![Black and white photograph of a smiling man in a cap holding the bridles of three horses standing partially under a tent awning. Scratches and dots caused by damage to the emulsion appear over much of the image.]](https://news.illinoisstate.edu/files/2022/08/Clarke2-764x509.jpg)
Maureen Brunsdale thinks you should care about the circus. “Circus stars were the height of celebrity at the turn of the century and many of them called Bloomington-Normal home,” she said. In an era with only burgeoning mass media, the entertainment industry was largely comprised of circus performers and associated acts. Brunsdale likens this to another regional hub: the circus is to Bloomington-Normal as movies are to Hollywood. As head of Milner’s Special Collections department, Brunsdale is deeply acquainted with the region’s circus history. Milner Library’s Circus & Allied Arts Collection houses over 8,000 books as well as photographs, posters, correspondence, business records, band scores, and more, and is one of the largest collections of its kind in the country.
“Bloomington-Normal and Illinois State in particular have such a deep connection to the circus,” Brunsdale said. “We honor that in lots of ways, but many people here don’t even realize the sheer amount of history that was made in our own backyards.”
Brunsdale’s recent book, In the Shadow of the Big Top: the Life of Ringling’s Unlikely Circus Savior, brings the American circus to life through the figure of Art Concello. Concello was a Bloomington native and trapeze artist whose eventual work behind the scenes shaped the circus industry as we know it. In this Q&A, Brunsdale discusses her book, as well as why we should still care about the circus today.
The circus is full of characters—what made you want to write a biography of Art Concello specifically?
In 2010 the Circus Historical Society had its annual convention in Bloomington-Normal. While welcoming so many historians into Special Collections, people asked me about Bloomington’s most famous circus alum (so to speak), Concello. I had heard the name but had no real idea of the huge impact he had on the circus. Years passed and I ran into a professor from Virginia at a Popular Culture Association meeting who suggested we write a book on Concello together. We agreed to collaborate but, unfortunately, little did either of us know that he would die about halfway through the writing, in 2020.
What do you think Concello’s story illuminates about the golden era of the circus? Or the circus today?
The circus is an ever-evolving thing. It makes sense if you think about it. It derives its name from the circle, or ring, in which acts are performed. Both Concello and his wife Antoinette, realized this fact early. For Concello, it meant that he hung up his tights at the height of his career and transitioned into management. That’s incredible! It would be like a major movie star—like Tom Cruise—stepping away from acting in favor of managing a major studio. It’s incredible that he had the skills to do that. The book examines how he got it all done and the price he paid for doing so.
What’s your favorite detail or piece of trivia that you learned while researching the book?
I think Antoinette’s story is as compelling, if not more compelling than her husband’s. Orphaned at the age of eleven, she was determined to never be left behind. She spent her life proving her relevance to her husband and in so doing, became one of America’s superstars. She was the Camel cigarette girl for decades and graced Wheaties cereal, for example.
Do you see Bloomington-Normal’s tradition of the circus continuing today?
Yes, it’s still going strong with Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus. In Special Collections, we work hard to bring the history of the circus into the classrooms. There was so much involved with staging The Greatest Show on Earth—from logistics to artistry, lighting to sound, concessions to ticket sales. At the base of it all is the fact that it was a business. It had to make money to survive. It’s difficult to think of courses that couldn’t be tied to its history.
What’s one thing you wish people knew about the circus?
Circus stars were the superstars before movie stars, rock stars, and social media influencers. This community was home to dozens of them! Their stories are both inspirational and aspirational.
From August 24-27, the Circus Historical Society will once again host their annual convention in Bloomington-Normal. Milner Library will have library-wide exhibits, guest speakers, events, and more celebrating its connection to the circus. For more information on Special Collections, the Circus & Allied Arts Collection, exhibits, and more, visit Library.IllinoisState.edu.
