RINGLING BROTHERS BARNUM and bailey circus

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This is a short series of only 9 photographs I made when I was about 18.... One of the subjects, regrettably, I  did not spend  more time documenting, was The  Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus that would come to SF. They were heavily criticized by many in society years later over treatment of animals.....The one day I did go to see them at the Cow Palace in SSF, I was able to be a fly on the wall, easily getting  backstage to see the performers preparing for their next show..One could never do that today without special passes. In fact whether here, a  Winterland concert , a Janis Joplin rehearsal, I would easily walk on stage  or into a rehearsal room,  no questions asked , and start photographing..  I do remember Jim Marshall photographing everywhere, although he was also known to kick doors down if he wasn't given access !!Photographers had so much more freedom then, unlike todays repressive attitude toward photography. .I was lucky I guess  to be there at that time. These few. photographs from that day remain some of my favorites as they capture what I noticed as a distinct space between the artists, each lost in their own world,  while practicing for the next show.! Things disappear never to return again, so get it while you can-don't  be lazy!!