Circus performer, film actor, People's Artist of the USSR, who is rightfully considered one of the leading representatives of Russian culture of the twentieth century, Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin was born on December 18, 1921 in the city of Demidov, Smolensk region. Father, Vladimir Andreevich Nikulin, wrote sketches, reprises, and clowneries for the circus and stage. He organized the traveling theater "Terevyum" (Theater of Revolutionary Humor) in Demidov.
Mom Lidia Ivanovna sang verses in this theater. After moving to Moscow in 1925, Vladimir Andreevich worked as a journalist for the publications Gudok and Izvestia, and led a drama club at school, where Nikulin Jr. studied, who at that time dreamed of singing in jazz, like Leonid Utesov.
In November 1939, after graduating from school, Yuri Nikulin was drafted into the army and sent to serve in anti-aircraft artillery. He served for seven years from private to senior sergeant, took part in the Finnish war, went through the entire Great Patriotic War, defended Leningrad, liberated the Baltic states, was shell-shocked in 1943.
After being demobilized in 1946, Yuri Vladimirovich decided to become an artist. He took exams at VGIK (All-Union State Institute of Cinematography) and GITIS (State Institute Theater Arts), to the Shchepkin Theater School, but was not accepted anywhere. After these unsuccessful attempts, he entered the conversation studio at the Moscow Circus, from which he graduated in 1949. At the beginning of his circus career, Yuri Nikulin performed at the Moscow State Circus in a group of clowns under the direction of the famous clown Karandash (N. Rumyantsev). Then it started independent work; he began performing with his regular partner Mikhail Shuidin. Their creative duo became famous throughout the world. Sometimes they were joined by Tatyana Nikulina, the wife of Yuri Vladimirovich (later she more than once worked as his “decoy duck”). The unforgettable “Scene on a Horse”, “Log”, “Thorns and Roses”, etc. and the image created by the great artist remained in the memory of the audience: an imperturbable man in short striped trousers and huge boots in a black jacket, white shirt, tie and boater hat . For my long life in the arena, Yuri Nikulin created many unique reprises, sketches and pantomimes.
In 1981, Yuri Nikulin stopped performing in the arena and two years later became the artistic director and director of the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard.
At the age of 37, Yuri Nikulin made his film debut; he starred in the crowd of the film “The Russian Question”, portrayed an American, but the footage with his participation was cut out.
In 1958, Yuri Nikulin starred for the first time in an episodic but effective role in the comedy “Girl with a Guitar”; the following year he played the role of a drunkard and parasite in the comedy “Unyielding”. However, 1961 was a landmark year for Yuri Nikulin, when he starred in Leonid Gaidai’s short story “Dog Barbos and the Unusual Cross,” in which the legendary comic trio was born - Coward (Georgy Vitsin), Dunce (Nikulin) and Experienced (Evgeny Morgunov).
Later he starred in more than forty films, playing both brightly comedic and dramatic and truly tragic roles: “When the Trees Were Big” (1962), “Business People” (1963), “Young Green” (1962), “Give me a book of complaints” (1965), “Come to me, Mukhtar!” (1965), “Operation “Y” and other adventures of Shurik” (1965), “Prisoner of the Caucasus” (1967), “The Diamond Arm” (1969), “The Twelve Chairs” (1971), “Old Robbers” (1972) , “They Fought for the Motherland” (1975), “Twenty Days Without War” (1977), “Scarecrow” (1984), “Circus for My Grandchildren” (1990), etc.
The unusually complex image of the monk Patrikey was revealed by the actor in just a few minutes of screen time in Andrei Tarkovsky's film "Andrei Rublev."
All his life, Yu. Nikulin collected and loved to tell jokes; he published popular “anecdotes from Nikulin” in a number of publications and appeared on TV in the 1990s as the host of the humorous program “White Parrot.” He is the author of the books “Almost Seriously”, “999 Anecdotes from Nikulin”.
In 1973, Yuri Nikulin was awarded the title " National artist USSR", in 1970 he became a laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR.
On August 21, 1997, Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin died in the hospital due to complications after heart surgery.
In June 1999, a monument by sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov was unveiled at the grave at Novodevichy Cemetery. And in September 2000, near the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard (now named after Nikulin), where Yuri Vladimirovich worked and which is now headed by his son, a bronze monument was erected to a man whose calling was to bring joy and warmth to people. Sculptor Yuri Rukavishnikov cast in bronze the famous convertible from “Prisoner of the Caucasus” (in a slightly reduced scale), from the back door of which Yuri Nikulin in his short clown jacket and boater hat emerges directly onto the sidewalk.
In one of his interviews, he shared that, despite the fact that in the very name of the circus one can see some disparaging connotations, people voluntarily go into this profession, remaining in it forever and risking their own lives 5-6 times a day. Therefore, with some trepidation, he calls such people abnormal, with some deviation from generally accepted norms. They absolutely consciously live in constant extreme sports, which they do not do for the sake of courage. For them, this is just a job they love. So, Maxim Nikulin, the son of the great actor, Yuri Nikulin, who worked for many years as the director of the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard.
He and his father tried to make it so familiar and even familiar to the audience that each of them could say: “Yes, this is my circus.”
Childhood of the clown's son
Joy came to the family of Tatyana Nikolaevna and Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin: on November 15, 1956, their son Maxim was born. Although he grew up in a family of very famous parents, he studied at a very ordinary school. Like the rest of the kids, Maxim could act out, get a bad grade, or even break the glass in the window. And then the teachers used their favorite technique against the disobedient schoolchild: they threatened to write a letter to dad on tour. The boy, of course, understood that they would never do this, if only because his father was wandering around the country and, in general, there was nowhere to write. But still, just in case, he changed his behavior for the better.
Of course, Maxim Nikulin experienced some lack of parental warmth and attention, because for a whole year he saw his dad and mom, if you add up all the days when they lived together, about a couple of months. Already as an adult, he even joked about this, saying that he was born when his dad was on the set, and he was lucky that his mother was nearby.
Mother
Tatyana Nikolaevna and Yuri Vladimirovich were nearby almost constantly. And she became a clown so that she could be with her husband at work. True, this is not the only reason. Another motivating factor was that Tatyana Vladimirovna really liked it. After all, the circus can never leave anyone indifferent. It can either completely push away or attract. Forever. But the career was, oddly enough, a secondary point. Yes, it is clear that she did not want to leave her husband for a long time, because she understood: frequent filming and touring could shake the strong foundation of their family.
But there was also reverse side medals. Husband's opinion. Maxim Nikulin said that dad, being very gifted and talented person, understood that his wife would never make a great, serious actress. He loved her very much, respected and appreciated her. Therefore, I could not allow my mother to become a very mediocre actress.
Dad
Talking about his father, Nikulin Maxim Yuryevich recalls one incident with great respect and special warmth. When he was still studying at primary school, then he ended up in the hospital: the boy had quite serious problems with his kidneys. Maxim went through several operations, after one of which he was left with a single kidney. He was treated for 4 whole months. And the doctors later admitted that there were several days when they were not sure that the child would survive. Yuri Vladimirovich was on tour during these months. He had to go out to the circus arena every day and give smiles to the audience.
And after each performance, when you could see tears of laughter on people’s faces in the hall, Nikulin Sr., going backstage, rushed to the phone to find out how his son was doing, if he was alive. It was a very difficult period in his life.
Continuation of dad's life
And now, eighteen years after his death, Maxim Nikulin (unlike many other children of famous parents of different ages) is never offended if journalists ask more about his father and not about him. He is aware that he cannot be an equivalent, adequate replacement for his famous father.
On the other hand, he is convinced that any person will live as long as he is remembered. And since today millions of people with undying interest watch films with the participation of Yuri Nikulin, review his circus performances, read his old interviews and memories of his colleagues and associates in magazines and the Internet, the great comedian and actor continues to live.
Choice of profession
Being a “carpet child,” that is, as they say, born in circus sawdust, Nikulin’s son Maksim simply had to follow in the footsteps of his parents. Moreover, as a teenager, he made his debut in a film that is part of the treasury of Soviet cinema, “The Diamond Arm.” And yet, having his father before his eyes as a magnitude that is almost impossible to achieve, he became neither an actor nor a clown. Maxim did not want to become a fake copy of his father. And besides, he had neither a craving for publicity nor a desire to become an actor. And he chose his profession - journalism - on the advice of a friend.
Labor path
Initially, Maxim Nikulin, whose biography was of interest to fans of his father’s talent almost from birth, studied full-time, and later transferred to evening classes and decided to look for interesting job. What he found suited him perfectly: Moskovsky Komsomolets, an excellent young team, a wonderful atmosphere, everyone is ready to work seven days a week. But with the arrival of the new editor-in-chief, Maxim was laid off. After two unemployed months, he got a job as a junior editor at Mayak radio. And I am still sure that the time spent there is not only serious, good job, but also a useful period for himself, because with the rest of the employees he was obliged to attend weekly classes on speech techniques and seminars on the Russian language. The entire team was given voices and taught to speak correctly and literary by teachers and announcers. And the mistakes that were made by adult students were later sorted out at training sessions. And today Maxim Yuryevich is very surprised that any person can walk into the studio straight from the street and sit down in the broadcast studio, starting a conversation with TV viewers.
Since 1985, he began working at Ostankino as a special correspondent. A little later he was a commentator, correspondent, and presenter of programs.
Somewhat later, Maxim Nikulin’s life took a turn in such a way that he finally came to the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The deputy director of the circus was killed. decided that he had no right to risk the lives of other people and asked his son to help him on a voluntary basis in resolving some issues. After all, he (Nikulin Sr.), as an exceptionally creative person, had difficulty solving financial problems, including various agreements, contracts, and projects. Gradually, Maxim began to understand the whole circus paperwork quite well. And in 1994, the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard acquired a new managing director. Maxim, leaving Channel One, where he hosted the morning news program “Vremya” for several years, officially said goodbye to his viewers, announcing that he would no longer host this program. Since then he has been in the circus. And in 1997, after the death of his father, he became general director and artistic director
Families, wives, children...
There is probably not a single person on the territory of the former Soviet Union who does not know the surname Nikulin. When people hear it, very warm memories and impressions awaken in everyone’s soul. After all, Yuri Nikulin is a kind movie, a circus that welcomes everyone, smiles and kindness. That is why many are interested in his son, Maxim Nikulin.
His family was created three times. He first married very young, at 18 years old. True, family happiness did not last long. Already at 19, Maxim again hurried to the registry office, but this time to get a divorce. The second family lasted a little longer. And in this marriage the daughter of Maxim Yuryevich was born. But this did not save the couple. A divorce followed. In the third marriage - with Maria Nikulina - two sons were born: Yura and Maxim.
Actor and circus figure Yuri Nikulin is a man whose name is forever inextricably linked with Soviet cinema, who became a legend during his lifetime. He had an innate talent for making people laugh, and therefore most often appeared on screen in the form of comedic characters. However, dramatic roles were also excellent for the actor. Many years have passed since the actor passed away, but in the hearts of millions of fans he is still alive - after all, his roles in numerous films that we are reviewing are alive - these are the comedies of Leonid Gaidai and Eldar Ryazanov, “They Fought for the Motherland” by Sergei Bondarchuk, Andrei Rublev by Andrei Tarkovsky and many others.Childhood and youth
The future great actor was born on December 18, 1921 in the small town of Demidov, Smolensk region. His father, Vladimir Andreevich (b. 1898), a Muscovite and lawyer by training, after the revolution he joined the army and served near Smolensk, where his relatives lived. Shortly before the end of his service, he met a local actress drama theater Lydia Ivanovna (born 1902). They got married, the young man got a job as an actor in the same theater. Later he founded the mobile theater "Terevyum", which meant "theater of revolutionary humor." 
When the boy turned 4, the family moved to Moscow - to the 15th house of Tokmakov Lane. The head of the family got busy literary activity: wrote programs for variety acts, worked as a journalist. Lidia Ivanovna did not work, she did housework. Twice a week the Nikulins always went to the theater, after which they talked about what they saw.
In 1929, the boy went to first grade. He did not show any particular interest in studies, but enjoyed playing in the school drama club, which was led by his father. On this stage, Yura received his first acting experience. He also tried himself in writing. One day, a story he wrote won second place in a regional competition. The prize was a meeting with Arkady Gaidar, but due to a sore throat, Yura could not come. And when at the age of 15 he saw the film “Modern Times” with Charlie Chaplin, he fell ill with cinema.
In 1939, Yuri graduated from school, but did not receive a matriculation certificate - he failed drawing. Later, he finally passed the exam, and in the fall, in accordance with the decree on universal conscription, he joined the army.
Life at the front
The unit where Nikulin served was located near Leningrad. At first, a skinny, tall, awkward guy in an oversized overcoat was the cause of general merriment, but the recruit knew how to laugh at himself, so the mockery quickly stopped. Every week he received many letters from his parents and other relatives - so many had never been written to any soldier in the company. 
Only a month of Nikulin’s army life had passed when the Finnish War began. Yuri wrote a statement: “I want to go into battle as a volunteer.” There were 7 ahead for long years in soldier's boots, an overcoat, with a weapon in his hands. In March 1940, hostilities with our northern neighbor ended, but military training, exercises, and political information classes continued. And then came June 22, 1941. For the first two years of the war, Nikulin fought as part of the 115th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment and earned the rank of senior sergeant. After hospitalization due to pneumonia, he was transferred to another regiment, but Nikulin never arrived at his new destination - on the way he was concussed by an exploding shell. Having recovered from his injury, Yuri arrived at the 72nd Anti-Aircraft Division near Kolpino.
I can't say that I am one of the brave people. No, I was scared. It's all about how this fear manifests itself. Some of them had hysterics - they cried, screamed, and ran away. Others bore everything outwardly calmly.
Only on May 18, 1946, a year after the end of the war, Yuri was demobilized from the army. Memories of hunger, cold, killed comrades. However, the moments he experienced only confirmed his thirst for life and determination in choosing his future path in life.Nikulin and the circus
After demobilization, Nikulin submitted documents to VGIK, but was refused at the final stage. The admissions committee considered him not handsome enough for cinema and advised him to enter a theater school. But neither GITIS nor Shchepka accepted him, as did several schools of a lower rank. He had already given up, but remembered the advice that was given to him during an audition at GITIS by then still aspiring director Anatoly Efros, who suggested that in case of failure the applicant should try his luck in the theater studio of the Noginsk Theater. The advice helped - the director of the theater, Konstantin Voinov, saw something in Nikulin and accepted him. 
However, already in September, Yura was fired up with a new idea - he was lured by the circus with its bright lights. Mom had doubts - the theater seemed to her a much more noble cause, but her father, who saw his charm in the profession of a circus performer, gave the go-ahead. Nikulin entered the circus studio at the Moscow Circus, where the famous clown Karandash was a mentor, without any problems, and graduated in 1948 with a clown diploma. At the “big arena” he first performed in a duet with his friend Boris Romanov. Nikulin’s father wrote the first sketches for young artists.
Soon Romanov left the circus. Mikhail Shuidin became Nikulin’s new partner. The comrades appeared on stage together for 30 long years.
Yuri Nikulin and Mikhail Shuidin. Miniature "Horses"
In 1950, Nikulin left the Karandash troupe, as his faithful partner Shuidin began to conflict with his boss. Both were simply tired of the aggressive, capricious Rumyantsev, who could lash out at his subordinates at any moment. And just a year later, the duo, together with the sketch “Little Pierre”, written by Yuri’s father, visited abroad for the first time. In the story, a little French boy was putting up opposition leaflets, and the unlucky police officers played by Nikulin and Shuidin caught him. The duo's success infuriated their former employer.
First film roles
In 1949, Nikulin was invited to a screen test - director Konstantin Yudin was thinking of casting him for the role of a cowardly German in his Eastern film “Brave People.” This is how the clown visited the Mosfilm studio for the first time. But either the director didn’t like the auditions, or this character was cut from the script - this was the end of Yuri’s participation in Yudin’s project. And later he found out that Grigory Shpigel was approved for this role.Nikulin’s film debut took place only 9 years later in the film “Girl with a Guitar,” where he played the role of a would-be pyrotechnician who almost burned down a store. Despite his very small role, the actor was well remembered by the audience. And in 1959, the actor made his mark with the role of the rogue Albert Klyachkin in the film “The Unyielding” about difficult youth. And although he had disagreements with the director in the vision of his hero - one saw Klyachkin as a kind of shirt-guy, and the other as a phlegmatic cynic, and in general the aspiring actor did not like this experience, as Nikulin later recalled, everything looked wonderful on the screen.
In 1960, director Eldar Ryazanov drew attention to the actor. Nikulin began filming his film “The Man from Nowhere,” but due to bureaucratic delays, production was postponed for a year, the actors were replaced, Nikulin’s character, a dysfunctional young man named Prosha, was given to Sergei Yursky.
Meet Gaidai
But every cloud has a silver lining. In those days, one of Nikulin's performances was attended by Georgy Vitsin. Almost tearing his stomach from laughter, the next day he told about the talented comedian to director Leonid Gaidai, who was filming the short film “Dog Barbos and the Unusual Cross” about the adventures of a dog and a trio of criminals - Coward, Dunce and Experienced. Initially, Sergei Filippov was supposed to play the Goonie, but he went on tour with the theater. As soon as Gaidai saw Nikulin, he immediately said: “Well, there’s no need to look for the Goonie. Nikulin is what you need.” 
The film told the story of poachers who decided to stun fish with dynamite. Unfortunately for them, a dog decided to play with a stick of dynamite, bringing it back to the trio every time. After the premiere of the short film as part of the film almanac “Quite Seriously,” the trio Vitsin – Nikulin – Morgunov became extremely fond of the Soviet audience, and in 1962 a sequel, “Moonshiners,” followed. This time, the criminal elements decided to make money by making moonshine, but the dog that appeared in their forest house again confused all the cards.
Between Gaidai's short films, Nikulin played main role in the drama “When the Trees Were Big” and proved that he was capable of dramatic roles. He played Kuzma Iordanov, a man who became an alcoholic after the death of his wife and decided to adopt an orphan. It is noteworthy that the director of the film had not seen a single role of Nikulin before, but watched his performances in the circus. And while working on the film, it was decided to give Nikulin a beard to better fit into the character. So, by his fortieth birthday, Nikulin, who had already won the status of a recognized circus star, also became a cinema star.
After this, minor but striking roles followed: in Alexander Mitta’s film “Without Fear and Reproach” he played essentially himself – a clown; in Gaidai’s comedy “Business People” he played a robber in the short story “Kindred Souls”. Nikulin took part in the filming of the film magazine “Wick” (short film “Stuck”).
Yuri Nikulin in the film magazine “Wick” (“Stuck”, 1962)
After this, the circus artist began to receive filming offers regularly. The films “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, “Operation “Y””, “Come to me, Mukhtar!”, “The Diamond Arm”, “Seven Old Men and One Girl”, “They Fought for the Motherland”, and many others became classics of Soviet cinema and before are still favorite films for millions of people in all corners of the former USSR. Thanks to his film roles, Yuri Nikulin became popular in all republics Soviet Union, and also received countless different awards, including the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1973.
Nikulin in a new era
In the 80s, Nikulin almost did not act. An exception was Rolan Bykov’s school drama “Scarecrow” with young Kristina Orbakaite, where the actor appeared in the image of an unsociable grandfather main character. Nikulin's last film role was as a circus director (and voiceover) in the 1991 film Captain Crocus. 
In the early nineties, Yuri Vladimirovich made his mark as a TV presenter. From 1993 to 1997, he hosted the humorous program “White Parrot” on the ORT channel, and was also a regular participant in the project “Ships Came into Our Harbor.”
"White Parrot" with Yuri Nikulin
Yuri Nikulin also wrote several autobiographies and acted as a compiler of collections of jokes. The artist’s most popular works among readers are the memoirs “Almost Seriously” and “Seven Long Years.” The first book tells about the underbelly of cinema, the second - about the front-line years of the actor.
Personal life of Yuri Nikulin
Yuri fell in love for the first time at school. Being an awkward 13-year-old youth, he did not dare to confess his feelings to his peer who had sunk into his soul. Later, while he was a soldier, he began a relationship with a girl named Rita. She waited for him from the front, but as soon as Yuri proposed marriage to her, she admitted that she was in love with the pilot. It must be said that Rita’s relationship with another man did not work out, but with Yuri they maintained friendly relations until the end of their lives. 
In the winter of 1949, the actor, who was taking his first steps on the professional circus stage, met Tatyana Pokrovskaya, a student at the Timiryazev Academy, who was 8 years younger than the artist. She was fond of equestrian sports, and one of the horses, Tatyana’s favorite, was needed by the clown Karandash, under whom Nikulin was working at that time. At the performance that the girl came to watch, the horse showed temper and trampled the clown. Tatyana felt guilty and for a month regularly went to visit Yuri in the hospital. Soon the artist proposed to his beloved.
Nina Grebeshkova, Tatyana's classmate, was surprised when she saw Nikulin next to her school friend - it was strange for her that such beautiful woman chose such an unsightly life partner. And she didn’t even suspect that she would play his wife in “The Diamond Arm.” For Tatyana herself, her husband’s appearance was not important - Yuri conquered her with his charisma and charm from the first minutes of their acquaintance.
Yuri Nikulin with his son Maxim (1962)
The couple lived together for 47 years until the death of Yuri Vladimirovich in 1997. According to the recollections of loved ones, they lived in perfect harmony, sharing all the hardships and joys between them. Tatyana died in October 2014 at the age of 86.
Death and memory
The exhausting schedule undermined the artist’s health. By the age of 70, he had diabetes, problems with blood vessels and liver, and pain in the lungs. In the summer of 1997, unbearable pain in my heart was added to this list. The examination showed blockage of the main heart vessels. They began to prepare the actor for the operation, which, due to many complications, promised to be a difficult test for both the doctors and Nikulin. However, the artist went to the operation with a light heart. 
Up to a certain point everything went well, but just before the final, what the doctors feared most happened - the heart of the people's idol stopped. They managed to launch it, but for about half an hour Yuri was in a state of clinical death. Half an hour on the verge of life and death - internal organs began to fail. For the next 16 days, doctors fought for Nikulin’s life, but on August 21, at 10 am, his heart stopped forever. Thousands of people attended the memorial service for the actor, including President Boris Yeltsin. The artist was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.
In memory of the great artist, memorial plaques and monuments in his honor were erected in different cities of Russia. In particular, these can be found in Khabarovsk, Kursk, Irkutsk, Sochi and in the actor’s hometown of Demidov. The circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard is named in his honor, with which for a long time the life and fate of the actor was connected. The ship assigned to the port of Rostov-on-Don also bears the name of Yuri Nikulin.
The Old Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard is one of the oldest circuses in Russia. More than a hundred years ago, in 1880, this building on Tsvetnoy Boulevard was built for the Albert Salamonsky circus by the office of the merchant Danilov. They say that Salamonsky framed the first ruble received for the ticket and hung it in the box office. When the circus welcomed its first spectators on October 20, 1880, there were five rows of seats, boxes, a dress circle, second seats with wooden unnumbered benches and a standing gallery. Then the building was adjusted and completed more than once, but throughout its long life it served the circus.
The most famous artists performed at its arena. Anatoly and Vladimir Durov, Vitaly Lazarenko, Vilmyams Truzzi with their well-trained horses. Unsurpassed jumpers Sosina. First-class jockeys Vasily Sobolevsky and Herbert Cook. Graceful dancer Marta Sur. Acrobats Okeanos. The incomparable tightrope walkers of the Koch sisters. The famous "cunning" Kio, who fascinated all the boys. The circus was glorified by its famous directors, and everyone was tireless in their search. Arnold Arnold brought the clowns to Kyo's Mystery Attraction. Boris Shakhet forced the graceful dancers to make huge Kornilov elephants their partners. The success of the circus was greatly facilitated by the work of the Artistic Director Yu.S. Yursky, who made a splash with his theatrical prologue parades, the chief director M.S. Mestechkin, the stage director A.G. Arnold, the directors N.S. Baikalov and A. V. Asanova.
The artistic director of the circus art studio, Izyaslav Nemchinsky, created at the Moscow arena a true revelation of the century - “Bear Circus” by Valetnia Filatov. One fine winter, Mark Mestechkin forced the clowns from the outer circus balcony, or, as it was called in the old days, raus, to sing mischievous couplets throughout Tsvetnoy Boulevard:
Circuses were built in the market - That's the story.
We don't live the old fashioned way - the market was added to us.
The circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard really did not live and work in the old fashioned way. He was searching all the time. Search for new numbers. Search for new performances. Search for new names. In 1919, by decree of V.I. Lenin, the circus was nationalized. The former Salamonsky circus became the first state circus.
This homely, cozy circus, where, more than ever, young people are born, in different time revealed to us the names of trainers Sarvat and Olga Begbudi, tightrope walkers Leonid Kostyuk and Alexei Sarach, juggler Sergei Ignatov, aerial gymnasts Nadezhda Drozdova, Valery and Yuri Panteleenko.
We can say that the Moscow circus has long been staged, releasing new acts, attractions, performances, large pantomimes, and special children's performances onto the circus conveyor belt. Here in the late fifties the water pantomime was restored. Three performances appeared one after another - “Youth Celebrates” (1956), “Happy Sailing” (1059), “Carnival in Cuba” (1962). Children's performances are also firmly established here, which usually take place during the holidays.
And what self-respecting circus would do without its own clowns! The unfading glory of the Pencil began here. In those years, Pravda advertised theater in Moscow. And every day, only one line among them remained unchanged: “In the arena - Pencil.” The “sunny clown” Oleg Popov performed in the old circus more than once. In 1946, a clownery studio was created. Many of her pets entered the country's arenas in different years. Yuri Kotov and Boris Romanov. Leonid Kukso, Dog Aibolit Alexander Popov, head of the dog “choir” Sergei Bouslaev... The star of Leonid Yengibarov, who called himself a correspondence student of Charlie Chaplin, shone at the Moscow arena. He inspiredly showed people his fairy-tale-like mimic scenes. He was called "a clown with autumn in his heart."
But undoubtedly, the most famous clowns that the Moscow circus presented to the world were the studio’s second edition students, Yuri Nikulin and Mikhail Shuidin. Sometimes people bought tickets to the circus just for them, without paying much attention to who else was on the program. During the war of 1941-45. the circus did not stop working. The numbers worked, new programs were staged. A special place in the productions was occupied by stunt episodes related to military operations. In the arena, in the famous pantomime “Our Three,” there were fights between motorcyclists, a fight for a horse, and an acrobatic clowning of two German soldiers. In the final, a real tank drove into the arena and crushed enemy pillboxes. In the clown reprises of the brilliant clown Karandash, fascist warriors were ridiculed in a grotesque satirical style.
In 1983, People's Artist of the USSR, famous clown and artist Yuri Nikulin took over the leadership of the circus. On August 13, 1985, the last performance took place in the old circus building. This performance became a grandiose, memorable event for all Muscovites. After this, the old building was demolished.
On October 19, 1987, the first stone was laid for the construction of a new building, and the capsule was walled up there. And a few years later, on September 29, 1989, the opening of the new building of the Old Moscow Circus took place with the program “Hello, Old Circus!” (directors V. Krymko, N. Makovskaya).
In July 1996, Honored Artist Valentin Gneushev was appointed chief director of the circus. In December 1996, after the 75th anniversary of Yuri Nikulin, the circus was given the name “Moscow Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard”. In August 1997, after the death of Yu.V. Nikulin, his son Maxim Nikulin was elected General Director.
The new circus building now has modern technical equipment, administrative offices, dressing rooms, rooms for animals, in a word, the entire interior are equipped in a new way. The new spectator foyer was incredibly beautiful. They tried to reproduce the auditorium, with only minor changes, as it was before the reconstruction. Today, the Old Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard is still ready to welcome more than 2,000 people.
Address: Moscow, Tsvetnoy Bulva
Opening date: 10/20/1880
Coordinates: 55°46"13.8"N 37°37"10.5"E
Capital circuses are considered the most popular entertainment that Moscow offers for children. The oldest of them was built in late XIX centuries and continues to flourish to this day. Parents bring their children to the Nikulin Circus so that they can relax, laugh at the jokes of the clowns, see unique tricks and believe in limitless possibilities person.
View of the Nikulin Circus from Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Circus history
The first circus in Moscow was opened in 1880, thanks to the hereditary circus artist and successful entrepreneur Albert Vilhelmovich Salamonsky. The project of the circus building was prepared by the talented architect August Egorovich Weber.
Salamonsky became not only the director of the new entertainment establishment, but also showed acts with trained horses in the arena. His circus featured strongmen, gymnasts, clowns, jugglers and horse riders. In addition, the first shows in Moscow were held here artificial ice and Christmas trees. Moscow merchants became the biggest fans of circus art.
Children were not taken to the circus until the 1880s, and Albert of Salamonsky was the first to offer programs for the city's young residents. By his order, morning performances or matinees were introduced in the circus on Sundays. Tickets for the most comfortable seats in the stalls were bought by wealthy Muscovites, while unnumbered wooden benches and seats in the standing gallery were intended for less wealthy citizens.
The main entrance to the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard
In 1919, the Salamonsky Circus was nationalized and renamed the First State Circus. It was very popular among Muscovites and tourists. Every evening people went to the show to hear the witty jokes of the famous clowns - Karandash, Oleg Popov, Leonid Yengibarov and Yuri Nikulin. Muscovites and visitors came to see the trained animals and fearless acrobats.
In 1985, the circus closed for reconstruction. The old building, except for the facades, was demolished, and a new building was built on the vacant site. Today the circus dome rises above the arena at a height of 22 m.
What can you see at the circus
A circus performance brings a lot of joy and pleasure to both children and adults. Every day, guests are greeted by well-coordinated tightrope walkers, dexterous jugglers, gymnasts and funny clowns.
Circus Arena
Experienced trainers show specially trained lions, bears, tigers, horses and dogs. Animals perform complex tricks in the arena and amuse the audience.
Monument to Nikulin
Since 2000, next to the circus building, near the roadway, there has been a monument created by sculptor Alexander Iulianovich Rukavishnikov. The unusual monument is dedicated to the famous film actor Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin.
Yu. V. Nikulin worked in the circus for more than 50 years, and from 1983 to 1997 he was its director. On the monument, he stands in a clown outfit next to a luxury convertible, which was used in scenes from the popular Soviet comedy “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” Instead of numbers, the bronze car has a plate with the inscription “Yuri Nikulin”.
In the circus arena
A beautiful monument near the circus has long turned into a Moscow landmark. Everyone who walks along Tsvetnoy Boulevard likes to take pictures next to the car. There is a belief among townspeople and tourists that if you rub Nikulin’s nose, a happy event will happen in life. Many people believe this superstition, which is why the bronze nose and details of the clown’s clothing glisten in the sun.
Information for visitors
The circus auditorium seats 2000 people. Performances take place during the day and evening. Tickets to the circus are sold at theater box offices in Moscow and online. Children under 6 years old are allowed here free of charge, provided that they watch the circus show on the lap of an adult.
In the circus lobby before the performance and after the performance, young spectators can take pictures with dogs or a tiger, as well as make fun face art - a drawing on the face. The lobby sells popcorn, fast food, soft drinks and candy, and the souvenir kiosk sells colorful clown noses and other inexpensive souvenirs.
Monument to Yuri Nikulin
How to get there
The circus can be easily reached on foot from the Tsvetnoy Boulevard or Trubnaya metro stations. In addition, the circus is approached by buses and trolleybuses, which make a stop at Trubnaya Square.