Circus of the black stars: African American-owned circus has scheduled six cities in 1995 tour.

For two centuries, millions of families have flocked to the circus each year. And for many circusgoers, Ringling Brothers was not just the "greatest show on earth," but the only show to see.

Well, look out Ringling Brothers.

There's now an African American thrilling audiences with lions, tigers, bears and much more. He's Cedric Walker, founder of the Universal Big Top Circus, a celebration of black culture and talent. The show, dubbed "Your Circus of Dreams," features traditional three-ring fare, from high-energy magic to hire-wire trapeze acts. Universal Big Top debuted to sold-out audiences in Atlanta last November. Walker projects that it will earn $6 million in gross revenues this year.

At age 42, Walker is a veteran show business promoter. While a student at Tuskegee Institute in the early 1970s, he was the stage manager and then the road manager for the Commodores. He went into theater production following a successful career in concert promotion, which included working with groups like the O'Jays, the Jackson Five, Run DMC and Curtis Blow.

Walker's theater background was his inspiration for the circus. The overwhelming response he received from plays such as Mama Don't and A Good Man is Hard to Find spoke to the need for more family entertainment. "One of our underlying goals as promoters is to be creative and bring new and different things to the public," Walker says. "We have to look for these types of voids and attempt to fill them."

But starting Universal Big Top was no small undertaking. Walker spent more than a year researching the history of the circus. He also traveled throughout the U.S. and to Trinidad looking for African Americans with strong circus experience. The result, financed entirely by Walker's savings from his theater productions, is a veritable who's who in black circus talent.

Acts include the famed King Charles Troupe, a group of unicyclists that integrated Ringling Brothers in 1969; Mr. Magic, a featured performer on Black Entertainment Television; and two trapeze artists who take their act more than 50 feet in the air. Perhaps one of the most courageous performances is by Ted McRae, who does a "Daniel in the Lion's Den" act with three African lions and four Bengal tigers. Surprisingly, McRae's career as a lion tamer began only two months before the circus opened.

Universal Big Top is also unique because it's produced outdoors under a fancy striped tent, just like the circuses of years past. The old-world theater-in-the-round setting, combined with high-tech lighting and music, adds to the excitement. Wild animals are just five or six feet away from the crowd. "To see the tricks, the acrobats, the straining muscles and the sweat is incredible," Walker says.

According to Walker, the circus is a big hit with local schools. His own son has sat through 21 shows.

Floyd Harrison, one of the original members of the King Charles Troupe, was involved with the early planning of the circus. "I was always hoping and praying in my heart for this. When it finally came to pass and I saw the circus set up in Atlanta, it was just a great feeling," recalls Harrison, who coaches the current troupe.

During its 1995 season, Universal Big Top is scheduled to travel to Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.,; Dallas; Detroit; Philadephia; and Washington. Walker hopes to add new cities to the tour each year. "We're taking our time and working at a pace we can achieve."