History of Circus

Who is credited with beginning the circus in 1768?

• P.T. Barnum

• Philip Astley

• John Ringling

• James Bailey

Which of the following is NOT one of the four components of a classical circus?

• Juggling

• Equestrian acts

• Magic tricks

• Clowns

What did the circus initially begin as?

• A theatrical performance

• A musical concert

• An equestrian event

• A magic show

Who brought the circus to America?

• Ringling Bros

• Bailey

• Barnum & Bailey

• P.T. Barnum

What did Barnum & Bailey train for their circus?

• Lions and clowns

• Zebras and trapeze artists

• Elephants and magicians

• Acrobats and jugglers

What type of animals did Barnum & Bailey have in their circus?

• Domestic animals

• Live exotic animals

• Mythical creatures

• Mechanical animals

How did public tastes regarding the circus change after WWII?

• They became more popular than ever.

• They were seen as primarily for adults.

• They were seen as children's entertainment.

• They were considered outdated and irrelevant.

What factors made traveling circuses too expensive post-WWII?

• The introduction of child labor laws and unions.

• The decline in public transportation.

• The increase in the cost of circus animals.

• The rise of alternative entertainment forms.

What contributed to the decline of the traditional traveling circus shows?

• The popularity of radio shows.

• The emergence of TV and movies.

• The invention of video games.

• The expansion of theme parks.

Why was the three ring circus format created?

• To allow for more acrobatic performances

• To enable a single show to be seen from any distance

• To have three shows going on at once, compensating for distance

• To reduce the cost of circus performances