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Photo, Print, Drawing Circus Spectacle Float.

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About this Item

Title

  • Circus Spectacle Float.

Summary

  • This photograph depicts an elaborate spectacle float in the "backyard" of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in September 1922. The spectacle, or "spec," often opened the show and was a procession that took place around the hippodrome track inside the big top, or circus tent, featuring as many of the performers and animals as the circus director was able to costume. Traced back to the earliest circuses in America, the spec was originally a lavish performance of literary or historical tales intended to entertain and edify the audience. The photograph was taken by Charles Clarke (1878--1951), the catcher for the trapeze act The Clarkonians, who was also an amateur photographer who took hundreds of images documenting the behind-the-scenes activities of the circus.

Names

  • Clarke, Charles, 1878-1951 Photographer.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1922-09-12.

Headings

  • -  United States of America
  • -  1922-09-12
  • -  Circus
  • -  Circus performers
  • -  Costumes
  • -  Entertainers
  • -  Parade floats
  • -  Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 negative : black and white.
  • -  Original resource at: Illinois State University's Special Collections, Milner Library.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Circus & Allied Arts Collection

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021670508

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Clarke, Charles, Photographer. Circus Spectacle Float. United States of America, 1922. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -09-12] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670508/.

APA citation style:

Clarke, C. (1922) Circus Spectacle Float. United States of America, 1922. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -09-12] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670508/.

MLA citation style:

Clarke, Charles, Photographer. Circus Spectacle Float. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -09-12] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021670508/>.