Sunday, January 15, 2017

End of an Era

Ringling Bros. circus folding its tent after nearly 150 years: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus said on Saturday it will cease performances after 146 years in business, owing to what it said were declining tickets sales and high operating costs.

7 comments:

pattinase (abbott) said...

Although I have never seen them perform, this makes me sad.

Tom Johnson said...

Circus and carnivals are going the way of tent shows and medicine shows that died in the early 20th century, and we are poorer for the loss.

Don Coffin said...

I guess I'm surprised that it was still in operation.

George said...

I've been to the circus three times in my life. The business and ethical aspects are overwhelming today.

Max Allan Collins said...

It's a generational thing, I think. I know Mickey Spillane loved circuses and he even travelled with Clyde Beatty's. I never liked them, and a vague sense of animal cruelty was part of that, long before that became a real public issue. On the other hand, my sleaze quotient is such that I have always loved carnivals. That's the death I would mourn.

Unknown said...

I haven't been to the circus more than a couple of times in my life. Never really cared for them. I'm with you on the carnivals. I've loved them since the sleazy ones that passed through my little hometown long ago. What a great experience it was to go to those things!

SB said...


-
Ringling Brothers Circus closing down. Apparently, it's because all their clowns quit to accept positions in ...
- - Mark Evanier
Posted full answer at his NEWSFROMme page.