"Where it's covered in all the colored lights
Where the runaways are runnin' the night
Impossible comes true, intoxicatin' you
Oh, this is the greatest show!"
Where the runaways are runnin' the night
Impossible comes true, intoxicatin' you
Oh, this is the greatest show!"
— The Greatest Showman, "The Greatest Show"
This is the index of all things relating to the circus.
Serkis Folk is a pun on "circus folk", but is not related to circuses.
Tropes:
Categories:
- Amusement Park of Doom: Come one, come all, to the deadliest amusement park in the world!
- Ball-Balancing Seal: When a seal balances a ball on its nose, a famous act in traditional circuses.
- Carousel Kidnapping: Child is abducted on or near a carousel.
- Cartoon Juggling: How juggling is portrayed in cartoons.
- Circus Brat: Someone raised in a circus since childhood.
- Circus Episode: Episode of a series focused on characters going to the circus.
- Circus of Fear: A circus powered by Nightmare Fuel.
- Circus of Magic: A supernatural or magical circus.
- Circus Synths: When electronic music is associated with circuses or clowns.
- Clown Car: A tiny vehicle holds way more people than you'd give it credit for.
- Clown School: an academy or program where students learn how to become a circus Clown, including developing a character, costume and makeup, physical humor and comedy.
- Conjoined Twins: A common sight at "freak shows", twins joined at the hip or elsewhere.
- Contortionist: A performer with extreme flexibility.
- Crappy Carnival: A cheap, decrepit carnival more likely than not run to scam people. More than likely to have a one-ring, far-past-its-prime, no-more-than-six-act circus as an extra-albeit-pointless attraction.
- Creepy Circus Music: Carnival music distorted, slowed down, or played in minor key to be creepy—or it's normal, but in circumstance, it's really, really creepy.
- Enemy Mime: A villain or threat who happens to be a mime or exhibit mime-like qualities.
- Escape Artist: A performer who escapes from traps and restraints.
- Ferris Wheel of Doom: A Ferris Wheel breaks away and rolls like a tire.
- Ferris Wheel Date Moment: A couple have a cute moment on the ferris wheel.
- The Freakshow: A sideshow act featuring people with strange or dangerous talents, and people with odd physical deformities or features.
- Girls with Moustaches: Exactly What It Says on the Tin, though included here as another common "freak show" attraction.
- Happy Circus Music: Traditional-style, upbeat circus music that sets a cheerful mood.
- Human Cannonball: Though not restricted to circuses, "firing" someone out of a cannon is a textbook act in them.
- Knife-Throwing Act: Someone either stands still or is spun on a wheel as another person throws knives at them.
- Lovely Assistant: A beautiful woman who assists with the act of a performer, often a Stage Magician or Knife-Throwing Act.
- Non-Ironic Clown: A type of clown who is a good guy in every sense of the word, intending to entertain children in circus.
- Opportunistic Vendors: When something dramatic happens in public, vendors selling merchandise appear out of nowhere to take advantage of the sudden crowd. Sometimes involves a gag with a an entire carnival being built around the event.
- Over-the-Top Roller Coaster: Roller coasters that are Beyond the Impossible.
- Repulsive Ringmaster: A creepy or downright villainous ringmaster.
- Stage Magician: Fake practitioners of "magic". Nine times out of ten, they wear a tuxedo and top hat.
- The Strongman: People who show off their incredible strength for the entertainment of others.
- "Test Your Strength" Game: A carnival game wherein someone strikes a button with a mallet or similar object to ring a bell at the top.
- Tightrope Walking: A performer walks across a tightrope with or without a balancing tool—and hopefully WITH a safety net.
- Tunnel of Love: A carnival ride for couples.
- Win Her a Prize: Love interests go to a carnival, and the guy wants to get his date a prize. He may or may not succeed.
- World's Strongest Man: A circus staple, a man who is stronger than any other, weaker to nothing!
- You Must Be This Tall to Ride: Height requirements for certain rides prove to be a thorn in a character's side.
