John Klein: Oklahoma’s big top tents, circus shows going strong

Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, announced the news on January 14.

Jan Creamer, the president of Animal Defenders worldwide conducted undercover investigations into circuses for over 20 years. LCA, along with dedicated supporters and activists, kept up the fight, demanding an end to the use of all the animals.

SaLoutos thinks that groups like PETA, which have campaigned to eliminate elephants and other animals from circuses, may not know the whole story. It is said that in one of his side shows, a banner displayed a huge chicken with the headline “Man-eating Chicken”.

LCA’s undercover investigator, Bryan Monell, exposed some of the most egregious acts by trainers of circus elephants in the 15 years he worked for LCA, at serious risk to his own life. “It was a surprise”, Scott McDonnell, executive director of Circus World said.

We understand, as well, that public sensibilities regarding animal acts have evolved, just as they did relative to so-called freak shows.

Katya Quiroga, left, and her husband, Nelson Quiroga, stand in front of a sign advertising the 46-year-old circus company they own and operate together. Paradoxically, while many said they didn’t want big animals to perform in circuses, many others refused to attend a circus without them.

“Cirque du Soleil came out of nowhere 30 years ago, and it was a different way of looking at circuses, a different way of touring it, because it wasn’t on a train, it didn’t have animals”, he said. And this past weekend, Ringling officials announced that the circus will fold its tent for good after 146 years in business. However, Ringling later sent sent Phillips an elephant trophy that is still on display above the fireplace in the lodge as a reminder “that he once owned the circus for one day”, said Woolaroc CEO Bob Fraser.

And what about all those circus performers?

A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown does a somersault during a performance Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Orlando, Fla.

As the final curtain is drawn, The Humane Society urges Ringling Bros.to provide the animals with a lifetime of care “in the most ethologically suitable environments available for them in their remaining years”.

Parra said the Carson Barnes season will get underway with a show on January 26 in McAllen, Texas.

The circus will have its last show in May.

This spring will be the final time to see the circus in the Capital City.

The real death of Ringling Brothers started on July 16, 1956 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania when the canvas Big Top came down for the last time.