The Pickle Family Circus
The Pickle Family Circus was a small circus founded in 1974 in San Francisco, California, USA. The circus formed an important part of the renewal of the American circus. They also influenced the creation of of the American circus and also influenced the creation of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, Canada. Neither circus features animals or use the three-ring layout like the traditional circus of old.
Photo credit: Terry Lorant
History
After working with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, the Pickle Family Jugglers (founded by Peggy Snider, Larry Pisoni, and Cecil MacKinnon) decided to create the Pickle Family Circus. Their first show was in May 1975, in the gymnasium of John O'Connell High School in San Francisco.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Circus performed on weekends in the San Francisco Bay Area during Spring and Fall, and toured for the 3 months in the Summer, mostly in towns along Highway 101 in Northern California and Oregon. In these years, the Pickles operated with a business model that every show was a benefit, usually for a local community organization.
The local sponsor sold advance tickets (getting a portion of the revenue), did publicity and site preparation, and ran a midway.
The Circus returned to the same towns year after year, and these events became an important source of funding for the sponsors. This freed the company from much of the advance work. In 1979, the Pickles extended their tour to perform at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska, and in 1981 performed a two-month winter run at the Roundhouse Theater in London, England.
Photo credit: Terry Lorant
Photo credit: Terry Lorant
Photo credit: The Pickle Family Circus -Official Facebook
Photo credit: Terry Lorant
Photo credit: The Pickle Family Circus -Official Facebook
Photo credit: Terry Lorant
Master Lu Yi
In the late 80’s, Master Lu Yi was brought in by The Pickles and the Circus School to introduce the community to traditional Chinese acrobatics. His work continued to establish his legacy as a world-renowned instructor who has inspired, trained, and championed a generation of circus artists. The heritage of his work is honored in Dear San Francisco.
Add Carroll and Snider: “Master Lu Yi is an iconic figure in the history of Circus in San Francisco. He has influenced much of the work of The 7 Fingers and, by extension, has inspired circus arts around the world. We are forever grateful to him.”