Reminiscence about the circuses

[ksaves2]

Being older I had a reminiscence when I was practicing medicine and I acquired a patient who was retired and came home essentially live out his days and die.
He was Harold Ronk who was the ringmaster at the Barnum and Baily's circus from the late 40's to 1981. Once a ringmaster, always a ringmaster!

My nurse knew to reserve extra time for a visit because I'd pry Harold for circus stories and he was more than happy to tell them to me. I'd be captivated.

He started the singing ringmaster tradition actually that extended up into the 80's. Too bad the circus has died. People think the animals are maltreated but Harold told me that from the big cats to the elephants the caretakers loved them to the n'th degree and they got exquisite care. He said that the elephants loved performing their routine.
I think they were mostly Indian elephants (more trainable) but I did see some African elephants in the mix!

Harold Ronk, the old ringmaster, told me anyone could have gotten into the ring and placed the whip here and there on the ground and the lions and tigers would perform their routine without issue. Sounds wild but might be legitimate.

Man I had an inside look on the circus. The Williams Brothers. They came to town and I and my daughter loved it. Too bad circuses have faded away likely forever.

Hey they had a tent and in the olden days, it was a big deal when the elephants erected up the main poles. It was recreated here with Williams Bros. and I was glad I was able to see it with though only one Indian elephant. They gave elephant rides and I paid to do it with my daughter. I was able to get up close and pet the elephant and I did a study on them when I was in the 6th grade and petted her and talked to her. She started looking at me with those big black eyes, she seemed to appreciate my affection. I'll never forget that ever. They are so intelligent.

I asked the trainer, "Is she 35 years old." After I walked around her. He replied, " No, she's 38!" I thought in my mind I was close as I never was around elephants and from just reading in books, that was a good estimate in age from me. Elephants can live as long as humans.

Kurt

 

[Fattbank64]

I was lucky enough to attend a Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Circus back in the day. That was a lifetime ago.

I agree that circuses were railroaded out of existence.

 

[lr64]

I've seen the Flying Wallendas. Those people were amazing, and nuts. At a state fair, not a circus. Lots of animals at the fair, too. I remember two young anteaters (or sloths?) horsing around. Very slowly. I also remember a guy with a whole ragtag bunch of dogs he'd trained to do any and everything, including disrespecting him when behind his back. I seem to recall this was in the last twenty years or so.

 

[fyrwrxz]

I've seen the Flying Wallendas. Those people were amazing, and nuts. At a state fair, not a circus. Lots of animals at the fair, too. I remember two young anteaters (or sloths?) horsing around. Very slowly. I also remember a guy with a whole ragtag bunch of dogs he'd trained to do any and everything, including disrespecting him when behind his back. I seem to recall this was in the last twenty years or so.

Wow! Flying Wallendas! Thanks for bringing that memory back! I had a great childhood! Steam engine trains, the Elephant parade through town to advertise, the circus posters at the barber shop, a huge canvas tent with bleachers inside. Trapeze so high. Cotton candy. I was 6. So Nebraska circa 1957-58? Airplanes still had propellers, but my dad flew the first jet bombers (B-47). Going to town was exciting as dad insisted on a house away from the base. We always had a basement. I lived next to huge cornfields. I could lay on my back and watch the mile long grain trains leaving Lincoln every day during harvest season. Sorry, old man rambling. Thanks for posting.

 

[lr64]

I just checked. The Wallendas still perform. Or, at least, they had a gig scheduled last weekend. I'd be happier to see them perform with a few safety devices, though.

 

[fyrwrxz]

I just checked. The Wallendas still perform. Or, at least, they had a gig scheduled last weekend. I'd be happier to see them perform with a few safety devices, though.

That is amazing! That is a family legacy. The whole claim to fame of "no net" seems pointless now I'm an antique. What is the value of perfecting your art when one tiny error or equipment failure ends your life? It was so sad when the papers announced the dreaded accident. Don't know if I would go watch them again. Mad props for the sheer guts to carry the legacy and art onward.

 

[Wrightme43]

Thank you.

Sometimes it breaks my heart what has been stolen from our children.

 

[Pem Tech]

Wow! Flying Wallendas! Thanks for bringing that memory back! I had a great childhood! Steam engine trains, the Elephant parade through town to advertise, the circus posters at the barber shop, a huge canvas tent with bleachers inside. Trapeze so high. Cotton candy. I was 6. So Nebraska circa 1957-58? Airplanes still had propellers, but my dad flew the first jet bombers (B-47). Going to town was exciting as dad insisted on a house away from the base. We always had a basement. I lived next to huge cornfields. I could lay on my back and watch the mile long grain trains leaving Lincoln every day during harvest season. Sorry, old man rambling. Thanks for posting.

Not rambling, but sharing a bygone era with those who hadn't the luck to see it. Verbal history is still an important, but under valued, part of our society. I was right behind you, never saw steam trains but lots of diesel locomotives and cabooses! how many pennies did you lay on the tracks? Your pop flew B-47's? Wow, that would have been exciting. Now, I do remember B-52's and C-130's roaring overhead day and night.
The circus was a magical experience, the likes of which the children of today will never know. The thrill of the high wire (with no net), the call of the ringmaster, the smell of roasted peanuts, popcorn, old canvas, straw and cotton candy. Tumblers, jugglers, family aerobatic teams, clowns, and those beauties with skimpy costumes and gigantic headgear. Animal acts of all kinds, horses, elephants, tigers, lions and bears, oh my. And the sideshows... How I loved the sideshow acts.
Laying in the fields watching trains and other such simple joys, are long past, sadly. We couldn't even get our girls to go into the backyard, let alone lay in a corn/wheat/cotton field just to relax and enjoy life. Now that they are teen tech junkies it is a struggle just to get them to look up from their phones.
Yes, the beauty and pageantry of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Circus is sadly a part of history but those of us who experienced it will always cherish and share that experience. just hope our children listen and pass the stories on.

EDIT: It looks like Ringling Bros B&B Circus is still alive and well, but performing in arenas. Which still isn't the same.

 

[lr64]

I think some of the experiences people are waxing nostalgic about are still available, at least in part, at state fairs. Maybe check out the reputation of the fair in question, though. Or have places like the Tunbridge been cleaned up?

Don't forget that today's kids are seeing progress in space flight again. OTOH, they can worry more urgently about envirinmental destruction while still worrying about nuclear war like we did.

 

[fyrwrxz]

Not rambling, but sharing a bygone era with those who hadn't the luck to see it. Verbal history is still an important, but under valued, part of our society. I was right behind you, never saw steam trains but lots of diesel locomotives and cabooses! how many pennies did you lay on the tracks? Your pop flew B-47's? Wow, that would have been exciting. Now, I do remember B-52's and C-130's roaring overhead day and night.
The circus was a magical experience, the likes of which the children of today will never know. The thrill of the high wire (with no net), the call of the ringmaster, the smell of roasted peanuts, popcorn, old canvas, straw and cotton candy. Tumblers, jugglers, family aerobatic teams, clowns, and those beauties with skimpy costumes and gigantic headgear. Animal acts of all kinds, horses, elephants, tigers, lions and bears, oh my. And the sideshows... How I loved the sideshow acts.
Laying in the fields watching trains and other such simple joys, are long past, sadly. We couldn't even get our girls to go into the backyard, let alone lay in a corn/wheat/cotton field just to relax and enjoy life. Now that they are teen tech junkies it is a struggle just to get them to look up from their phones.
Yes, the beauty and pageantry of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Circus is sadly a part of history but those of us who experienced it will always cherish and share that experience. just hope our children listen and pass the stories on.

EDIT: It looks like Ringling Bros B&B Circus is still alive and well, but performing in arenas. Which still isn't the same.

Llamaman! Good to hear from you! Cool to see one of the O.G.'s respond. At this end of life, I am beginning to understand the overwhelming desire to "tell your story" about life on this spaceship. Every one is unique, yet we are all together in this mortal journey. Not a very religious guy but you can see other threads where I had a real "come to Jesus" moment Saturday coming back from a launch when I turned my wife's 4 wheel drive into 3 wheel drive at 70 mph. Still have quick reaction time but just don't have the energy levels for extended manual labour. Maybe that super fresh experience is what triggered that response. Anyway, thanks for the validation, Layne! Peace

 

[Pem Tech]

Llamaman! Good to hear from you! Cool to see one of the O.G.'s respond. At this end of life, I am beginning to understand the overwhelming desire to "tell your story" about life on this spaceship. Every one is unique, yet we are all together in this mortal journey. Not a very religious guy but you can see other threads where I had a real "come to Jesus" moment Saturday coming back from a launch when I turned my wife's 4 wheel drive into 3 wheel drive at 70 mph. Still have quick reaction time but just don't have the energy levels for extended manual labour. Maybe that super fresh experience is what triggered that response. Anyway, thanks for the validation, Layne! Peace

Missed the story of your come to Buddha moment. Glad everyone is okay. Good to be back! And good to hear from you. We O.G.'s have to stick together.

understand the overwhelming desire to "tell your story" about life on this spaceship

Yep, got that desire as well. However, getting someone to listen is not so easy. The wife rarely looks up from her phone, just like our grrls.
Things look a lot different when there are more years behind you then in front. The realization of mortality hit me at 50, actually got the chills.

Been out of circulation for a bit. We are trying to get the website shopping cart up and running so we can start selling kits again. Not to mention bringing the Llamas out of cryo.
Why do web things have to be so complicated??? WordPress is supposed to be easy. If anyone has knowledge of such things please message me. Much appreciated.

 

[fyrwrxz]

Missed the story of your come to Buddha moment. Glad everyone is okay. Good to be back! And good to hear from you. We O.G.'s have to stick together.

understand the overwhelming desire to "tell your story" about life on this spaceship

Yep, got that desire as well. However, getting someone to listen is not so easy. The wife rarely looks up from her phone, just like our grrls.
Things look a lot different when there are more years behind you then in front. The realization of mortality hit me at 50, actually got the chills.

Been out of circulation for a bit. We are trying to get the website shopping cart up and running so we can start selling kits again. Not to mention bringing the Llamas out of cryo.
Why do web things have to be so complicated??? WordPress is supposed to be easy. If anyone has knowledge of such things please message me. Much appreciated.

Llamas and cryo! Remember when your freezer went out and the numerous trips for ice? Frack, how many years ago was that? Good times!

 

[Hobie1dog]

I went to one circus, they had a world class trumpet player in the pit band