146 years is how long the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has enthralled children of all ages with performances of “The Greatest Show on Earth,” as they advertise themselves. This Grandma always thought it was so, and could not wait to take grandchildren. A message from Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, the producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is on their website explaining why the circus is folding their tent forever. Here is the link.
In brief, Mr. Feld wrote, “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.”
The final shows at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on May 7, and at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., on May 21, 2017.
However, it is not too late to take the grandchildren to the best circus for the last time. We took our eldest when he was just three years old, mostly because we grandparents could not wait any longer to share the circus with him! Now, there is no longer any more time to wait. Take even the little ones and just take lots of pictures and videos and do a personalized Shutterfly book as a remembrance.
There are two touring circus shows going to many states on the east coast before the end of May 2017. In some cases we grandmas might even be able to take the grandchildren to both shows.
The schedule for the Out of This World Show is at this link.
The schedule for the Circus Xtreme Show is at this link.
It is still worth signing up to be a preferred guest and get information as to when the circus is coming to a town near you. Additional tour dates are being announced daily and there will be updates.
The full cast of the circus is between 250 and 300 people, in addition to its many animals, and travels around to over 100 cities annually. Animal rights advocates protested carting animals around the country which led to changes in the circus performances, such that the business could no longer sustain itself with declining ticket sales.
Your children can learn about the history of the circus at Wikipedia.There were actually Ringling brothers and five of the seven brothers founded the circus in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1884. In 1907 Ringling Bros. was acquired by the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, merging them in 1919 to become Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, promoted as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth.’ The Ringling family ran the circus until 1967 when it was sold to Feld Entertainment, which has run it for the last fifty years.
We can show our grandchildren the opening of the Xtreme Show on YouTube.
We can show our grandchildren the opening of the Out of This World Show on YouTube.
Let’s hope that the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida, remains open for visits with grandchildren. According to the website:
“Established in 1948, the Ringling Museum of the American Circus was the first to document the rich history of this phenomenally popular entertainment. And because in 1927 John Ringling had made Sarasota the Winter Quarters of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Baileyr Circus, many of the performers moved to the immediate area. As a result of their generosity, the Museum’s collection of wardrobes and circus memorabilia quickly grew.”
“Visitors to the museum will find performers’ wardrobes, performing props, as well as all types of equipment, including beautifully carved parade wagons, sturdy utility wagons, tent poles, massive bail rings that suspended the tent canvas and even a cannon that shot fearless performers across the big top. There is also an incredible wealth of 19th and early 20th century posters and props used by famous performers as well as a large collection of circus history and literature that includes newspaper clippings dating as far back as 1816. A must-see in the Museum is the film The Life and Times of John and Mable Ringling, narrated by Hal Holbrook. It features the lives of John and Mable Ringling, the history of Ringling Bros. circus, the building of the Ca’ d’Zan and the Museum of Art, as well as John’s influence in the development of Sarasota.”
“In January of 2006, the Circus Museum Tibbals Learning Center opened to house posters, special exhibitions and its centerpiece – the 3,800 square foot Howard Bros. Circus Model, a 44,000-piece re-creation of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baileyr Circus combined shows from 1919-1938.”
But there is nothing like seeing the live circus in person. Seeing the colors, the lights, and the sights, smelling the smells, and tasting the junk food.
It is hard for we Boomers to realize 1967 is fifty years ago! We can remember going to the circus as children, and taking the parents of our grandchildren to the circus when they were children.
It is now our last chance. Let’s take our grandchildren while we still can and give them circus
Joy,
Mema
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