Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus will close this May after 146 years

[HardyGirl]

Truly sad...it's like an old friend is dying.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/15/ringling-bros-circus-plans-to-shut-down-greatest-show-on-earth-after-146-years.html

[ODBJBG]

Losing the elephants and years of bad publicity about animal "abuse" no doubt was the final nail in the coffin. But circus acts aren't really family entertainment anymore when there's video games and iPads. Tough to compete even with animals. I'm surprised they didn't do more to adapt to a Cirque du Soleil style of show, though.

But they're owned by a big company now that owns a dozen other things so it's all about bottom line and less about survival. If something is losing money they don't care about fixing as much as they do nixing.

[Nostalgiabuff]

it is sad. one more thing that future generations will never get the pleasure of seeing. Although I never took my kids to Wringling Brothers, we did take them to a traveling circus a few times. I think it was may Cole Brothers Circus.

[warlock664]

Truly sad.
As a kid, I always wanted to go but never got to. As an adult, I've seen the show 4 times, once with my wife before we had kids, and then 3 times as an adult. Losing the elephants was a huge blow, add in the short attention spans of kids these days and it was inevitable. A lot of talented performers and support personnel out of jobs, sadly.

[hobub]

Sad to see the times change so much in this way.

And before Abrams created Mego...


There was the Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Circus, 1899 style, which can be assembled by collecting them all from ebay. The price has dropped considerably on these over the past 20 years but I'm sure there aren't too many kids left who actually played with a set. It is actually affordable it seems to piece this one together. Of course this is one piece at a time. An entire collection would still climb that costly ladder.

A true antique and now very much obsolete playset from a century past.

[Mikey]

Was never a fan of the circuses but would give my right arm to see the original Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

[Hedji]

Not surprising.

The whole animal issue was a concern for years. People can see death defying stunts or acrobatics on America's Got Talent. Plus people are afraid of clowns.

[JediJaida]

This is a shame. I used to go every year when I was a little girl, and I enjoyed it every time.

[sprytel]

Wow, this is sad.

When I was 6 years old, I won a coloring contest in the newspaper and got tickets to go to the Ringling Brothers circus. At one point in the show, I got to ride around the Three Rings and wave at the audience. It was magical.

Last year, when my son was 7 and my daughter was 5, I took them to see the circus. I wanted the kids to see the circus before they stopped using elephants... however ethically ambivalent I felt about that. They had this whole pre-show thing where any ticket holder could come down into the Three RIngs, get within feet of the animals and performers. My kids became part of an acrobatics demonstration, and helped a Mongolian strongman, and got right up next to a camel. It was arguably more magical than my childhood experience.

[CrimsonGhost]

I could act like I feel bad about this, but I haven't gone to a circus in over 30 years so I really don't think I'm going to notice.

[PNGwynne]

I feel bad for nostalgia's sake, I saw Ringling when I was 11/12 and loved it. I don't think the Felds gave up on the circus, but it was a concession to changing times, public taste and a lack of revenue. Also, something like Cirque du Soleil is more easily tourable and adaptable to venues.

[PNGwynne]

Plus people are afraid of clowns.

Yeah, what a trope that has become. I recall when they where fun or poignant, Bozo or Emmett Kelly.

[Mr.Marion]

Was never a fan of the circuses but would give my right arm to see the original Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

You and me both.

Anyone else remember the scene machine.




I saw Ringling at the Palace of Auburn Hills on a school field trip.

I hope WWE is paying attention. Pro Wrestling is now the last surviving big business touring of the Carney variety.

[hobub]

Was never a fan of the circuses but would give my right arm to see the original Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

Request granted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXTulInVO8U

Courtesy of Thomas Alva Edison and Youtube.

[johnnystorm]

I guess Peta will claim credit for this, when it's more an economic decision. Aside from the animal issues and creepy clown paranoia, I think this particular circus just became too big. Playing arenas and stadiums instead of tents and small town venues. We had the Jaffa Shrine circus when I was a kid, and a big part of seeing it was the pre-show outdoor stuff. Seeing the animals outside, interacting with the clowns, etc.

Won't be surprised to see the name bought and brought back in a few years as some Cirque style show. Maybe a Las Vegas event style thing, or Broadway. Maybe some sort of Universal or Disney attraction. The namebrand is easily worth more than it costs to mount & tour the actual circus.