Photo: Cirque Berzerk
There’s a certain historical irony in this month’s return of Cirque Berzerk (left) to the Los Angeles State Historic Park with a schedule of weekend performances. Over a century ago, L.A.’s City Fathers faced quite a conundrum over how to prevent such big-top hijinks from disturbing the Sunday peace.
Reporting on City Hall’s daily antics, the May 20, 1896, Los Angeles Times noted that:
“After instructing the City Clerk to issue no license for a Sunday circus, the City Councilmen yesterday awoke to the fact that it would make small difference to the circus people…”
Much to the council’s dismay, overnight research into the law revealed that any clown tendering money for a Sunday exhibitor’s license had to be granted one, regardless of the type of event. With a troupe of performers practically at City Hall’s doorstep threatening a street procession and death-defying fetes for the upcoming weekend, quick thinking was required.
“It was finally decided that the only method which could be taken to block the circus people in their plans for a Sunday exhibition and parade, would be to call a special session of the Council and adopt an ordinance making it a misdemeanor for any circus to exhibit or parade on Sunday in this city…”
Which the ever-wise council hurriedly did on Thursday, May 21, 1896.
If Sunday performances had the councilmen’s drawers in a wad back then, imagine how they would’ve flipped their collective wigs over a freakish show like Cirque Berzerk pitching its tent in their train yard.
Source:
“At City Hall: Bolting the Bars”
Los Angeles Times
May 20, 1896