that rapid industrialization made possible.
The circus has long been a subject of fascination for many, as evidenced by the millions of Americans that have attended circus performances over many decades since 1870, when the circus established itself as a truly unique entertainment enterprise. Yet the few analyses of the circus that do exist have only examined the circus as its own closed microcosm—the “circus family.” Circus Life, on the other hand, places circus employees in the larger context of the history of US workers and corporate America. Focusing on the circus as a business-entertainment venture, Childress pushes the scholarship on circuses to new depths, examining the performers, managers, and laborers’ lives and how the circus evolved as it grew in popularity over time. Beginning with circuses in the antebellum era, Childress examines changes in circuses as gender balances shifted, industrialization influenced the nature of shows, and customers and crowds became increasingly more middle-class.
As a study in sport and social history, Childress’s account demonstrates how the itinerant nature of the circus drew specific types of workers and performers, and how the circus was internally in constant upheaval due to the changing profile of its patrons and a changing economy. [editor summary]

A small team of researchers from Circus Central lead by CEO Helen Averley explored what happened to international circus during WW1. The focus of the research has been on tracing individual circus artists and their circuses, and animal through the period of the Great War.

The research was inspired by the discovery of a book by Grock, a famous Swiss clown. More than 3 years later it has culminated in a book which will be available in PDF on this site, as well as in hard copy version in libraries and archives. Contributors include family members of circus artists, researchers, North East emerging artists, as well as forward from Prof. Ron Beadle of Northumbria University. Most of the information has been gathered from public archives including: National Fairground and Circus Archives, T&W Archives, National Archives ( British Newspapers), The World’s Fair newspaper, from published biographies and autobiographies. [editor summary]

Step right up to a rare and rollicking adventure through over half a century of circus history, as told by someone who lived through it all – and has a nagging habit of telling the truth. He is David Lewis Hammarstrom, first published at age 14, who promises you an eye-opening excursion into the ways and wonders of a world forever on the brink of extinction that yet somehow manages to reinvent itself over and over again. Levity seasons the parade: In wry response to a reviewer complaining that one of his books lacked distinctive circus atmosphere, the author sent him a special Smell Edition, containing fresh elephant dung off circus lots. Only one of many amusing anecdotes guaranteed to entertain you. So, have yourself a center ring seat, and read all about it in Big Top Typewriter! [editor summary]

Gérard Noiriel a été conseiller sur le film, il nous livre là la véritable histoire du clown Chocolat. C'est l'histoire d'un fils d'esclave de Cuba qui fuit son destin jusqu'à Bilbao et, après bien des aventures, finit par débarquer à Paris. Nous sommes en 1886 et les noirs sont si rares dans les rues de la capitale qu'ils sont un signe distinctif pour les nobles qui se promènent avec leurs "nègres". Sur les scènes des cirques qui sont en plein essor, il n'y en a simplement aucun. Chocolat deviendra une étoile des cirques parisiens, notamment pour ses numéros avec Foottit, regardé par les princes européens et loué par la presse. Il mourra dans la misère après avoir tenté de devenir comédien. C'est aussi l'histoire d'une enquête, celle qu'un historien renommé, spécialiste de l'histoire de l'immigration et auteur d'une trentaine d'ouvrages, a commencé il y a une dizaine d'années, pour réhabiliter ce premier artiste noir de la scène française et montrer la résistance dont témoigne son parcours. Car malgré son succès, il y a très peu de traces de Chocolat, enterré dans une fosse commune. Cette biographie est un défi tant les sources ont été difficiles à rassembler. C'est aussi un exercice d'écriture où l'historien n'hésite pas à recourir à la fiction pour combler certains trous dans la vie de son héros, mais toujours en se fondant sur une documentation précise et abondante. Le texte se lit comme un récit, rythmé par les découvertes du chercheur, des extraits du journal qu'il a tenu durant son enquête et des dialogues entre les personnages. La résistance par le rire. [résumé de l'éditeur]

Philip Astley first pegged out his circular 'ride' on the banks of the Thames in 1768 and so laid down the foundations of the modern circus. Performing feats of trick riding with his wife Patty Jones, little did he realise that before long women would become a dominant force in the circus. Sawdust Sisterhood explores how the circus empowered women and gave them the opportunity to compete and succeed as performers in their own right in an otherwise masculine world. Drawing upon historical news reports and contemporary interviews, the book explores the lives of female circus performers and focuses upon several of the more well-known artistes from across two centuries of circus, including; Madame Saqui, the renowned French wire-walker of the early nineteenth century; Nellie Chapman, the Victorian 'Lion Queen' of Wombwells's Menagerie and Circus; and Katie Brumbach, otherwise known as Sandwina, perhaps the most famous Strongwoman of the twentieth century. Sawdust Sisterhood acknowledges the role of the female circus performer across the centuries.

As paragons in heir field, these women became rich, famous and powerful despirte the prevailing sexist attitudes of their time. They often had to overcome undue criticism of their work and censure from those who felt their acts were at best inappropritate and at worst immoral. In performing remarkable, often death-defying physical feats, these women subverted the classic ideals of femininity and undoubtedly contributed to the later sexual revolution.

Sawdust sisterhood explores the journeys of these women and their contributions to the advancement of women's rights. Steve Ward, an expert on the circus, draws together various primary sources. newspaper articles, and feministe scholarship to give a full picture of the pivotal role of women in this medium. He also includes interviews with contemporary female performers and over thirty exquisite images. This is a detailed, personal, and deeply moving account of an often overloocked aspect of the struggle for female emancipation. [Editor's summary]

Chacun possède sa propre vision du cirque, un univers aux richesses insoupçonnées et en constante évolution. Cet ouvrage en propose une histoire abondamment illustrée, de ses origines saltimbanques à ses formes les plus contemporaines.

Au fil des pages, affiches, dessins, estampes et photographies dévoilent les secrets de chacune des disciplines qui peuplent le grand chapiteau et offrent un voyage planétaire haut en couleurs. Né en Angleterre en 1768, développé en France, il magnifie avant tout le cheval. Entre 1880 et 1930, c’est l’âge d’or du dressage, de la splendeur allemande et du gigantisme américain motivé par le développement du chemin de fer. Viennent ensuite la révolution du cirque soviétique, la puissance d’évocation du théâtre acrobatique chinois, et le renouveau du cirque avec les écoles françaises, belges ou canadiennes.

Un ouvrage complet pour retrouver son âme d’enfant. [résumé de l'éditeur]

Le « nouveau cirque », le « cirque contemporain », le « cirque actuel », le « cirque de création », les « arts du cirque », autant d’appellations qui tentent de cerner et de rendre compte des intentions, des démarches et des spectacles concrétisés par de nouvelles générations revisitant, sans a priori, les chemins ouverts de cirques différents. Depuis les années 1980, soutenus par des mesures d’aides institutionnelles, des artistes qui s’enracinent dans le paysage culturel et artistique participent à l’histoire de ce genre en se laissant contaminer par
le monde tout en en restituant une vision, c’est-à-dire en faisant œuvre. À partir de quelques problématiques, la constitution du genre et son institutionnalisation, les échappés (les clowns, par exemple), l’approche des nouvelles technologies, le croisement avec les autres arts (la danse et le théâtre), cet ouvrage mêle considérations esthétiques et analyses de spectacles et pointe l’hétérogénéité d’une création plurielle. [résumé de l'éditeur]

Nella Verona del periodo neoclassico gli spettatori avevano a disposizione un vero e proprio menù degli incanti, la cui portata principale consisteva spesso in una compagnia equestre. Poi i virtuosi delle varie discipline del corpo: giocolieri, equilibristi, trapezisti, acrobati e gli spericolati funamboli. Animali ammaestrati, dai rinoceronti alle pulci sapienti. Fenomeni della natura e curiosità etnografiche. Maghi e illusionisti di ogni tipo. Infine un grande assortimento di spettacoli pseudoscientifici come i panorami, o le dimostrazioni della luce elettrica, del telegrafo e le molto amate ascensioni aerostatiche. Il tutto servito in un’inaspettata città scaligera, crogiolo di tendenze, humus di culture, punto di riferimento per compagnie di artisti di ogni genere. Con una serie assai variegata di spazi: dai teatri ufficiali, alle improvvisate baracche, sino all’Arena. È questo il mondo emerso dall’approfondito lavoro di ricerca ed analisi, svolto da un gruppo di titolate ricercatrici, coordinate dai curatori del progetto, le quali hanno setacciato i più importanti archivi di Verona, del Veneto e del Nord Italia, alla ricerca di qualsiasi testimonianza afferente le discipline circensi. Un’esperienza unica nel campo della storiografia dello spettacolo popolare, che ha permesso di riscoprire incredibili repertori, delineare i profili dei principali protagonisti, capire le caratteristiche dei luoghi deputati, delle modalità di fruizione e del relativo riscontro da parte del pubblico e della critica giornalistica.

El trabajo es una crónica de los más de 200 años de actividad circense en Chile muy bien documentado, que empieza con la entrada del circo ecuestre inglés de Nathaniel Bogardus en 1827. La documentación que existe es escasa: alguna novela, revistas, diarios, y algunos libros centrados en otras temáticas, que tangencialmente nombran al circo. Ese vacío busca llenar la investigación que realizan actualmente la bióloga Pilar Ducci y el fotógrafo Francisco Bermejo. Ante la poca documentación existente, su principal fuente ha sido la tradición oral, los recuerdos que los artistas circenses guardan de lo que, al fin, no es más que su vida familiar.

The circus is a source of nostalgia for Americans of all ages, either from memories of attending P. T. Barnum's "Greatest Show on Earth," or through the colorful evocations in many movies, television programs, and books. Interest in the circus phenomenon is unflagging, yet there have been few publications that look closely at how the circus's European origins were refashioned for an American audience. Lavishly illustrated and carefully researched, this volume explores how American culture, values, demography, and business practices altered the fundamental nature of the European circus, and how, by the end of the 19th century, they had transformed it into a distinctly American pastime.

At the peak of its cultural significance, the circus was a sophisticated combination of theater and business, and made effective use of advertising, train travel, and hyperbole. The subjects in The American Circus reflect this complexity, ranging widely from thematic explorations of circus music and elephants to more closely focused studies of objects such as circus toys, souvenirs, and performers' costumes. The book also explores the dark and even nefarious side of the circus, and its associations with marginalized dimensions of American life and culture. With contributions from leading scholars, this stylishly designed volume aims to identify the salient features of an Americanized cultural product and to analyze its appeal for American audiences.

For more than seven decades the circuses enjoyed tremendous popularity in the Soviet Union. How did the circus—an institution that dethroned figures of authority and refused any orderly narrative structure—become such a cultural mainstay in a state known for blunt and didactic messages? Miriam Neirick argues that the variety, flexibility, and indeterminacy of the modern circus accounted for its appeal not only to diverse viewers but also to the Soviet state. In a society where government-legitimating myths underwent periodic revision, the circus proved a supple medium of communication.

Between 1919 and 1991, it variously displayed the triumph of the Bolshevik revolution, the beauty of the new Soviet man and woman, the vulnerability of the enemy during World War II, the prosperity of the postwar Soviet household, and the Soviet mission of international peace—all while entertaining the public with the acrobats, elephants, and clowns. With its unique ability to meet and reconcile the demands of both state and society, the Soviet circus became the unlikely darling of Soviet culture and an entertainment whose usefulness and popularity stemmed from its ambiguity. [editor summary]

At the turn of the 20th century, the circus was the most popular form of American entertainment, and New York City was the hub of circus-related activity. Featuring superb archival photography, this book documents a wide variety of ephemera, images, and artifacts relating to the history of the circus in the city, from the seminal equestrian displays of the 18th century to the iconic railroad circuses of the late 19th century. Matthew Wittmann offers a thorough history of the circus in New York City, including stories of P. T. Barnum's triumphant entry into the circus business, the famous dwarf General Tom Thumb, and Jumbo, the African elephant that touched off a craze known as "Jumbomania." The histories of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the WPA Circus of the Great Depression, and the Big Apple Circus are testaments to the enduring popularity of this American pastime.

Footit et Chocolat, c'est le plus célèbre duo de clowns de la Belle Epoque qui a inventé la comédie clownesque centrée sur deux personnages, le clown blanc et l'Auguste. Leurs numéros mettaient en scène de façon comique les relations de domination entre blanc et noir. Amis des peintres vivants à Montmartre, les deux clowns ont été immortalisés par Toulouse-Lautrec et ont été les premiers acteurs du cinéma muet. Le clown Chocolat, esclave noir cubain ayant fui en Europe, fut le premier artiste noir à susciter un tel engouement populaire, célébré comme un " monument national ". L'affaire Dreyfus mettra brutalement un terme à ce succès, le rire provoqué par les clichés racistes étant devenu gênant. Malgré son talent, Chocolat se trouvera exclu du monde du spectacle et mourra dans la misère. [résumé de l'éditeur]

At the turn of the 20th century, scores of circuses crisscrossed America. In many towns, Circus Day was a major holiday, right behind Christmas and Fourth of July. Schools and businesses closed as the populace flocked to the circus street parade and, later, to the circus grounds. Their anticipation had been fueled weeks beforehand by the circus's advance squads of billposters, who covered walls and fences for miles around with brilliantly colored, boldly bombastic posters advertising the season's feature attractions. The Amazing American Circus Poster: The Strobridge Lithographing Company catalog uses extant posters to explore the circus and its impact on American culture. It also examines the role of the posters themselves in the evolution of visual communication and consumer advertising, particularly outdoor advertising. [editor summary]