An American Icon is no more.

Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages:

Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus

“The Greatest Show on Earth”

is no more.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/big-top-comes-down-ringling-070659128.html

While the Animal rights groups will applaud, and maybe it was time to end the animal acts, and others will say times change and the circus just didn’t fit with the current time, I say something great has been lost. A magic has been lost. A part of childhood has been lost. A part of America has been lost. It ran for 146 years. It began in 1871. Grant was President and Victoria was still on the throne when it began. Many will be happy this has happened, others won’t care at all. But I say this is a sad occasion. Years from now, children will have to ask their parents “What is the circus”, because they will not be able to see it with their own eyes. I think that is sad. I had good memories of seeing it when I was kid when it was in Philly. I am willing to bet I still have souvenirs packed away in a box in the attic. I am at least glad my niece got to see it a couple of times before it ended. But if I ever have any children, they won’t and my niece’s children won’t. A whole lot of children won’t. I think that is sad.

What are your thoughts and reactions?

Honestly, my initial reaction is surprise that it lasted this long. I don’t know how long they could keep up the act of being ‘the greatest show on earth’ and still be taken seriously. I still think circuses have their place, but it isn’t the 20’s anymore, they aren’t really the greatest show on earth.

Hard to compete with the circus in DC amirite??

Warbler said:

It ran for 146 years. It began in 1971.
What are your thoughts and reactions?

Complete shock and disbelief. My experiment must have worked!

I am truly sorry for the off topic post warbler… But I physically could not help it.

dahmage said:

Honestly, my initial reaction is surprise that it lasted this long. I don’t know how long they could keep up the act of being ‘the greatest show on earth’ and still be taken seriously. I still think circuses have their place, but it isn’t the 20’s anymore, they aren’t really the greatest show on earth.

I was not saying they were the greatest show on Earth. It is just that “The Greatest Show on Earth” was their slogan, that’s all.

Possessed said:

Warbler said:

It ran for 146 years. It began in 1971.
What are your thoughts and reactions?

Complete shock and disbelief. My experiment must have worked!

I am truly sorry for the off topic post warbler… But I physically could not help it.

That’s ok, the typo has been corrected.

That’s too bad. When I went to see it, my dad was selected to participate in the show as an audience volunteer. Fun times. But that’s the only time I saw it. It’s a shame nobody will be able to experience it anymore.

Warbler said:

dahmage said:

Honestly, my initial reaction is surprise that it lasted this long. I don’t know how long they could keep up the act of being ‘the greatest show on earth’ and still be taken seriously. I still think circuses have their place, but it isn’t the 20’s anymore, they aren’t really the greatest show on earth.

I was not saying they were the greatest show on Earth. It is just that “The Greatest Show on Earth” was their slogan, that’s all.

I know

With the biggest one gone, I don’t see how any circus can survive.

I went to the Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus as a kid numerous times and it was an awesome sight. It is an irreplaceable icon of American history. I keep my fond memories of it close to me.

😃

https://youtu.be/g6HC-p7wYnw?t=1h34m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2yXJOZ6krM&feature=youtu.be&t=1h56m35s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10TXvYaD9Uo

I’m one of the people who think the Victorian Circus deserves the same fate as the Roman one.
Treating animals as entertainment engines was a welcome step away from getting slaves to slice into giraffes necks and training animals to rape captive girls but the thing about stepping away is it’s a continuing journey.
Potty brained emperors are still in though so maybe we will have endangered species vs monster trucks by the end of the year.
I’d rather have more bread and less circuses.

Good riddance.
Circuses are even more depressing than zoos.
Plus, you know…clowns.

Fake Noes

Bingowings said:

I’m one of the people who think the Victorian Circus deserves the same fate as the Roman one.
Treating animals as entertainment engines was a welcome step away from getting slaves to slice into giraffes necks and training animals to rape captive girls but the thing about stepping away is it’s a continuing journey.
Potty brained emperors are still in though so maybe we will have endangered species vs monster trucks by the end of the year.
I’d rather have more bread and less circuses.

what they did with the animals at Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey was much more than just step away from getting slaves to slice into giraffes necks and training animals to rape captive girls. The circus, at the one in question wasn’t anywhere near as bad as that stuff. From what I know, they were one of the better circuses when it came to treatment of animals. But I understand that maybe the animal acts had to go. But I would have liked the circus to continue without them.