The Thomas Bouckley Collection Gilded Circus Wagon for the Great Pan-American Circus Show, on Parade at the Four Corners, Oshawa 1905

the permanent collection

Under the Big Top: The Thomas Bouckley Collection
 

Until 29 April, 2010

This collection of vintage photographs explores not only the circuses of Oshawa’s past, but also the carnivals, parades and fairs. The circus visited Oshawa approximately fives times between 1905 and 1915. The various circuses that came to town included H.T. Pierson’s Show, Sangers Show, Sells and Downs Circus, Great Pan-American Show, and Howes Circus (otherwise known as Howes Great London Circus). On circus day the downtown streets would be lined with spectators awaiting the Grand Procession Parade. A procession of gilded wagons, performers, and wild animals would tour the streets of Oshawa generating excitement for the upcoming event. The circus would arrive by rail and would set up tents at Prospect Park, and in later years at Alexandra Park. At times the show would be an elaborate production that included acts with elephants, acrobats and death-defying stunts; other times it would simply be the size of a dog and pony show.