It is interesting to see a reprise of the old circus. Common place sixty years ago but rather rare these days. The first real circus appeared in Australia in 1847. Circuses from the eastern states did not regularly make the voyage to Western Australia until the 1890s. The master of ceremonies was traditionally the ringmaster (usually male), and he was the personification of male elegance in his black top hat, hunting pink coat and white cravat. His boots were standard riding boots or top boots made from black leather sometimes patent and always immaculately clean. The ringmaster was the epitome of John Bull or Beau Brummel and the symbolic meaning of the boots was to show the audience just who was in charge. Boots then were for the officer class and above.

Unruffled and powerful the circus master’s image contrasted strongly with the chaotic shambling disorder of the clowns. Who were clearly out of control as their clothes made clear. Clown’s costumes have evolved over the last century and, in so doing, have paid particular attention to their shoes. In every troop at least one wears elongated flat shoes. Grimaldi (1778 – 1837), a famous clown in the 19th century, was perhaps one of the first to wear long flats. The shoes forced him to take high steps which were seen by the audience as hilariously, funny. He frequently tied coal scuttles to his shoes to make his progress noisy and even more awkward.

Later Little Tich aka George Ralph (1867 – 1928) designed long shoes which became his trademark as a clown. Ralph had polydactylism with six toes on each foot. He began his career in 1880 as black faced impersonator doing a big boot dance and long boots soon became his signature. They were as long as he was tall and he would dance on his toes without losing balance. He appeared in the Melbourne Tivoli in the 1920s on a tour of Australia but left the theatre (and presumably Australia) because he thought dropped coins on the stage were thrown in insult. In actual fact they were dropped accidentally.

Shoes used in circus acts are highly specialized because of the athletics involved and are made by expert shoe makers. Many other clowns including the Whimsical Walker, Coco the Clown and even Ronald McDonald have used shoes to good effect but the classic clown, of the last century was arguably Charles Chaplin who ate his boots in the film, The Gold Rush (1942 version).

Younger people associate funny walks with John Cleese and Monty Python and the Ministry of Funny Walks. The idea funny walks, should amuse is interesting in itself. Walking is learned process and is very much a social grace. Styles of walking have changed over the centuries. This is due in no short measure to the types of footwear that were in fashion.

For example, in the Middle Ages when the long toed shoe was popular men were forced to walk like the clowns. Broad shoes which were popular in Henry VIII’s time (1491 –1547), had gentlemen waddling like ducks. Later when boots became fashionable, the English wore their legging in a funnel shape which filled with water when it rained. It was common then to walk bow legged as a result and surprisingly this became a recognized means of walking for about 100 years. Later when leather replaced armory, the cavalry long boots were worn up past their knees to give protection to the thighs. The boot leather was soaked and allowed to dry on the soldier’s leg on horseback. This meant the tight casing caught the knee bent and when the horseman dismounted he walked with his knees bent, causing him to swagger in a manly manner.

In the eighteenth century men wore tight high heeled shoes causing them to take small delicate steps which gave a mincing gait. Many etiquette manuals of the day gave detailed instructions on how best to mince. Needless this behaviour eventually caught the attention of the satirists of the time and became the subject of much lampooning.

Footnote
So next time you see the clown and he makes you laugh, remember he is only doing no more than ordinary people have been doing for years.

Interesting Sites
Kippen C (2021) Christmas Pantomime Shoes foot talk blog