Posted on 05/22/2017 1:54:04 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult
UNIONDALE, New York — Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus folded up its Big Top for the last time on Sunday night in New York, as emotional performers, wistful crowd-goers and ecstatic protesters said farewell to an institution in American live entertainment after nearly a century and a half.
The circus gave the final performance of "The Greatest Show on Earth" to a sold-out crowd at Nassau Coliseum, showing off its death-defying stunts and exotic animals for the last time after 146 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
I’m surprised they lasted this long. Another piece of Americana gone and it saddens me.
My Dad was an “out the door at 5:30 am and home at 7:00 pm” executive type. Anything he did with me was usually something he enjoyed doing. But he took me to The Ringling Bros. once and I’ll never forget it, just love the memory. Looking back, he must’ve hated it. He’s 91 now, I’ll have to ask him if he remembers.
The circus of congress attracts more viewers.
I was listening to local talk radio this morning and they were mentioning that one of the reasons that Ringling Bros. attendance started lagging was because the average circus act last around 8 minutes and that children no longer have the attention span to watch. I think there is some validity to that...especially for kids under 10.
I think the competition from CSPAN was too intense in the end
I also think the circus is a form of entertainment that simply doesn’t translate well to the digital age in any way, shape or form. Other than buying tickets on the internet and seeing circus acts on YouTube, I don’t see how the circus could possibly keep up with other forms of entertainment in this era.
They had it outdoors. That must have been cool. How did they set up the trapeze?
That’s a fabulous movie. Features the midget/clown Cucciola, who is absolutely hilarious.
I remember going to see the Ringling in the late 70’s at the Hartford Civic Center, now the XL Center. It was wonderful and I was much younger.
The animal rights freakazoids managed to get our small local rodeo shut down last year, after over 100 years.
The local fishwrap applauded the closure.
If I want to see a live rodeo now, I have to travel 6 hours. Humbug!
Do not be surprised if the animal rights folks go after the smaller circuses next.
Their idea of the circus is the Cirque which has human performers only.
I wonder if some small part of the decline is from the increase in scary clown sightings during the last year.
Please see post 20.
The Cirque rip-roaring success even in the digital age.
Passing of an icon....though sad, not unexpected....The animal portion was a small factor....other major factors are:
1. It became incredibly expensive compared to other entertainment venues for a family of four.....
2. Wasn’t that entertaining, they didn’t adapt to new ideas....
3. Clowns.....
The daughter took over the company and caused the hemorrhage of cash to come to a close
At least we still have Congress.
My father told me when he was a young’n back in the 30’s the Elephants walked past his house on their way from the train station to the fairgrounds and if you helped with the tent raising you got a free ticket to the show.
...and the media.
Correction:
The Cirque is.
That’s the Freak Show.
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