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Revision as of 23:29, August 17, 2012
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[[Image:Sesamstrasse064-(Uwe-Friedrichsen-and-Samson-play-circus).jpg|thumb|300px|"Zirkus Samson" on ''Sesamstrasse''.]]
[[Image:Sesamstrasse064-(Uwe-Friedrichsen-and-Samson-play-circus).jpg|thumb|300px|"Zirkus Samson" on ''Sesamstrasse''.]]
[[Image:Liontamerfozzie.JPGHornercorner.JPG|thumb|300px|Lion tamer Fozzie Bear.]]
[[Image:Liontamerfozzie.JPGHornercorner.JPG|thumb|300px|Lion tamer Fozzie Bear.]]
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[[File:Sesame Street Circus Alphabet|thumb|right|300px|The "Circus Alphabet."]]
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The '''Circus''' is a group of performers, including but not limited to acrobats, [[clowns]], animal acts, jugglers, and daredevils who perform in a troop, often in multiple rings or arenas, and led by a [[The Ringmaster|Ringmaster]]. The Circus dates back to ancient Rome, where it consisted of [[Horses|horse]] and chariot races, and [[China]] where they consisted of primarily acrobatic acts.
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The '''Circus''' is a group of performers, including but not limited to acrobats, [[clowns]], animal acts, jugglers, and daredevils who perform in a troop, often in multiple rings or arenas, and led by a [[The Ringmaster|Ringmaster]]. The Circus dates back to ancient Rome, where it consisted of [[Horses|horse]] and chariot races, and [[China]] where they consisted of primarily acrobatic acts.
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The first western circus opened in [[Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] in 1793, but it was P.T. Barnum who was the pioneer of what audiences are familiar with today. Upon his death and subsequent merger of his circus with that of James Anthony Bailey, a more familiar circus was born, with a large canvas tent, human oddities for a sideshow, and multiple rings housing continuous acts. In 1919, the Barnum and Bailey show merged with the Ringling Brothers show, to form the quintessential American circus, the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]].
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The first western circus opened in [[Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] in 1793, but it was P.T. Barnum who was the pioneer of what audiences are familiar with today. Upon his death and subsequent merger of his circus with that of James Anthony Bailey, a more familiar circus was born, with a large canvas tent, human oddities for a sideshow, and multiple rings housing continuous acts. In 1919, the Barnum and Bailey show merged with the Ringling Brothers show, to form the quintessential American circus, the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]].
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The modern circus is an amalgam other influences as well. Bands of [[Gypsies]] often brought with them circus skills and trained animals while traveling [[England|Britan]], and Antonio Franconi, the founder of the [[France|French]] circus, is often credited as a co-creator of the modern circus. [[Buffalo Bill|Buffalo Bill's]] Wild West Show was also an precurser to the circus we are now familar with.
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The modern circus is an amalgam other influences as well. Bands of [[Gypsies]] often brought with them circus skills and trained animals while traveling [[England|Britan]], and Antonio Franconi, the founder of the [[France|French]] circus, is often credited as a co-creator of the modern circus. [[Buffalo Bill|Buffalo Bill's]] Wild West Show was also an precurser to the circus we are now familar with.
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While often touted as an evening of excitement and fun, not all is always happy with the circus. [[Clowns]] were often used as a distraction to the audience when an accident occurred (or an act flopped). [[Stephen Sondheim|Stephen Sondheim's]] song "[[Send in the Clowns]]" is a metaphorical looks at this stage practice. With the advent of more theatrical stages, clowns became pure comic relief, and have even provided a launching pad to a successful career outside the circus, as was the case for [[Bill Irwin]].
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While often touted as an evening of excitement and fun, not all is always happy with the circus. [[Clowns]] were often used as a distraction to the audience when an accident occurred (or an act flopped). [[Stephen Sondheim|Stephen Sondheim's]] song "[[Send in the Clowns]]" is a metaphorical looks at this stage practice. With the advent of more theatrical stages, clowns became pure comic relief, and have even provided a launching pad to a successful career outside the circus, as was the case for [[Bill Irwin]].
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Animal cruelity has shrowded the circus for years. With animal acts involving [[Lions]], [[Tiger|Tigers]], [[Elephants]] and more, animal activists have been concerned over their housing and training. This concern became the focus of a ''[[Dinosaurs]]'' episode titled "[[Episode 321: Charlene and Her Amazing Humans|Charlene and Her Amazing Humans]]", where [[Cavelings]] are mistreated to perform on cue.
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Animal cruelity has shrowded the circus for years. With animal acts involving [[Lions]], [[Tiger]]s, [[Elephants]] and more, animal activists have been concerned over their housing and training. This concern became the focus of a ''[[Dinosaurs]]'' episode titled "[[Episode 321: Charlene and Her Amazing Humans|Charlene and Her Amazing Humans]]", where [[Cavelings]] are mistreated to perform on cue.
The sideshow also became an intrigal part of the circus, with "freaks" (such as [[Lydia|Tattooed Ladies]] or gimmicky acts (such as the [[Flea circus]]) luring people into spending additional money for the secondary show.
The sideshow also became an intrigal part of the circus, with "freaks" (such as [[Lydia|Tattooed Ladies]] or gimmicky acts (such as the [[Flea circus]]) luring people into spending additional money for the secondary show.
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==''Sesame Street''==
==''Sesame Street''==
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*Guntag Gelman Jones, a flea trainer, brings his world-famous flea circus to [[Sesame Street (location)|Sesame Street]] to perform in [[Episode 3275|a 1994 episode]]. The acts include Olaf the Weight-Lifting Flea and Tatanya Flea on the tightrope.
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*Guntag Gelman Jones, a flea trainer, brings his world-famous flea circus to [[Sesame Street (location)|Sesame Street]] to perform in [[Episode 3275|a 1994 episode]]. The acts include Olaf the Weight-Lifting Flea and Tatanya Flea on the tightrope.
*[[The Great Fentini]] is a circus ringmaster who appears in [[episode 4037|a 2003 episode]] of ''Sesame Street'' to help [[Super Grover]] fly with a ripped cape.
*[[The Great Fentini]] is a circus ringmaster who appears in [[episode 4037|a 2003 episode]] of ''Sesame Street'' to help [[Super Grover]] fly with a ripped cape.
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*In the book ''[[The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites]]'', [[Guy Smiley]] serves as ringmaster while [[Betty Lou]] and [[Cookie Monster]] enjoy the circus.
*In the book ''[[The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites]]'', [[Guy Smiley]] serves as ringmaster while [[Betty Lou]] and [[Cookie Monster]] enjoy the circus.
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*Elmo visits the Number 6 Circus in [[Episode 3912|a 2000 episode]]. He gets shot out of a cannon under the big top in "[[Elmo's World: Hats]]", and becomes a circus dog in "[[Elmo's World: Dogs]]".
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*Elmo visits the Number 6 Circus in [[Episode 3912|a 2000 episode]]. He gets shot out of a cannon under the big top in "[[Elmo's World: Hats]]", and becomes a circus dog in "[[Elmo's World: Dogs]]".
*[[Ernie]] has explained to [[Bert]] that he enjoys the circus better than bottle caps.
*[[Ernie]] has explained to [[Bert]] that he enjoys the circus better than bottle caps.
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*[[Telly Monster|Telly]] feels left out when all the other kids at [[Gina|Gina's]] [[Day Care Center|day care]] are going to the circus and lies that his uncle is a ringmaster in "[[Telling the Truth]]".
*[[Telly Monster|Telly]] feels left out when all the other kids at [[Gina|Gina's]] [[Day Care Center|day care]] are going to the circus and lies that his uncle is a ringmaster in "[[Telling the Truth]]".
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*[[Gordon]] appears as the strongman in the circus, and bends a solid metal bar into the number seven. {{eka|0314}}
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*[[Gordon]] appears as the strongman in the circus, and bends a solid metal bar into the number seven. {{eka|0314}}
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*[[Mr. Hooper]], wearing a circus ringmaster's top hat and cape, tries to balance four cans at a time in [[Episode 0333|a 1972 episode]].
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*[[Mr. Hooper]], wearing a circus ringmaster's top hat and cape, tries to balance four cans at a time in [[Episode 0333|a 1972 episode]].
*[[Slimey|Slimey's]] friend [[Glo Worm]] owns a circus cannon.
*[[Slimey|Slimey's]] friend [[Glo Worm]] owns a circus cannon.
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*In [[Episode 2849|a 1991 episode]], [[Maria]] reads Elmo and [[Snuffy]] the book "The Snuffleupagus and the Rope," which is about a rope who works as a tightrope in the circus.
*In [[Episode 2849|a 1991 episode]], [[Maria]] reads Elmo and [[Snuffy]] the book "The Snuffleupagus and the Rope," which is about a rope who works as a tightrope in the circus.
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*[[Episode 0670|A 1974 episode]] features [[Luis]] the ringmaster demonstrating "before" and "after" in a circus routine.
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*[[Episode 0670|A 1974 episode]] features [[Luis]] the ringmaster demonstrating "before" and "after" in a circus routine.
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*Gordon tells [[The Kids|the kids]] about a circus parade in [[Episode 0353|Episode 0353]].
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*Gordon tells [[The Kids|the kids]] about a circus parade in [[Episode 0353]].
*The song "[[Women Can Be]]" features [[Margaret]], who has had a successful career at the circus as a Lion Tamer.
*The song "[[Women Can Be]]" features [[Margaret]], who has had a successful career at the circus as a Lion Tamer.
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*[[Episode 0316|A 1974 episode]] features [[Bob]] showing the kids a picture of elephants in a circus parade.
*[[Episode 0316|A 1974 episode]] features [[Bob]] showing the kids a picture of elephants in a circus parade.
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*[[Ida Nomer]], who is from [[Kansas]], wails after [[Sonny Friendly]] tells her a story about her [[Chickens|chickens]] running away to join the circus.
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*[[Ida Nomer]], who is from [[Kansas]], wails after [[Sonny Friendly]] tells her a story about her [[Chickens|chickens]] running away to join the circus.
*Video segments involving the circus include a boy named Anthony and his trapeze artist parents ({{eka|3663}}), a girl named Shirley performing in the circus with her clown father and an elephant act ({{eka|3697}}), counting circus clowns ({{eka|1836}}), and a gymnastics team practicing for their act ({{eka|3006}}).
*Video segments involving the circus include a boy named Anthony and his trapeze artist parents ({{eka|3663}}), a girl named Shirley performing in the circus with her clown father and an elephant act ({{eka|3697}}), counting circus clowns ({{eka|1836}}), and a gymnastics team practicing for their act ({{eka|3006}}).
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==''Bear in the Big Blue House''==
==''Bear in the Big Blue House''==
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*An episode of ''[[Breakfast with Bear]]'' features Christopher of [[New York City|New York City's]] "Big Apple Circus"
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*An episode of ''[[Breakfast with Bear]]'' features Christopher of [[New York City|New York City's]] "Big Apple Circus"
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*In the ''[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]'' episode "[[Episode 217: If at First You Don't Succeed...|If at First You Don't Succeed...]]", [[Shadow]] tells the story of a woman and her dog who leave laundry to go perform in the circus.
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*In the ''[[Bear in the Big Blue House]]'' episode "[[Episode 217: If at First You Don't Succeed...|If at First You Don't Succeed...]]", [[Shadow]] tells the story of a woman and her dog who leave laundry to go perform in the circus.
==International Muppet Productions==
==International Muppet Productions==
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*[[Pepe the King Prawn|Pepe]] has said that since ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' has ended, [[Seymour|Seymour's]] green card has expired, and he has been deported to [[India]] where he works in a circus.
*[[Pepe the King Prawn|Pepe]] has said that since ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' has ended, [[Seymour|Seymour's]] green card has expired, and he has been deported to [[India]] where he works in a circus.
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*''[[The Muppets 2007 Calendar]]'' features the Muppets standing next to circus posters of themselves. A [[Muppet posters|Muppet poster]] was released of [[Animal|Animal's]] circus poster. In 2010 a set of four [[Muppet bookmarks (Trends International)|bookmarks]] were released featuring the same posters.
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*''[[The Muppets 2007 Calendar]]'' features the Muppets standing next to circus posters of themselves. A [[Muppet posters|Muppet poster]] was released of [[Animal|Animal's]] circus poster. In 2010 a set of four [[Muppet bookmarks (Trends International)|bookmarks]] were released featuring the same posters.
*The Muppets are shot out of a cannon at a circus in the book ''[[The Muppets on the Road]]''.
*The Muppets are shot out of a cannon at a circus in the book ''[[The Muppets on the Road]]''.