Vintage Photos That Show How Insane the Circus Used to Be

A few years ago, the venerable Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus finally shuttered. It just became too old-fashioned and problematic to go on. But if you think the modern circus is insane, wait till you see these pics.

From trained elephants to kidnappings, the circus isn’t what it used to be…

Lion Tamers

Before the internet and television, the only way for people to see a lion (aside from pictures in books) was if they were lucky enough to live in a city that had a zoo.

However, for most people in small towns, seeing a lion was an impossibility – until the circus came to town. These lions are part of the Bertram Mills Touring Circus. It toured the UK from 1873 until 1938.

Elephants

Along with lions, another popular attraction was elephants. Long before PETA existed to protect them, elephants were trained for the circus. Unfortunately, these methods weren’t always humane, and involved negative reinforcement.

This included using a bull hook, which many cities slowly banned.

Elephants Everywhere

Before mounting pressure to remove elephants from the circus, however, elephants were one of the main attractions. This elephant steps off a train belonging to the Ringling Brothers.

It’s hard to imagine today that children would be allowed to nonchalantly sit so close.

Elephants Performing Tricks

This display was put on by John Ringling North, nephew to the famous John Ringling of the Ringling Brothers.

He commissioned famed composer Ivor Stravinsky to write a ballet for elephants. 50 elephants performed a choreographed ‘dance.’ Debuting in 1952, it was a huge sensation.