1956 Gamma Phi Circus program (20th annual)

This a program from the 20th annual performance of Illinois State University's Gamma Phi Circus.

Gamma Phi Circus is the oldest collegiate circus in the United States. Dr. C. E. Horton established it in 1923 as a club for the Physical Education department. In 1929, it became a gymnastics fraternity. In 1932, they began performances, and the circus continues to perform to this day. 

The program entails each of the acts that were performed during their showcase in March of 1956. The program begins with an excerpt from Dr. C. E. Horton himself about why students choose to be a part of the circus. He says, “Perhaps most of us have at some time or other, in fancy, projected ourselves into the arena to perform feats of daring along with those we watched and admired.”

The program credits those who were a part of the committees and officers. Then, on a two-page spread which continues onto a third, it lists the program of events. There were 21 events in total. During this performance, the service awards were presented to Glenn Switchenberg and Cynthia Harris.

The cover utilizes negative space to give the illusion of the ring being in the air. Inside the ring, the typefaces are bold and sans-serif to pair with the classic circus typeface. Throughout the program, photos of members are riddled about paired with a caption in italics. In the two-page spread, the type spreads across the fold of the program. On the final page, five students are recognized with photos of themselves in cut-out shapes of the silhouette of clowns.

This piece is held at Milner Library on the campus of Illinois State University.