The Greatest Show on Earth Closes Down: Ringling Bros. Closes Its Tent

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SifuPhil

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
After 146 years, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is shutting down. Their last performance will be in Uniondale, NY on May 21st.

They have cited declining ticket sales and increased costs, and they especially saw a hit on their income after eliminating their elephant acts as a result of years of animal rights groups protests.

Great. Now there's going to be groups of unemployed clowns roaming the streets ...
 

SifuPhil said:
After 146 years, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is shutting down. Their last performance will be in Uniondale, NY on May 21st.

They have cited declining ticket sales and increased costs, and they especially saw a hit on their income after eliminating their elephant acts as a result of years of animal rights groups protests.

Great. Now there's going to be groups of unemployed clowns roaming the streets ...
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There already are -- they just aren't in clown suits.

I never liked the circus, anyway. For some reason it was quite unpleasant to me and even as a kid I'd do anything I could to get out of going.
 
I like a good circus. Long gone are the big UK ones like 'Chipperfields' and 'Bertram Mills', but we have smaller 2 or 3 touring circuses every year and they still seem popular. Occasionally we will see larger ones like the Moscow state circus. Long may they continue.
 

I hope the animal crackers survive!

ACrackers1.jpeg
 
Capt Lightning said:
I like a good circus. Long gone are the big UK ones like 'Chipperfields' and 'Bertram Mills', but we have smaller 2 or 3 touring circuses every year and they still seem popular. Occasionally we will see larger ones like the Moscow state circus. Long may they continue.
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Capt., it's my understanding that Chipperfields at least is still going, albeit on a very different scale and with more varied entertainment ...
 
SifuPhil said:
Capt., it's my understanding that Chipperfields at least is still going, albeit on a very different scale and with more varied entertainment ...
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You could be correct, but I can't find much information from the web. The only recent reference was for "Charles Chipperfield's Circus" performing in Malta.

One of the largest UK touring circuses appears to be Gerry Cottle's Circus. This seems to be quite different to the traditional circus, with music, "magic" , acrobatics, dance etc...
 
Debby said:
I have no problem with circuses as long as animals aren't involved. Cirque du Soleil for example is marvellous!
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For Sure!! Cirque du Soleil is one of the finest shows on earth! We always get tickets to one of their performances when we go to Las Vegas. They are not a "circus", in the traditional tense, but there is no other show that presents such a level of acrobatics, and staging as the Cirque.
 
Don M. said:
For Sure!! Cirque du Soleil is one of the finest shows on earth! We always get tickets to one of their performances when we go to Las Vegas. They are not a "circus", in the traditional tense, but there is no other show that presents such a level of acrobatics, and staging as the Cirque.
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Agree on Cirque du Soleil....I'm thinking about taking my grandchildren to see their show when it comes to Dallas.
 
Don M. said:
For Sure!! Cirque du Soleil is one of the finest shows on earth! We always get tickets to one of their performances when we go to Las Vegas. They are not a "circus", in the traditional tense, but there is no other show that presents such a level of acrobatics, and staging as the Cirque.
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Don, I LOVE Cirque du Soleil! In addition to seeing it in Vegas a few times I saw an IMAX version some years ago. It wasn't nearly as good as seeing it in person, but still pretty impressive.


Good soundtracks too.
 
I have always loved circuses. It's in my blood; my grandfather was a side-show performer back in the 1920's. He had an electric-man act and my grandmother was his assistant. Growing up, my grandparents took me to every circus that came to town and I continued with my daughter and granddaughter. I always dreamed of running away and joining the circus. These days, I think I have.
 
Fur would have been so pleased to see this day. It makes me think of her. I too, am happy for the animals who will no longer be forced to perform for the entertainment of humans. That just wasn't right.
 
I won't miss them Phil, never cared for the circus even when I was a kid, and always disliked clowns, always felt bad for the animals.
 
I hope the sad face is for all the animals that were abused for this "entertainment"

Never went to one and never would have.
 
Don M. said:
For Sure!! Cirque du Soleil is one of the finest shows on earth! We always get tickets to one of their performances when we go to Las Vegas. They are not a "circus", in the traditional tense, but there is no other show that presents such a level of acrobatics, and staging as the Cirque.
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Love Cirque de Soleil, hate circuses with animals.
 
My cat Mao (aka Boom-Boom aka Mr. Midnight) uses me as his own personal circus.

My belly becomes his trampoline, he walks on my shoulders during his high-wire act and when I give him catnip he becomes a Wheel of Death. :playful:
 
This means no more clowning around when it comes to deciding what to do. Nor will I have to jump through hoops to get tickets. The only acrobatics I have to worry about now is getting out of bed. I still get to juggle my check book & time.
 
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