I can remember when I was a young
boy filled with an almost uncontrollable excitement because the circus was
coming to town. Then when the time
rolled around there was a thrill in the air.
All the trucks came pulling up into the empty lots and began to unload
the tents, the poles, and all the other equipment they would need to create out
of the nothingness, the world of dreams that was the circus. Surrounding the Big Top were an unimaginable
amount of other tents and the “side shows” of the carnival, the rides, and the
games, all took their spots in the final creation of the “magic city” that
would dominate the community conversation for days.
My Dad operated a gas station at
that time and it also served as a gathering place for some of the more “colorful”
patrons to sit around and share their news (and many complaints) about the
topics of the day. I would hang around
at times so I could listen to these “voices of wisdom” so I could get educated
in the field of local gossip. Of course,
in doing this, I would have to “work" for the privilege of gaining this
unbelievably valuable creative experience by cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping
the parking lot and driveway and other odd jobs. But, this also gave me the opportunity to earn
some money so I could go to the circus and partake of the fantasy atmosphere.
I would sit on the bench with my
pop, my popcorn, the cotton candy, and some type of candy bar. Of course, I wouldn’t have them all at the
same time, but the vendors would make their rounds throughout the audience like
is done today at baseball games. You
couldn’t pass up an opportunity to make a purchase from them. It made the enjoyment of watching the circus
acts more pleasurable to watch instead of just sitting there on the bench. It made you feel like you were personally
involved in the actions of each act that was presented by the Ring Master! I marveled at the acrobatic teams. These were usually families who had spent
generations in perfecting their craft. I
sat mesmerized by starring in amazement as they carefully walked across the
tight rope and seemed to fly effortlessly through the air finally dropping into
the net, ending their act and once again allowing me to catch my breath and
take another sip of my pop. Then the
animals would come out --- the lions or tigers and then those majestic
elephants. At times there could be dogs,
horses, or even seals, but to me nothing seemed as exciting as watching the
elephants go through their routines.
As I got older there were a couple
of specific years that the circus came to town that remain impressed in my
memory. One year I heard that the circus
people were looking for some locals to help them set-up the tents, etc in
preparation for their performances. So,
after school, I ran over to inquire what was needed and could I be used. I’ve always been “big” for my age, so I lied
about my age so I could get the work, especially when I found out I would get
twenty dollars pay (almost a fortune for that time to a 16 year old) for the
work, free passes to the circus every day it was in town and coupons for the “snacks”
to eat while there! I was going for this
work in a BIG way!
The other occasion was the very next
year when the circus returned to our town.
By this time I had a regular after school job so I was making “good”
money and didn’t need (or want) to work at the circus to get tickets. I could afford to pay for entry! And this time I got selected as one of four
people called out of the stands to walk the tight rope! This was one they had set up in the ring of
the Big Top. It was only about six feet
off the ground and about twenty feet in length, but it seemed a lot more
dangerous than it appeared! Before
starting my walk, I asked for some advice on how to be prepared. The professional artist leaned over and
whispered into my ear: “If you feel like you are about to fall, make sure BOTH legs are on the same side
of the wire!” That was good advice because
I only made it about three quarters of the way across before I felt myself
coming off the wire.
Now, today, for the first time in
146 years, the circus is NO LONGER
coming to town. Ringling Bros. And Barnum
& Bailey Circus will be concluding its show in May of 2017. The pressures of modern day activists who are
unhappy with the treatment of the animals, kids having a shorter attention span
because of becoming an electronically entertained generation, and add to those
things the circus’ competition from modern spectacles like Cirque du Solei
have, in effect, made it practically impossible for the circus to compete
economically.
What a truly sad day in the history
of some of the most marvelous entertainment that has ever been around. I understand the problems and issues involved
from a financial point of view, but it saddens me to imagine that future
generations of young ones will be denied the opportunity to enjoy the chances
to lose themselves in the magic of the “Big Top” or stroll through the “streets”
created within the fascinating “magical place” built around the circus. We can continue to recall the wonderful
experiences we had with our visits to the circus, but after May, 2017, the
creation of circus magic will cease.
Take time to share your enjoyment of the circus experience with the
younger generation. Don’t let circus
joys be gone forever!
QUOTE TO CONSIDER
THOUGHTFUL GEM
"The one you help today may be the one to help you tomorrow."
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