Trystan Casey
Electric Circus refers to several things, including a Canadian live dance music television program, a former nightclub in New York City, an album by Common, and a group of performers in the children's television series, The Electric Company. The Electric Circus was also a nickname for the Rural Electrification Administration's (REA) giant, travelling roadshows across the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electric Circus | A Canadian live dance music television program |
| Airing time | September 16, 1988, to December 12, 2003 |
| Airing channel | MuchMusic and Citytv |
| Format | Live performances, dancers, and music |
| Electric Circus | A nightclub in New York City |
| Location | 19-25 St. Marks Place, East Village, Manhattan, New York City |
| Year | 1967 to August 1971 |
| Founders | Jerry Brandt, Stanton J. Freeman, and their partners |
| Electric Circus | An album by American rapper Common |
| Release date | December 10, 2002 |
| Record label | MCA Records |
| Genre | Hip hop, pop, rock, electronic, and neo-soul |
| Artists featured | Mary J. Blige, The Neptunes, Lætitia Sadier, CeeLo Green, J Dilla, Bilal, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu |
| Electric Circus | A division of utilization to increase demand for electricity in cooperatives |
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What You'll Learn
Electric Circus, a Canadian live dance music TV show
Electric Circus, also known as EC, is a Canadian live dance music television program that aired initially from 1988 to 2003, with additional specials in 2006, 2011, and 2012. The show was known for its flashy dancers and live performances, and it became a cultural phenomenon in Canada, with a loyal following among viewers in both Canada and the United States. The show was particularly popular among dance music fans and played a crucial role in the emergence of dance culture in Canada.
The name "Electric Circus" was inspired by a nightclub that previously occupied the same space as the Citytv studio in Toronto. The show was filmed at the MuchMusic studio on the main floor of the CHUM-City Building in Toronto, often with audiences spilling out onto Queen Street West. The show's original producer, Joel Goldberg, took a minimalist approach to the set, focusing on talented dancers and live performances. The dancers became fan favourites, and some even went on to host the show.
Electric Circus featured a mix of prerecorded music and live acts, including guest DJs. The show was initially hosted by Monika Deol and Michael Williams until 1996, followed by Juliette Powell until 2000. In the 1990s, the show underwent a significant re-imagining, with a new multi-camera film open and a new theme song, "Hang On Here We Go!". The song became so popular that a full-length version was released under the name Jet Fuel and charted on dance radio and in clubs across Canada.
Electric Circus held two concerts annually: one at Canada's Wonderland during the summer and another at Winterlude in Ottawa during the winter. The show also aired specials, such as a Halloween episode in 2012 and a New Year's Eve special in 2011. The program left a lasting impact on Canadian television and music culture, with many Canadians fondly remembering the show for its colourful fashion and energetic dance routines.
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Electric Circus, a New York City nightclub
The Electric Circus was a popular nightclub in New York City, located at 19-25 St. Marks Place between Second and Third Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. It was created by Jerry Brandt, Stanton J. Freeman, and their partners, and it operated from 1967 to August 1971. The club was known for its mix of light shows, music, circus performers, and experimental theatre, embodying the wild and creative side of 1960s club culture.
In 1966, before it became the Electric Circus, the venue was rented by artist Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey, who directed many of Warhol's films. They redecorated the interior and turned it into a nightclub with the Velvet Underground as the house band. Their performances, influenced by Warhol, featured light effects, projected movies, and photographs, creating an experience called the "Exploding Plastic Inevitable."
The Electric Circus became a popular destination for New York's creative and artistic circles, attracting a diverse crowd ranging from hippies to notable figures like Tom Wolfe and George Plimpton. It was also reportedly the first "mainstream" nightclub in NYC to openly welcome gay people, with a dedicated gay night announced in 1969.
The club featured a unique design, with walls that were not at right angles to the floor, enhancing the disorienting effect of the strobe lights and swirling crowds. Flame-throwing jugglers and trapeze artists performed between musical sets, and multiple projectors flashed images and footage from home movies. The seating was varied, with sofas provided, and the dance floor was huge.
However, by 1970, the "tune in, turn on" hippie culture was in decline, and a small bomb exploded on the dance floor, reportedly planted by a member of the Black Panther Party, injuring 15 people. The negative publicity from this event accelerated the club's decline, and it closed in August 1971. After its closure, the building no longer functioned as a regular performance space, and it was eventually renovated in 2003 into upscale apartments and retail spaces.
The Electric Circus left an impact on popular culture, with appearances in various media, including the television show "Mad Men" and Andrew Holleran's novel "Dancer from the Dance." It remains a memorable part of New York's rich nightlife history, capturing the spirit of the 1960s counterculture and creativity.
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Electric Circus, an album by Common
Electric Circus is the fifth studio album by Common, released on December 10, 2002. The album is known for its ambitious and eclectic blend of musical styles and collaborations with various artists. Common worked with a large and diverse group of musicians on Electric Circus, including Mary J. Blige, The Neptunes, Lætitia Sadier of Stereolab, CeeLo Green, J Dilla, Bilal, and Jill Scott. The album challenges the boundaries of the hip-hop genre, with tracks like the grungy "Electric Wire Hustler Flower," featuring P.O.D.'s Sonny Sandoval, the abstract "Aquarius," and the electronic "New Wave."
One of the most notable collaborations on the album is the duet with Erykah Badu on "Jimi Was A Rock Star," a dedication to Jimi Hendrix. The song also features a guest appearance by Prince on keys and guitar, adding a unique touch to the track. Electric Circus received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its artistic significance and influence on hip-hop, while others found it challenging to combine disparate elements cohesively. Despite the initial criticism, the album has gained a cult following and is now considered a classic in the hip-hop genre.
The album cover of Electric Circus is a collage of faces, both famous and unknown, staring out alongside Common himself. The artwork draws parallels with The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, with its ambitious scale and similar typeface. The album's lack of promotion and underperformance in the charts led to low sales, with only 295,000 copies sold according to 2005 Nielsen SoundScan statistics. However, Electric Circus has since been reappraised, with critics acknowledging its impact on the evolution of black popular music and hip-hop.
Electric Circus has also been credited for its influence on subsequent albums by artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Mos Def, pushing the boundaries of hip-hop and demonstrating its limitless potential. The album's recording atmosphere at the famous Electric Lady Studios, built by Jimi Hendrix, also contributed to its unique sound and creative energy. Common's relationship with Erykah Badu and the group of artists he collaborated with at the time, including The Roots, D'Angelo, and Mos Def, further shaped the album's direction and influence.
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Electric Circus, a band on The Electric Company TV show
There are several groups named the Electric Circus, including a Canadian live dance music television program, a nightclub in New York City, and a band on the children's television series The Electric Company.
The Electric Circus was a Canadian live dance music television program that aired on MuchMusic and Citytv from September 16, 1988, to December 12, 2003. The show featured flashy dancers who became fan favorites and often performed live on the CHUM-City Building rooftop in Toronto, with the surrounding neighborhood becoming part of the set. The show had a loyal following, especially among dance music fans, and a Francophone version was also broadcast live from Montreal.
The Electric Circus was also the name of a nightclub located in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, from 1967 to August 1971. The club embodied the wild and creative side of 1960s club culture, featuring a mix of light shows, music, circus performers, and experimental theater. However, its decline began when a small bomb exploded on the dance floor in March 1970, and it closed a year and a half later.
The Electric Circus was also a band featured in the children's television series The Electric Company, which aired from 1971 to 1977. The band, called The Short Circus, was a fake band consisting of 11- to 17-year-olds, with June Angela as the only member to stay for the entire series. Their songs were introduced by Mel Mounds (Morgan Freeman), a DJ who described their music as "righteous, brighteous, and way outta-sighteous!". The Short Circus had songs like "An E on the End - Plan/Plane" and "Poison", and their name is a pun on the term "short circuit" relating to electricity.
In summary, there have been multiple groups called the Electric Circus, including a Canadian television program, a New York City nightclub, and a band on The Electric Company TV show. The Electric Company's Electric Circus, also known as The Short Circus, was a memorable part of the educational children's series, with their songs and performances adding a unique and entertaining element to the show's approach to teaching reading skills.
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Electric Circus, a roadshow run by the REA
In 1935, only 10% of farms in the U.S. had electricity. To address this issue, the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was formed to educate farmers, provide loans for cooperative utilities, and disseminate information about electricity and its uses. The REA set up a division of utilization to increase demand for electricity in cooperatives, which included activities such as customer engagement, product promotion, and financing for appliance purchases.
One of the most notable initiatives of the REA was the Electric Circus, a travelling roadshow that toured the country. Officially named the Electric Farm Equipment Roadshow, it ran from 1939 to 1941 and was designed to encourage families, particularly rural farm women, to adopt electrical appliances and equipment in their homes and on their farms. The roadshow featured a mix of entertainment and product demonstrations, with the participation of government and private manufacturing companies.
The Electric Circus consisted of a caravan with five trailers operated by the government and about fifteen more trailer vehicles owned by private manufacturers. These private companies showcased their electrical products and appliances, while state universities and agricultural colleges displayed homemade devices that utilized electricity, such as chick-brooders, hotbeds, and portable electric motor rigs. The roadshow offered a fun and interactive way to promote the use of electricity and modern appliances in rural areas.
The impact of the Electric Circus was significant. Analyses found that cooperatives within range of the roadshow increased their annual electricity consumption by 64-90 kWh per customer more than those that were too far away. The Electric Circus played a crucial role in increasing demand for electricity and improving access to modern appliances in rural communities across the country.
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