Circus | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/circus/RSS feed for CircusenTue, 28 Apr 2026 16:24:04 +0000Alexander Calder Thought 'It Would Be Fun' to Set Abstract Art in Motion. His Mesmerizing Mobiles Transformed the Definition of Sculpturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alexander-calder-thought-it-would-be-fun-to-set-abstract-art-in-motion-his-mesmerizing-mobiles-transformed-the-definition-of-sculpture-180988631/A new exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris spotlights 300 of the sculptor's groundbreaking kinetic artworks, large-scale public sculptures, paintings, drawings and wire portraitsTue, 28 Apr 2026 16:24:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alexander-calder-thought-it-would-be-fun-to-set-abstract-art-in-motion-his-mesmerizing-mobiles-transformed-the-definition-of-sculpture-180988631/In 1907, This Daring Performer Walked on Water From Cincinnati to New Orleans, Covering Nearly 1,600 Miles in 40 Dayshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-1907-this-daring-performer-walked-on-water-from-cincinnati-to-new-orleans-covering-nearly-1600-miles-in-40-days-180987576/Charles Oldrieve used custom-made wooden shoes to float on the water's surface and propel himself forwardThu, 30 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-1907-this-daring-performer-walked-on-water-from-cincinnati-to-new-orleans-covering-nearly-1600-miles-in-40-days-180987576/How a Deadly Circus Fire on the 'Day the Clowns Cried' Traumatized a Community—and Led to Lasting Safety Reformshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-a-deadly-circus-fire-on-the-day-the-clowns-cried-traumatized-a-community-and-led-to-lasting-safety-reforms-180986888/On July 6, 1944, a blaze broke out at a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show in Hartford, Connecticut. At least 167 people died, and hundreds were injuredThu, 03 Jul 2025 11:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-a-deadly-circus-fire-on-the-day-the-clowns-cried-traumatized-a-community-and-led-to-lasting-safety-reforms-180986888/Dell O'Dell's Trailblazing Magic Show Cast a Spell on Early Television Audienceshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/dell-odells-trailblazing-magic-show-cast-a-spell-on-early-television-audiences-180983100/Rare footage of the woman magician's act captures her magnetic stage presence and range of tricksTue, 24 Oct 2023 11:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/dell-odells-trailblazing-magic-show-cast-a-spell-on-early-television-audiences-180983100/Hollywood's First Professional Stuntwoman Jumped From Planes and Swung Onto Trainshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hollywoods-first-professional-stuntwoman-jumped-from-planes-and-swung-onto-trains-180982036/Dubbed "the most daring actress in pictures," Helen Gibson rose to fame in the 1910sMon, 24 Apr 2023 11:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hollywoods-first-professional-stuntwoman-jumped-from-planes-and-swung-onto-trains-180982036/The Sideshow Magician Who Inspired Ray Bradbury—Then Vanishedhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-sideshow-magician-who-inspired-ray-bradburythen-vanished-180981764/Experts have been unable to verify the existence of Mr. Electrico, whose 1932 electric chair act supposedly affirmed the young author's interest in writingThu, 09 Mar 2023 12:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-sideshow-magician-who-inspired-ray-bradburythen-vanished-180981764/The 'Greatest Show on Earth' Is Coming Back—Without Circus Animalshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-greatest-show-on-earth-is-coming-back-without-circus-animals-180980110/After seemingly closing for good five years ago, Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will launch a new, more modern show in 2023Thu, 19 May 2022 17:08:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-greatest-show-on-earth-is-coming-back-without-circus-animals-180980110/Retired Circus Elephants to Move to 2,500-Acre Wildlife Refuge Next Yearhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/retired-circus-elephants-move-2500-acre-wildlife-refuge-next-year-180975921/Since 2016, about 30 elephants have lived in a 200-acre enclosure managed by Ringling Bros. circusMon, 28 Sep 2020 19:27:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/retired-circus-elephants-move-2500-acre-wildlife-refuge-next-year-180975921/A German Circus Uses Stunning Holograms Instead of Live Animal Performershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/german-circus-uses-stunning-holograms-instead-live-animal-performers-180972376/Circus Roncalli is preserving the tradition of animal acts while eliminating concerns of animal cruelty Fri, 07 Jun 2019 18:45:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/german-circus-uses-stunning-holograms-instead-live-animal-performers-180972376/Huge 19th Century Circus Poster Found in Walls of Wisconsin Barhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/huge-19th-century-circus-poster-found-walls-wisconsin-bar-180972264/It advertised an 1885 performance by the Great Anglo-American CircusWed, 22 May 2019 20:39:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/huge-19th-century-circus-poster-found-walls-wisconsin-bar-180972264/