Circus Acrobat (1940s)

Circus Acrobat by Edward W. Quigley via

Belgish Circus Performers The Rossi’s (1890s)

The Rossi’s, Henrich Barten and Apollon from Belgium, 1890s via

Two members of the Bertram Mills Circus walking in London (1953)

Two members of the Bertram Mills Circus walk head-to-head at Hammersmith Broadway in London, 1953 via

Circus Acrobats with Horses (1960s)

A vintage circus, with acrobats riding on horses in the center ring by photographer Ben McCall (credited to Globe Photos), 1960s via

“The Mills Brother Circus” at Martha’s Vineyard by David McCabe (1963)

David McCabe, Trapeze artist, Martha’s Vineyard, 1963 via

David McCabe, Three acrobats preparing for performance, Martha’s Vineyard, 1963 via

David McCabe, Acrobat out of costume, Martha’s Vineyard, 1963 via

David McCabe, Camel caretaker with two camels, Martha’s Vineyard, 1963 via

David McCabe, Clown musician holding saxophone, Martha’s Vineyard, 1963 via

David McCabe, Profile of clown playing saxophone, Martha’s Vineyard, 1963 via

Victorian/Edwardian Circus Acts

Circus Performer Zelda Boden, 1910s via

 

Circus cyclists, c. 1891 via

 

“Trick Rider”. Usually they would ride in circles doing various tricks on the ponies via

 

Circus Girl with horse, 1908 via

CIRCUS HARLEQUIN Performer, c. 1910 via

Sanger’s Circus carriage, late 19th century Great Britain via

Extraordinary Vintage Photos of The American Circus by Frederick W. Glasier

Queen, the High Diving Horse, Brockton Fair, Massachusetts, circa 1899 via

Joan of Arc, circa 1912 via

Ella Bradna, Equestrian, circa 1903 via

Loie Fuller, Glorine, Butterfly Dancer, 1902 via

Charmion, Strong Woman, 1904 via

Nettie Carrol, circa 1904 via

Annette Kellerman, circa 1907 via

Gertrude Dewar, Mademoiselle Omega, Brockton Fair, Massachusetts, 1908 via

Mademoiselle Scheel with Lions, circa 1905 via

Living Statues, circa 1905 via

Vintage Circus Clown

Circus Clown via

The Circus Girls by Nina Leen (1949)

Nina Leen (d. 1995) was a Russian-born American photographer and a constant contributor to Life. A self-taught photographer she never became a staff photographer, but she contributed as a contract photographer until the magazine closed in 1972.

In 1949 she shot the sassy subculture of circus girls in Sarasota, Florida, dubbed “the home of the American circus” for the magazine.

By Nina Leen, 1949 via

by Nina Leen, 1949 via

by Nina Leen, 1949 via

by Nina Leen, 1949 via

by Nina Leen, 1949 via

Zelda Boden – Circus Performer

Zelda Boden, circus performer  via

Zelda Boden, circus performer  via