Pickle Family Circus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pickle Family Circus |
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Pickle Family Circus logo
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| Origin | |
| Country | United States |
| Founder(s) | Peggy Snider Lawrence Pisoni Michael Nolan |
| Year founded | 1974 |
| Defunct | December 31, 2003 |
| Information | |
| Ringmaster(s) | no |
| Traveling show? | Yes |
| Circus tent? | No |
| Winter quarters | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Type of acts | Juggling |
The Pickle Family Circus was a special kind of circus that started in 1974. It began in San Francisco, California, in the United States. This small circus helped bring new life to American circuses. It even inspired the famous Cirque du Soleil in Canada! Like Cirque du Soleil, the Pickle Family Circus did not use animals. It also didn't have the usual three-ring setup you might see in older circuses.
Contents
The Circus Story
The Pickle Family Circus was created by a group called the Pickle Family Jugglers. This group included Peggy Snider, Larry Pisoni, and Cecil MacKinnon. They had worked with the San Francisco Mime Troupe before starting their own circus.
First Shows and Tours
The very first show of the Pickle Family Circus was in May 1975. It took place in a school gym in San Francisco. In 1976, they received money from the National Endowment for the Arts. This allowed them to go on their first tour. They visited five cities in Northern California.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the circus performed often. They had shows on weekends in the San Francisco Bay area during spring and fall. In the summer, they toured for three months. They mostly visited towns along Highway 101 in Northern California and Oregon.
Helping Communities
The Pickle Family Circus had a unique way of doing business. Every show was a "benefit" show. This meant it usually helped a local community group. The local group would sell tickets ahead of time. They would also help with advertising and getting the show ready. They even ran a small fair, called a midway.
The circus returned to the same towns year after year. These shows became an important way for the local groups to raise money. This system also made it easier for the circus to plan its tours. In 1979, the Pickles performed at the Alaska State Fair. In 1981, they even had a two-month show in London.
Early Performers
In its early years, the circus was famous for its three clowns. These were Larry Pisoni, Bill Irwin, and Geoff Hoyle. They were the main stars of a 1981 show called Three High. After Bill Irwin left in 1979, Larry Pisoni and Geoff Hoyle performed as a duo. Geoff Hoyle developed his famous "Mr. Sniff" character during this time. The clowns were always a big part of the Pickle Family Circus shows. They appeared many times and interacted with other performers.
How the Circus Worked
The early circus group followed three main rules. First, everyone in the group made decisions together. Second, everyone got the same pay. Third, all the performers also had jobs behind the scenes. Only a few people did not perform. They worked in the office or helped with things during the show. The circus had its office and practice space in an old church. Many members lived in that area of San Francisco.
Amazing Juggling Acts
Juggling was always a very important part of the Pickle Family Circus. Every show ended with a "Big Juggle." Almost every performer took part in this act. They would pass juggling clubs to each other in amazing patterns.
Pickles on the Big Screen
Several members of the Pickle Family Circus appeared in the 1980 movie Popeye. This movie starred Robin Williams. Some of the circus members in the film included Bill Irwin, Larry Pisoni, Geoff Hoyle, Peggy Snider, and Judy Finelli.
