These vintage photos capture traveling circus performers in Northern Ireland, 1910-1911

 

In the early years of the 20th century, many circuses toured Northern Ireland and provided entertainment, stunts and plenty of excitement to crowds.

Although photographs of the acts in progress were not possible due to the dim lighting conditions inside the circus tent, local photographer Herbert Cooper was able to take photographs of the clowns, acrobats and animals outside as they practiced their acts and of the local people. Had mingled with. People.

During this time, he documented various circus shows coming to Strabane, a town in Northern Ireland, the three main ones being Duffy's Circus, Buff Bill's American Circus and Hanford's Canadian Circus.

His photographs include parade scenes in Abercorn Square, Strabane, a re-enactment of the Wall of Death (using a car), and circus animal scenes, including lions and a 'bear that talks' sign.

Although circus art is ancient and international in origin, the modern circus was born in England during the 1770s when Philip Astley, a horseman and veteran of the Seven Years' War, combined circus elements – acrobatics, horsemanship and clowning – Brought together in one ring. At his riding school near Westminster Bridge in London.

The concept of the circus was significantly changed when it reached the United States, it copied everything from the circus in England, but added new acts.

Victor Pepin was the first to introduce the idea of family entertainment through the art of circus performance after its advent in the 1800s.

Later other showmen showed a different approach, they began to use trained exotic animals other than horses to entertain larger crowds of spectators and it became a thriving industry in which everyone wanted a part.

The first traveling circus in America was founded by P.T. Was created by. Barnum's Circus which partnered with William Cameron Coupe and Dan Catello to become the first circus to travel the world by train and erect canvas tents at night to perform shows.

Later in the 1900s, The Ringling Brothers, P.T. Barnum & Bailey's biggest competition bought them out and the circus was renamed the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The act's inclusion of exotic animals and people with natural deformities or talents inspired circus members around the world, including Europe, it was a revolutionary concept.

Very soon the showmen of Europe began to copy the American form of circus act. Sales declined dramatically by the turn of the 20th century as awareness of animal rights increased.