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Circus Comes To Town, With Some Trunks In Tow
Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN
Monday’s elephant strut was designed to whet appetites to see the new show, which is called “Over the Top.”
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Published: January 1, 2008
Updated: 12/31/2007 10:57 pm
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TAMPA - Little Sara, at 5 feet and 3,000 pounds, seemed puny next to her gargantuan wrinkly aunts as they got off the train, locked trunks to tails, and began to march in a straight line down Nuccio Parkway.
Children from nearby Tampa Park apartments raced on bikes alongside the pachyderms on parade from Union Station to downtown Tampa, a tradition known as the Elephant Walk, which marks the official start of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
"They're very friendly," said animal handler Gleice Souza, a 39-year-old Brazilian dancer who rides the gentle giants in some of her performances. "I feel very safe. And they are having fun."
The 138th edition of The Greatest Show On Earth premieres Wednesday at the St. Pete Times Forum with a new theme: "Over The Top," which pits silliness against seriousness for a chance at the ring master's top hat.
"Clowns compete with the ring master," says circus spokeswoman Melinda Hartline of Tampa. "There's a constant struggle to control the hat. Whoever controls the hat controls the circus."
You can bet Ring Master Chuck Wagner, formerly the "Beast" in the Broadway musical "Beauty and the Beast," won't give up his reign easily, Hartline said.
From equestrian stunts to flying trapeze artists to motorcyclists balancing on the high wire, the circus aims to unleash heart-stopping feats.
Monday's elephant strut, complete with little piles of what Ringling insiders affectionately call "circus gold," was designed to whet appetites to see the new show, which debuts nationally in Tampa and continues for the next two years in other locations.
"We were headed for the aquarium," said Jacques Dumaresq, who sat with his wife, Anne, in their car with a camera at the ready to capture the unusual traffic snarl along Channelside Drive. "This is better."
Trolley No. 428, filled with tourists getting their money's worth during a ride to Ybor City, stopped in its tracks as Sara and six other Asian elephants crossed the shiny car's path.
Six-year-old Sara is the 10th elephant born at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk County. She's the tiniest in the parade, led by circus matriarch Karen, a 36-year-old, 9,000-pound, 7-foot-tall grand dame.
"She's our lead dog," Hartline said.
The circus starts Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. show and ends Sunday with two afternoon shows. Tickets range from $15 to $85 and are available at Ticketmaster outlets and the Forum box office; or by phone at (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100. For information, go to www.ringling.com.
Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( StarSearchPageants ) on January 1, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( mutroom ) on January 1, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
why don't you post a story on how circus animals are abused on a daily basis. did anyone notice the bull hooks that the circus employees are carrying. gosh, i wonder what they are used for? circuses are right up there with rodeos when it comes to abuse. and the stupid american public supports it. how sad!!!!!
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Posted by ( Krusty ) on January 1, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yeah, sure is sad. To think that these animals could have died a long time ago in the wild, instead of having to suffer through a longer life with medical treatment, balanced diet, and safety from predators.
Oh the horrors....
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Posted by ( badbyron ) on January 1, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Lets get the $85.00 tickets Daddy!
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Posted by ( mlasley ) on January 1, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
How does this article not even mention that elephants are beaten to perform unnatural behaviors and tricks for human "entertainment" and Ringling Bros. has a history of numerous USDA animal welfare violations and penalties? There are actual VIDEO TAPES of the abuse and testimony from former employees. Not to mention Sears, Mastercard and Visa have all dropped their sponsorship of Ringling Bros. The average life span for an elephant in the wild is 60-70 yrs while an elephant in captivity is 40 yrs. I just ask for people to look at the facts and statistics and make their own decision re: elephants in entertainment.
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Posted by ( bdmmk ) on January 1, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Thankful for a longer life???? I think if I was torn away from my family, placed in chains, stuffed in train cars or semi truck trailers that are steaming hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter, forced to do unnatural acts in front of screaming crowds, poked with sharp objects tearing my skin where people can't see... I don't think that's the kind of life I would want to live. Medical treatment (don't be fooled, they don't always get the medical treatment they need), balanced diet, safety from predators (um, Ringling IS the predator) - isn't that why we make out living wills so we aren’t kept alive by artificial life support systems?
There is NO valid reason to have animals in circuses. People can be entertained by animal free circuses (for example Cirque du Soleil is wonderful). Circuses don't teach children about animals (What Lion in the wild do you see jump through flaming hoops?). It doesn't show anyone what these beautiful animals are truly like. It's just animal torture for human entertainment. Wake up and stop supporting needless animal exhibitions. Please only support animal free circuses.
Thank you.
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Posted by ( toree ) on January 1, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
you all forgot to mention how yummy elephant is
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Posted by ( mutroom ) on January 1, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
right on! to the others who agree with me. the horrors that animals entail for entertainment is horrendous. zoos are no better. and ringling brothers are advertising flying dogs. yeh, the dogs begged to be tortured for some stupid tricks while the circus gets rich. if people want to perform in a circus, they make that choice. the animals have no say.
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Posted by ( mandyjo924 ) on January 1, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ringling Bros. repeatedly fails to meet even the minimum requirements of the Animal Welfare Act. See www.circuses.com for detailed evidence (including under cover video and former employee testimony) of all Ringling's USDA violations and other dangers.
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Posted by ( PJ ) on January 1, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't attend or support the Circus events, I drive in it every day. That's enough human/animal entertainment for me.
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Posted by ( triprz ) on January 2, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Everybody has a right to their opinions about what circuses do or don't do regarding animals. However, please be aware that www.circuses.com is a PETA site and the information there is not always accurate or fairly balanced.
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