One of Moscow’s oldest circuses, the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard was founded in 1880 by the famed circus director, equestrian and acrobat Albert Salamonsky. On October 20, 1880 the circus opened its doors before the first spectators. The founder of the circus himself, Albert Salamonsky, performed during the premiere
One of Moscow’s oldest circuses, the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard was founded in 1880 by the famed circus director, equestrian and acrobat Albert Salamonsky. On October 20, 1880 the circus opened its doors before the first spectators. The founder of the circus himself, Albert Salamonsky, performed during the premiere. Photo: Salamonsky Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard on a postcard of the early 20th century.
All the famous circus actors of that time performed on the arena of the circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard. Photo: a performance of equilibrist sisters Kokh on a circus ring.
In 1919, the circus was nationalized and became the first Soviet state circus. In 1982, Yury Nikulin became its director, and in 1996 the circus was named after him.
A talented actor and clown, Yury Nikulin turned a talented manager. He decided to construct a new building for the old circus that opened on September 29, 1989 with the program "Hi, Old circus!"Photo: actors of the Moscow state circus Yury Nikulin (right) and Mikhail Shuydin.
Nevertheless, at various times other clowns were also "kings" of the arena on Tsvetnoi Boulevard. Here the glory of Mikhail Rumyantsev-Pencil began.
The sunny clown Oleg Popov gave several performances on Tsvetnoi Boulevard.
But not only clowns brought the glory to the circus. Even at the time of Salamonsky it was famous for its equestrians, and in the 20th century this height was supported by the Russian circus actors. Photo: 1989. Winners of II All-Union competition of a circus art Elena Sokolova and Alexei Sokolov perform on a circus ring on Tsvetnoi Boulevard.
Before the beginning of the Great Patriotic War a tamer of lions Irina Bugrimova came to the arena of this circus for the first time. She became the first woman in the Soviet circus who performed one with ten lions.
And in 1949 a premiere of an unusual attraction, Bear circus, took place in the circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard. Trainer Valentine Filatov created a circus performance of various genres in which bears acted like acrobats and jugglers, equilibrists and equestrians, roller skaters and rope-walkers, bicyclists and motorcyclists.
The surprising performances with the trained animals regularly appeared in the circus program. The well-known actors from the Kornilov dynasty with their attraction, Elephants and dancers, combining the tricks of elephants and dancers-acrobats, also gave performances here…
…and also trainers of exotic animals Lubov and Boris Fedotov with the show, Beginning of the Way, and many others.
Sarwat Begbudi and a trained elephant during the performance on the celebratory evening, Anniversary in Anniversary, on the arena of the Nikulin circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard.
Certainly it is impossible to forget about the most mysterious genre of a circus art - illusions. Illusionist Igor Kio became one of the symbols of the circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard and the Soviet circus as a whole.
The circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard has always searched for new shows, performances and names. Photo: bicycle-figure and dog trainer Marina Lapiado on arena of old Moscow circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard.
Since 1997 the circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard has been directed by Yury Nikulin’s son Maxim who is also the director of the circus performances.
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© Photo : by Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard
The circus will mark its anniversary with the new program, Already 130, which has gathered not only the stars from the Nikulin circus but also the most eminent circus actors of Russia.
