Description
Book SynopsisA glimpse of day-to-day life under the big top, from one of the circus's most remarkable performers
Trade Review"It was great fun reading Tiny Kline's fascinating and quirky story of the circus. There is nothing quite like her insider account. I found myself getting wrapped up in her personal descriptions and in the vagaries that confronted her both in and out of the entertainment profession. Her insights are crucial in understanding several important transitions in circus history."--Don B. Wilmeth, editor of
The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre, 2nd edition
"Kline's fascinating story provides remarkably vivid descriptions of the day-to-day life of performers on the circus circuit and glimpses of well-known entertainment figures. Davis deftly places Tiny Kline's story amongst important questions about the role of popular amusements in class formation and Americanization of immigrant populations; about the meaning of bodily display and the exceptional body; and about early twentieth-century gender roles and transgressions."--Joy S. Kasson, author of
Buffalo Bill's Wild West: Celebrity, Memory, and Popular History"With this indispensible volume, Davis again demonstrates how the study of circus in particular and popular culture in general can enrich understanding of the world. . . . Highly recommended."--Choice
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments / ix
Introduction --
Janet M. Davis / 1
Author's Note / 33
Prologue / 35
PART ONE 1. The Bend in the Road / 41
2. As Mrs. Private Citizen, Viewing the Parade / 57
3. A Flight on Gossamer Wings / 62
4. In Pursuit of a Mirage to Yesterday / 75
5. A Tour behind the Platforms of Those Strange People / 86
6. Destiny Smiles, but Not on Shmoontsie / 99
7. A New Leaf, a New Life / 105
8. Where Caste Is Observed, According to Rank and Rating / 117
9. Equestrian Director Par Excellence / 143
10. The Awe-Inspiring Mr. John / 147
11. Calibrating for a Career / 150
12. Bareback: The Aristocrat of Circus Acts / 155
13. A Backdoor Glimpse of Supermen and Superwomen / 161
14. Elephants Are Like People / 172
15. Engineering the White City / 177
16. Finding the Lot -- A Daily Headache / 187
17. On the Sunny Side / 189
18. Life under the Big Top: Private, Social, Competitive / 193
19. Finale of the Season / 196
20. Circus Experience Pays Off / 198
21. An Annual Season's Opening / 203
22. Leitzel, Queen of the Air -- Of the Ground as Well / 208
23. Progress, Trends, and Customs Typical of Circus Folks / 214
24. On a Magic Carpet to a Land Fantastic / 221
25. Back to the Material World / 229
26. An Act Is Born / 234
27. Circus History Is Made: Merging "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The World's Greatest Show," Thereafter to Be Known as "Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows" / 237
28. Pride versus Virtue / 246
29. Misery -- Like Death -- Knows No Class Distinction / 255
30. Fate Follows Her Course -- Strange, Mysterious, Terrifying / 258
PART TWO 31. Sarasota -- Last Stop / 271
32. An Elucidating Interlude / 288
PART THREE 33. The Circus, to Date (1948) / 293
Epilogue: The Show -- The Public -- Unto the End / 311
Appendix A: Superstitions / 313
Notes / 315
Index / 353
