perform.

Spec — Short for "spectacle", also called the "grand entry" or "production number". A flashy parade around the inside of the big top. It is generally presented first, or just before intermission. Appearing in the spec would be all the artists in full regalia, plus fancy wagons and displays and even giant character costumes.

Spec Girls — S howgirls who appear in the spec.

Splash Boards — Decorated boards, sometimes detachable, around the bottom edge of wagons used in parades.

Spool Truck, Spool Wagon — Truck which carries the tent canvas.

Sp reading the Rag — Laying out the canvas of the big top preparatory to raising it.

Stake Bites — The ankle wounds inflicted by the heads of metal stakes that you walk into while crossing the lot in the dark. Theworst ones are inflicted by stakes with the heads split and cracked and flattened to razor-sharpness by mallets.

Stalls — The medium cost seats in the auditorium. A less-favorable viewing position to the left and the right of the grandstand.

Stand — Any town where the circus plays, as in 'one-night stand.' Didn't know you were using show talk whilst discussing last night's date, did you?

Star Backs — More expensive seats (usually indicated by painted stars on the seat backs).

"Stars and Stripes Forever" — Also known as "the disaster march", the band reserved this Sousa march as a signal that an emergency had come up, calling for the clowns to come running out, directing public attention away from the emergency, or for the audience to be evacuated.

St. Louis — Doubles