West Toronto Junction Historical Society (Virtual): Adam Bunch, “The Toronto Circus Riot: A True Tale of Sex, Violence, Corruption and Clowns”
The strangest riot in Toronto history broke out in the summer of 1855, sparked by a brawl at a King Street brothel. When some rowdy clowns picked a fight with a battle-hardened crew of firefighters, they would quickly learn they’d made a terrible mistake. The circus performers found themselves facing off against Toronto’s powerful Orange...