20 High-Flying Photos Of Old-School Acrobats

Carly Tennes Published 10/07/2024 in wow

For as long as we've had bodies, we've been using them in incredible ways. Case in point? These iconic old-school acrobats, who flipped, swung, and pirouetted their way through life.

From young Japanese gymnasts to performers balancing atop the Empire State Building, here are 20 high-flying photographs of old-school acrobats.

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1.
“My friends grandfather and his twin brother showing their acrobatic skills at the top of the pyramid (1954).”
2.
“Acrobats, Japan, 1880s.”
3.
“Circus acrobats in London, 1953.”
4.
“My mom and aunt were acrobats and contortionists. When I was young there were lots of pictures of them performing, this is the only one I've dug up so far. Circa 1954.”
5.
“My bada— grandfather showing off his acrobatic skills to impress girls, 1950s.”
6.
“Trapeze, 1950s.”
7.
“John Lennon and his son Julian watch a trapeze artist at the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll circus along with Yoko Ono, Brian Jones, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Eric Clapton. 1968.”
8.
“My grandpa performing his solo trapeze act circa 1965, 5 years before experiencing a fatal fall while performing the same routine.”
9.
“Although This Photo Looks Photoshopped, This Is Actually Real!!! Aerial Acrobatics, 1925.”
10.
“Having a smoke during trapeze practice in 1949.”
11.
“French acrobat Charles Blondin crossing the Niagara falls, circa 1859.”
12.
“Acrobat Hans Prignitz does a handstand on top of St Michaelis Church in Hamburg - 1948.”
13.
“French acrobat Philippe Petit balances on a tightrope strung between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, 1974.”
14.
“Actress Venetia Stevenson watches as acrobat and actor Russ Tamblyn, father of actress Amber Tamblyn, does a flip on the sidewalk, c. 1950s.”
15.
“Acrobat dad entertaining his daughter, 1940.”
16.
“Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”
17.
“My Great Grand Mother, early 1900’s, an equestrian/acrobat for Barnum & Bailey Circus.”  
18.
“Acrobats Balance On Top Of The Empire State Building, 1934.”
19.
“Acrobats in Japan. ca. 1900.”
20.
“My acrobatically skilled grandfather lifting my mother in 1958.”

1.
“My friends grandfather and his twin brother showing their acrobatic skills at the top of the pyramid (1954).”
2.
“Acrobats, Japan, 1880s.”
3.
“Circus acrobats in London, 1953.”
4.
“My mom and aunt were acrobats and contortionists. When I was young there were lots of pictures of them performing, this is the only one I've dug up so far. Circa 1954.”
5.
“My bada— grandfather showing off his acrobatic skills to impress girls, 1950s.”
6.
“Trapeze, 1950s.”
7.
“John Lennon and his son Julian watch a trapeze artist at the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll circus along with Yoko Ono, Brian Jones, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Eric Clapton. 1968.”
8.
“My grandpa performing his solo trapeze act circa 1965, 5 years before experiencing a fatal fall while performing the same routine.”
9.
“Although This Photo Looks Photoshopped, This Is Actually Real!!! Aerial Acrobatics, 1925.”
10.
“Having a smoke during trapeze practice in 1949.”
11.
“French acrobat Charles Blondin crossing the Niagara falls, circa 1859.”
12.
“Acrobat Hans Prignitz does a handstand on top of St Michaelis Church in Hamburg - 1948.”
13.
“French acrobat Philippe Petit balances on a tightrope strung between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, 1974.”
14.
“Actress Venetia Stevenson watches as acrobat and actor Russ Tamblyn, father of actress Amber Tamblyn, does a flip on the sidewalk, c. 1950s.”
15.
“Acrobat dad entertaining his daughter, 1940.”
16.
“Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”
17.
“My Great Grand Mother, early 1900’s, an equestrian/acrobat for Barnum & Bailey Circus.”  
18.
“Acrobats Balance On Top Of The Empire State Building, 1934.”
19.
“Acrobats in Japan. ca. 1900.”
20.
“My acrobatically skilled grandfather lifting my mother in 1958.”

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1. “My friends grandfather and his twin brother showing their acrobatic skills at the top of the pyramid (1954).”

2. “Acrobats, Japan, 1880s.”

3. “Circus acrobats in London, 1953.”

4. “My mom and aunt were acrobats and contortionists. When I was young there were lots of pictures of them performing, this is the only one I've dug up so far. Circa 1954.”

5. “My bada— grandfather showing off his acrobatic skills to impress girls, 1950s.”

6. “Trapeze, 1950s.”

7. “John Lennon and his son Julian watch a trapeze artist at the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll circus along with Yoko Ono, Brian Jones, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Eric Clapton. 1968.”

8. “My grandpa performing his solo trapeze act circa 1965, 5 years before experiencing a fatal fall while performing the same routine.”

9. “Although This Photo Looks Photoshopped, This Is Actually Real!!! Aerial Acrobatics, 1925.”

10. “Having a smoke during trapeze practice in 1949.”

11. “French acrobat Charles Blondin crossing the Niagara falls, circa 1859.”

12. “Acrobat Hans Prignitz does a handstand on top of St Michaelis Church in Hamburg - 1948.”

13. “French acrobat Philippe Petit balances on a tightrope strung between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, 1974.”

14. “Actress Venetia Stevenson watches as acrobat and actor Russ Tamblyn, father of actress Amber Tamblyn, does a flip on the sidewalk, c. 1950s.”

15. “Acrobat dad entertaining his daughter, 1940.”

16. “Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”

17. “My Great Grand Mother, early 1900’s, an equestrian/acrobat for Barnum & Bailey Circus.”

18. “Acrobats Balance On Top Of The Empire State Building, 1934.”

19. “Acrobats in Japan. ca. 1900.”

20. “My acrobatically skilled grandfather lifting my mother in 1958.”

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eBaum's Picks

1.
“My friends grandfather and his twin brother showing their acrobatic skills at the top of the pyramid (1954).”

2.
“Acrobats, Japan, 1880s.”

3.
“Circus acrobats in London, 1953.”

4.
“My mom and aunt were acrobats and contortionists. When I was young there were lots of pictures of them performing, this is the only one I've dug up so far. Circa 1954.”

5.
“My bada— grandfather showing off his acrobatic skills to impress girls, 1950s.”

6.
“Trapeze, 1950s.”

7.
“John Lennon and his son Julian watch a trapeze artist at the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll circus along with Yoko Ono, Brian Jones, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Eric Clapton. 1968.”

8.
“My grandpa performing his solo trapeze act circa 1965, 5 years before experiencing a fatal fall while performing the same routine.”

9.
“Although This Photo Looks Photoshopped, This Is Actually Real!!! Aerial Acrobatics, 1925.”

10.
“Having a smoke during trapeze practice in 1949.”

11.
“French acrobat Charles Blondin crossing the Niagara falls, circa 1859.”

12.
“Acrobat Hans Prignitz does a handstand on top of St Michaelis Church in Hamburg - 1948.”

13.
“French acrobat Philippe Petit balances on a tightrope strung between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, 1974.”

14.
“Actress Venetia Stevenson watches as acrobat and actor Russ Tamblyn, father of actress Amber Tamblyn, does a flip on the sidewalk, c. 1950s.”

15.
“Acrobat dad entertaining his daughter, 1940.”

16.
“Circus acrobat in New York City - 1950s.”

17.
“My Great Grand Mother, early 1900’s, an equestrian/acrobat for Barnum & Bailey Circus.”  

18.
“Acrobats Balance On Top Of The Empire State Building, 1934.”

19.
“Acrobats in Japan. ca. 1900.”

20.
“My acrobatically skilled grandfather lifting my mother in 1958.”