Although the actual acts may alter , every circus has a core purpose — to astonish its audience . Whether this is achieve through alien creature escapade , high - wire stunts or alarmingly limber performers is up to thecircusitself . And , along with the magnetic variation in circus attraction comes the variations to a on the face of it simple head : What ’s the domain ’s long - run circus ?
The answer look on whom you need . There are touring circuses , family - owned circus and the world ’s oldest genus Circus venue , which still offers performances , and they ’re all vying for a world title .
Take the now - defunct Circo Atayde , for instance . Known as the oldest touring genus Circus in the earth , it began on Aug. 26 , 1888 , in Mazatlan , Mexico . The circus toured throughout Mexico , and Central and South America , and was operate by the same kinfolk until it came to a finish in late 2014 . Decreasing revenues and Mexico City ’s ban on the inclusion of animals in carnival act prompted the gag rule [ sources : Janowitz , Guinness World Records ] .
Perhaps the rubric of " world ’s farseeing - running circus " now blend in to the Ashton Circus of Australia , which has been own and operated by seven generations of the same family . The Ashton Circus was in operation around 1850 , with James Henry Ashton at the helm . He create a legacy in which subsequent generations would go on to hinge on elephant , tame tigers andlionsand perform feats of daring and wonder . During the circus company ’s peak , nearly 40 family member worked for the enterprise , which include 80 additional employees , more than six dozen animals and equipment deserving millions [ author : Ede ] .
And then there ’s a circus that is arguably a close instant , and which further hold the distinction of do in the world ’s oldest continually operating carnival venue : the Cirque d’Hiver in Paris . With construction complete in 1852 , the Cirque d’Hiver expose unusual computer architecture ; it is a 20 - sided ellipse polygonal shape with a pale yellow façade sporting elaborately contrive substitute and a independent entree ensconced by carving of mounted warrior . The locus was the birthplace of the flying trapeze , when Jules Leotard became the first artist to jump from one moving cake to another in 1859 . The carnival ' tenacious custom of innovation rest intact , as it go on to operate with unexampled and ever - transfer acts [ source : Cirque d’Hiver ] .
irrespective of the criteria , these achievements of these circuses are telling . They weathered a continually change world – and workplace – to entertain audiences for decade .
