Kelly Miller Circus has been providing family entertainment since 1938—nearly three-quarters of a century. And as has been tradition in Elmhurst for many years, the circus is headed back to Sandburg Middle School, route: {:controller=>"listings", :action=>"show", :id=>"sandburg-middle-school"} --> this weekend, on Friday, Sept. 21.
The event, sponsored by the Elmhurst District 205 Foundation for Educational Excellence, will be held under the traditional, old-fashioned big top tent and will feature acrobats, clowns, elephants, tigers and a cast of circus stars.
Shows will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, rain or shine, on the Sandburg grounds, 345 E. St. Charles Road.
Advanced tickets are $14 for adults, $8 for children ages 2 to 11, and can be purchased through Thursday, Sept. 20, at , , and
Elephants used by Kelly Miller are leased from the Carson and Barnes Circus and spend most of their lives in chains and are routinely beaten with bullhooks (a rod with a sharp metal hook on the end). Carson & Barnes has paid almost $1,000 in fines to federal authorities for mishandling elephants and for injuries two elephants sustained when a trailer overturned. Out of public view, trainers inflict pain and fear to force animals into submission. No government agency monitors training sessions. For animals in circuses, there is varying degrees of punishment and deprivation. Readers can learn more about the tainted history of Carson & Barnes Circus and The Kelly Miller Circus at www.Circuses.com
They in fact do tolerate cruel training methods and use a bullhook to reinforce that training. KMC leases their elephants from their sister circus Carson & Barnes who owns Becky, Tracy and Lisa who tour with them. This is how Becky is trained behind closed doors so they can control her in when around the public. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iouGQD6lf6A With the internet at our fingertips we can no longer claim ignorance, not when you can see irrefutable proof of this circus animal cruelty. Shame on the Education Foundation for continuing to promote the circus as family entertainment.