Australian Travelling Entertainers

Temporary partnership between two circuses

To show in a town without notice or prior billing

A bath taken in a metal tub

Showgirl's boyfriend

When you buy something, you either pay cash then and there, or take it on 'circus terms', paying whenever you can afford to pay.

To defeat an opposition circus for a town's Patronage

Box office takings and expenses divided equally between people in the show

Confidence trickster

Vending stalls outside a circus

A small bill to hang in a shop window

Members of the audience who won't clap.

Useless person, hindrance

Attendance of an entire family at a circus Performance

Showman's phony watch

Acrobat's make-believe fall

Resin [used in bareback riding acts]

Illusionary acts (eg memory and blindfold acts)

Musicians who play by ear, not with music

Keen; to have a 'crush' on someone

To finish up, to cease business

Withholding of patronage to a circus by Townspeople

General description of the work of the advance Agent

Term of contempt for non-show people

Assistant to a troupe of performers responsible for the maintenance and erection of their gear

Decoy used in promoting a showman's troupe

To remove paraphernalia from interior of tent prior to it being dropped and rolled up

Showman's accomplice who pretends to buy tickets to persuade others to do likewise.

Chocolate & spinning wheel showmen

To using a site without permission

Last man off the lot

The last person appointed to leave the circus lot, responsible for the collection of any forgotten items of equipment

Long, open-air platform where performers display themselves prior to the commencement of a performance. Although not unknown in circus, the line-up board was more commonly used by boxing troupes and sideshows on the showgrounds in the early days.

Townspeople [See also townies, mugs]

[Command given to alight from wagons and walk when climbing steep hill]

To play music by ear, to improvise

Aggressive type, bully

Victim of sideshow trickster

Night flitters/ midnight flit

Departure of a circus during the night, to escape debt collector & c

In a northerly direction

The elite of society

Performer who pinches another's act, costume etc

Front entrance to the circus tent

Pulling down of circus tents after the performance

A town where the circus boys have a good time with the local girls

Event in the showground ring

Men who set up gear in the circus ring

A show that travels by road

A succession of towns visited in a district

An act still being broken-in

Finish to a female wire act

A town where the circus shows and in which an agricultural show is also held Day and date

Country agricultural show ground

Showman's grave- Yard

A town not noted for being a paying proposition for a circus

A good trick for the public's appreciation, although not necessarily a difficult one.

(1)Removing or altering the bills of a rival circus or other show (2) pasting circus posters on fences or walls without owner's consent

To open without prior notice.

A man placed outside a show to announce its programme and attract patronage

Person who betrays confidence

Act devoid of comedy

Showman's gambling game that can't be won

Tough opposition from another circus

Meal for performers after the show

Meeting of the members of a circus troupe to decide a course of action

Tent boss/boss Tentman

Person in charge of putting up and taking down the circus tents

As for 'tarpaulin muster'.

AMenial circus rouseabout

To lay up for the winter months