Roman Entertainment

Roman entertainment, like Roman roads, Roman baths, Roman villas etc, is etched in people’s minds today as a result of recent films. Many people will know of the Roman gladiators, chariot racing, the Colosseum in Rome as we have a great deal of writing and other evidence about these things from the times of the Romans themselves.

Circuses

Chariot racing was Rome’s oldest and most popular pastime, dating back to at least the Roman monarchy.

Greek chariot races were held in hippodromes in the east, but in the west they were held in circuses.

In ancient Rome, all gambling, except betting at the circus and races, were forbidden by law. Amongst others, the Lex Cornelia, Lex Publicia and Lex Titia forbade the game of dice and the penalty could have the perpetrator sent to jail or fined. Fines were a multiple of the amount of money being bet. Furthermore the law didn’t recognise gambling debts or damages to property arising from gambling. The only time that the population could legally let off steam was during the carnival feast known as Saturnalia when all such games were allowed.
“Circuses” were chariot hippodromes, where races took place. The Romans had adopted the chariot from the Etruscans, and when they brought the races to Britain, it must have had great appeal to the Celts, who were skilled horsemen. The races would take place in the countryside, on a track of sand. The Circus Maximus in Rome was the biggest, with seating for 250,000.

Animation executive-creator-producer Phil Roman and his new 14-month-old,
Studio City, Calif.-based Phil Roman Entertainment company, in partnership with Quarter Star Productions (QSP) of Charlotte, N.C., will produce “Soap on the Range,” a new prime-time animated half-hour comedy TV series about rival family ranches in Colorado and charismatic talking bulls that are expected to be rich in merchandising potential.

“Soap on the Range” is best described as a contemporary spoof on such prime-time soap operas as “Dallas” and “Dynasty” with a mix of “Bonanza.”