Posted on 01/14/2017 7:44:36 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
They used to run some animal cars on the rail line near me going to the city. Would let some of the animals out to graze and have a breather.
They can’t compete against the circus we already live in.
There were also lots of fans who came to see them.
This is a tragedy.
Details: https://twitter.com/hashtag/RinglingBros?src=hash
+1.
L
A message from Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, the producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®
After much evaluation and deliberation, my family and I have made the difficult business decision that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® will hold its final performances in May of this year. Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop. This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company.
Nearly 50 years ago, my father founded our company with the acquisition of Ringling Bros. The circus and its people have continually been a source of inspiration and joy to my family and me, which is why this was such a tough business decision to make. The decision was even more difficult because of the amazing fans that have become part of our extended circus family over the years, and we are extremely grateful to the millions of families who have made Ringling Bros. part of their lives for generations. We know Ringling Bros. isn’t only our family business, but also your family tradition.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME will conclude its tour at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on May 7, 2017, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Out Of This World will conclude its tour at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., on May 21, 2017. We hope you will come to celebrate this American icon for one last time before our tours conclude.
Our company provides quality, live family entertainment, and we invite you to bring your family to one of our other events, including Marvel Universe LIVE!, Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!, as well as future productions.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has served as inspiration for all of the live entertainment produced at Feld Entertainment. We learned from the circus, and applied those learnings to our other productions. Without Ringling Bros., we wouldn’t have the vibrant live entertainment company that we have today. Ringling Bros. will always be part of Feld Entertainment, and its spirit will live on in every production and project we do.
Sincerely,
Kenneth
What’s a circus without elephants?
Animal rights crazies are too much of a pain in the arse.
Lack of kids, and change of culture. Many kids today are likely watching porn.
By midcentury, the circus was routine, wholesome family entertainment. But as the 20th century went on, kids became less and less enthralled. Movies, television, video games and the internet captured young minds. The circus didn't have savvy product merchandising tie-ins or Saturday morning cartoons to shore up its image.
The Feld family bought the Ringling circus in 1967. The show was just under 3 hours then. Today, the show is 2 hours and 7 minutes, with the longest segment — a tiger act — clocking in at 12 minutes. "Try getting a 3- or 4-year-old today to sit for 12 minutes," he said.
My Dad took my brother and I to see the Ringling Bros. circus in 1956 where we saw the Cisco Kid and Poncho ride into the big tent on their horses while firing their six shooters.
“Ticket sales have been crashing since they got rid of the elephants.”
That’s what I immediately thought of too.
One thing no one could deny about Gunther Gebel-Williams is that he and his family came to love America:
See the 3:40 mark at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoy3uATl1VA
I stopped going when they dumped the Sideshow.
Funny, but Congress continues on....
I went to this circus as a child, as did my parents and grandparents before me. My husband and I went when it came to Hartford, CT in 2015 specifically to see the elephants for the last time.
I had conversations with several animal handlers before the circus started (they let people wander around looking at the animals behind fences and cages). They were quite upset about the charges of cruelty, and assured me all animals were treated very well. From what I saw up close, all animals looked healthy and content.
Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus is a part of American history. How sad it will be gone forever after May 2017. :-(
Baraboo, Wisc. deeply effected....
Are the ‘Rats there as a Side Show?
Anyone who lived in that era, has a remarkable story about the Circus Fire. It touched so many.
Those Mexican circuses out in CA are doing ok, or seem to be. They probably get over with cheap illegal labor.
Congress can be considered/treated as a Circus....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.