Ringling Bros. circus to close after 146 years

I remember the day my parents took me. No warning, but as usual my father was mad because I was outside playing. Sorry dad. It's what kids did on Saturdays. Maybe if you let me know at breakfast....anyway, I think the smell of the hay and animals was the best part. You could take a walk on the sidelines and get very close to the elephants. Tent environments will always have a magical effect. I went in 1957. It was very professional. Now? I don't even like zoos. ( god, San Francisco's zoo out in the fog...wrong...)

in Australia sa i kid i loved circuses especially a lion that walked past the trainer and back peed on him then jumped through a flame ring seemed funny to me as a lid but really loved the ladies and guys on the ropes .

The old circus is done, and it's for the better, methinks.

Humane Society of the United States: More or less a scam operation with not a penny going to pet shelters etc. If anything they should be getting sued by the public at large.

I watched a circus a couple years ago. It wasn't bad, and they seemed to have learned a lot from Cirque du Soleil. But when it came to the animals, it seemed like we dropped back to 50 years ago. The kids loved it - it was their favorite part. It seemed anachronistic to me, harkening back to an era before television, when seeing a real live elephant perform tricks was something people would line up for.

The day of the circus has come and gone.

First saw RB in Washington DC in the early '70s. Really don't recall much, just that I couldn't watch everything I wanted to see and that the bear act didn't see very nice for the bears. It was a "job" and the animals mostly didn't like it. Even the dogs weren't exactly thrilled.

I feel my life was enriched by seeing THIS circus at THAT time. Hopefully, they will be making a bunch of recordings before it is gone.

Nothing can replace seeing animals in nature doing what they do.

Culture changes. It's unavoidable. What meant something to the elderly can easily seem pointless to the young. Under a capitalist system, if your cultural product can't keep up with the people who want to pay for it, it's doomed.

You can either be bitter and resent that times have moved past you, or you can move with them.

I feel my life was enriched by seeing THIS circus at THAT time. Hopefully, they will be making a bunch of recordings before it is gone.

It was the same for me, I remember seeing them in Long Beach, CA. In the mid 70's I remember the tigers, the elephants and I was really enthralled, but as I got older and started to become more interested in wildlife conservation, my entire outlook changed and since I was about 18 never went again, I don't even like watching dolphin or whale shows. I think that's one reason why Cirque du Soleil was created. Humans are more interesting and with the costumes and the theatrics you can be just as amazed, if not, more so. RB had its time and place, but as the article said, Ike's have changed and it's just not the thing to do these days anymore. Wild animals should be appreciated and not used as entertainment trophies. Humans can do amazing things and they do it willingly unlike most animals. These people have the choice and desire to perform, the animals don't. I've seen most of the Cirque du Soleil shows and love them. Waiting to get tickets and take the kids to see "Totem" I think if you've never been to one of their shows, you should go you won't regret it and everyone of all ages can enjoy these amazing people and how they perform, the music is also incredible.

Nothing can replace seeing animals in nature doing what they do.

I agree 100%

The old circus has been replaced by the new circus of a world gone mad.

Humane Society of the United States:

PETA has been the organization spearheading investigations of myriad abuse going on behind the curtain, the Humane Society CEO actually had what I thought was a rather mild response. Remaining relevant in every way but treat the animals well of course because there wouldn't be a show if that were the case.

Starting Jan-20, 2017, the Greatest Circus on Earth will be permanently played in DC for at least 4 years, so this decision was maybe wise.

I believe it is educational for children to have chances to observe exotic animals.