When I was a kid, it seemed like there was always a circus coming to town. The only one I can think of right now is Curcus Vargus, but I know there were a bunch. Now I only see RBB&B; and very rarely at that. Why is this? And is it a monopoly?
I miss the circus 
Whether you’re fat or slim bubble your ting.
Fellas if you need help, use ginseng.
–Wyclef Jean
I miss it too. I think that RBBB is a monopoly, although I live in a small town and have only seen one circus. I think it was RBBB. I bet television has led to the decline of the circus!
<planet of the apes>DAMN YOU TELEVISION! DAMN YOU TO HELL!</planet of the apes>
*“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.” - Ferris Bueller
*
Call the US Dept. of Justice…this is an unfair Monopoly…they should make them break it up like Microsoft…
Ringling Circus
Barnun Circus
Bailey Circus
It’s horrible how these people get away with these practices!
I seem to remember something called the Shrine Circus. Not sure if that was nationwide, or just a local thing, though.
Jeremy…
Nobody ever calls me after they’ve done something smart.
*Animals in circuses are forced to travel thousands of miles for 48-50 weeks every year
*Elephants are chained in filthy railroad cars that are often left in the sun in hot weather. Some elephants spend their entire lives in chains. The famous Dumbo lived 20 years in “martingales”, fetters that run from the tusks to the feet
*Tigers live and are transported in cages only 4 feet by 5 feet by 6 feet- barely enough room to turn around
*Animals perform under threat of punishmet. Bears commonly have their paws burned to force them to stand on their hind legs.
What You Can Do
Eliminating animal exploitation simply means the increased use of human performers. Write to PETA for information on ways to get an animal display ban passed in your area.
Don’t patronize circuses that use animals. PETA can provide “Circus Check” fliers to pass out to patrons if the circus comes to your town. Find out about state and local animal protection laws, and report any possible violations to authorities.
Take your family to see only animal-free circuses, such as the Cirque du Soleil or the Pickle Family Circus.
I am not deliciously saucy.
For what it’s worth, not all circuses mistreat thier animals. Many do. I am very close to the Herrmann family, who own and operate a Lipizzan stallion show. The horses travel in air conditioned box stall trucks, the people do not. They are a first generation European circus family, and many of them have married into other circus families. One mother-in-law is a lion trainer, whose lions eat steak, and are referred to as “her kitties.”
There are a lot of slimey circuses out there with animals that should have been retired years ago. But there are also European circuses that are realise that the animals are their livelyhood, and that the animals are more important then the people. Making sweaping generalizations is never a good idea.
You had me agreeing with you, psycat90; that is until you mentioned PETA.
Since they are all, without exception, mallet-headed crackpots, I must infer that circuses are animal-safe, humane environments that deserve my patronage.
TT
“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.”
–James Thurber
You better believe it’s a monopoly, Demo.
And if you try to muscle in on our action, well, let’s just say that you better look out for a pair of huge shoes sticking out from behind your curtains…or you may find yourself taken for a ride in a very small car with several of our “legitimate entertainers,” for some knife-throwing practice. It would be most unfortunate if you found yourself in the way of a drive-by pie-ing, capeesh?
Tony (“The Ringmaster”) Wallenda
Launcher may train without warning.
The Father of one of the kids I went to school with owned the Sells Bros. Circus.
Or what was left of it.
Breckinshire pretty well nailed the death of circus with the advent of TV. Radio and TV nailed vaudeville, too.
The Shriners sponsor a circus as much for it’s nostalgia value as for anything else.
There are various other circuses, including the Big Apple Circus and Cirque de Soliel (both modern circuses).
I saw the Circus of Magic a few years ago, long with a European-style small circus that appeared here.
Ringling Bros. has the lock on big arenas, but there are smaller circuses around.
“What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet.
This year, for my birthday, my husband got us tickets to the Shrine Circus. While sitting through it, I understood why people don’t go to see it. It sucked. Big time. The few decent acts they had were high in the air and were obscured by posters and things hanging from the ceiling. Let me recount the memorable parts of the circus for you:
The lady with the tigers. When the tigers wouldn’t follow her commands, there were two guys standing outside the cage to poke the tigers with a stick. Then when the last tiger was walking into his cage at the end, he moved too slowly. The circus people slammed the door on his tail!!! Twice!! I actually was yelling, “What the hell are you doing???”
During the dog act, one of the poodles kept trying to mount another one. It was hilarious!
They had this couple that shot apples off of each other’s head with crossbows. That was too cool.
Oh, and Bozo the Clown was there.
I walked into the convenience store today, and lo and behold, what did I see? Fliers for the Sterling & Reid Bros. 3-Ring Circus! Can’t say I’ve ever heard of this one, but it apparently features Russian dancing bears on horseback, 20 white horses, herds of elephants, lions & rare white tigers, laughing hyenas, bungee daredevils, a wild west show, and a “monster midway.” It’s also “Bigger & Better Than Ever … More Than Any Show On Earth!”
Monday & Tuesday, April 3-4 at the Evangeline Downs racetrack in Lafayette, LA. As tempting as it sounds, I think I’ll pass.
`They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety’