Paul Binder
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Paul Binder
Paul Binder.jpg
Paul Binder in 1989
Born Paul Lewis Binder
October 19, 1942 (age 79)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Education
Dartmouth College, BA/DFA
Columbia University, MBA
Known for Founder of Big Apple Circus
Spouse(s) Vivian Bachrach (1965–1968), Katja Schumann (1985–2004)[1]

Paul Binder (born October 19, 1942) is the founder, founding artistic director and former ringmaster of the Big Apple Circus.[2]

Binder was born on October 19, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish family.[3] He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1963 and MBA from Columbia University in 1967. At Dartmouth, he had his first show business experience as an improv comedian with the Dartmouth Players. One of Dartmouth’s educational philosophies was a belief in community service, which Binder embraced with the Big Apple Circus’ community programs.[4][5][6]
Binder became known in New York City for his juggling abilities, but he sought a larger audience. 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 Michael 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 tour France with the Nouveau Cirque de Paris.[7] Along with Christensen, Binder also participated in the famed Casino de Paris, as well as on French television shows.

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 garner a variety of awards and honors, many of which he shares with Christensen. Both men were elected to honorary memberships in the New York arts and literary organization The Lotos Club.

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 would be retiring from his role as ringmaster and artistic director for the Big Apple Circus in 2009, although he continued to work behind the scenes as founder and founding artistic director.[4] During that time, ABC News named Binder “Person of the Week”.[8]

Binder published his memoir Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion and Other Uncommon Tales from the Founder of the Big Apple Circus in April 2013. It has a foreword by Glenn Close.

In 2017, Binder and Christensen performed at the 50th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival to “hand over the keys” to the circus’ new leadership after it emerged from filing for bankruptcy the year before, which in the Big Apple Circus’ case was a rubber chicken and a top hat.[9]

Other career[edit]
After college, Binder moved 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 City and Los Angeles as Talent Coordinator with The Merv Griffin Show and Associate Producer of the original Jeopardy! That same year, Paul married Vivian Bachrach. Later on, Binder went to San Francisco, where he auditioned for and joined the San Francisco Mime Troupe, meeting Christensen, while performing with that company.