The concept of the circus has been around for a couple hundred years. It has gone through several evolutions but many of the ideas have stayed the same. Circuses offer a form of entertainment that audiences will rarely see anywhere else. Some common features of the circus are the iconic bit top tent, performers doing stunts such as tight-rope walking, acrobatics, and body contortions. Circuses also often used to have exotic animals, most commonly elephants, lions, and bears, performing tricks. This practice has largely stopped due to the treatment of the animals. Barnum and Bailey have become synonymous with the history of circuses. P.T. Barnum also popularized the ‘freak show’ aspect of circuses. Freak shows often consisted of performers who had physical abnormalities that people would pay to see up close. Circuses have become quite controversial over the years due to the amount of exploitation and treatment of people and animals. But for many decades, people came from all over when the traveling circus rolled into town. Let’s take a look through some vintage photographs of early circus life. Conjoined twins who share a body. A girl whose prominent feature is that her knees bend the wrong direction A clown in vintage makeup and dress. A full-body tattooed lady was a rare sight. Two circus clowns sharing a smoke and a chat between performances A classic bearded lady A woman performing a motorcycle stunt An adult who was so small she was barely taller than the seat next to her. Another set of conjoined twins The infamous Blanche Dumas Acrobats performing on the tight-rope A clown in makeup and costume Another performer with a leg disfigurement that made her legs bend backward Performers were often displayed because of their unique physical characteristics Another style of clown makeup A young strong-man performer The circus comes to town: Using the elephants to set up the tent A woman performing a stunt with a horse Elephants were a common sight in circus performances A group of girl performers poses for the camera Circus performers with unique facial hair features A man shows off his stretchy skin Circus’s often displayed larger bodied people An acrobat team lining up for a photograph A woman with full facial hair A boy with physical disfigurements on his hands and feet A circus performer with no hands An acrobat team posing in position An elephant balancing act A strong man demonstrating his strength by holding up two others A clown doing a little dance A circus family Tigers were often featured in performances as well Vaudeville stuntmen Performers in a traveling circus from 1944 A boy with two additional limbs Circus Circus in 1968 with a bear ‘playing cards’ A woman poses between two clowns A group picture of a traveling circus group “Koo Koo the Bird Girl” Two women with abnormal features who later became circus performers An alive chicken with a missing face A performer shows off his special and dangerous talent A vintage circus performer 1924 Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey “Circus of Freaks” A traveling circus prepares the stage A clown smiles for the camera The post 50 Unique Photographs of the Wild Days of the Circus first appeared on History Defined.