In 1972, six months after President Nixon’s historic trip to Moscow, the Soviets sent an envoy of their own to America. The Moscow Circus, a one-ring affair featuring all manner of weight lifters, jugglers, acrobats and tightrope walkers, performed in November at Madison Square Garden in a theater then known as the Felt Forum.
“The artists of the Moscow Circus are glad to griiit you,” said the opening announcer in a thick Russian accent. But after the dry formalities, a truly stunning show unfolded. A man balancing a teetering stack of cylinders and a Japanese fan dancer on a tightrope, for instance, were just the beginning. Horseback riders, Cossacks known for their equestrian and military skill, stood atop galloping steeds as they raced around the floor. And bears performed tricks from roller skating to riding a tandem bicycle.
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