Big Top

Download or read book Battle for the Big Top written by Les Standiford and published by PublicAffairs. This book was released on 2021-06-15 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Les Standiford takes us under the big top and behind the curtain in this richly researched and thoroughly engaging narrative that captures all of the entrepreneurial intrigue and spirit of the American circus.” —Gilbert King, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Devil in the Grove Millions have sat under the “big top,” watching as trapeze artists glide and clowns entertain, but few know the captivating stories behind the men whose creativity, ingenuity, and determination created one of our country’s most beloved pastimes. In Battle for the Big Top, New York Times–bestselling author Les Standiford brings to life a remarkable era when three circus kings—James Bailey, P. T. Barnum, and John Ringling—all vied for control of the vastly profitable and influential American Circus. Ultimately, the rivalry of these three men resulted in the creation of an institution that would surpass all intentions and, for 147 years, hold a nation spellbound. Filled with details of their ever-evolving showmanship, business acumen, and personal magnetism, this Ragtime-like narrative will delight and enchant circus-lovers and anyone fascinated by the American experience.

Download or read book Big Top written by Rob Harrell and published by Andrews McMeel Publishing. This book was released on 2012-12-11 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Harrell's work combines pop culture, innocence, friendship, and some of the seamier side of the circus background that only adults can appreciate." Come one! Come all . . . to the exciting world of Big Top! Rob Harrell's three-ring comic strip has already packed the house with fans eager for his hilarious take on the circus and those who bring it to life. The circus and its colorful cast—led by 10-year-old Pete and his happily reformed performing bear, Wink—are a perfect metaphor for life. It's not always what happens on the surface, Big Top reminds us, but what takes place backstage that delivers the lessons and the humor. Pete and Wink keep plenty of odd company, including Kingston, coolest king of the jungle; Stucco, a mute clown who still manages to make his point; Manfred, the bookish monkey; Dusty, the wisecracking tell-it-like-it-is trained poodle; Andrea, the new acrobat girl who's caught Pete's eye; and Hairy Mary the Bearded Lady, a mother figure to them all. Take this crew on the road and you get an endless array of situations and relationships, care and impatience, honesty and intolerance. It's like one big Big Top family . . . one that welcomes all readers for the mere price of a ticket.

Download or read book Big Top Burning written by Laura A. Woollett and published by Chicago Review Press. This book was released on 2015-06-01 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: International Literacy Association Award Winner for Intermediate Nonfiction 2016 Eureka Children's Book Honor 2016 On July 6, 1944, thousands of fans made their way to Barbour Street in Hartford, Connecticut, to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance. Not long after the show's start, a fire broke out and spread rapidly as panicked circus-goers pushed and scrambled to escape. Within 10 minutes the entire big top had burned to the ground, and 167 people never went home. Big Top Burning recounts the true story of one of the worst fire disasters in US history. It follows the tragic stories of the Cook family—including children Donald, Eleanor, and Edward, who were in the audience that day—and 15-year-old Robert Segee, a circus employee with an incendiary past. Drawing on primary sources and interviews with survivors, author Laura Woollett guides readers through several decades of investigations and asks, Wasthe unidentified body of a little girl nicknamed"Little Miss 1565" Eleanor Cook?Was the fire itself an act of arson—anddid Robert Segee set it? Young readers are invited to evaluate the evidence and draw their own conclusions. Combining a gripping disaster story, an ongoing detective and forensics saga, and vivid details about life in World War II–era America, Big Top Burning is sure to intrigue any history or real-life mystery fan.

Download or read book Big Top Otto written by Bill Slavin and published by Kids Can Press Ltd. This book was released on 2013-08 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Otto and Crackers continue to search for Georgie. A lead takes them on a road trip of small town USA.

Download or read book The Big Top Circus Mystery written by Karen Kaufman Orloff and published by Peter Pauper Press. This book was released on 2013-06 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introducing our new Nightlight Detective books for junior detectives everywhere! Young readers use the punch-out paper "flashlight" to illuminate clues hidden in the art on plastic see-through pages. Clever stories and appealing art make Sergeant Sally's adventures irresistible! Frankie the Clown's giant shoes are missing, but the show must go on. Junior detectives help Sergeant Sally solve the mystery at the Big Top! Slip the Nightlight Detective paper flashlight under each plastic page to light up the clues as the story unfolds. Ready? Let's crack the case! Ages 4 to 9. Includes 8 acetate pages of see-through art.

Download or read book Phineas and Ferb: Big-Top Bonanza written by N. B. Grace and published by Disney Electronic Content. This book was released on 2010-06-30 with total page 95 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Phineas and Ferb always enjoy a good show. So when they hear that Cirque du Lune is coming to town, they can't wait to see it. When the show is cancelled, Phineas and Ferb decide to put on their very own circus. With Phineas as the ringmaster, and acts like mud-diving and hoop-jumping, soon they're bringing the house down. Even Perry the Platypus is getting into the action! But when Candace tries to prove her brothers aren't just clowning around, will the show go on?

Download or read book Elephant Story written by Les Harding and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The newspapers called him "Overshadowing Monarch Mastodon," "Behemoth of Holy Writ" and "Prodigious Mountain." He was the main event at the greatest show on earth: Jumbo, at around 6-1/2 tons and almost 12 feet tall, the biggest elephant anyone had ever seen. Jumbo's mere presence in the Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson circus guaranteed an additional $3,000 a day in box office receipts. More of an exhibit than a performer, Jumbo was simply paraded around the three rings. But still the people came, just to marvel at the size of this monster pachyderm. This work traces Jumbo's capture in East Africa, his life in the London Zoo, the controversy over his sale for $10,000 to American showman P.T. Barnum, his journey across the Atlantic, his life as the most famous attraction in Barnum's circus, and his tragic death in a railway accident in Canada in 1885.