Elephants at Michael Jackson Memorial Site
July 04, 2009
In an odd twist of fate, elephants from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus will be allowed to enter the police perimeter around Michael Jackson's memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They will be the only creatures allowed to get through without one of the coveted 17,500 tickets for the Tuesday event.
(Image credit: Oliver Wright)
The odd display is expected to occur at 4 A.M. on that morning, when the elephants will leave their circus train, march through the protected area, and move to an animal compound close to the arena.
The reason? Jackson did not request the spectacle. It just so happens that the actual circus will begin at Staples on Wednesday. The march, called The Parade of the Elephants, traditionally marks the beginning of circus time in the city. It's always held the day before showtime, which will be the day of the Michael Jackson memorial.
During his life, Jackson owned at least two elephants—a bull male and a female—that he housed at his Neverland ranch. Images of the singer also sometimes depicted him with elephants. Pachyderms were featured in at least one of his videos.
Love it - very powerful message.
Posted by: Debita | July 06, 2009 at 01:24 PM
wow...what a weird and worthless tie in...its a coincidence...
Posted by: Rob | July 07, 2009 at 01:03 AM
They will just add to the stench of the thousands of nuts and fans (some both) who will riot because they can't get into Staples Center.
Posted by: AtlantaTerry | July 07, 2009 at 08:52 AM
and the weird thing is they will all be wearing one white elephant sized glove with, bubbles the chimps riding atop , carrying warm glasses of milk for all the vulnerable chirren
Posted by: Hartley | July 07, 2009 at 02:37 PM
I find it ironic that the animals waited for Michael's memorial. I find it symoblic & quite fitting to the occasion. The animals Michael cared for & encountered in his life loved him as he loved them. I wonder, did any human animals learn something from this ?
Posted by: Elizabeth- cawobeth | August 18, 2009 at 01:00 AM
I'm pleased that the elephants got nearer to him. Coincidence or God-incidence ?
Posted by: Elizabeth- cawobeth | August 18, 2009 at 01:05 AM
Seemed to me as if the animals waited out of respect for animals loved Michael as he loved them.
Posted by: Elizabeth- cawobeth | August 18, 2009 at 01:07 AM
I'm pleased that the elephants got to be nearer to him. Coincidence or God-incidence ? Seemed to me as if the animals all willingly waited for Michael out of respect. Animals loved Michael as he loved them.
Posted by: Elizabeth- cawobeth | August 18, 2009 at 01:10 AM