A couple of days ago I had a follower on Twitter ask me what was the difference between a Circus & a Mudshow Circus. I knew I couldn't answer back within the tweet allowance so I will dedicate this post to explain the differences.
In the early days of the American Circus, mostly all Circuses were under canvas, including some big name Circuses, like Ringling. They traveled the dusty, unpaved byways in covered wagons thru the night to the next town. Upon arriving, they would wash off the mud off the wagon wheels & put on a parade of all the performers & animals, starting at one end of town & ending at the grounds where the Big Top would be erected. Hence the name Mudshow Circus. Nowadays, we travel the highways in trucks but we still honor the memory of the original wagons by calling ourselves a Mudshow, because we do the same actions, except for the parade. When we arrive in town, we wash the mud off the equipment to make sure that it looks its best for the public.
The Mudshow Circus is a vanishing breed because of increasing demand for building offices, stores, etc. & shrinking areas in which to erect a tent, or Big Top. Because of dwindling spaces to place a Big Top, most Circuses chose to go indoors, to places like a coliseum, or gymnasium. They are still a Circus but unlike a Mudshow, they do not set up any tents. Going to a Circus inside a building does not have the same feel as one under canvas. I have been to Circuses inside buildings & found that you can't get up close & as personable as one under a tent.
I hope this helps anyone who may have wondered what the difference was.
Until later, God Bless, See you down the road!
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