The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus

Yesterday I went to the circus for the first time in close to twenty years.

The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus, a small show based out of Hugo, OK, arrived in my little town of Edgerton, KS in the morning, set up a big top in Martin Park, put on two afternoon shows and departed nearly as quickly as it arrived.

 

While I enjoyed it I also have to admit I came away feeling a little sad. What I witnessed was evidence that another proud chapter in history is drawing near its end. I’m not faulting the performers, they did a great job of entertaining. Several of them made quick costume changes and performed in a variety of acts, but they are just a remnant of a bygone era.

The show started with a lion and tiger act in a steel cage that filled the ring then was quickly dismantled as the show continued. There were beautiful young women in shiny tight-fitting costumes swinging from a rope and a trapeze. There was a juggler, and a family on unicycles introducing the newest addition to their act, a 7 year old boy who could ride a one-wheeler nearly as well as the rest of the family.

Then of course there was a clown, yes a clown. It seems the days when 30 people in whiteface and red rubber noses crawling out of a single car are over, at least in an arena under canvas. Melvino, the clown, did a more than adequate job of entertaining the children (of all ages), but he looked a bit lonely unaccompanied by a troop of others like him.

The animal acts were limited too. There were 3 large cats, a flock of trained pigeons, and that was all unless you count the man in costume who was billed as the half human ape. It is hard to imagine a circus with no acrobatic dogs, no prancing ponies and perhaps the most conspicuous absence, a total lack of elephants.

Unlike the big shows of yester year that traveled with rail cars full of animals, hundreds of performers and had three rings full of constant activity, this show had one ring under a tent that would be considered small by the standards of the first half of the 20^th century.

It is obvious the American traveling circus is well past the glory days it enjoyed when I was a small child. I’m sad to see the decline, but I applaud the performers and the owners of this small circus who cling to a life that could be chosen only out of love for what they do and a desire to continue breathing life into a dying tradition for as long as possible. I thank you for allowing me what may well be my last glimpse at a glorious past.

Click here to see more of my photographs of the circus.

Learn more about the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus by visiting their website at www.cmcircus.com.

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 On a side note: The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus is performing this week in Kansas City in the air-conditioned arena of the fancy new Sprint Center. I have no doubt their show will have more glitz and glamour than what Culpepper and Merriweather offered here in Edgerton, but what the small show may lack in size and shine they make up for in soul.

Culpepper and Merriweather also remains affordable, with tickets purchased in advance at $9 for adults and $6 for children. Tickets for the Ringling show in Kansas City start at $25 for nose bleed seats and range to over $100 for seats close enough to see the clowns and smell the animals.

I’m glad I gave my $9 to people who I’m betting appreciate my money more.

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Images and text Copyright 2010 Dave Michael.  No portion of this article may be reproduced without permission of the author.