Read Thy Book - Sam's Blog
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Pics
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Pics

Picture

Once Upon a Time The Circus Came to Town

11/11/2016

0 Comments

 
As if it needed further proof, part of the charm of Venice Island is it's circus history.  At one time, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus wintered here on the island.  They practiced, came up with new ideas and invited residents to enjoy their dress rehearsals.  From 1960 to 1992, every year they packed up their elephants and tigers, their performers, musicians and equipment and boarded the train to Venice Island.  There was a huge arena on the south end of the island and apparently, they paraded from the train station right down Tamiami Trail to their winter digs. It was a huge deal. The famous Clown College was even here.  Of course, in 1992, the train stopped coming to the island and that was the end.

But there are reminders here and there. Bits and pieces of circus past to enjoy.  The south bridge in fact is officially the Circus Bridge, there is even a sign on the bridge that says so.  There is a Ringling Dr and an Ave del Circo.  There is a fabulous mural on the west side of Tamiami Trail just past the hospital with scenes from that amazing time that I just love.  There is a certain house here on the island that has, in it's side yard, a full on trapeze set. Awesome! In fact, there is a trapeze school here.  It's open to the public and while no one will ever in a million years find me up there ready to learn to fly like the daring young man in the song, I'm delighted beyond words that others do.  In the various shops on Venice Ave there are for sale, little nods to the circus history.  And in our adorable little local museum are housed permanent bits of that time.

I'm sorry that I didn't live here then, or even visit then to witness the glorious spectacle that is a circus with my own eyes. But I delighted to know that others did.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Yup, this is me. Some people said, "Sam, you should write a Blog".   "Well, there's a thought", I thought to myself. And so here it is.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly