Death-Defying Acts: The History of the Circus

Barnum may be the biggest name under the big top, but he was only a small part of the circus story. Join William Pack for a whirlwind journey through circus history, from Philip Astley's creation of the modern circus in 1786 to Dan Rice, "the most famous man you've never heard of," and the legendary rivalry between Barnum and the Ringling Brothers. Hear the stories of triumph, disaster, and life on the road of those who gave their lives to the show and became legends in the process.