For Cathy--You are half right, and half wrong. There is some real junk in Europe also.

Cathy, these photos are from a European show. Italy supposedly has a "cultural committee" which gives there circus's a "grade". That way folks know if they are seeing an A show, a B show, or a C show. Supposedly, I reiterate. Italy is also home to some of the most beautiful show's in the world like the Casartelli's and Togni's. The circus is an unregulated world run how ever it want's to run. Much like Deadwood and Dodge City before Wyatt Earp and the law. An unregulated, unmarketed, do what you want world, will normally implode on it's self given enough time. When everything with a ring is lumped together and marketed as a "circus", folks will soon sterotype and think it is all junk. I promise if you went to Ringling Bros. you would not be disappointed. They were the Greatest Show on Earth 25 years ago, but they are still the biggest and best in North America. In Europe there are a half dozen out of perhaps 50 that would be worth your time, the rest are what you mentioned. Over half of our readership is "circus", but they need to hear what you think. They have been telling each other what they want to hear since their existance, and they need to listen to the folks who buy a ticket, and ignore their fans, friends and families. That is how a business survives and is able to keep offering a superior product, generation after generation.