Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus to cease operations after 146 years (WAPO)

[A HERETIC I AM]

ELLENTON, Fla. — After 146 years, the curtain is coming down on “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The owner of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus told The Associated Press that the show will close forever in May.

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.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/apnewsbreak-ringling-bros-circus-to-close-after-146-years/2017/01/14/672bfe94-dad0-11e6-a0e6-d502d6751bc8_story.html?utm_term=.bb560afc7b7a

[demmiblue]

1. Good. n/t

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. 500 people out of work. n/t

[demmiblue]

5. Sad... I hope they are able to find another job/career.

I am not sad about losing an industry that was rife with animal abuse.

Animal lovers will understand this.

[jberryhill]

8. The job market for clowns is good in DC

[Calista241]

2. Excellent!

[TheDebbieDee]

4. I guess they figured they couldn't compete with the circus that will be

the Trump Administration for the next four years...

[geomon666]

6. Shame

I was hoping they could survive without having to cage and abuse animals. I think it could've been a viable form of entertainment with just having people.

[trixie2]

7. I worked with a lady

Whose son was a clown at Barnum and Bailey. He dated a fire eater. They had their own car on the train and wintered in the village in Florida.........The would work off season for the fire eater's dad, who was a plastic surgeon, at his bagel shop.

How crazy is that? The lady I worked with was a hoot to have lunch with. Her other son worked at Disney as a chef. Clown then went on to Cirque due Soleil and quit for he felt abused at the job. Have no idea what he does now or if he is still with the fire eater.

[edhopper]

9. circ de soli

became what people wanted in a circus.

NY's Big apple circus also is closing.

[trixie2]

12. I agree abuse of animals is terrible

I went to the circus as a kid once and hated it. Never went again.

According to the clown Cirque due Soleil was abusive to the humans working for them. I guess a circus is a circus.

[Laffy Kat]

10. I also think it's a good thing.

Everyone I know is grossed out by circuses. We took our boys one time when they were very young and they wanted to leave as soon as we got there. I felt the same way. I do feel bad for the employees, but happy for all of the animals they exploit.

[NightWatcher]

11. I took my kid last year and it wasn't entertaining.

The animals looked miserable. The stunts were so small that unless you were front row, it was quite a bore to watch.

[hlthe2b]

13. I'm very very glad for the animals--especially the elephants...

Still, I was shocked when the AP alert came through tonight. Nostalgia is a potent emotion...

Still, I am firmly in the animal's court All my love, my lovely elephants....

[flvegan]

14. Good, fuck them.

Animal abusers shouldn't profit from that as they have for so long. So very happy to hear that we might have had something to do with it.

[WinkyDink]

15. I wasn't really a fan (I loathe clowns), but I'm glad I got to see a real circus in my town. It's a

sad ending to an institution, the likes of which have no peer.

[Maru Kitteh]

16. GOOD. 150 years of animal brutality is finally ending? AWESOME.

[Raine]

17. GOOD, 146 years of exploitation of animals & people finally reaching an end.

[Crunchy Frog]

18. Good.

[Mendocino]

19. Next Rodeo

It's basically a western circus anyway complete with clowns.