Paul Binder
Encyclopedia
Paul Binder is the founder and artistic director of the Big Apple Circus
.
The native of Brooklyn, has earned many doctorates, including an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Dartmouth College
, his alma mater. He also was honored by Long Island University, Pratt Institute and Rhode Island College. At Dartmouth, he would have his first show business experience, as an improv comedian with the Dartmouth Players. He would also reinforce his beliefs in community-oriented thinking, a philosophy of Dartmouth's. He also graduated with an MBA from Columbia University
.
After college, Binder went south to Boston
, where he was hired by WGBH-TV
as a floor manager for Julia Child
's The French Chef
, and he later worked in New York and Los Angeles as talent coordinator with Merv Griffin
. That same year, Paul married Vivian Bachrach. Later on, Binder went to San Francisco
, where he joined the San Francisco Mime Troupe
, meeting his partner for many years to come, Michael Christensen, while performing with that company.
Binder became known across the city of New York as well for his juggling abilities, but he wanted to reach more people. With this in mind, he set to tour around Europe
, bringing in his performing instruments with him.
Binder was a street artist when he and Christensen decided to make circus performing their profession. At the time, they were in Kent
, England
. They made their living as street performers, traveling from London to Istanbul. Soon after, they finalized an accord to participate in circus in France
.
Along with Christensen, Binder participated in the famed Casino de Paris
, as well as on French television shows. Then, they joined the prestigious Nouveau Cirque de Paris.
Binder founded the Big Apple Circus, with Christensen later being named co-founder, after they returned from Europe in 1977.
Binder's dedication to circus life and the success of the Big Apple Circus have helped him collect many honorary awards and honors, many of which he shares with Christensen.
In 2001, Binder was declared a "New York City Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy
society.
In October 2008, The New York Times reported that Binder will be retiring from his role as ringmaster and artistic director for the Big Apple Circus in 2009, although he will continue to work behind the scenes, taking the titles of Artistic Adviser and Founding Artistic Director.
Big Apple Circus
The Big Apple Circus is a circus that is based in New York City. Opened in 1977, it has become a tourist attraction as well. It has been highly influential towards the creation of Cirque du Soleil, tent-based circuses and smaller non-profit shows, such as Circus Flora.-The 1970s:The idea of...
.
The native of Brooklyn, has earned many doctorates, including an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, his alma mater. He also was honored by Long Island University, Pratt Institute and Rhode Island College. At Dartmouth, he would have his first show business experience, as an improv comedian with the Dartmouth Players. He would also reinforce his beliefs in community-oriented thinking, a philosophy of Dartmouth's. He also graduated with an MBA from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
After college, Binder went south to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where he was hired by WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
as a floor manager for Julia Child
Julia Child
Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...
's The French Chef
The French Chef
The French Chef is an influential television cooking show created by Julia Child, and produced and broadcast by WGBH Public television in Boston, Massachusetts, from February 11, 1963 to 1973. It was one of the first cooking shows on television...
, and he later worked in New York and Los Angeles as talent coordinator with Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
. That same year, Paul married Vivian Bachrach. Later on, Binder went to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, where he joined the San Francisco Mime Troupe
San Francisco Mime Troupe
The San Francisco Mime Troupe is a theatre of political satire which performs free shows in various parks in the San Francisco Bay Area and around California. The Troupe does not, however, perform silent mime, but each year creates an original musical comedy that combines aspects of Commedia...
, meeting his partner for many years to come, Michael Christensen, while performing with that company.
Binder became known across the city of New York as well for his juggling abilities, but he wanted to reach more people. With this in mind, he set to tour around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, bringing in his performing instruments with him.
Binder was a street artist when he and Christensen decided to make circus performing their profession. At the time, they were in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They made their living as street performers, traveling from London to Istanbul. Soon after, they finalized an accord to participate in circus in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Along with Christensen, Binder participated in the famed Casino de Paris
Casino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
, as well as on French television shows. Then, they joined the prestigious Nouveau Cirque de Paris.
Binder founded the Big Apple Circus, with Christensen later being named co-founder, after they returned from Europe in 1977.
Binder's dedication to circus life and the success of the Big Apple Circus have helped him collect many honorary awards and honors, many of which he shares with Christensen.
In 2001, Binder was declared a "New York City Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy
New York Landmarks Conservancy
The New York Landmarks Conservancy is a non-profit organization "dedicated to preserving, revitalizing, and reusing New York’s architecturally significant buildings." It provides technical assistance, project management services, grants, and loans, to owners of historic properties in New York State...
society.
In October 2008, The New York Times reported that Binder will be retiring from his role as ringmaster and artistic director for the Big Apple Circus in 2009, although he will continue to work behind the scenes, taking the titles of Artistic Adviser and Founding Artistic Director.