Circuses & Fairs Trivia

1. What was the Big Top?

From Quiz Under the Big Top

Answer: The largest tent at the circus

The Big Top was the largest tent at mid-19th and early 20th century circuses, and all the major action of the circus happened there. It was not a fixed structure, nor a top hat, and although it might be fun to see clowns twirling around in some kind of giant toy top, I have never heard of such a thing in reality.

From Quiz Follow That Troupe!

Answer: Philip Astley

Philip Astley invented the circus ring in 1768, and capitalized on his success by opening Astley's Amphitheatre in 1773, an arena where he combined music, animal shows, acrobats, and clowns. The building burned down in 1794 but was rebuilt. 99 years later, it was permanently demolished. The other three people listed have nothing to do with the circus. King George III lived in the same time period, but much of his career was spent on international affairs. Frank Buckles was the second to last World War 1 combat veteran to die. Benjamin Disraeli was the prime minister of Britain in the mid 19th century and built up the British Empire.

From Quiz Roll Up! Roll Up!

Answer: Rome

The Circus Maximus was rebuilt several times. In its earliest versions it was built of wood, finally being built in stone by Trajan in the first century AD. It is believed that the first circus was built on this site as early as 500 BC. Events that would have taken place here include festivals, races, games, feasts and religious observations.

From Quiz Country Fair Sideshows and Contests

Answer: Aunt Sally

The more famous the victim is, the more money he/she raises as people vie to put the sponge into their face in this good-natured side show.

From Quiz Come to an English Country Fair

Answer: White Elephant

Although some people try to dispose of their rubbish, organisers prefer to have quality objects and it is often possible to find quite valuable knick-knacks. Goods range from kitchen equipment and china to lamps and small furniture.

From Quiz There's a Sucker Born...

Answer: Phineas Taylor

Phineas Taylor Barnum was born on July 5, 1810, in Bethel, Connecticut. In his early years, Barnum became a small-time business owner and newspaper writer. Phineas T. Barnum learned during these formative years that many customers were gullible; it would be easy to deceive them with elaborate stories and false claims. In 1834, Barnum sold his store and moved to New York City.

From Quiz Jumbo the Elephant

Answer: It was a derivative of a Swahili word

Jumbo's name is a derivative of the Swahili word jumbe which means "chief". It was because of P. T. Barnum's promotion of Jumbo's name that the word came to be used in the English language to indicate something was very large.

From Quiz Sideshow People

Answer: feet

70 to 80 percent of people afflicted with Milroy's disease are women. Fanny wore a size 30 shoes, and was pitched as the Ohio Big Foot Girl. Each foot was nearly 19 inches long and 10 inches wide and she used pillowcases as socks.

From Quiz The Greatest Quiz On Earth

Answer: 1884

Within ten years, the small circus founded by the Ringling Brothers established itself as one of the largest and best run circuses in the country.

From Quiz Clowning is Serious Business Too

Answer: Egypt

The first known clown was a pygmy. He entertained Pharaoh Dadkeri-Assi as the court fool during Egypt's Fifth Dynasty. Clowns have performed in the courts of Chinese kings since 1818 B.C.

From Quiz Did You "LOVE" The Beatles in Las Vegas?

Answer: The Mirage

The theater at The Mirage was built specifically to present "LOVE". According to Alan R. Hills, company manager for "LOVE", in June 2005, the theater had "dirt floors and no back wall". The show's preview opening was held on June 2, 2006.

From Quiz Johnny Eck, King of the Freaks

Answer: Baltimore

Johnny was born and died in the same red-brick row house in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore. He changed his name from Eckhardt to the more theatrical Eck when he began performing in sideshows.

From Quiz Cirque Du Soleil Madness

Answer: Whoopi Goldberg

Due to her love of the Cirque, she came to visit the director on the set and had to join the cast. She played a baby in the clown scene, the one that crawls up on the table and says "Mamma".

From Quiz Human Oddities

Answer: "The Half Boy"

Johnny was born with no legs and an underdeveloped spine and lower pelvis, which left him looking as if he'd been cut off at the waist. He walked on his hands.

From Quiz Trapeze Tricks

Answer: Knee-hang

Another variation of this trick for the less supple is called the hocks-off. In that, instead of hooking your knees and letting go of your hands, you put your legs in the same position as knee hang, but keep your hands on the bar. When you swing back for the catch, the catcher says, "Hep!" and you let go and reach for the catcher's hands. Catch!

From Quiz Renaissance Faires

Answer: 1976

The Kansas City Renaissance Festival is on 15 acres of land, which located 15 minutes from Kansas City. The Faire celebrated its 26th season in 2002.

From Quiz Let's Go To The Circus!

Answer: Romans

The first circuses were rather grisly affairs. They featured chariot races, exotic animals, and duels to the death between gladiators and animals.

From Quiz Renaissance Festivals in the United States

Answer: California

The fair was organized by a Los Angeles schoolteacher, Phyllis Patterson, and her husband Ron. The one-weekend fair drew about 8,000 visitors and was intended to raise money for station KPFK. The Living History Center helped to design the fair.

From Quiz Under the Big Top

Answer: the Ringmaster

A traditional opening line for the ringmaster is "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages..." The ringmaster then goes on to manage the smooth flow of the show, directing the audience's attention to each act as the previous one is being dismantled. He uses words like "spectacular" and "amazing" to increase the crowd's excitement. And he may be called upon to stall for time by talking with a clown or telling jokes. The ringmaster is arguably the most important performer in the circus. A female ringmaster is called a ringmistress.

From Quiz Follow That Troupe!

Answer: Clown

Despite being a clown, Grimaldi was more often featured in pantomimes than in circuses. He had been a clown for many years, starting when he was three years old. Grimaldi is the originator of the phrase "here we are again," a phrase which is commonplace in English today. After retiring in 1823 because he was sick, he later died in 1837 after a night of heavy drinking.

From Quiz Roll Up! Roll Up!

Answer: London

The first modern circus was created by Philip Astley, who had served in the Seven Years' War as a cavalry officer. He was a talented rider, and upon leaving the army, established himself as a showman. After two years, he needed to broaden the entertainment provided in his shows, and hired clowns, acrobats and jugglers. To showcase his show, he built an arena to perform in which he named a 'circus' due to its round shape. Many modern circus historians argue that this is the only connection between the Roman Circus and its modern day counterpart. His second circus was opened in Paris in 1772, and after that, most large modern cities began to build their own circus buildings.

From Quiz Country Fair Sideshows and Contests

Answer: Coconut Shy

To shy means to throw. Rumour has it that sometimes the nuts are stuck into the cups in which they stand because they are so hard to dislodge.

From Quiz Come to an English Country Fair

Answer: Cake Stall

The Cake Stall is frequently the first to sell out. It sells cakes, buns, breads, and even preserves and looks a treat. These days there are health rules and regulations to be observed in the baking and selling of these goods. When they were first introduced it was feared that even the most hygienic bakers would not be able to contribute, but people have adjusted and these stalls are as good as ever.

From Quiz You Rode a WHAT?

Answer: A funhouse

A funhouse may have one or some or all of the features that some of its similar facilities have. Thus, one may be called House of Mirrors or Crooked House or Lost City. Even though carnival and amusement park rides that have incorporated illusions into their trips, a true funhouse is still one in which the participant is walking and experiencing all at his or her own pace. That seems to be a big part of the gratification.

From Quiz There's a Sucker Born...

Answer: American

In 1841, P.T. Barnum purchased Scudder's American Museum, located on Broadway and Ann Street in Manhattan. He promptly renamed it "Barnum's American Museum." This museum became extremely popular for its side show exhibits which included various types of human "freaks." Barnum's American Museum opened its doors in January 1842 and attracted millions of visitors over the next two decades. Barnum's American Museum burned to the ground in July 1865 in a spectacular fire; the cause of the blaze was never officially determined.

From Quiz Jumbo the Elephant

Answer: London

Jumbo had grown to four feet tall and came to London's Regent Park Zoo in poor health. Under the care of zookeeper Matthew "Scotty" Scott he soon began to flourish and became the darling of London's public.

From Quiz Sideshow People

Answer: He was the Alligator -Skinned Man

Percilla and Emmitt were married until Emmitt's death in 1995. Percilla once teased Emmitt saying "I think I'll shave and dye my hair blond and have a new look." Emmitt's response? "You do and I'm gonna walk out on you. I love you as you are." Percilla did not shave her face until the last few years of her life. She died in her sleep in 2001.

From Quiz The Greatest Quiz On Earth

Answer: five

The circus was founded by five of the seven Ringling Brothers. They were: Albert (1852-1916), Otto (1858-1911), Alfred T. (1862-1919), Charles (1863-1926), and John (1866-1936). Collectively they became known as "Kings of the Circus World". The quintet was joined by a sixth brother, Henry (1869-1918) in 1886, and the seventh brother, August G. "Gus" (1854-1907) in 1889. Brothers Charles and John served as the shows supervising managers.

From Quiz Did You "LOVE" The Beatles in Las Vegas?

Answer: Yellow

The top floors of the host hotel/casino's exterior are awash with a can't-miss, brightly lit yellow "LOVE" scheme. Full-page ads in local magazines show a swirly yellow background with four red human silhouettes cavorting on and about the word "LOVE". To see this and learn more about the show, visit: http://www.thebeatles.com/hub/love/site/.

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