Vintage Circus Photos

Five circus performers, female and male, sit or stand astride a horse with a tent as a backdrop.

Spader Johnson dressed as a clown.

Erma Ward, a circus trapeze artist, dangles by one hand from a ring high in a circus tent.

A clown in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus stands outside a tent near a wagon, with his left hand holding onto a tent rope. He is wearing a beret-style hat, bow tie, and white shoes.

A group of 11 circus clowns poses with a pretty young female performer in a circus tent. This could possibly be part of a movie set.

A man and a woman, in the process of getting dressed for a circus performance, pose informally in the back of a circus wagon.


Al G Barnes Circus on Mud Lot" (1935)

Fred and Ella Bradna, equestrian director and performer for Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey. There are several other performers and a dog, relaxing in their circus wagon.(1890)

Two early Ringling Brothers' circus clowns, whose photographs appeared in the 'Ringling Annual' under a section titled 'Last of the Old-Time Clowns'.(1901)

A group of 20+ circus clowns in 'Clown Alley' posing informally while preparing for the ring.