In May of 2017, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus made their final curtain call, after 146 years of performing. The mounting public protests of animal abuse, sealed their fate, and it was about time. I’m sure it started from the beginning. The world is finally changing its attitudes toward animal abuse, both for wild animals and domestic animals. But, there’s still a long way to go.
I am just reflecting, on my personal experience going to the circus every year in New York City. The circus performed in Madison Square Garden. In my day, it was the second Madison Square Garden, built in 1925, and located on 50th Street and 8th Avenue. The first Garden was created by P.T. Barnum in 1874. It was actually, the New York and Harlem Railroad Station, which he converted into an oval arena measuring 280 feet long. He called it the “Great Roman Hippodrome,” and hosted circuses, sporting events, and a popular bicycle race. He even held boxing matches, which were illegal at the time, and were presented as “illustrated lectures.” When the second Madison Square Garden moved uptown, the 6.2-acres, became a public park, now call Madison Square. It is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, and Broadway. It’s bounded by Madison Avenue on the east side, and stretches from 23rd Street on the south, to 26th Street, on its northern boundary.
Every year when the circus came to town I just couldn’t wait to go. Even before the shows started, they would parade the elephants through the streets from the railroad yard on the Hudson River to the Garden.
I always remember one particular visit to the circus. It was our custom to first visit the side-show, which was located in the basement of Madison Square Garden. They had lions and tigers in cages, there was the sword swallower, and the lady who had a boa constrictor draped around her neck. They had the tallest man, and my father bought me a ring that he wore.
There were lots of other acts as well. One of my favorites was viewing the elephants. They were all lined up in a row. They had a chain around one foot, which was secured to a stake in the ground, as if this chain could ever hold them if they decided to walk off. It’s funny to think about it, but all that separated the people from the elephants was a piece of rope.
The fun part was to buy a bag of peanuts, and then when the elephant held out its trunk to you, to put some peanuts into the trunk. On this occasion, as I was feeding the elephant, he grabbed the front of the bag. So, here’s the scene. We have a five-year-old boy hanging onto a bag of peanuts, pulling it away from this two-ton elephant, who has set his heart on having the whole bag.
My father gently said, I don’t think you’re going to win, just give him the whole bag and I’ll buy you another one. Well, it was fun for a kid in those days.
