The League of Gentlemen TV - Peter Singer - George Leybourne - Angie Sage - The Real Tom Thumb: History’s Smallest Superstar TV - The Comic Strip Presents TV -
Tell them the circus is coming to town. The League of Gentlemen s2e1: Destination Royston Vasey, dwarfs enter local shop, BBC 2000
Attempts to defend amusement parks and circuses on the grounds that they ‘educate’ people about animals should not be taken seriously. Such enterprises are part of the commercial entertainment industry. The most important lesson they teach impressionable young minds is that it is acceptable to keep animals in captivity for human amusement. Peter Singer
He’d fly through the air with the greatest of ease,
A daring young man on the flying trapeze. George Leybourne, 1868 song
Don’t go to the circus. Angie Sage, Flyte
The craze began in mid-nineteenth century America with the emergence of the first showbiz star to go truly global – General Tom Thumb. He was just twenty-five inches tall. The Real Tom Thumb: History’s Smallest Superstar, BBC 2014
The intelligentsia were horrified. ibid.
Barnum could smell money. In 1842 that money was in New York. ibid.
He could have retired aged nine. ibid.
Barnum and Stratton were partners and friends for forty years. Two gentlemen of the old school. ibid.
You’ve got absolutely no circus skills whatsoever. You’re a failure and a disgrace to our ancient circus family. You’re good for nothing, John Majer. The Comic Strip Presents … Red Nose of Courage, BBC 1992
I had not forgotten my life-long dream of becoming a Tory bureaucrat. ibid. John