Ringling Brothers Circus Closing

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,235
10,678
126
Saw them when I was kid. My mother wants to see them before they're gone, so I'll probably be seeing them this spring. Don't want to, but mom... :^/
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Saw that the other day, the museum is near us here in Sarasota.

The wife and I talked about it a bit, she had never even went to a circus in her childhood experiences.

She did not even like carnivals I guess, I did not meet her until she was around 27.

I saw it once when I was young, is really just a thing of the past compared to other things these days.
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
I'm surprised it wasn't sooner. Entertainment has evolved so much further than clowns and trapeze artists.
 

JPS35

Senior member
Apr 9, 2006
890
83
91
Saw that the other day, the museum is near us here in Sarasota.

The wife and I talked about it a bit, she had never even went to a circus in her childhood experiences.

I saw it once when I was young, is really just a thing of the past compared to other things these days.

I guess that is somewhat why I am sad that I have not been to this particular circus. There is a nostalgia to me of seeing something that has been around that long.
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Cirque du soleil would be pretty much the modern day equivalent, I'd think.

Without the animal treatment issues etc of course.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,356
14,768
146
I've seen their show several times over the years. Took my kids to see it, and one of our grandkids. IMO, it started losing its appeal when they moved out of the big top and into stadiums and arenas.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,356
14,768
146
Ladieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees and gentlemen.....I now direct your attention to the center ring.............
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,008
34,227
136
I saw them when I was a kid. I liked the Zor Shrine circus better even though it was smaller. I also saw Circus Vargas that still used a big top that I liked. Ringling's three rings and parade after parade during the show got kind of numbing.
 

Spacehead

Lifer
Jun 2, 2002
13,067
9,858
136
Was it them that just announced their 1st female ringmaster? I just saw a piece on the news a few nights ago.
 

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,613
11,256
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Was it them that just announced their 1st female ringmaster? I just saw a piece on the news a few nights ago.

Yeah, it was them, I think that news came out just around New Years. Look how quickly things go to crap when you put a woman in charge /s
 
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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,947
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I'm surprised it wasn't sooner. Entertainment has evolved so much further than clowns and trapeze artists.
That was pretty much my thought when I saw the news segment this morning. Evidently they added ice skating and BMX stunts to try and draw more of a crowd... woo.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
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quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,207
751
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That was pretty much my thought when I saw the news segment this morning. Evidently they added ice skating and BMX stunts to try and draw more of a crowd... woo.

They have had motorcycle stunts for years. I saw the circus every year when I was a kid in the '70s-'80s. Think they added them in the late '70s? The globe of death, pretty silly really. It was of a different age, not sophisticated enough for today, just a bunch of stunts without some sort of story.

My parents have like 10-20 years of programs on a shelf somewhere ('75?~'90). Kids just getting to the age where they might enjoy it, oh well.
 
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bshole

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2013
8,315
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The internet is killing everything. Why go out to see things when you can see them from the comfort of your own home? I turned on to this years ago. No operas, no plays, no sporting events, no circuses, no clubs, no concerts, no need. I can do it all right from the comfort of my home and I don't have to worry about how I look either.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
26,067
24,397
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because no elephants.

wonder why the decided to stop using elephants? (they still use other animals, right?)
why didn't anyone at corporate do a cost/benefit/risk analysis?

It says it in the article. They faced pressure from various groups for years about animals in their shows, especially the elephants
 

FeuerFrei

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2005
9,144
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Don't think I've ever seen a circus. I've no problem with an elephant earning his keep.

This thread needs music.

 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
986
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simpsons-gradef-012511.jpg
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,449
264
126
I've gone twice over the last 5 yrs or so. I thought it was great entertainment for the price. Only went the first time because a friend talked me into it, I volunteered right away the second time.
 

Thebobo

Lifer
Jun 19, 2006
18,574
7,672
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When my family first moved to the DC area we were taken down to see the Elephant walk from the train tracks to the DC colosseum for the show. There was no station near there, they just stopped the train in the middle of the tracks and walked the elephants about a half mile pass RFK and to the colosseum.