A ringmaster or ringmistress, or sometimes a ringleader, is a significant performer in many circuses. Most often seen in traditional circuses, the ringmaster is a master of ceremonies that introduces the circus acts to the audience. In smaller circuses, the ringmaster is often the owner and artistic director of the circus.
A ringmaster introduces the various acts in a circus show and guides the audience through the experience, directing their attention to the various areas of the circus arena and helping to link the acts together while equipment is brought into and removed from the circus ring. A ringmaster may interact with some acts, especially the clown acts, to make the various acts part of a seamless circus performance. Ringmasters have become an integral part of the many circus shows and sometimes will be involved in elements of some of the acts performances.
It is traditionally the ringmaster's job to use hyperbole whenever possible while introducing the acts to enhance the expectations of the audience. Declarations of the "biggest", "most dangerous", "amazing", "spectacular" and similar expressions are common.
Costume and attire
The traditional ringmaster costume consists of a bright tailcoat, often red with gold trim and with a waistcoat and a black top hat; occasionally with a bow tie, cravat, or stock tie. The outfit is designed to look as an 18th-century gentleman's riding habit, and often includes a whip, a relic of when the ringmaster directed the performance, not as an announcer and host, but as director of the many equestrian acts. It is generally accepted that this costume was first adopted by George Claude Lockhart on the orders of Bertram Mills in 1928, when Lockhart worked as ringmaster for his circus at Olympia, London.[1] A female circus leader is known as a ringmistress, and often wears a black skirt or leggings with knee-high black boots, and either the same style topcoat and tails as a ringmaster or a red blouse.[2]
In non-English speaking countries, the ring master is known by different titles. In France, he is called "Monsieur Loyal" after the Anselme-Pierre Loyal (1753-1826), one of the first renowned circus personalities.
Early function and necessity
The main function of a ringmaster was to direct the attention of the audience. In the days before modern lighting equipment and amplification, most acts performed mute, accompanied only by the circus' in house brass band. It was the ringmaster's loud voice that was necessary to cut through the noise, get the audiences attention and announce the next act.[3]
^Patterson, Alice (2020-01-03). "9 Ways To Create A Greatest Showman Inspired Event". Oddle Entertainment Agency. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
^"Longest career as a ringmaster". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
April 10, 2023
ringmaster, circus, other, uses, ringmaster, disambiguation, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, . For other uses see Ringmaster disambiguation This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ringmaster circus news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate January 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message A ringmaster or ringmistress or sometimes a ringleader is a significant performer in many circuses Most often seen in traditional circuses the ringmaster is a master of ceremonies that introduces the circus acts to the audience In smaller circuses the ringmaster is often the owner and artistic director of the circus Contents 1 Duties and functions 2 Costume and attire 3 Early function and necessity 4 Notable ringmasters 5 Records 6 ReferencesDuties and functions EditA ringmaster introduces the various acts in a circus show and guides the audience through the experience directing their attention to the various areas of the circus arena and helping to link the acts together while equipment is brought into and removed from the circus ring A ringmaster may interact with some acts especially the clown acts to make the various acts part of a seamless circus performance Ringmasters have become an integral part of the many circus shows and sometimes will be involved in elements of some of the acts performances It is traditionally the ringmaster s job to use hyperbole whenever possible while introducing the acts to enhance the expectations of the audience Declarations of the biggest most dangerous amazing spectacular and similar expressions are common Costume and attire EditThe traditional ringmaster costume consists of a bright tailcoat often red with gold trim and with a waistcoat and a black top hat occasionally with a bow tie cravat or stock tie The outfit is designed to look as an 18th century gentleman s riding habit and often includes a whip a relic of when the ringmaster directed the performance not as an announcer and host but as director of the many equestrian acts It is generally accepted that this costume was first adopted by George Claude Lockhart on the orders of Bertram Mills in 1928 when Lockhart worked as ringmaster for his circus at Olympia London 1 A female circus leader is known as a ringmistress and often wears a black skirt or leggings with knee high black boots and either the same style topcoat and tails as a ringmaster or a red blouse 2 In non English speaking countries the ring master is known by different titles In France he is called Monsieur Loyal after the Anselme Pierre Loyal 1753 1826 one of the first renowned circus personalities Early function and necessity EditThe main function of a ringmaster was to direct the attention of the audience In the days before modern lighting equipment and amplification most acts performed mute accompanied only by the circus in house brass band It was the ringmaster s loud voice that was necessary to cut through the noise get the audiences attention and announce the next act 3 Notable ringmasters EditAdolph Althoff Norman Barrett Tommy Hanlon Jr Johnathan Lee Iverson George Claude Lockhart George William Lockhart P T Barnum James Anthony Bailey Henry Lytton Jr Records EditNorman Barrett has been noted by Guinness Word Records as holding the Guinness world record for the longest career as a ringmaster 4 References Edit The Doyen of Ringmasters Don Stacey World s Fair 1979 Google Image Search Retrieved 2014 07 03 Patterson Alice 2020 01 03 9 Ways To Create A Greatest Showman Inspired Event Oddle Entertainment Agency Retrieved 2020 01 24 Longest career as a ringmaster Guinness World Records Retrieved 2020 01 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ringmaster circus amp oldid 1123179379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
