Circus Trivia Questions and Answers
What is a circus?
A: A circus is a group of performers that may include
clowns, acrobats, trained
animals, and many other acts.
Who is credited with being the father of the modern circus
?
A: Philip Astley.
When did Philip Astley open the first circus in England?
A: In 1768.
Early circuses were almost exclusively made up of what?
A: Equestrian skill demonstrations with a few other types of acts to link the
horsemanship performances.
As the circus developed through the next fifty years, large
scale theatrical "what", became a significant feature?
A: Battle reenactments.
The 'traditional' format, whereby a ringmaster introduces a
varied selection of acts developed in the latter part of what century?
A: The 19th.
The 'traditional' format continued almost universally to be
the main style of circus up until when?
A: The 1970s.
The earliest modern circuses were performed in what type of
structures?
A: Open air structures with limited covered seating.
From the late 18th to late 19th century, circus buildings
were built with various types of what?
A: Seating, a centre ring and occasionally a stage.
When were the traditional large circus tents, commonly
known as 'Big Tops' introduced?
A: In the mid 19th century as touring circuses superseded static venues.
The Big Tops eventually became the what?
A: The most common venue and remain so to the present day.
Contemporary circuses perform in a variety of venues
including what?
A: Tents, theatres and casinos.
Many circus performances are still held in a what?
A: A ring.
What is the usual diameter of the circus ring?
A: 42 ft.
This dimension was adopted by whom in the late 18th
century?
A: Philip Astley.
In Ancient Rome, what was a circus?
A: It was a building for the exhibition of horse and chariot races, equestrian
shows, staged battles, and other events.
The circus of Rome were similar to the ancient Greek what?
A: Hippodromes.
What was done for events that involved re-enactments of
naval battles?
A: The circus was flooded with water.
What was the first circus in the city of Rome?
A: It was the Circus Maximus, in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine
hills.
The final version of the Circus Maximus could seat how many
people?
A: 250,000 people.
What was it was made of?
A: Stone.
What were its measurements?
A: It measured 400m in length and 90m in width.
After the fall of Rome, large circus buildings fell out of
use as what?
A: Centers of mass entertainment.
Instead, itinerant performers, animal trainers and showmen
did what?
A: They travelled between towns throughout Europe, performing at local fairs.
Who was Philip Astley?
A: A cavalry officer from England who set up the first modern amphitheatre for
the display of horse riding tricks.
Astley was the first person to create a space where all the
various acts were what?
A: Brought together to perform a show.
When did the Royal Circus open in London?
A: On November 4th, 1782 by Charles Dibdin and his partner Charles Hughes.
What did, Astley establish in 1782?
A: The Amphithéâtre Anglais in Paris, the first purpose-built circus in France.
He followed it with how many other permanent circuses in
cities throughout Europe?
A: 18.
Englishman John Bill Ricketts brought the first what to the
United States?
A: Modern circus.
Where did he began his theatrical career?
A: With Hughes Royal Circus in London in the 1780s.
He travelled from England in 1792 to establish his first
circus in what U.S. city?
A: Philadelphia.
On what date did the first circus building in the US open?
A: On April 3, 1793 in Philadelphia, where Ricketts gave America's first
complete circus performance.
What famous American statesman attended a performance
there later that season?
A: George Washington.