The Great All American Youth Circus
A Unique Tradition Since 1929!
History: Founded in 1929 by YMCA Director Roy Coble, a former Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey performer, the Great Y Circus, as it is known for short, is a unique tradition in Redlands(4), California. It is the oldest community circus in the world and one of only six programs like it in the United States.The Great Y Circus started small and has grown tremendously throughout the years. This year, over 300 children of all ages learned circus skills in classes that were held at the YMCA from September through April.Small performances are given throughout the year before a variety of audiences, and our end-of-season show is held on the first three weekends of May in Coble Gym at the Redlands YMCA.(1)
Co-sponsored by the Redlands YMCA and the Community Circus Arts Corporation, a California non-profit public benefit corporation, the Great Y Circus is funded through performances, fund-raisers, class fees, and YMCA memberships. Unlike other youth activities, Circus is noncompetitive and focuses on individual and group skills presented in an entertaining and artistic theatrical performance, with choreography, lighting, costumes, and music.The Circus program emphasizes teamwork, dedication, trust, family skill, showmanship, excitement, and fun for both the participant and the observer. Circus teaches young people important values, such as responsibility, commitment, self-confidence, and self-discipline, along with specialized skills.The Great Y Circus is supported primarily by family, friends, and volunteers, as well as many alumni who have gone on to become professionals, who return to help the next generation learn circus skills. (2)
The y circus is a member of american youth circus and has performed at their yearly events (3)
The Great All-American Youth Circus is even endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, The Animal Protection Institute, Friends of Animals, and Zoo Check Canada as well as other animal rights groups because our circus does not use any animals in performances! (The only "animals" you'll find here are the kids we dress up in costumes to look like them!)
Some Circus Trivia The clown in the Great Y Circus logo is “Brandy” Brandenberger who performed with the circus through the ’50s and ’60s.
The Great All American Youth Circus is mostly run by volunteers. There is only one full-time and three part-time paid staff. Help the Y Circus to grow by becoming a Circus Booster member. Learn how - Click Here
1971, the 33rd Edition of the Great Y Circus saw the introduction of unicycles to the acts. Eleven unicyclists made their debut, trained by Warren Wood.
The title “The Great “Y’ Circus” first appeared in the program for the 1939 show—the first year circus ran for two days.
Roy Coble started the circus as a fundraiser for Camp Edwards, the YMCA’s mountain retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains.
1951 was the first year that the Great Y Circus performed the “Spanish Webs”—an act where performers execute graceful manuevers high on a hanging rope.
(1)http://www.ycircus.org/circusinfo.htm (2)http://www.ycircus.org/history.htm (3)http://www.americanyouthcircus.org/cgi-bin/db.cgi?db=aycocfg&uid=default&sb=1&onweb=y&category=Circus&subcircus=A+youth+circus&state=CA&view_records=Search (4)http://www.redlandsweb.com/youth/index.htm