Andrea Ringer on Circus Workers’ Labor History

Today’s edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Andrea Ringer, Associate Professor of History at Tennessee State University, who shared her insights on the labor history of circus workers from the late 19th to mid-20th century. Ringer discussed early union organizing efforts, major strikes and how circuses navigated labor laws and worker demands.

Early union organizing in circuses began with sideshow workers in the late 19th century, focusing on worker dignity and working hours, Ringer said. Bill posters, who advertised circuses in towns, were among the first to unionize. She explained that the American Tigers, a benevolent organization, provided funeral costs and disability benefits across the circus industry. These early efforts laid the groundwork for more formal union activities.

Ringer called the 1938 AFL-led strike a pivotal moment in circus labor history, as it shut down the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus mid-season. She discussed how the strike highlighted tensions between workers' rights and public entertainment, prompting a "Save the Circus" movement. Management, Ringer said, often responded to strikes by mechanizing jobs, such as replacing striking musicians with recorded music. The circus industry also grappled with child labor issues and unregulated work, particularly affecting workers from colonized places and Native Americans, she added.

By 1938, Ringling Bros. had consolidated much of the circus industry, giving them significant power over workers. Ringer spoke about the transition from canvas tents to stadiums in 1956, which she believes marked a major shift in the circus experience and labor practices. She noted that today, circuses such as Ringling Bros. have evolved into animal-free shows, reflecting changing public attitudes and labor practices in the entertainment industry.

To learn more about the labor history of circus workers, listen to the full episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast.