Very often, notable performers hailed from circus families whose tradition of performing, training animals, or even acting as support staff dated back for generations. Alfredo Codona (see above) was from such a family in Mexico.You may have heard of the Flying Wallendas the German high-wire family troupe were performing, incidentally, as the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944 broke out. We bet you know of the Ringling Brothers, too (but did you know there were seven of them, distinguishable only if old-timey photos are any indication by slight variations in their mustaches?) The Ringling Bros. operated their circus as the Sunday School of the travelling tent shows, incidentally, and upheld family-friendly acts and a clean atmosphere, in contrast with the louche nomadic operations notorious for organized pick-pocketing, gambling, and prostitution. But have you heard of the Chipperfields, a British family of acrobats, animal trainers, and clowns dating back 300 years?

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