RIP the "Greatest Show on Earth"

  • Thread starter Thread starter jtbell
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Earth Rip
AI Thread Summary
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will conclude its 146-year history with a final performance at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY, on May 21. The circus has faced declining attendance and changing entertainment preferences, similar to the decline of vaudeville and variety shows. Despite efforts to modernize and reinvent the circus experience over the past two decades, concerns about animal welfare have contributed to its closure. The shift in public interest towards alternative forms of entertainment, particularly online, has further impacted the circus's viability.
jtbell
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Messages
16,023
Reaction score
7,546
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to End Its 146-Year Run (NY Times)

Ringling Bros. closing ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ after 146 years (NY Post)

The last performance will be at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island NY, on May 21.

Many years ago (20 or so?) I saw their train passing through Lake Worth, Florida, on its way to or from Miami, but I've never seen the show itself. They'll be in one of my nearby "big cities" in early February. Maybe I'll take advantage of this last opportunity.
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
I saw a headline about this last night. I guess it's a sign of the times. It seems circuses are going the way of vaudeville and variety shows on TV, and it would appear that folks are finding entertainment elsewhere, e.g., the internet.
 
To be fair the circus has done a lot in the past 20 or so years to reinvent themselves, but for me any animal use in that context is abuse and I am glad to see them out of business.
 
As Steven Colbert puts it, they just couldn't compete with the new circus team from the white house.
 

Thread 'Could an external cosmic body have influenced Earth’s geology?'

Hello, I’m currently writing a series of essays on Pangaea, continental drift, and Earth’s geological cycles. While working on my research, I’ve come across some inconsistencies in the existing theories — for example, why the main pressure seems to have been concentrated in the northern polar regions. So I’m curious: is there any data or evidence suggesting that an external cosmic body (an asteroid, comet, or another massive object) could have influenced Earth’s geology in the distant...
View full post »

Thread 'Landslide, tsunami, seiche in Tracy Arm fjord, Alaska - 10 August 2025'

On August 10, 2025, there was a massive landslide on the eastern side of Tracy Arm fjord. Although some sources mention 1000 ft tsunami, that height represents the run-up on the sides of the fjord. Technically it was a seiche. Early View of Tracy Arm Landslide Features Tsunami-causing slide was largest in decade, earthquake center finds https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/tsunami-causing-slide-was-largest-decade-earthquake-center-finds...
View full post »

Similar threads

News Europe's Economic Future: A Cause for Concern?
Replies
12
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top