Levi Silas Pigeon (1858 - 1939) Began
his career in the show business working with his father transporting
the famous Esparanzo Flea Circus in the 1870's. Sometime around 1886,
Levi left the family business and headed to Louisville, Kentucky where
he joined Fitzhugh's Great Vaudeville Company
assisting the Great Hoxley as he wowed audiences with his "Cabinet of
Curiosities". After having a run in with a knife thrower in 1889,
Pigeon decided to establish his own traveling show, and the following
year started in
his home town of New York. Taking note of the popularity of the
Vaudeville shows, Pigeon made sure to provide a variety of acts
including a Freak Show, a Burlesque act, Strongmen & Acrobats. The
success of the circus allowed him to build the Pigeon Circus Pigeoniere Theatre
in 1898, and this became the permanent home of the show. The building
of the theatre also allowed Pigeon to add a dime museum, apothecary and
curiosity shop in the atrium, where the public could further indulge in
the 'Menagerie of Delight'. |
Who is the human behind Pigeon Circus? Pigeon Circus is the creative ventilation of Sharon Wilson, who is a tinkerer/designer & maker of curious things. Where are you based? HQ is the back room of an old villa in Wellington, New Zealand. Where is everything? While we settle into our new hometown, I need to put all my making to one side... but don't despair ... the circus will be full of delights once again in the coming months but if you can't wait that long you can stroll over to the Pigeon Circus 'Zazzle' store which I will be posting designs on to regularly & you can readily order from. So there you have it! Why 'Pigeon Circus'? I like Pigeon Holes & Flea Circuses, so decided to mix the two together.
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