Photograph of Fred Bradna carrying Ella Bradna on his back on a rainy day. Photographed by Frederick Whitman Glasier, 1910.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Glasier Photographic Collection
FROM A RECENT ISSUE OF BANDWAGON
Why would a circus never open on a Friday? Why was whistling in the dressing tent forbidden? And what did peanuts, peacock feathers, yellow costumes, and even a cemetery have to do with a successful show? Explore the fascinating traditions and superstitions that traveled with circus performers for generations.
Circus Superstitions
BY MIKE STRAKA AND RAINIE THEMER BOSQUET
Volume 69 • Number 3 • 2025 • Page 64
If you spill salt and throw some over your shoulder for good luck, you are practicing a superstition that may date back thousands of years. The world is filled with countless superstitions, and the circus world has its fair share. Not all superstitions are difficult to decipher and many are rooted in common sense. Why is it unlucky to walk under a ladder? Well, common sense tells us that something is happening above us. Painting, carpentry, and masonry work could be underway, and something may fall on our head.
Here are a few of the classic circus superstitions.
Boneyard on the Right–Full House Tonight
One can wonder where and when this good-luck prophecy took root. Did the weary wagon showman observe this while traveling the back roads and small towns? Perhaps a string of good dates, each preceded by the sight of a graveyard while entering the town, fostered this superstition. Of course, when showmen gather and trade jackpots, this could account for its spread.
However, this same superstition has a negative spin. Spotting a graveyard (left or right) upon entering town has also been thought to be an omen of evil.
Accidents Happen in There
This superstition is not confined to the circus, however because of the dangerous nature of the profession, it may hold more sway. A report from the SellsFloto Circus in 1916, assumes that the reader believes this superstition:
The complete article is available to members of the Circus Historical Society through the members-only Backyard.