129 The Circus

The Circus--2016 or Where Can I Run Away To Now?

What a year we have just had! 2016, according to some pundits and dictionary editors, is going to become a word in its own right. 

“Wow! That was a 2016!” The nearest meaning I can give “ a 2016” is “surreal.” Synonyms for “surreal” are bizarre, uncanny, and strange. And, yes, I think 2016 was a bit of all three synonyms!

So far this past year, among my blogs, I have written about the deaths of so many noted people, about my favorite New York City places closing, and I am adding now the end of the circus after 146 years. Trump won the presidency; the Cubs won the pennant. It is a bit strange to me that all these events occurred in 2016. I recognize we are an aging population and that to everything there is a season, but I will remember this as a “surreal” year.

This photo of elephants at work is only one of the reasons that Clyde Beatty – Cole Brothers closed its tent flaps and why Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey announced at the end of 2016 they will finish their animal-less tour spring and close up shop, too. Some 30 elephants were killed “in the line of work” in the 30 years. 

Ferocious cats have lost eyes. Circuses have been indicted and found guilty and fined for lack of care of the animals, for improper handling, rampant TB among animals, no veterinary paperwork, and the use of these prods to make animals behave as the handler wished. [Nasty looking thing!]

One entertainment executive said that people no longer are thrilled by acts that were considered dangerous (“death defying”) – trapeze artists, and lion tamers, for example. 

Even if you never saw them perform, the Flying Wallendas were a recognizable name - a family of high wire artists from the 1920s until recently. Generation after generation became part of their family act. Each generation, however, lost 3 or 4 members by falling to their deaths. No nets, they said.

We can see these death defying actions on TV or our iPads at will. Watch America’s Got Talent and see all sorts of contortionists, acrobats, clowns, and high wire acts.

Another issue for the circuses is the railway costs. Moving from city to city by rail has been the tradition. During WWII, Franklin Roosevelt felt the morale of families needed the circuses in the towns and allowed them to continue using the rails. A prohibitively expensive transport now.

There have not been sideshows with freaks since the 1960s. Where they still existed, they were often shutdown or criticized in the local press. Freak is not a politically correct term – and it should not be. For sure, these folk were exploited.

I offer my guess that the circus is no longer relevant. It was the stuff of dreams. Small towns in the 1920s -1960s got the most entertainment they could possibly get from the “circus coming to town.” 

The circus was one of the first venues that gave women equal billing. Beautiful, bedazzlingly-dressed young girls swinging on trapezes, riding elephants, and jumping off and on the backs of horses was a whole new world. Ernest Hemingway said the circus “is the only spectacle …that has the quality of a happy dream.” No longer.

Along came the media age--TV, movies, video games, and the internet took precedence – enthralling youngsters as the circus once had done. Then there is the societal concern over the animals. No Jumbo--fewer circus seats filled. Lots of conflict about the ethical treatment of animals!

IF you still really, really want to go to a circus there are a few options left. California has its “steampunk” circus – Circus Vargas. It is said to be a plethora of goggles and gadgets. The Zoppe Family Circus is from Italy and the performers are sixth generation. Lots of clowns, jugglers, and audience participation. A family show! 

Finally, if one can afford it, follow Canada’s Cirque du Soleil. It is the global enterprise with touring troupes who perform in major cities. Each of the shows has a theme and/or tells a story. Pricing per seat is from $40 to $155. Oh, yes! If you are off to Russia, the Moscow State Circus is still producing two different shows – one with animals and the other is more a political story with acrobats, high wires, etc. 

In spite of these few offerings, there are still circuses - but, these to my mind, are not what we recall from our past or what we historically call the circus. “To everything there is a season….” 

FAREWELL! Glenne