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Circus Trivia Questions and Answers

Circus trivia quiz questions with answers.

 

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A: In the mid 19th century as touring circuses superseded static venues.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.

 
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