to have been held on January 9, 1768. One of Astley's major
   contributions to the circus was bringing trick horse riding into a
   <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT>, though Astley referred to it as the Circle. Later, to suit
   equestrian acts moving from one circus to another, the diameter of the
   circus <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT> was set at at 42 feet (13 m), which is the size <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT>
   needed for horses to circle comfortably at full gallop. Astley never
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   built as a combination of the circus, the menagerie and the variety
   theatre, where wild animals such as lions and elephants from time to
   time appeared in the <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT>, and where convulsions of nature such as
   floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have been produced with an
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   similar to a Master of Ceremonies, the ringmaster presents performers,
   speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the show moving. The
   activity of the circus takes place within a <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT>; large circuses may
   have multiple <FONT COLOR=red>rings</FONT>, like the six ringed Moscow State Circus. A circus
   traditionally has its own band.
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   was first shown. Released in 1953 were Man on a Tightrope and Ingmar
   Bergman's Gycklarnas afton released as Sawdust and Tinsel in the
   United States; Life is a Circus; <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT> of Fear; 3 <FONT COLOR=red>ring</FONT> Circus and La
   strada an Oscar winning film by Federico Fellini about a girl who is