[miss marmelstein]

It was still the best of all the American circuses. The smaller ones you speak of were ratty and tacky with tired animals and lousy clowns. The only good acts were the high wire acts. At the Cole Circus we walked out after the first half. Ringling was an American institution and it's only right to mourn its demise. For those who care, Cecil B. DeMille captures it all in his famous movie The Greatest Show on Earth./p>

[Biggirl]

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.

[Biggirl]

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.

[Lazamataz]

ratty and tacky with tired animals and lousy clowns

That is how every single woman describes a date with me.

[Neoliberalnot]

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a tingling Bros circus, but I lived mostly in small towns as a kid and when the circus came to town it was a very big deal. They were thrilling, exciting events for all of us. I haven’t been since my kids were little, but I have fond memories. Heck, as a kid that spent most of his time on the farm, once a year we, cousins and all, would travel about 25 miles once a year to swim in a concrete swimming pool, another thrilling event, since we mostly swam in ponds and creeks.