Antonio Franconi , circus director in France Born 1737 in Italy dead 1836 in France . During the French Revolution, the master of Astley’s birds, Antonio Franconi (1737 in Venice, Italy - 1836 in Paris, France), leased the theatre from his employer and Franconi’s Cirque Olympique became the first French circus. Franconi and his sons made many improvements to their theatre, including setting the diameter of the circus ring at 13m, which remains the standard to this day. Franconis sons Henri and Minette took over the Circus 1836 after their fathers death.