From the time I was 7 or 8 years old, we were the roughest…
“From the time I was 7 or 8 years old, we were the roughest knockabout act that ever was in the history of the theater, not only in the United States but all over Europe as well. We used to get arrested every other week--that is, the old man would get arrested. The first crack out of the box here in New York state, the Keith office raised my age two years, because the original law said that no child under 5 could even look at the audience, let alone do anything. So they said I was 7. And the law read that a child can't do acrobatics, can't walk a wire, can't juggle--a lot of those things--but there was nothing said in the law that you can't kick him in the face or throw him through a piece of scenery. On that technicality, we were allowed to work, although we'd get called into court every other week, see.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He describes early circus life, legal loopholes, and constant arrests, illustrating the chaotic, risky nature of early performance art.
In simple terms: Early show business was dangerous, illegal, and full of loopholes.
Key Takeaway
Respect the risks of creative pursuits.
Themes
performance art
law
risk
Mood
cynical
energetic
Type
historical
entertainment
When to use this quote
- stagecraft
- legal advocacy
- historical entertainment
Key Concepts
child labor
entertainment law
circus culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern professions face similar legal gray areas?
- How do artists balance safety and authenticity?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizes hardship without acknowledging exploitation.