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Tag: circus

  • Circus Accident Injures Performers

    When you visit a circus, you expect to have a good time and see a few tricks and performances that will surprise and impress you.

    The last thing you expect to witness is a horrible accident.

    Several circus performers were injured during a Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus’ Legends show in Providence, Rhode Island on Sunday when a platform collapsed and caused several acrobats to fall 35 feet to the ground.

    Luckily, no one in the audience was harmed, but many people were shaken up by the incident.

    A disaster distress hotline has been set up, and Providence Public Safety is offering free counseling from trained counselors to people who were in the audience.

    A spokesperson for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus said that an investigation is underway to determine what caused the platform to collapse. He insisted that all of the equipment used during the acts is carefully inspected before each show.

    “Each and every time that we come to a new venue, all of the equipment that is used by this performer — this group of performers as well as other performers — is carefully inspected. We take the health and safety of our performers and our guests very seriously, and our company has a safety department that spends countless hours making sure that all of our equipment is indeed safe and effective for continued use,” spokesman Stephen Payne said.

    The accident occurred during the Medeiros Hair-Hang Act, where several women hang and spin by their hair.

    The Rhode Island State Fire Marshal and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are conducting an investigation separate from the one the circus is conducting, but says that the circus was fully responsible for the setup of the show.

    “We will do whatever it takes to come to the bottom of this, make sure that when the show goes back — starts to perform again — it’s safe,” said Lawrence Lepore, general manager of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

    What do you think could have caused the platform to collapse?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Circus Accident Leaves Nine Performers Injured

    Nine performers were injured in a horrifying circus accident at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus’ Legends show in Providence, Rhode Island on Sunday. The accident happened during the show’s hair-hanging act; several acrobats were suspended up to 35 feet in the air when a platform collapsed, causing them to fall to the ground.

    According to WPRI, the circus accident happened approximately an hour into the show. The acrobats were doing their “human chandelier” hair-hanging routine when the metal-frame platform suspending them collapsed. Eight women fell during the accident, plus a dancer on the ground was injured; the performers were taken to the emergency room.

    So far, very few details about the injuries have been released, but manager Roman Garcia said that everyone at the hospital was doing okay just two hours after the accident happened. “Everybody’s doing fine, everybody’s at the hospital, everybody’s conscious, everybody’s doing pretty well,” Garcia said.

    Photos from the scene of the circus accident were posted to Twitter:

    Check out an extended video of the accident below.

    If you’ve never been to a Ringling Bros. show to see the hair-hanging act, here is a description of how the act is supposed to go, according to the show’s website.

    These ‘hairialists’ perform a combination of choreography and cut-ups including spinning, hanging from hoops, and rolling down wrapped silks, all while being suspended 35 feet in the air by their hair alone. In this hair-raising act, audiences will even see the weight of three girls held aloft by the locks of only one of these tangled beauties.

    A video of a different hair-hanging act is below–it looks painful enough, with taking a 35-foot plunge to the ground.

    Fortunately this circus accident wasn’t as severe as others have been. It was just under a year ago that an acrobat died during a performance at Cirque du Soleil. Sarah Guyard-Guillot slipped from her safety cable and fell 50 feet to her death.

    Image via Twitter

  • Shot Elephant Returns: “Carol” Will Perform With Ringling Brothers And Barnum & Bailey Circus

    Carol, the circus elephant who was shot last year, returns to the ring in Tupelo, Miss. where the incident occurred. She will be performing with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

    The 40-year-old elephant was the victim of a drive-by shooting that occurred in April last year when Carol was on a tour with “The Greatest Show on Earth.” She was shot behind her ear. The elephant took off a few weeks from performing due to her injury. Carol has performed in several other shows after she recovered, but this is the first time that she will be returning back to the scene of the crime.

    According to Steve Payne, the spokesperson for the circus, Carol is in great spirits. “She’s doing great – happy to be back in Tupelo, and happy to be back performing,” he said. The Asian elephant is said to be back to 100% health. There is no evidence of the injury, except for a minor scar on her shoulder.

    According to authorities, the person responsible for the drive-by shooting has not yet been caught. However, the circus is working with local authorities to make sure that the incident does not happen again. The local law enforcement has increased security in the area.

    To date, $33,750 has been raised as a reward for anyone who can provide a tip on the identity of the shooter.

    According to Lt. Jerry Davis of the Tupelo Police, he is frustrated that the shooter has not yet been caught, but he is still hopeful that they will eventually make an arrest. He is also urging anyone to come forward, even with just a small detail regarding the shooting. “You might not think it’s that big, but it could be very helpful to us,” he said.

    Caro’s trainer and owner, Cathy Carden, says that she is excited about going back to Tupelo and showing everyone how great Carol is.

    Watch The Elephants Put On A Show

    Image via YouTube

  • Elephants Run Rampant in St. Louis

    Elephants Run Rampant in St. Louis

    During a Shriners Circus show Saturday at a multipurpose arena near St. Louis, Missouri, three elephants were spooked by a loud noise, and took off into the parking lot.

    The three female pachyderms escaped their handlers during the “ride-an-elephant” segment of the Moolah Shrine event at the Family Arena in St. Charles, though no one was on top of any of them when the incident occurred.

    Witness Sally Schmiz commented, “Things started shaking, When I looked up I saw three elephants coming toward us. These huge elephants litterally went through these huge RVs. Then they went through two trucks breaking mirrors off, and panels off and breaking the windows.”

    No one was injured during the escape, and the elephants’ handlers were quickly able to corral them. Dennis Kelley, President of Moolah Shriners Circus, said, “The elephants were loose for a brief period. The handlers were able to occupy the animals and they are resting comfortably at this time.”

    Circus elephants tend to like to make a run for it, and the St. Louis incident is not at all unprecedented. Here an elephant takes off from a gig in Ireland:

    The use of elephants in circuses has been a controversial subject – the United States Humane Society has accused circuses of abusing and traumatizing their animals. During his testimony to a U.S. federal court in 2009, Barnum & Bailey Circus CEO Kenneth Feld admitted that circus elephants are beaten behind their ears, under their chins and on their legs with bull hooks. Feld explained that these practices are in place to protect the trainers.

    In a statement a Shriners spokesperson commented, “The elephants were loose on the parking lot for a brief period. And they are resting comfortably at this time. That’s the only statement I have.” The circus continued, and the errant elephants were back to work on Sunday.

    Witness Schmiz added, “Thank God no children were on top of them for rides, or adults too. You could tell they were upset.”

    Image via YouTube.

  • Elephants Escape Circus And Damage Parked Vehicles In Missouri

    Three female elephants escaped from the Moolah Shrine Circus in St. Charles’ Family Arena on Saturday and damaged several vehicles as they traipsed along the parking lot. The elephants escaped from the children’s ride section of the circus; fortunately, there were no children on the elephants at the time.

    Loud noises from the circus audience may have spooked the animals, according to eyewitnesses. Sally Schmiz, one of the eyewitnesses, said that she felt the ground shake, and when she looked up, she saw the three elephants. The huge animals went through trucks, breaking the mirrors and panels off, and damaging windows.

    Karyn Tunnicliff, another witness who was in a car just outside the Family Arena, said that she and her daughter saw people running after the elephants, screaming for the animals to stop. They also saw circus staff trying to run alongside the elephants. Her daughter Allie was able to capture a video of an elephant between cars. Allie also said she saw one of the trainers shout for some treats to lure the elephants with: “We need pretzels!”

    After about 45 minutes, the handlers were able to recapture the elephants and bring them back to their enclosures. In a statement, the Shrine Circus said that the elephants “are now resting comfortably in their compound.” No one was hurt during the incident, and the escapees were given the night off.

    Dennis Burkholder, the spokesperson for the Shriners, said that the parking lot is the private property of the circus and therefore is not accessible to the public. The vehicles parked belong to circus performers and staff. The show was ongoing when the elephants escaped, so the lot was almost empty.

    The Moolah Shrine Circus is a regular event in St. Louis, and had eight performances this year. The proceeds of the annual circus benefit the Moolah Shrine Center and its advocacies for children.

    When Elephants Attack! (graphic)


    Image via YouTube

  • Circus Llama Stolen and Taken for a Tram Ride

    Yes, this is real life. A group of drunk teens in France DID in fact abduct a llama from the circus, posting numerous photos across Twitter (and other social media), and take that llama for a tram ride.

    See?

    The llama was returned after they were arrested, and no harm was done to the llama, named Serge. After the leaving a club in Bordeaux, France, the group stole the llama, and took him through the streets. Eventually Serge ended up on the tram which prompted authorities. The circus director initially filed charges, but now that the heist brought some media attention, the charges have been dropped.

    As if this story isn’t bizarre enough, Serge is now going viral and increasingly famous; he has his own Tumblr page now.

    A reunion was organized by the circus, Serge seems to be happy to see his comrades again, this time sober.



    Images (via) Twitter @x_cappelaere

  • Wallenda Family, Generations of Daredevils

    Heights, who needs them? Fortunately, for the daredevil superstar Wallenda family, they need heights, and aren’t frightened away from them. The recent feat of Nik Wallenda crossing over his sister, Lijana Wallenda, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway generated much attention and awe.

    Yet, how does an individual became renown for such activities as crossing the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Grand Canyon, and Niagara Falls on a tight rope? All great legacies start somewhere, and this one began with Nik and Lijana’s great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, who formed the circus act called The Flying Wallendas in 1922.

    Karl Wallenda was born in Magdeburg, Germany, and lived his life undertaking many wondrous stunts throughout the world including: Europe, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

    The group became known as The Great Wallendas and were eventually noted for creating the technique of using a three-tier 7-Man Pyramid during their stunts. Karl Wallenda’s impressive career spanned until he was seventy-three when he tragically died while in the midst of a stunt involving crossing between two towers rising ten stories from the Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvzq4NxlZN4

    Thirty-four-year-old Nik Wallenda spoke about his world famous endeavor to cross the Grand Canyon, which drew nearly 13 million television viewers as well as a nod from the Emmys.

    “It’s nice to be able to say ‘the Emmy Award-winning Nik Wallenda’ now. It’s a big deal and it’s huge for a sales pitch,” Nik said.

    Some family members began working in the trade as young as three-years-old. The impressive talents of the members may partially be in their genetic coding; however, hard-work and concentration play a role as well. Fans of the uniquely-skilled Nik Wallenda shared their respect and homage through Twitter.

    Nik Wallenda’s personal mission as depicted on his website embodies the sentiments behind the public’s continued fascination and respect for the Wallenda family, “To inspire people around the world to follow their dreams and never give up.”

    [Images Via Instagram and Youtube]

  • Tiger In Bathroom Surprises Circus-Goer

    Tiger In Bathroom Surprises Circus-Goer

    A woman in Salina, Kansas got the shock of her life when she left the festivities at the circus she was attending to use the restroom: when she opened the door, she found a tiger standing a couple feet in front of her.

    Jenna Krehbiel was enjoying a day with her family at the Isis Shrine Circus at the Bicentennial Center when she decided to take a bathroom break, and unfortunately she wasn’t alone.

    “I went in to use the bathroom, and a lady came in to get her daughter out and said there was a tiger loose,” Krehbiel said. “I didn’t know it was in the bathroom, and I walked in the [open] door, which closed right after I had walked in. I saw the tiger; it was at most 2 feet in front of me, and I turned around calmly and walked back toward the door. Someone opened the door and said get out.”

    Apparently, the tiger escaped shortly after performing, and staff members were in the process of blocking off the bathroom once they realized there was a jungle cat inside, but Krehbiel didn’t realize what was going on. Luckily, the tiger was captured and no one was hurt.

    “Once she saw the tiger, I’m sure she knew to go the other way,” Bicentennial Center manager Chris Bird said. “Overall, it was a scary, surreal moment. I am glad no one was hurt or injured.”