Many circuses and live shows have a ringmaster as a central figure. The ringmaster, who also serves as a master of ceremonies, speaks directly to the audience and acts as a guide throughout the show. Ringmasters, like ancient heralds, are known for giving lengthy introductory speeches designed to enthrall the audience and create a dramatic atmosphere.
The traditional layout of a circus arena includes several staging areas, often ring-shaped, where various acts perform. Having multiple stages allows the show to run smoothly because one act can be setting up, another performing, and yet another breaking down or shutting down equipment all at the same time. By narrating or commenting on the performance, the ringmaster aids in drawing the audience’s attention to the currently performing act.
The ringmaster of a circus is easily identified his or her distinctive attire. Many ringmasters have worn a formal and attention-getting costume that includes a large top hat, gloves, and a formal coat with coattails since the early twentieth century. Some historians believe the great George Claude Lockhart, a famous ringmaster with the Blackpool circus in England, started the trend. The coat is frequently bright and gaudy in color; Lockhart famously wore a pink coat, while other ringmasters wear red, bright blue, or green, with sequins or other glittering fabrics adorning the coat.
Ringmasters can be male or female, but the master of ceremonies is almost always depicted as a man with a strange mustache in circus iconography. Two long locks of hair are grown over the top lip, parted just above the center of the lips, and combed outward in this style known as a handlebar mustache. The origin of this style is unknown, but it could be traced back to Renaissance Italian theater, where clown characters wore brightly colored outfits and frequently sported a handlebar mustache.
Although ringmasters are most commonly associated with circuses, they also work in other types of shows. A ringmaster assists judges and officials throughout an equestrian show. The ringmaster of a horse show, like a stage manager in a play, keeps the action moving ensuring that each new class is ready on time and that each arena is properly prepared for the upcoming event. Some historians believe that George Claude Lockhart’s outfit was inspired equestrian ringmasters wearing a costume similar to that of a circus master of ceremonies.