# End of an era: Ringling Bros. Circus to close in May 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204 "2017-01-15T03:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/81 "2017-01-18T15:25:14Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I hope this doesn’t bring back the bad clowns. “Bad clowns” is redundant. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/82 "2017-01-18T18:08:49Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > What I’m guessing is they will hold onto the trademark and name and do something with it. > > Personally I’d like to see them create a “Circus World” theme park. [They did, in Florida, from 1974 to 1986.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_World_(theme_park)) Since it couldn’t survive 30 years ago, I don’t expect they’ll bring it back. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/83 "2017-01-18T19:15:23Z")
Interesting controversy over Lucky the Elephant: [http://welovelucky.com/](http://welovelucky.com/) * * * > [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > It’s 146 years. Is that more than an era? I’m vague on how long an era is. > > As a young boy, 40 years ago, I first went to a circus (Circus Vargas) full of anticipation and left it bored and disappointed, and wishing I had taken along my Coleco Electronic Football to stave off the tedium. Yes, I’m saddened by the end of an era, or whatever it is, but I’m also amazed it lasted this long. Glad I’m not the only here who, as a 5 year-old, found the three-ring already bygone, hokey, rickety, worn around the edges, and, yes, making me pine for that stupid Coleco thing, while the sisters wanted to go home and listen to their Elton John and Slade albums. Mum was quite disappointed with the kids’ disappointment. ::holding aloft ancient, still-working Coleco thing as it blurts out annoying 6-note touchdown tune:: ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/84 "2017-01-18T19:26:59Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Personally I’d like to see them create a “Circus World” theme park. > [@commasense](#): > > [They did, in Florida, from 1974 to 1986.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_World_(theme_park)) Since it couldn’t survive 30 years ago, I don’t expect they’ll bring it back. There is a Circus World in Baraboo, WI that has a lot of interesting stuff on display–including a couple of buildings with beautifully restored Circus Wagons. There’s also the Ringling Museum in Sarasota that has an added bonus of the _Ca’ d’Zan_ mansion and a world-class art museum. Neither one are “theme parks” but they’re well worth a visit. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/85 "2017-01-18T20:10:56Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I was completely shocked to hear this. I always thought that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus was something that would be around forever. Why do I have the feeling that, when all is said and done, Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus will end up being sold to someone else, who will turn it into something like, “Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents (insert some Cirque du Soleil-style show name here)” - maybe with a number of different shows operating at the same time? The only animal acts would be along the lines of Olate Dogs. Remember, it wasn’t that many years ago that the Harlem Globetrotters announced they would be ending their tours and start playing “legitimate” basketball games, and look how that turned out. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/86 "2017-01-19T22:21:44Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The Terrorists Have Won. Another reason to hate peta. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204/87 "2017-01-19T22:32:45Z")
PETA brings attention to things that need some attention. People ignore the crazy stuff like not having any dogs or cats. Keeping lions in little cages and training them with wip? Yeah, right out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-in-may-2017/777204.md?page=4)