WHERE ARE THE CLOWNS?

    THURSDAY, MARCH 28TH., 2019
      WHERE ARE THE CLOWNS?

    Seems to be there ought to be clowns.
 March 28th is "Barnum & Bailey Day!"
 Bet that's not on your calendar!
     It was on March 28th., 1881 that
circus owners P.T. Barnum and James
A. Bailey merged their organizations
creating "The Greatest Show on Earth!"
     I had some ties to the Ringling
Brothers, Barnum, and Bailey Circus
in the 50's and 60's. My Dad used to
run spotlight for the shows in New
York's Madison Square Garden to
keep his ILTSE card active.
      My Mom and I were often seated
in a box reserved for the family of
the circus owners who were almost
never there and Dad would shine his
spotlight on the box before the show
began. People in the audience must
have wondered who we were!
         The smiles and laughter you
heard from people watching each of
the three rings are something I'll
remember forever, just as those
people surely remember the
exciting performers and, yes, the
animals.
         For many the circus was the
only place kids  ever got to see a
real live elephant or a tiger. And
when ever I was back stage I was
impressed with how those animals
were treated like family pets.
         Unfortunately it's all gone
now. Oh there are other circus troops
touring the country and in other
countries as well. But the "Greatest
Show on Earth" is now just a memory.
A good memory for most!
           Seems to me on this "Barnum
and Bailey Day" there ought to be
clowns!
           Hope your circus memories bring
smiles and that all your NEWS is good.