 final show of the RBBB Red Unit at the Garden last evening - April 15, 2007. As you recall I was at the first Sat. night "opening night" show on Mar 31. Took this shot at the pre-show with Asia getting ready to paint!! Sorry I don't know the elephant presenters but did notice the artfully held "wand" by the gentleman on the right. As most of you have heard, we're having torrential wind and rains here in New York City .. and surrounding states but the performance had a good and most appreciate crowd. A couple points. The elephant-head cup cover was indeed a $9 soda drink cover as I stated.. and NOT a snow cone cover - at least not at the Garden. I was surprised to learn that particular head was only sold at the Garden counters and not at the Ringling concession stands. They mentioned that they had sold out a few days back. They did sell snow cnes at varying prices at the Ringling booths for the top price at $15, which was a tumbler glass of ice..with flashing lights in the base. The super-duper spinning lights were $22 as was the pink Cinderella wand (with illuminated, spinning GSOE globe in the handle.) Oh.. and checked the coats on the magnificent tigers of Taba through my binoculars.. and indeed their coats were spectacular. Looked like they had just come out of the salon!! After the show (through the sheets of rain) I saw the trailer they travel in. Noticed the huge air-conditioning unit on the top which must keep them very comfortable. Haven't seen and air-conditioned unit on an animal unit since Gargantua - although I'm sure there are many. Now to the show stopper!! All went very well in the first half, except the zebra act was not presented. The two sets of trapeze open the second half and thought they went particularly well. Both triples caught. Right after the Chinese balancing act they went right into the elephant presentation. As the elephants exited suddenly the "house" lights came on.. and over the sound system came Ringmaster Tyron McFarlan's voice saying "that concludes this evenings performance." The music stopped. I was shocked. The dual- steel wheel was already down for Bello and Nikolas Wallenda..and the finale with the canon and cast bows didn't happen. I stayed until most of the crowd had exited..and noticed there was NOT ONE performer or crew in the arena. Usually the crew is in starting to take down the show. And.. as I arrived at the main level we were told to exit around at the back of the arena on 8th Ave. They were not letting anyone out the front way. Perhaps some of you know or can find out what happened. I was talking to a couple families around me to alert them to Bill 389 which is coming up in the New York City Council to ban all wild and exotic animals from performing or being presented in New York City. It occurred to me I should have been outside passing out leaflets and information and asking the circus public to help. I hope there is "a next time"! Regards..... klsdad  |
Monday, April 16, 2007
From KLSDAD
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A NY Post article today sez a phoned-in bomb threat cut short the final RBBB performance in the Garden by 30 minutes. There was to have been an Albanian dance later; it too was conceled.
Bomb scare, really.
Years ago Peggy Williams mentioned to me how concerned she was of "wackos" that might be in the audience.
I thought is was a most far-fetched thing to worry about. Look how times have changed.
Does anyone know why the show ended abruptly and excluded the final two displays?
The SHOW was the bomb.
Thanks Lane... Here's the article from the NY Post.
The concert theater known as The Theater at Madison Square Garden is below the Garden itself. Not many people know (except you who have gone up the ramps)that
the floor of the Garden is
a few stories above the level of the ticket windows.
>>>>>>>>>
BOMB SCARE STOPS CIRCUS
By LARRY CELONA
April 16, 2007 -- A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of more than 6,000 people at the circus and a concert at Madison Square Garden last night.
No explosives were found, but police located four piles of bricks bound together.
Police said the bomb threat was phoned into the Garden about 9 p.m., and officials quickly decided to end the circus performance about a half-hour early. Similarly, an Albanian music concert also was cut off.
The bricks were inside the concert theater.
.............
I was also concerned about the animal walk back to the trains in the torrential downpour..with thunder!! Hope everyone made it OK!!
I see they open in Philadelphia on the 18th.
Ron... I was inter-acting with the clown that assists
in the elephant painting segment of the pre-show.
Green baggy pants..red/yellow shirt.
Could that be you??
Beautiful show!!
Regards.. klsdad
The "elephant painting clown" is my good friend and Red Unit Boss Clown Kelly Ballagh...a very talented clown and a super nice guy, too!
Regarding the Ringling Bros. Madison Square Garden Load Out of 4/15/07 & 4/16/07 sometimes Circus Fans like me forget the men who load the Train.
I hear the worked for up to 14 hours during a Nor Easter Storm that dumped up to 9 inches of rain.
The rain flodded and closed the # 2 Line Amtrak tunnel and resulted in up to 2 feet of water at the Flat Cars.
The Red Unit Trainmaster " Mike Hickey " and his crew did an incredible job of getting the Train loaded and even with a 24 hour delay due to the tunnel closure managed to get The Show to Philadelphia and open on time.
One Old Time Train Crew member said it was the greatest Load Out he had ever seen.
WOW.. My "hats off" to everyone that night!
As I left the "shortened" bomb-scare performance I walked home in the deluge..and thunder... and thought of the elephants and lead animals getting over to Queens and the train. Had just read recently about elephants and tunnels and thunder!!
(Hey.. hope with the new Garden.. they can arrange ramps from the trains.. right up to the arena level!!)
(Well..perhaps once around the block for the "walk" would be nice!)
PS.. Don't hold your breath!!
Regards.. klsdad
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