The Greatest Show on Earth comes to an end. But does that mean I can still get the crackers – PB/TK
‘Greatest Show on Earth’ takes its final bow after 146 years – / May 21 2017
The clowns, animal acts and acrobats of the storied Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus are taking their final bow at an arena outside New York City on Sunday in the farewell performance of the “Greatest Show on Earth” after nearly 150 years.
Capping a legacy that stretches back to the legendary 19th century showman P.T. Barnum, the circus bids adieu at a series of shows this weekend at newly refurbished Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on New York’s Long Island.
The final show on Sunday evening was a sell-out and a worldwide audience can watch the event via a live stream on the Ringling website.
The finale, announced by parent Feld Entertainment Inc in January, comes a year after the company bowed to pressure from animal rights activists and agreed to stop using elephants in its performances. A featured attraction for more than a century, the elephants had come to symbolize the Ringling Bros brand.
Feld decided to fold up the tent as a result of high operating costs combined with lower ticket sales, it said in a statement at the time. After phasing out the elephants, the owner said, the decline in attendance was “greater than could have been anticipated.”
Although it retired its elephants, Ringling Bros continued to showcase tigers, lions, horses, dogs and camels until the end, despite fierce criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Continue to reuters.com article: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-circus-idUSKBN18H0ZC
