The Circus Historical Society celebrated Black History Month with a well-attended Circus History Live! program on Sunday February 20th that featured African American circus history legends, Johnathan Lee Iverson, Vanessa Thomas Smith, Danise Payne, and Kip Jones discussing their fascinating circus careers!
Due to overwhelming interest, we reached the participant limit on our Zoom account and this program became our first official . . . straw house!
The recording of this program is now available for viewing on the CHS YouTube channel. Enjoy!
Beginning as a member of the world-famous Boys Choir of Harlem, Johnathan Lee Iverson became the youngest and the first African American Ringmaster of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus when he was only 22 years old. He was ringmaster from 1998 until the last performance of the Greatest Show on Earth in May 2017.
Recognized as the first African American female ringmaster in circus history, Vanessa Thomas Smith's distinguished career included performance and leadership positions with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, UniverSoul Circus, the Big Apple Circus, Circus Vargas, Royal Hanneford Circus, and the Toby Tyler Circus.
Danise Payne was one of the first African American female clowns with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She also toured with the UniverSoul Circus and with England's Cottle Circus where she became the first African American female clown to perform in a European circus. Clowning developed into a way for Danise to express strength of purpose to African American youths and adults through workshops and speaking engagements since the 1980s.
Kim Anthony "Kip" Jones is director and a second-generation member of the world-renowned and Circus Ring of Fame award-winning King Charles Unicycle Troupe. In his role as director, Kip carries on founding member Jerry King's idea of "Building Character on Wheels" both in the circus world and in the African American community.
This program will be hosted by CHS vice president and circus historian: Chris Berry.
All Circus History Live! sessions are free. They are open to both members and non-members. Registration is required. Non-members are invited to Join the CHS. For only $60 per year, you will receive four issues of the Bandwagon journal and access to our online Bookstore, where you can purchase used circus books, programs, CDs and DVDs!
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