The Greatest Show On Earth

[Planit]

Part of me wants to see one of the final performances of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum Baily Circus. A larger part does not.

I have many childhood memories of the circus. The city where I grew up was the first stop on their tour every year. For several years, we'd see the train come into town and the "elephant walk" parade from the train to the performance center. I went almost every year until I was about 13. My second planning job was actually in the city where the set up the winter headquarters.

We took The Girl when she was about 4 years old. She liked a couple of the acts, but wasn't overly excited. we've asked her to go a few times since and she's declined.

What about you guys? Is anyone making a special trip to see the final shows? Childhood memories? It's the ending of THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!

 

[Maister]

I saw the Ringling Bros. circus when I was knee high to a grasshopper. To be honest, my memories are rather hazy and not altogether positive. I remember thinking the tigers jumping through flaming hoops were super cool, and the people doing the trapeze act were nothing short of amazing, but they had CLOWNS at that circus. Yes, that's right clowns. So one big black mark on them in this coulrophobe's eyes.

 

[MD Planner]

I was always pretty impressed with some of the feats many of the performers could do like the high wire acts and contortionists. But even from a young age I always felt very uncomfortable watching the animals. I just felt so sorry for them. I'm reallly not sorry to see them go.

On a somewhat related note: I also remember as a really small kid seeing some roadside "zoos" including ones at gas stations and the like and thinking they were neat. By the time I was 7 and reading Ranger Rick I had completely changed my tune and made sure my parents never stopped at those places again.