| PRODUCT DETAILS | | The Circus: 1870-1950 |  | |
The Circus: 1870-1950
During its heyday one hundred years ago, the American circus was the largest show-biz industry the world had ever seen. From the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, traveling American circuses performed for audiences of up to 14,000 per show, employed as many as 1,600 men and women, and crisscrossed the country on 20,000 miles of railroad in one season alone. The spectacle of death-defying daredevils, strapping super-heroes and scantily-clad starlets, fearless animal trainers, and startling freaks gripped the American imagination, outshining theater, vaudeville, comedy, and minstrel shows of its day, and ultimately paved the way for film and television to take root in the modern era. Long before the Beat generation made "on the road" expeditions popular, the circus personified the experience and offered many young Americans the dream of adventure, reinvention, and excitement. Organized into nine thematic chapters, the book sheds new light on circus history, from a behind-the-scenes look at life on the move, to the freedoms enjoyed by early female performers, to the innovative production skills that demanded as much know-how as a modern-day film production. For the first time ever, contemporary readers can now experience the legend of the American circus in full effect. The book's broad subject matter, riveting images, and diverse visual material will appeal both to the circus aficionado and those who have never before been to circus.
Manufacturer: Taschen
Price Range: $126.00 - $200.00
 The Circus: 1870-1950
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| User Reviews |  | GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
rating: 5
This book is the most incredible collection of circus images i've ever seen!
love it!
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The Circus-1870 to 1950
rating: 5
I own many circus books and i was advised about this one is a must.
For a $200 circus book it better be great one and the waters better part.
When it arrived I was amazed at the size and the weight of it. Then i open it up and it was like the land of Oz going from black and white to TECHNICOLOR.
In all my life I have never seen a book printed like this with all those beautiful color photos of the circus. Where ever they got those photos they are the best I have even seen in any book.
The WOW factor and it is just amazing book.
It is a must for the circus collector.
I am so glad I got a copy and it is worth every penny of the price.
Harry Kingston
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The Circus: 1870-1950 by Noel Daniel
rating: 5
A great Circus lovers book! I was unaware of its size and scope when I ordered it, but was more than pleased with it upon arrival. Although a bit expensive, the book is definitely well worth it. Even if you don't read the text (a big mistake), the photogaphs and circus posters in this book portray a much needed human side to the American circus and its performers. I will enjoy this book for years to come. Now, if I could only find a shelf big enough to hold it.....
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You have to see it
rating: 4
This is a huge book. This coffee table book is too big for the coffee table. Buy two and you have a coffee table. It's a heavy book - you can't red it bed. You can't read it waiting at the airport, on the train or the bus. They don't build bookcases in this size. It's freak book. But it's also a beautiful book. Most circus books can be put in one of two categories - books about particular circuses /circus dynasties or books about the life in circus. This book is in a category of it's own - it describes the circus as an important factor in the development of the American popular culture. The picture material is beautiful but the text, in three languages, is even better. It's easy to make this oversized publication to a laugh matter. But it's also a really good buy if you are interested in circus and popular culture. You get a lot of book for your money - $ 6.90/pound or $ 2.3/square yard. Buy it.
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More than a novelty
rating: 4
Whilst by size this may be considered a novelty item and of particular interest to students of American Circus this has much more value than that. The oversize format and use of fold out pages presents an opportunity to display visual reproductions which otherwise would not be possible on this scale. Of particular interest to me was the presentation of items from very early circus history. This must have been a mamouth publishing enterprise with some commercial risk considering the total scope of the circus book reading customer base but the contributors and publishers must be complemented upon the finished product.
Not one to read in bed but a valuable addition to the collections of those interested in circus and visual presentation.
AC.
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The Circus: 1870-1950
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