Circus Life and Circus Celebrities


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Discover the exciting, shocking, and sometimes strange world of the 19th century big top! In Circus Life and Circus Celebrities, you'll read real-life stories of circus performers, animal acts, scandals, accidents and more.

Note: This book uses racial terms and descriptions reflective of colonial attitudes from the 19th century. These views are outdated and offensive by today’s standards. Additionally, it features descriptions of animal performances that may involve practices considered cruel or inhumane today. - Summary by Carrie Streb (6 hr 59 min)

Chapters

PREFACE 4:34 Read by Carrie Mae Streb
Beginnings of the Circus in England—Tumblers and Performing Horses of the Middl… 37:40 Read by MaybeCordelia
Fortunes of the Royal Circus—Destruction of Astley’s Amphitheatre by Fire—Its R… 28:50 Read by marisad6
Ducrow at Covent Garden—Engagement at Astley’s—Double Acts in the circle—Ducrow… 19:40 Read by bgkellem
A few words about Menageries—George Wombwell—The Lion Baitings at Warwick—Atkin… 16:08 Read by MaybeCordelia
Lions and Lion-tamers—Manchester Jack—Van Amburgh—Carter’s Feats—What is a Tige… 16:22 Read by Sarah Rothwell
Conversion of the Lambeth Baths into a Circus—Garlick and the Wild Beasts—Batty… 34:01 Read by Robert H. Cherny
Hengler’s Circus—John and George Sanger—Managerial Anachronisms and Incongruiti… 18:01 Read by Carrie Mae Streb
Pablo Fanque—James Cooke—Pablo Fanque and the Celestials—Ludicrous affair in th… 27:03 Read by Sarah Rothwell
Cremorne Gardens—The Female Blondie—Fatal Accident at Aston Park—Reproduction o… 19:47 Read by MaybeCordelia
Opening of the Holborn Amphitheatre—Friend’s Season at Astley’s—Adah Isaacs Men… 29:41 Read by Robert H. Cherny
Reminiscences of the Henglers—The Rope-dancing Henglers at Astley’s—Circus of P… 29:52 Read by Robert H. Cherny
The Brothers Sanger—First Appearance in London—Vicissitudes of Astley’s—Batty a… 13:47 Read by Robert H. Cherny
American Circuses—American Performers in England, and English Performers in the… 40:51 Read by Carrie Mae Streb
Reminiscences of a Gymnast—Training and Practising—A Professional Rendezvous—Ci… 19:00 Read by Robert H. Cherny
Continuation of the Gymnast’s Reminiscences—A Circus on the move—Three Months a… 17:06 Read by Robert H. Cherny
Continuation of the Gymnast’s Reminiscences—Circus Men in Difficulties—Heavy Se… 14:02 Read by Robert H. Cherny
Lions and Lion-tamers—Lorenzo and the Lions—Andros and the Lion—The Successor o… 16:16 Read by MaybeCordelia
Circus Slang—Its Peculiarities and Derivation—Certain Phrases used by others of… 16:52 Read by anorris