Bidding adieu to the big top
You’ve probably heard that the circus is shutting down.
After a long run, the ringmaster is moving on, the high wire act is no more, and lots of clowns will be out of work. It was a heck of a show while it lasted.
Meanwhile, in news not involving Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, Ringling Brothers has announced it too will be ceasing operations.
Sorry. The Greatest Show on Earth only goes out of business once. That it was announced during the same week Donald Trump will take the oath of office as our next president means the above joke could only be made right now. I couldn’t resist.
Having dissed the Dems, I’ll now give equal time to the Republicans. How about this? The main reason the circus is going out of business is because they know they won’t be able to compete with the government as a source of bizarre entertainment following this coming Friday.
In all seriousness, I’ll miss Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey. Fond memories abound.
When I was a kid, there wasn’t a greater thrill than going to the circus. Sure, being into sports as much as I was, a Sox or Celtics game was a big deal. But sports were around day in and day out, while the circus came only once a year. And it was a guaranteed good time, too, which wasn’t the case with sports since your team could lose. At the circus, you knew the only sad part would be when you had to go home.
Of course, there will always be some who find displeasure in that which provides entertainment.
For instance, my favorites were the clowns. While other acts had their moments, my greatest joy came when all the clowns burst forth into the arena. Who doesn’t like to laugh?
As it turns out, quite a few folks. Over the years, more and more people started coming out of the closet as suffering from a fear of clowns (“frolicphobia,” as my wife — one who doesn’t care for clowns — coined it). I’ve never understood how someone can be afraid of people whose only goal is to make you happy, but there are things other people like with which I’m not particularly comfortable — open heights, Toddlers and Tiaras — so I won’t argue personal taste.
The real death blow came when animal rights activists started complaining about circus animals being mistreated. PETA and others waged battles against the circus and won. I admit to becoming increasingly uncomfortable watching some of the animals perform. Elephants have been proven to be comparatively intelligent creatures, mostly peace-loving, and to see them made to stand on their hind legs and do tricks, while eye-catching, did seem a robbery of dignity. Others — lions, tigers, horses — didn’t seem tremendously happy in their work, either.
While the Big Apple Circus was long an alternative to Ringling Bros. it has fallen on hard times, too. But not all is lost. Some smaller circuses are still around. And the phrase closely associated with P.T. Barnum about there being a sucker born every minute is proven over and over, especially when most of them turn out to vote.
However, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey was the circus. To all the performers and behind-the-scenes personnel who made it a stunning spectacle for 146 years, my inner kid sincerely says “Thank you.”
Sports were around day in and day out, but the circus came only once a year. With sports, your team could lose. At the circus, you knew the only sad part would be when you had to go home.