C is for circus

Step right up!

The Toronto Public Library’s Special Collections include a wide variety of materials related to the history and spectacle of the circus in Canada and abroad, including photographs, posters, artwork, and picture books.

Ring around the city hall. Linked trunk-to-tail in a massive show of force; the first group of a parade of 11 elephants stamps onto Nathan Phillips Square yesterday after marching down Yonge St. on their annual visit to City Hall which occurs on the annual visit to the city of the Garden Brothers Circus; sponsored by the Kinsmen Club. The elephants were accompanied by an assortment of other stars from the circus; including clowns and chimpanzees. Circus runs until Sunday at Gardens.

Ring around the city hall
Fred Ross
May 13, 1971
Photograph
Toronto Star Photograph Archive
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana

A parade of elephants, linked trunk-to-tail, pass through Nathan Phillips Square after marching down Yonge Street to mark the arrival of the Garden Brothers Circus in Toronto in 1971.

Circus International poster
Toronto: Canadian National Exhibition, 1972
Broadside
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana

Since its inception, the annual Canadian National Exhibition has welcomed performances of all kinds including dancers, acrobats, jugglers, tumblers, posturers and performing animals.

The Circus International included sixty acts and seven rings.

Explore nore!

Discover more in our past virtual exhibit: The Circus Comes to Town or by searching our Digital Archive.