Many are best known by the name of their principal owner. There is probably no country where circus is unknown and there are many circus companies in the world. Circus is almost universal. The following is a list of both circuses and their country of origin. Best circus shows touring the UK, from Chinese State Circus to Cirque Berserk(4 Nov 2016) We round-up the best shows that will make you want to run away and join the circus We're not particularly athletic, so all of the acrobatics are out. Writing this article made me wonder -- what act would our family have if we were a multigenerational circus family? Anastasini. The American circus was revolutionized by P. T. Barnum and William Cameron Coup, who launched the travelling P. T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie & Circus, the first freak show. From Queen Victoria’s favorite lion tamer to a doomed aerialist, step right up and meet eight of the most beloved and influential stars of the big top. A word about the definitions. Some names are even famous around the world. Author's Note: 10 Amazing Circus Families. Circus pioneer Dan Rice was the most famous pre-Civil War circus clown, popularizing such expressions as "The One-Horse Show" and "Hey, Rube!". That leaves the clowns, but my baby sister is terrified of clowns. Cortes. No two circuses are alike but, with the broadening range of experiences on offer, it can be helpful to clarify what sort of production you are … Bertini. They're some of the world's famous circus families, and have been for decades. George Speaight defines the history of circus as "the story of that entertainment of human bodily skills and trained animals that is presented in a ring of approximately 13 metres in diameter with an audience grouped all around it." British Circuses. Centuries even. There have been many famous modern circuses since the first modern circus was staged by Philip Astley in London on January 9, 1768. Here are some of … I don't think we'd be good with animals, either. Roll up, roll up to witness the new brand of circus touring the UK. 8 Legendary Circus Performers . But for many in these vaunted families, it absolutely does not. You might think the somewhat vagabond lifestyle of a circus performer would lose its appeal in these modern times.