"The Greatest Show on Earth" to close after 146 years, Ringling Brothers says

[CaseyJones]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ringling...ose-146-years/

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be closing down “The Greatest Show on Earth” after 146 years, the circus’ owner confirmed on Saturday night.

The iconic American spectacle was felled by a variety of factors, company executives say. Declining attendance combined with high operating costs, along with changing public tastes and prolonged battles with animal rights groups all contributed to its demise.

“There isn’t any one thing,” said Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment. “This has been a very difficult decision for me and for the entire family.”

The company broke the news to circus employees Saturday night after shows in Orlando and Miami.

Ringling Bros. has two touring circuses this season and will perform 30 shows between now and May. Major stops include Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston and Brooklyn. The final shows will be in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 7 and in Uniondale, New York, at the Nassau County Coliseum on May 21.

Just this week, the circus made headlines when it announced that a woman would be ringmaster for the first time in the show’s 146-year history.

“It’s really amazing because all of these different experiences that I’ve had the opportunity to have in my life have really blended together in an amazing way to prepare me to lead the greatest show on Earth,” Kristen Michelle Wilson told CBS News.

more at link

[oyarde]

Well , what will I do then if I run away ?

[specsaregood]

I guess I need to buy tickets for when they come to town in a little while.

[angelatc]

Honestly I lost interest when the liberals drove them to remove the elephants from the show.

[timosman]

Honestly I lost interest when the liberals drove them to remove the elephants from the show.

[Anti Federalist]

Just this week, the circus made headlines when it announced that a woman would be ringmaster for the first time in the show’s 146-year history.

Canary in the coal mine...

[Anti Federalist]

Honestly I lost interest when the liberals drove them to remove the elephants from the show.

I agree.

Between that, and being able to observe a sideshow of freaks that would put any midway to shame, from any mall food court, Wal Marx or city street side bistro in AmeriKa, for free.

[Suzanimal]

Clowns ruined it for me.

I kinda feel like a bad mother, though. RB's gave babies free circus tickets and I got them for both the boys but never took them. There was a broke ass circus that came to the Fairground up the street that I thought was pretty good and I took them to that instead. They had a motorcycle guy that drove around in a ball - that was crazy as hell!. The cool thing was, you sit right up close and kids were free - adults were only 7.00. Plus, there was only one drunk carnie clown stumbling around at that one.

The free RB tickets are good for life. I suppose they better take themselves if they want to go.

[timosman]

They should combine the show with food. This would drive the audience.

[jonhowe]

Honestly I lost interest when the liberals drove them to remove the elephants from the show.

Disgusting. Those animals were tortured. Elephants are not made to sit in little metal cages and be whipped/prodded/electrocuted their entire lives.

Good riddance!

[specsaregood]

Honestly I lost interest when the liberals drove them to remove the elephants from the show.

We went the last year the elephants were with the show, really the elephants were a really small part of the show, perhaps the least memorable for my kid. The circus in general really did put on a great show, we aren't gonna miss this last go around.

[CaseyJones]

[Suzanimal]

They better stay away from me.

[ChristianAnarchist]

Disgusting. Those animals were tortured. Elephants are not made to sit in little metal cages and be whipped/prodded/electrocuted their entire lives.

Good riddance!

So not true... You cannot train an elephant by torture... They will kill you!! There was a performing elephant in Reno at one of the casinos for many years until she died and everyone (especially the trainer) loved that ol' gal. She would walk down the street each performance day from her living quarters to the back stage and people would line the streets to watch her.

Trained elephants are no more "tortured" than your domesticated doggie you love so much...

[Schifference]

Finally. Thank god! I bet those animal's will be much happier in a zoo. Maybe one day we can have AI elephants and other animals. Zoo's could and should be virtual reality. It would be greener. Simply pay for the experience and enjoy it from your recliner.

[tod evans]

Disgusting. Those animals were tortured. Elephants are not made to sit in little metal cages and be whipped/prodded/electrocuted their entire lives.

Good riddance!

Finally. Thank god! I bet those animal's will be much happier in a zoo. Maybe one day we can have AI elephants and other animals. Zoo's could and should be virtual reality. It would be greener. Simply pay for the experience and enjoy it from your recliner.

So not true... You cannot train an elephant by torture... They will kill you!! There was a performing elephant in Reno at one of the casinos for many years until she died and everyone (especially the trainer) loved that ol' gal. She would walk down the street each performance day from her living quarters to the back stage and people would line the streets to watch her.

Trained elephants are no more "tortured" than your domesticated doggie you love so much...

These folks have their winter quarters down the road from the family farm and their critters are much better cared for than any in a zoo. 2000# of housepet is a good analogy.

Unfounded accusations of mistreatment or neglect fly in the face of first hand knowledge.

CA speaketh the truth.

[oyarde]

They should combine the show with food. This would drive the audience.

Good idea , they could have had a ribfest or baconfest with it and sold out all the tickets they wanted to sell .Maybe add a gun show . All of those do well here .Gun makers could pay to advertise on the circus stuff .Winchester lions , sweet .

[Schifference]

I have not been to the circus since late 1990's. It was very expensive then. Maybe if government had stepped in sooner with a little more regulations I could have saved some money.

[Anti Federalist]

So not true... You cannot train an elephant by torture... They will kill you!! There was a performing elephant in Reno at one of the casinos for many years until she died and everyone (especially the trainer) loved that ol' gal. She would walk down the street each performance day from her living quarters to the back stage and people would line the streets to watch her.

Trained elephants are no more "tortured" than your domesticated doggie you love so much...

+rep

(damn, out of buwwets)

[Anti Federalist]

Finally. Thank god! I bet those animal's will be much happier in a zoo. Maybe one day we can have AI elephants and other animals. Zoo's could and should be virtual reality. It would be greener. Simply pay for the experience and enjoy it from your recliner.

Always better to watch some electronic simulation rather than the real thing.

[Anti Federalist]

Clowns ruined it for me.

I kinda feel like a bad mother, though. RB's gave babies free circus tickets and I got them for both the boys but never took them. There was a broke ass circus that came to the Fairground up the street that I thought was pretty good and I took them to that instead. They had a motorcycle guy that drove around in a ball - that was crazy as hell!. The cool thing was, you sit right up close and kids were free - adults were only 7.00. Plus, there was only one drunk carnie clown stumbling around at that one.

The free RB tickets are good for life. I suppose they better take themselves if they want to go.

Helmet cam:

[donnay]

Sad. I have fond memories of my father taking me for my birthday at Madison Square Garden. I wished I still had my flip light.

[RJB]

When I was little, my favorite part was when the clown's sold baskets of rocks to us kids for $5 dollars to throw at the animals.

[Schifference]

Always better to watch some electronic simulation rather than the real thing.

Yes most certainly.
I don't know if you heard about the 640 million dollar study the FDA has authorized in regards to virtual reality exercising. The theory is that if you stimulate the brain into thinking it is exercising your body will reap the same benefit as actual exercise.

[Anti Federalist]

Yes most certainly.
I don't know if you heard about the 640 million dollar study the FDA has authorized in regards to virtual reality exercising. The theory is that if you stimulate the brain into thinking it is exercising your body will reap the same benefit as actual exercise.

What could possibly go wrong?

[pcosmar]

Can not compete with Election Year Politics.

truly the greatest show on earth.

[timosman]

Can not compete with Election Year Politics.

truly the greatest show on earth.

It'd be a sad day when they retire this one.

[oyarde]

Up until 1913 you could still catch the Wild West Show .

[timosman]

Up until 1913 you could still catch the Wild West Show .

What channel?

[oyarde]

What channel?

Well if you could not catch Buffalo Bill , Pawnee Bill was next best . You kid still visit Pawnee Bills ranch until the 40's when it burned to the ground.