Behind The Harrowing 'Circus Riots' Of 1855 That Turned Toronto Into A Battleground

The sight of flames, the sound of roaring lions, and the acrid smell of burning rubber are what alerted 1800s-era Toronto to a very unusual Friday the 13th. Just a few hours earlier, the circus had come to town, but they brought more with them than high-flying trapeze acts. As it turned out, drunken clowns and territorial members of a not-so-secret society don't mix, and their meeting resulted in one of the most violent, unforgettable moments in Toronto history.

Welcome to Toronto

Life was pretty boring in Toronto in the early 1800s. It was an up-and-coming city, but it held fast to its old-fashioned, country-strong roots. There wasn’t much to do except walk around, work, and watch tumbleweeds roll by. Then, the railroads came along. 

Booming Industry

With the railroads came people — lots of people — and Toronto transformed into a chaotic city overstuffed with huge families, a flourishing industry, and countless immigrants looking for a fresh start. And nothing is more attractive to bustling cities filled with families than the circus. 

Rowdy Crowds

Before Toronto was known for its hospitality, it was known for its, well, lack thereof. As the population soared, so too did the number of Toronto’s taverns, liquor stores, and brothels. If you were an entertainer looking for a rowdy audience, then Toronto was the place for you.

Send In The Clowns

And since the circus was filled with such entertainers, they high-tailed it to Toronto. S.B. Howes’ Star Troupe Menagerie & Circus had enough acrobats, equestrian acts, trapeze artists, and exotic animals to excite even the soberest Torontonian, but the clowns were the real stars of the show.