The August 21st session of Circus History Live! featured a fascinating conversation with former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown Danise Payne about her new book: Elbows in My Ears . . . My Life with Little People, Tigers, and Wardrobe Trunks. 

A recording of this program is available on the CHS YouTube Channel. 

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. 

This program was hosted by Circus Historical Society vice president Chris Berry.  

All Circus History Live! sessions are free and open to members and non-members. However, registration is required.

Non-members are invited to Join the Circus Historical Society. For only $60 per year, you will receive 4 issues of our Bandwagon circus history journal and have access to our members-only Back Yard website where you can read back issues of the Bandwagon online and purchase used circus books and other items in our Bookstore.