Over the last hundred years, circus arts have undergone significant changes. Today, most performances include acrobatic acts by gymnasts, strongmen, tightrope walkers, clowns, and, of course, performances with trained animals.

In the era of the Russian Empire, acts often reflected current events, and advertising itself was a real show. An example is Vladimir Durov's circus, which amazed even the most sophisticated audiences during its tours. In 1907, for instance, he visited Penza and astonished the locals with his eccentric behavior.

Local newspaper correspondents, following him like paparazzi, wrote: "Durov shows originality everywhere. On the very first day of his arrival, he strolled down Moskovskaya Street with two rats on his coat, and on Wednesday he rode in a sleigh, adorning himself with a scarf made of mice." Moreover, he rode down the central street on a sled pulled by a plump pig.

The audience was impressed not only by his amazing acts but also by his excellent improvisation, which today could be called stand-up. During his performance, he made jokes on current topics, such as the poor provincial roads. When shown a piece of chalk and asked what it was, Durov replied that it was a stone with which the city administration paves the streets. When asked about the lighting in Penza, he was told it was kerosene, but he immediately corrected: "Not true, only calendar and moonlight," hinting at the non-functioning streetlights. The audience applauded, while an angry governor ordered the gendarmes to monitor all his performances.

The audience also enjoyed Durov's sanitary dogs. This act was relevant after the Russo-Japanese War. "The animals march in formation, journalists marveled, they perform postal duties, work as paramedics, delivering medicine, bandages, and flasks of wine. The dogs pick up the dead, drag them to the cart, take their equipment and weapons there, and then carry them away themselves."