A year ago, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey unveiled a new kind of circus. Gone were the three rings that had shaped and defined big-time circus entertainment for more than a century.
A year ago, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey unveiled a new kind of circus. Gone were the three rings that had shaped and defined big-time circus entertainment for more than a century.
The new circus featured a story line, and audiences got to watch it all on massive video screens.
The new, higher-tech circus was generally popular, Ringling officials say, but some people disapproved of tampering with a cherished American tradition.
The new edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which premieres this week at the St. Pete Times Forum, retains the 38-foot-tall video screen but abandons the story line. And the three rings return, in an altered form.
"It was time for the circus to get a facelift," said Jonathon Griggs, general manger of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. "Last year was the biggest change for the circus since we went from the big top into the arena in the 1960s. So, of course, we listened to the feedback, and we've made adjustments to make this year's circus even better."
One thing audiences said they missed last year was the three-ring format. The plot line of the 136th annual edition of the Ringling Bros. Circus was played out on an open floor, with a family visiting the circus and getting an opportunity to live out a circus fantasy.
For this year's edition, the "rings" are back, but for the first time they are rectangles. That shape allows crews to fold up the "rings" and remove them during the show when an open floor is needed, Griggs said.
Last year's show is still on the road; Ringling always has two companies touring. The show Tampa audiences saw last year is halfway through its 2-year run; the new show will set out from here for two years.
One of the most popular elements of this show is Bello, perhaps the world's most famous clown. Bello returns with a death-defying act in a spinning wheel high above the circus floor, Griggs said.
"We've had wheels before, but we've never had one like this, that breaks in half in midair," Griggs said. "This is absolutely unique in the circus world."
Also new in this edition is a tiger act that is performed behind a mesh fence.
"In the past the tigers have always been in cages with bars, so your view is interrupted by the thick bars of the cage," Griggs said. "Now they're in a mesh cage, so you're looking directly at the tigers, with nothing blocking your view."
(The dumb First of May ass-hole isn't even aware that the Ringling Show moved indoors in 1957 and has been using mesh arenas for over half a century.) Buckles
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17 comments:
WELL SAID BUCKLES!!!
Good one Buckles!
As a long standing FIRST OF MAY, I resent using this true circus appellation to describe this so called circus manager.
Buckles, the crack (Ass Hole) is fine I caution on the using of "First of May!"
You get what you pay for. Ringling's been re-writing their history since 1968.
And he's in management !
doesn't that give you confidence?
Does he still have his job ?
if so, why?
At the next staff meeting, the question "What's a First of May?" will be a hot topic.
The rest of the description is a foregone conclusion.
I am just waiting for the first one to call the show The KEN and NICOLE Show at one of these meetings or to the press. Which first of may will it be??
After the Ringling show folded it's tents in 1956, it did still play some "outdoor" dates as in ball park stadiums and in front of fairground grand stands. I have seen photos of this up to 1965. Shortly thereafter, they only played indoor arenas. This might be what the Felducated PR man was talking about.
The first Ringling cable mesh arena was in 1965, and had 2 or 3 regular "sections" for the doors. As stated on the blog a few days ago, we saw a cable arena in Europe in 1958 was it?.
Honestly, Buckles- I think your blog should be required reading on a daily basis for the management over there... !
I bet that NO ONE in Vienna has thought that this blog should be REQUIRED READING for everyone at Feld Entertainment that has Anything to do with their circus !
At least let these folk have a CHANCE to be aware that they are not isolated in a business.YOU ARE NOT ALONE ! the tools to learn about your business are here !
Please take advantage of all the information and knowledge available here
If you have a chance to see the Greatest Show on Earth movie, you will see Albet Rix working the bear act in a mesh arena.
This was filmed in 1951 and it was his second year on the show. I suppose the arena came with him from Europe.
The bottom of the arena snapped onto a plywood track that was just wide enough to place the pedistals on.
Paul Fritz refused to work in it since his cats ran around the wall.
I remember asking Terrell Jacobs what he thought of it and he replied "Hell no! I want something I can climb out of, in case I get in trouble."
The early 50's pull up arena's were chain, same concept as cable mesh, but these were very difficult to work with so I have been told and only lasted a few years.
Required reading for management? HMMM that might be tough since you assume that they can actually read.
Might be true Wade, But you are OUR ASS HOLE. Who said that about you? We would only say it with lov and cover it with a loin cloth.
Hey,can someone give me a one liner on who Ken n Nic are?????? They're pretty sharp! We had our first mesh cage in the 70', but we are down under in OZ! Love that First of May thing, we got a few down here too
Mr. Bullen, on this Blog, out of respect for James A. Bailey, P.T. Barnum and the Ringling brothers, I have removed their names from the American Institution they established and replaced it with those of the current ownership.
Ditto for the show's logo.
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